40th Anniversary Retreat at Cottonwood Falls, Kansas

Thanks to our kids/spouses, we had a little get-away from our routine for our 40th anniversary last week. We were given an over-night stay/dinner at a "fancy" hotel...........I was surprised, as only my husband knew where we were going. He chose Cottonwood Falls, Kansas - a small town where we had stopped a couple of times before. We'd eaten lunch at the "fancy" hotel - and deemed it "wonderful" - the lunch AND the hotel. :) The hotel rooms were a bit beyond our reach, so we were quite happy to have a chance, thanks to family, to stay in it for a night. It is the Grand Central Hotel; beautiful. It first opened in 1884 and was re-opened in 1995, with all of its glory restored, with a western theme. Not "cute-sy", just beautiful! And I give the restaurant GREAT ratings. The food is delicious.........the steaks are DIVINE! Yum! If you have the opportunity to visit Cottonwood Falls, and to stay at the Grand Central Hotel, DO. And, by all means, eat at the restaurant. You won't regret it, I'm sure.

Cottonwood Falls is a charming little town, part of the Flint Hills area of Kansas. It IS a very small town ..... so city-lovers, be prepared. But if you appreciate history and small-town visits, as we do, you will love visiting there. There are a couple of art galleries, antique places, the historical old courthouse - the "Chase County Courthouse" (with a magnificent spiral wood staircase!). And there is "Emma's Cafe"..... where I ate a most delicious elk-burger (elk were native to Kansas; this elk meat is raised and processed in the Flint Hills, the brochure tells me), with a side of fried squash "round". So good (and the blueberry pie wasn't bad, either - my husband and I shared it)! "Emma's Cafe", in Cottonwood Falls, is fairly well known. I've read about it in the Wichita Eagle newspaper. Besides the taste of the cafe's food - it is well-known for having it's Friday night music sessions. In nice weather, people bring lawn chairs, as it is held outside. Inclement weather brings it inside. I'm told that it is held every Friday throughout the whole year; I hope we can take it in sometime!