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Wilderness & Rye

Adventures in National Parks, the bourbon trail, and inspirational foodie joints.

Council Grove, Kansas: Where the West Was Opened.

I asked my spouse if we could swing through Council Grove on our way to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Council Grove, Kansas is located in the heart of the Midwest, along the Neosho River. I remembered reading about a certain oak tree where the leaders of both the Osage and the Kansa met and later… Continue reading Council Grove, Kansas: Where the West Was Opened.

Jessie Foster's avatar by Jessie Foster February 16, 2026February 16, 2026

Five National Parks, One State: A Kansas National Parks Road Trip

Kansas is usually one of the states I am either passing through or flying over. However, recently my spouse and I set out on an adventure with Kansas as the ultimate destination. Five days and 1800 miles later, we visited all five of the Kansas National Park sites: Fort Scott, Brown vs. Board of Education,… Continue reading Five National Parks, One State: A Kansas National Parks Road Trip

Jessie Foster's avatar by Jessie Foster January 25, 2026January 26, 2026

Public Lands are Sacred Lands

What do you hold sacred? Sacred means deserving of respect (typically in relation to a spiritual or religious affiliation). Sacred is also used to describe sites or places too significant to alter or change. For many indigenous tribes, certain landscapes are held sacred due to their spiritual and historical connections. Many indigenous tribes believe that… Continue reading Public Lands are Sacred Lands

Jessie Foster's avatar by Jessie Foster August 27, 2025August 27, 2025

adventure American West Bardstown Bourbon Co. Bent's Old Fort Bourbon bourbon-trail Bourbon Passport Buffalo Trace California National Historic Trail Camping colorado Colorado History Colorado Lodging Fairplay Food and Drink Food Blog Fur Trade Gering Hiking Howland Hill Road Indigenous History Kansas kentucky Kentucky Bourbon Trail KOA Louisville Mammoth Cave National Park Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail National Park Site nature Oregon National Historic Trail Pappy Van Winkle Radish&Rye Redwood National and State Parks Salado Sand Creek Massacre Santa Fe Scotts Bluff National Monument SeaQuake Brewing South Park The Narrows Travel Whiskey Wilderness Trail Distillery Zion National Park

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Author: Jessie Foster

Jessie is a freelance writer whose work has been published in National Park Traveler, Denver's Westword, and by Historic Denver. She has a master's degree in public history from the University of Colorado at Denver. She is an advocate for public lands, environmental interpretation, and good bourbon. She enjoys finding new local hot spots and taking the less traveled dirt roads.
Bourbon, Food and Drink, Travel

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail: An Introduction.

During the first series, we will learn what makes bourbon unique, as well as, introduce the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In … Continue reading The Kentucky Bourbon Trail: An Introduction.

Food and Drink

The Shaggy Sheep: A Cozy Colorado Wayside Cookhouse

I have driven by the Shaggy Sheep cookhouse many times over the years on my way into the Colorado mountains. … Continue reading The Shaggy Sheep: A Cozy Colorado Wayside Cookhouse

Food and Drink

Salado Restaurant; An Elevated Twist on New Mexican Cuisine

[***Update: As of August 4, 2024 Salado is no longer open. Best of luck to the owners on their next … Continue reading Salado Restaurant; An Elevated Twist on New Mexican Cuisine

National Parks

Scotts Bluff National Monument: A Place Where Several National Historic Trails Converge.

Most roads can take you to where you want to go. But all roads- if you pause long enough to … Continue reading Scotts Bluff National Monument: A Place Where Several National Historic Trails Converge.

The Great Outdoors

She’s Fly: A Fly Fishing Company Empowering Women To Be Their Own Guide

She’s Fly is a woman-owned and operated business based in Northern Colorado, that offers fly fishing clinics, retreats, and gear … Continue reading She’s Fly: A Fly Fishing Company Empowering Women To Be Their Own Guide

National Parks

Redwood National and State Parks: Like Nowhere Else on Earth

There is an ancient sliver of land in the northern most region of California (often called the northern, northern of … Continue reading Redwood National and State Parks: Like Nowhere Else on Earth

Food and Drink, Uncategorized

Radish and Rye: New Mexican Fare With an Amazing Whiskey Menu.

On a recent trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico I had one of the most enjoyable dining experiences of recent … Continue reading Radish and Rye: New Mexican Fare With an Amazing Whiskey Menu.

Uncategorized

Hiking the Narrows: A Refresher Course on Life

By: Jessie Foster Photos: Rebekah Sorkin    Several months ago, my hiking buddy and I began planning an epic road … Continue reading Hiking the Narrows: A Refresher Course on Life

Uncategorized

Bent’s Old Fort and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Sites

Situated along the Old Santa Fe Trail, in present day La Junta, Colorado, is a reconstructed trading post where at … Continue reading Bent’s Old Fort and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Sites

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