Prairie Trippin' - Preview

This all started back when I was in elementary school. I grew up loving both the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the TV show inspired by her stories. And while the books get about 90% and the TV show only 5% of the historical facts right, they are 100% enjoyable and fascinating glimpses into a world gone by.

My "new" Little House Books!

Back in March I received some birthday money (thank you again Mom, Dad, Grandma & Grandpa Baeth!) and bought the complete set of Little House books - the yellow boxed set from my childhood, now an antique. In tandem with my dear friend, Karen, I started rereading the series as we prepared to visit the two nearest Laura sites to KC - Independence, Kansas (Little House on the Prairie) and Mansfield, Missouri (Laura's final home at Rocky Ridge Farm) as part of an epic September road trip.

Laura sites throughout the midwest

Just a few weeks ago while chatting about this trip with another dear friend, Jenny, a separate plan hatched to visit De Smet, South Dakota - site of several books in the series (By The Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, and These Happy Golden Years). While a lengthy 8 hour drive from my house, it was only a 4.5 hour drive from her place in Omaha. So an August weekend excursion was planned.

Which set of books did you grow up reading?

Over the next several posts I'll take you along as I visit De Smet, South Dakota; Independence, Kansas and Mansfield, Missouri. Enjoy!