Riding into Dodge City on Wyatt Earp Avenue, I have to wonder what he would have thought if he could see us today. A lawman so notorious that every western town seems to make some claim to him and his name is still known across America today. 

I was excited to see if Dodge City could live up to the rest of Kansas.

Narrator: Dodge City did not, in fact, live up to the rest of Kansas.

I felt Dodge city was the first somewhat disappointment of the trip. We still always have a good time; The Boot Hill museum was a nice way to learn about the history of the area, we extended our swimming streak at camp, and at times the air smelled like air. The staged western town was fun and Maple got to learn the can-can in a working saloon. The museum was top notch roadside family fun and saved the day. 

I’m not sure what I was expecting from a place so popular in western pop culture, but I had certainly imagined a more lively historic downtown district. The campground choices were underwhelming for a town this size. Our best option was very plain, well past its prime, and in need of many repairs.  Better used as a place to park for the evening. Everything was closed off and run down. Also Dodge City, maybe it was my fault for expecting to breathe air that’s not completely offensive to your nasal passageways. The rains kept us inside in the evening and we each did our own thing. To top off our stay, on the way out of town, we stopped at a historical marker and I’ve never seen so much nothing in my life.

In jest I once said to the kids, prepare for the boring part of our trip! I feel bad telling them Kansas was going to be boring. It was awesome, and they remind me constantly how wrong I was. I will defend Kansas in the future when its name gets drug through the mud of Road Trip forums. 

Even in Dodge, when I said meh, the kids stopped me and said “what are you talking about this place was awesome! I liked the goats!” A reminder of what really matters. 

When we left, I totally forgot to say, “let’s get the hell out of Dodge.”