Having lots of options for brain friendly activities close to home is always something to be grateful for… But sometimes you just want to get away for a day! A short drive to grab a delicious breakfast or maybe an overnight camping trip, whatever you prefer, Osage City offers a lot of choices. Only 37 miles away, Osage City is about a 40-minute drive, making it the perfect day trip destination. While we love our local town, we don’t want to forget about our neighbors!
When planning to spend the day in Osage City, I would say Henry’s Coffee House has to be your first stop! Breakfast is served all day and lunch is served from 11:00 AM to close [1]. Most of the menu items are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables and served on multigrain bread or are available as wraps. They also have some refreshing smoothies if you are looking for a treat to cool down. Their breakfast options mostly contain egg, sausage or ham, and cheese which are great sources of protein and also hits with the kids. No matter what you have planned for the rest of the day, powering up at Henry’s Coffee House is an important stop. Sadly, Henry’s does not offer a wide tea selection, but they do offer some unique coffee options. For example, the Lavender Vanilla and Honey Almond specialty drinks are not something you will find at the nearby Starbucks [1]. A study done in 2017 found that when people were given a nutritious and balanced breakfast bar they performed better on memory tasks, both long term and short term [4]. Caffeine has also been studied to see if it may help improve cognitive function [4]. No matter what, science tells us that one of the best things we can do for our brains is eat foods with a variety of vitamins and minerals [4].
After feeding your body and brain some balanced grub, why not take some produce home with you to cook a great dinner? At Osage Produce and Garden you can get your farmers market fix without having to wake up early on Saturday morning. They are a greenhouse business that sells mostly seeds in bulk and various plants, but during the summer they also sell “farmers market boxes” [5]. These boxes consist of leftover produce that didn’t get sold at the farmers market or locally sourced fruits and vegetables [5]. All you have to do is contact the owners via Facebook or email to arrange an order and go pick it up! It is a great hack to get fresh produce for those
who are too busy to get to the local market on Saturdays. If you are all set on produce, they have a variety of beautiful flowers and plants that are ready to brighten up your garden, as well as some fun decorations [5]! Having a leisurely activity that you enjoy, like gardening, can also help keep dementia at bay [6]. Keeping a garden not only requires mental activity by planning ahead and remembering the needs of each plant, but also physical activity through planting, watering, and feeding the plants you take care of. It also offers an opportunity for community by having a topic you can share with other people! Remember, having social connections can help prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia [2]. If gardening is a hobby you might consider getting involved in, Osage Garden and Produce would be a great place to start.
If you consider yourself more of an adventurer, you can try your hand at camping at Eisenhower State Park. This will take some planning ahead as reservations are required for camping at the park, but Eisenhower offers 163 campsites with utilities [3]. The park also has 15 sites that are suitable for equestrians, meaning you can take your horse with you to enjoy some of the nearby trails [3]. If horseback riding is not your preference, there are lots of other trails available for hiking and biking [3]. A swimming beach, basketball court, and playground are also located near Ike’s Shelter house- which is a popular location for family reunions [3]. A couple weeks ago we talked about lots of the benefits of exercising outside and hiking specifically! Eisenhower State Park is a great resource for getting moving in the fresh air.
Whatever you decide is the best fit for you and your family, do something exciting together this weekend! School is creeping up right around the corner so don’t miss the chance to make a quick trip to the wonderful Osage City and make some summer memories. Your brain will thank you!
*Notice: The author is not affiliated with Henry's Coffeehouse, Osage Garden and Produce, or Eisenhower State Park.
Sources
[1]. Henry’s Coffee House Facebook page. Whole page. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/henryscoffeeosage/?ref=page_internal
[2]. Holt-Lunstad J. Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors: The Power of Social Connection in Prevention. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021;15(5):567-573. Published 2021 May 6. Accessed July 23, 2022. doi:10.1177/15598276211009454
[3]. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Eisenhower state park. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Eisenhower
[4]. Kennedy D, Wightman E, Forster J, et al. Cognitive and mood effects of a nutrient enriched breakfast bar in healthy adults: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups study. Nutrients. 2017; 9(12):1332. Accessed July 23, 2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/12/1332/htm
[5]. Osage Garden and Produce Facebook page. Whole page. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057448689238
[6]. Wang H, Xu W, Pei J. Leisure activities, cognition, and dementia. BBA- Mol Basis Dis. 2012; 1822(3): 482-491. Accessed July 24, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443911001979