stay RIGHT HERE

Last May, we had a family trip get canceled 48-hours before takeoff due to a family illness. This trip to Cozumel had been planned for a year and included my family, my brother’s family and my parents. After we got our initial disappointment out of the way (no cousin time, beach time or other people cooking and bringing me margaritas time) we looked at the opportunity in front of us. An entire week with a wide open calendar and no agenda. The only thing we knew for certain: We were staying right here in 417-land.

I admit it; when I skipped “Good Morning, Springfield!” but made it to my favorite yoga class, I felt a little like a teenager sneaking out of the house. But it was liberating to give myself permission to say “no” to the usual demands on my time. Each day we made different spontaneous decisions. We went to a movie in the middle of the day! We played in our backyard and walked our dog on a greenway trail.

One day we did our own little dining day trip to the Hangar Kafe in Miller, Missouri. It’s a place we’ve written about often and I’ve had on my list to check out, but I hadn’t made it a priority. My family was a little skeptical until we got there, and then they decided it was the coolest thing ever. If you aren’t familiar, the Hangar Kafe is a little restaurant on the Kingsley Air Field about 30 minutes west of Springfield where you’ll want to look up. While you are munching on breakfast or lunch you can sit on the outdoor patio and watch little planes land and take off or skydivers stick the landing.

So this summer, I encourage you to block your calendar as if you are going out of the country, stay close to home and make a day out of eating your way through a charming, out-of-the-way place. You’ll come home full, refreshed and with a lot less laundry to do!

Logan Aguirre Publisher | logan@417mag.com