Hidden in Plain Sight: Our Week of Family, Friends & Fun in Merriam, KS
- 1nonblonde
- Jul 14
- 5 min read
May 2025: Who knew there was a full-blown RV park nestled right next to a junior high school in suburban Merriam, KS? Not us, and apparently not a single one of our Kansas City-area friends or family. Walnut Grove RV Park is the kind of hidden gem that’s less “shiny jewel” and more “useful rock” - but hey, it got the job done.
Our site backed up to a towering concrete wall and boasted a full canopy of massive trees. Sounds dreamy, right? It was… until we discovered the site was so shallow our porch couldn’t deploy. Sigh. There goes our outdoor morning coffee vibe. On the plus side, we had plenty of shade and just enough space to wedge in and get comfy.
Oh - and then there was that night.
Because it wouldn’t be spring in Kansas without at least one tornado warning, right? Although the sirens never went off, the weather apps went nuts, and the skies got all dramatic in that “we’re not in the front range of Colorado anymore” kind of way. We were pelted with a few minutes of pea-sized hail, and the winds had our rig shimming like Tina Turner performing Proud Mary. Nestled under those massive trees, we felt protected… but also nervously aware that a hefty limb could come crashing down like a scene from Twister: RV Edition. Thankfully, no damage - just some adrenaline, a quick reset of the bike covers, and a solid reminder that nature is always the headliner.
Walnut Grove is a pint-sized park, home to about 50 sites - most occupied by permanent residents. The bathrooms were, shall we say, “retro chic.” And by that, I mean dated stalls, only a couple showers, and a vibe that said, “Don’t linger.” The laundry was tucked around the back of the bathhouse and was small but serviceable. No clubhouse, no pool, no dog run, no pickleball… but they did sell ice cream at the front office. Priorities, people. 🍦
Family Reunion, KC-Style
This whole stint was about reconnecting with Darren’s sprawling and awesome Kansas City fam, and wow - we packed it in. We kicked things off with nephew Chad (son of Darren’s oldest brother, Ron), wife Kelly, and their fun crew: Lola, Abe, and Leo. We hung out on their backyard patio for some game-watching and got a private tour of their stunning 4-story historic home in the Hyde Park District - a neighborhood dripping in charm and early 20th-century elegance.
Next up: Nephew Dustin (son of 2nd oldest sister, Sherri) and his girlfriend Lacie. We met them at their industrial-chic downtown loft. (Exposed brick and skyline views? Yes, please.) We started the afternoon by making a beeline for the downtown free bus/trolley with a beer destination in mind. Our path took us through the Crossroads Arts District. I enjoyed all the incredible murals that seemed to pop up on every other wall. KC doesn’t mess around when it comes to public art - giant, colorful pieces ranging from jazz legends to abstract explosions of color. I was a total pro playing the tourist game by snapping photos through the bus windows.
Eventually, the murals led us (conveniently) to River Bluff Brewing, tucked right into the downtown vibe. The space had a cozy-industrial feel and a killer beer list. We ordered up a couple flights and settled into full tasting mode - crisp lagers, juicy IPAs (for Dustin), malty darks… no bad choices in the bunch. The staff knew their stuff, the vibes were excellent, and the company couldn’t be beat.
Afterward, we made a stop in the Power & Light District to round out the evening with darts, brews, and people-watching levels that did not disappoint. KC knows how to show a good time - and these two made sure we didn’t miss a minute of it.
A night later, nephew Kevin (Sherri’s younger son) invited us to a co-ed softball game just a few blocks from our RV site. My junior high bestie Beth joined the cheering section, and we capped the night with drinks and snacks at the RV like true VIPs.
We also had a lovely evening with niece Mindy (daughter of Darren's 3rd oldest sister, Loreita) and her husband Jim in their beautifully restored 2-story cottage in Westwood. They're building a mother-in-law suite over the garage and gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the early stages. Nothing says bonding like blueprints and sawdust.
Denise (Darren’s 5th oldest sister) and her husband Bill were in town too (from Wichita), so we met up at nephew Ryan & Jaime’s for a classic KC BBQ with their kids Perri and Pierce. Their younger son Shane and his wife Bailey also joined the party. Kevin and Mindy also rounded out the party. Basically, if we had a family bingo card, we just won blackout.
Old Friends, New Adventures
Beth (yes, that junior high Beth!) invited us out to Missie B’s, a well-known and loved LGBTQ+ bar and safe space in KC. We caught an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race - complete with live commentary from the bar staff that had us crying laughing - and stayed for most of the drag show. There was even a drag queen saxophonist. They were fantastic!
We also reconnected with our New Orleans buddies, Megan & Sam, who we first met at the bar at Crescent City Brewhouse way back in 2015. Megan had been noshing on seafood cheesecake (yes, it's real and yes, it’s incredible) and enjoying a flight of beer, and she and I instantly hit it off. Since that day, we’ve stayed in touch, and now whenever we’re near KC, we meet up. This time they came over for a weeknight BBQ. Megan grilled up killer burgers, and three of the four of us indulged in some rare WBC beers. (If you know, you know. 😉)
And just before we rolled out of town, my high school bestie Wendy and her husband Jason stopped by! We grabbed a casual lunch just down the street - nothing fancy, just good people, good food, and lots of catching up.
Trails, Turkeys & Tudor Homes
On the physical activity side of things (yes, we did move occasionally), we hopped on our e-bikes and explored several trails:
Merriam Turkey Creek Streamway Trail – shady, winding, and surprisingly peaceful considering you’re in the middle of the metro.
Antioch Park – where we stumbled upon the Turkey Creek Festival! Total small-town fair vibes: booths, bounce houses, and enough kettle corn to send Darren into a popcorn coma.
Gary L. Haller Trail – stretched along Mill Creek and great for a long scenic ride.
Clear Creek Trail – short but sweet, and connected us to more historic homes to drool over.
We also drove through some of KC’s most charming historic neighborhoods - Westwood Hills, Roanoke, Hyde Park, and Volker - and gawked at all the lovingly restored Tudors, Craftsman bungalows, and Queen Anne stunners. Sadly, not a single photo. You’ll just have to trust us and imagine every house looked like it belonged on a jigsaw puzzle box.
Final Thoughts From Our Shady Little Parking Spot
Merriam, KS wasn’t the glitziest stop on our route, but it brought us back to what really matters - time with our people, both new and old. It’s funny how an RV park tucked next to a school can become your front-row seat to memory-making.
Until next time, KC! You weird little barbecue-filled, jazz-humming, drag-show-saxophone-playing gem of a city.
Cheers!
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