Our next stop was to visit my friend Christi, her husband John, and their sweet dogs and cats just outside Kansas City. Christi and I were roommates when we were both studying abroad in Ireland 13 years ago, and it was so great to see her and catch up for only the second time in over a decade! They were so sweet to open their home up to us for a few days during our trip.
Oats loved getting to know her new puppy friends, Vegas and Charlie, and little Charlie loved stealing Oatsy’s giant bed and her elephant toy that was larger than his head. This was the first time Oats had ever met cats, and it’s possible that she may now be forever scared of them :)
Dog Friendly Stop: Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery
One of the awesome places we visited while in Kansas was Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery, and it was one of the most dog-friendly places on the whole trip. Oats and Vegas came with us and were allowed INSIDE the tasting room, where the most friendly and sweet employee spoiled our pups with love and treats. The wine was delicious and the place was beautiful. As you know, I’m a big fan of dog-friendly places. Even better when they serve wine.
The pups were allowed inside the wine tasting room at Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery. What a fun day and experience for us and the pups!
Oats loved being able to join us inside the winery and then we spent some time outside in the sunshine and enjoyed our wine. It was a wonderful, fun day with the dogs, and we also stopped at a cute farm and store on the way home to get apple cider donuts (spoiler alert: Kansas ones are just as delicious as New England ones).
We did a little photo shoot with Christi and Vegas at the beautiful vineyard, and did you know that Kansas is the sunflower state?!? They were everywhere!
I also did a few family photos for this sweet family. Loved spending time with you guys!
On our way to Colorado, we stopped in rural Kansas to take a few photos. Does this remind anyone else of that scene from Castaway?
Oatsy modeled for me on this road for a bit and we didn’t see a single other car the whole time we were playing around, just photographing that classic goofy Oatsy sit all across America.
Kansas was an incredibly beautiful drive, full of sunflowers and rolling hills. It reminded me a lot of Ireland with its green scenery, which is fitting since Christi and I met there :) Can’t wait to visit again!
