Free Romancing the Roads by Gerry Hempel Davis Page A

first major Nebraska city heading west.
    A delightful surprise, Omaha is a pocketful of treasures. Each time I have only visited for a night or two, but I have driven around the city and found everything rather impressive. The streets are clean, the areas well marked, and the people most friendly. There is a lot to discover in Omaha. It seems that the town fathers consider carefully how to add to the city. Glitz is not obvious—thank goodness!
    Magnolia Omaha Hotel
    1615 Howard St.
    402-342-2222
    www.magnoliahotelomaha.com
    This attractive hotel in the historic downtown area is easy to find with directions. It is a place where women can feel secure and all guests can feel welcomed. The self-parking, a stone’s throw from the hotel, is convenient and safe. The property’s 146 well-designed guest rooms are a very comfortable size and have all the necessary amenities. The furnishings in the public areas, as well as in the rooms, are attractive, with emphasis on mahogany furniture, oriental rugs, and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The small, separate areas in the main areas are pleasant and inviting. The hotel is well run. Several upgrades have taken placesince my visit. Everything is well placed, and the dining room is now named Hitz on Howard (402-231-6091). Remember this property if you are going to Omaha. Forbes named Omaha “The Best Bang for the Buck City.”
    The Magnolia Omaha is within walking distance of the Old Market District (www.oldmarket.com), a wonderful twelve-square-block area that I highly recommend. Cobblestone streets and nineteenth-century buildings are now filled with boutiques, bookstores, restaurants, and whatever is trendy. Allow lots of time, and be sure to enjoy one of the restaurants. Also near the hotel is the Orpheum Theater (www.omahaperformingarts.org/orpheum). Perhaps you’ll catch a Broadway show, an opera, or symphony during your visit. There is a lot going on in Omaha and near this hotel. Be sure to check for places and events.
    Interesting: There must be something in the Nebraska water or air as a lot of very well-known people are from this state: Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Warren Buffett, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Dorothy McGuire, Darryl F. Zanuck, and the list goes on.

Kansas
    As corny as this may sound, I confess that, as I drove along I-70 into Kansas, I started singing, “I’m as corny as Kansas in August . . .”
    There is little question that Kansas is, well, very flat, but the countryside is beautiful. I even had a Norman Rockwell moment when I came upon a robust farmer in faded denim overalls atop a rusty red tractor, an umbrella protecting his skin from the summer sun.
    Topeka is a little like the Emerald City of Oz, with its impressive skyline surrounded by huge farmed fields. When I was driving by, I did not have time to discover the downtown (although I was invited), but the fields were a brilliant green. A sign read, “One Kansas Farmer Feeds 128 People Plus You.”
    Down the road in Alma you’ll find Grandma Hoerner’s.
    Grandma Hoerner’s Shop and Factory
    31862 Thompson Rd.
    785-765-2300
    www.grandmahoerners.com
    On a country road where horses have left their calling cards, Grandma Hoerner’s is in a bright red building. As you enter, the distinctive smell of apples fills the air. Here is a repository of apple products of all varieties. When I visited, a very attractive woman with the most unbelievable flaming red hair, movie star’s torso, appropriate summer dress, and high heels appeared on the scene. (I mention the high heels because I didn’t expect to see anyone wearing such attractive shoes at a “factory.” As a shoe aficionado, I had to make note.) It turns out she was the wife of Grandma Hoerner’s grandson, Duane McCoy, who now runs the business.
    Duane’s mother, Evangeline, daughter of Grandma Mable Hoerner, gave her mother’s recipe to her son Duane. It was general knowledge that everyone liked Grandma’s applesauce, made with the firmest