A few weeks before this trip began, I was wandering through London with my camera in hand.
I spent my days photographing royal parks, historic architecture, hidden details, and the little things most visitors walk right past. It was one of those trips that reminds me why I love photography and travel so much.
Then I came home and started planning a completely different adventure.
This time there would be no airports, no passports, and no overnight flights.
Instead, there would be highways, roadside attractions, wildlife encounters, murals, and nearly 2,200 miles of road stretching across America’s heartland.
And it all started with a wildlife park in Kansas.
One Invitation Changed Everything
When Tanganyika Wildlife Park invited me to visit their park in Wichita, I knew almost immediately that I wanted to make the trip.
What I didn’t know was that the invitation would eventually turn into one of the most memorable road trips I’ve taken in years.
At first, the plan was simple: drive to Kansas, spend time at Tanganyika, and head home.
But as often happens, the more I looked at a map, the more possibilities I found.
Could we drive part of Route 66?
Could we visit states I hadn’t explored before?
Could we add murals, unique attractions, and photography opportunities along the way?
Before long, a simple wildlife visit had transformed into a multi-state adventure.
Why This Trip Felt Different
One of the things I love most about road trips is that they force you to slow down.
When you’re flying, the journey is often just a way to reach the destination.
On a road trip, the journey becomes part of the destination.
The giant roadside attractions matter.
The local restaurants matter.
The quirky antique stores matter.
The conversations with strangers matter.
Even the unexpected detours become part of the story.
Over the course of this adventure, we traveled through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and back home to Kentucky.
Some destinations had been on my radar for months.
Others weren’t even on the itinerary when we left home.
Four Things Shaped This Adventure
As I look back through thousands of photographs from the trip, four themes stand out.
Wildlife
Tanganyika Wildlife Park may have inspired the trip, but the wildlife experiences became the heart of it.
There are moments I’ll never forget.
Standing face-to-face with a tiger.
Feeding a rhino.
Watching giraffes gently take food from my hand.
Meeting penguins.
Spending time with Mars, the pygmy hippo who had become somewhat of a celebrity long before I arrived.
As a photographer, I loved documenting these encounters.
As a traveler, I simply loved experiencing them.
Route 66
I’ve always been fascinated by Route 66.
There is something special about following a road that has connected travelers for generations.
Along the way, we stopped at roadside attractions, crossed historic bridges, explored quirky destinations, and discovered places that perfectly capture the spirit of America’s Mother Road.
One of those stops was Pink Elephant Antique Mall.
I expected antiques.
I expected Route 66 nostalgia.
I did not expect to receive a private preview of their Haunted School attraction.
It ended up being one of the most creative and memorable surprises of the entire trip.
Murals and Public Art
If you’ve followed Lenses & Latitudes for very long, you already know I have a weakness for murals.
Every city tells its story differently, and public art often reveals a community’s personality better than any guidebook ever could.
Throughout the trip, I found myself searching for colorful walls, hidden artwork, and creative spaces that added character to each destination.
Some were planned.
Others were discovered simply by wandering a little farther down the street.
Photography
Photography is always the thread that connects my travels.
Sometimes I’m looking for grand landscapes.
Sometimes I’m chasing architectural details.
Sometimes I’m trying to capture the personality of a destination.
And sometimes I’m simply trying to preserve a moment before it disappears.
This trip gave me opportunities to do all of those things.
From wildlife encounters and historic Route 66 landmarks to immersive art exhibits and elegant historic hotels, there was never a shortage of subjects waiting to be photographed.
The Places That Surprised Me Most
One of my favorite parts of travel is being wrong.
Not in a bad way.
In the wonderful way that happens when a place exceeds every expectation you had before arriving.
Tanganyika lived up to the excitement that inspired the trip.
But several other destinations surprised me.
City Museum in St. Louis was unlike anything I had experienced before. It’s difficult to explain because it isn’t really a museum in the traditional sense. It felt like part art installation, part playground, and part giant creative experiment.
Factory Obscura in Oklahoma City completely immersed us in a world of imagination and color.
The Cheshire gave us a literary-themed stay that felt like a small piece of Britain tucked into St. Louis.
The Empress in Little Rock delivered the kind of historic charm that instantly makes you feel at home.
And perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the William J. Clinton Presidential Center.
Before arriving, I wasn’t sure how much time we would spend there.
A couple of hours later, I found myself fascinated by exhibits, presidential history, and facts I had never known before—including learning that Bill Clinton wasn’t actually born with the surname Clinton.
His father died before he was born, and Clinton was the last name of his stepfather.
It’s exactly the kind of unexpected discovery that makes travel so rewarding.
Some of the Best Moments Weren’t Planned
As much as I enjoy planning a trip, this adventure reinforced an important lesson.
Leave room for surprises.
A haunted attraction hidden behind an antique mall.
A lunch stop in Jackson, Tennessee that turned into an exploration of Casey Jones Village.
Conversations with people who were passionate about sharing their communities.
Unexpected photo opportunities.
Small discoveries that never appeared on the itinerary.
Those moments often become the stories we remember most.
The Partners Who Helped Bring This Journey to Life
This road trip would not have been the same without the generosity and hospitality of several incredible partners.
Throughout the series you’ll learn more about:
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Pink Elephant Antique Mall
- The Cheshire
- City Museum
- Hotel at Old Town
- Factory Obscura
- William J. Clinton Presidential Center
- The Empress of Little Rock
Each brought something unique to the journey, and each deserves a story of its own.
Come Along for the Adventure
When I accepted an invitation to visit a wildlife park in Kansas, I never imagined it would lead to an eight-state road trip filled with wildlife encounters, Route 66 discoveries, immersive art, historic hotels, and unexpected surprises.
Yet that’s exactly what happened.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing the stories, photographs, lessons, and destinations that made this journey so memorable.
I hope you’ll join me.
And while you’re here, I’d love to hear from you.
What’s your favorite road trip memory?
Leave a comment below, follow Lenses & Latitudes on Instagram, and come back soon for the first stop on the journey.
Because the adventure is just getting started.
