EDITOR’S NOTE

Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 or not, I’m on a mission to take an actual two weeks of vacation this summer. I’ve realized I haven’t gone any further in the last two-plus years than the Iowa family farm, and that’s only happened twice.

It still needs to be drivable, because I’m not getting on a plane with all those folks who aren’t wearing masks. How many subvariants do they need to discover before a new version that’s worse than all the rest pops up? Asking for a friend.

Luckily, our contributing writer Judith Fertig has put together a must-read list (starting on page 64) of some of the best experiences she could find within a day’s drive or less away. We broke it out into six categories, so it’s easy to find the adventure that awaits you—and me, for that matter. Whether you’re looking for a luxury vacay, a spa experience, or something more down and dirty (literally, dirty), such as the best hiking trails or dirt-bike trails, there’s something here for you.

I’m partial to the more sedate experiences, like a stay at the Broadmoor in Colorado. Or maybe I’ll check out Destination Kohler for one of its wellness weekends. I’m familiar with the Kohler brand as a leading maker of everything from faucets to bathtubs to sinks, so they probably have water therapy down pat.

And on my next trip to Iowa, perhaps I should take a couple of days to stop off at the Raj in Fairfield. Fairfield, Iowa, has long had a bit of a woo-woo reputation since it became the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s choice for an international center for Transcendental Meditation in the 1970s. The Raj, which touts itself as America’s premier Ayurvedic health center, promises to rejuvenate and reduce stress, fatigue, and anxiety. I’ll have some of that.

It’s hard to pick between all the luxe stays and wellness experiences in the feature. It’s a wealth of choices.

Maybe, instead, I should just stay home and make my pick of Kansas City’s best burgers by visiting all 15 of them listed in the feature on page 70. That’s a foodie adventure I could get behind. Let’s see if I agree with food writer Kelsey Cipolla’s choices.

Then, I’d probably be in need of finding a wellness center within a day’s drive that offers a strict diet plan.

leimkuhler aaron by photo

Zim

Editor In Chief Zim Loy Digital Editor Emily Park Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Associate Art Director Eva Tucker

Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, Rachel Murphy, Patricia O’Dell

Contributing Photographers Ron Berg, Corie English, Laura Fitzgibbons, Manon Halliburton, Aaron Leimkuehler, Thurston Long, Brian Rice, BJ Sampson Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Darlene Simpson Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net

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