In the steps of the Ingalls family at Tallgrass Prairies National Reserve, Kansas

Like many young girls, I grew up reading the Little House in the Prairies books, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and wondering what life must have been like out in the American prairies. The series was turned into a popular television series, and I enjoyed those, too.

It wouldn’t be until years later, this past summer, when I found myself in Kansas (the last holdout state that ensured I have now visited all 48 contiguous American states), close to where the Ingalls built their log cabin and set up roots.

South of that area where the Ingalls resided, my son and I decided to stop at the Tallgrass Prairies National Reserve to walk around the prariries – a welcome break to strtech our legs during our long, cross-country drive.

This national preserve was an amazing find. It has been a protected area since was established in 1996 to preserve a small part of the 170 million acres of tallgrass prariries that once covered America, but has since been developed.

Only 4% of those prairies still exist today – and most of that in this protected area in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas. I would love to return here to dedicate more time to the numerous trails that dot this 11,000 acres of tallgrass prairies. And, if the descriptions are to be believed, I’d love to get here at the time of year when some of these prairie grasses grow to a whopping eight feet tall.

It was wonderful to hear the praririe grasses swaying in the wind, and to see the herd of buffalo grazing on these idyllic plains. Living in Italy, I thought I was used to strong sun, but prairie sun took both my son and me by surprise – come armed with hats and sunscreen.

For those of you who haven’t yet seen herds of buffalo, it truly is spectacular. I had been with my son on earlier trips to the west, so he had seen buffalo herds before – but it is still an awe-inspiring sight each and every time!

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam…

This was a great discovery. Our stop-off was supposed to be about twenty minutes, but it was such a lovely spot that we spent much, much longer here – and could have spent much longer hitting the trails.

But, alas, we had a loooong drive still to make across the (huge) state of Kansas, so had to get back on the road, but what a fabulous stop-off this was! The prairies was a fascinating visit for both of us. Don’t miss the Tallgrass Prariries on your next trip through eastern Kansas!