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Marbles, brawling action figures, and cards combine happily with Japanese anime to form the Bakugan line of toy products for kids. Holiday lists are topped by requests for not only Bakugan Warriors but also for the Bakugan Battle Arena.

Bakugan was first released in Japan, and after success there and in Canada, it was released in the United States, where the game is continuing its record of success. In fact, many people who enjoy the game are joining leagues to play Bakugan in tournaments. The game is similar to Pokemon or Yugi-Oh, in which players battle or fight against each other for points.

Bakugan Battle Arena is a game that the whole family can enjoy. If your family enjoys game night, this is one game you must have. Parents can feel good about this game since it will help children with math and reading skills, as well as promoting good communication. It is based on the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, an anime series, which enjoys worldwide popularity. The series is about a group of children that set out to save the world using the Bakugan strategy.

As kids learn to play, they develop strategies to benefit themselves, while blocking their opponents from getting points. This strategic thinking can cross over to other games and situations, as well, making the game a great tool for logical thinking development for kids.

The object of Bakugan Battle Arena is to wage battle against other Bakugan players to score points determined by what’s on the playing cards by having the Bakugan land on a card. Kids love pretending that they are one of heroic characters from the cartoon series.

If these land on the cards, the spring-loaded marbles burst open and transform instantly into battling warriors. Players must rely on strategy to place their cards in the arena in the best positions to give them an advantage. The card placement affects the outcome of each Bakugan battle. The players then must use their shooting skills to launch their Bakugan warriors into the brawl and begin the action. Can anyone say Mighty Marble Madness? Up to 4 players can stage battles in the Bakugan Battle Arena at any one time, which allows for a lot of ongoing action. The Battle Arena has a sturdy, black plastic base with red walls, which keep the mighty Bakugan warriors spinning into action instead of getting lost in battle.

For kids who are already Bakugan devotees, the Bakugan Battle Arena is a “must have”, and it is very easy to fit together. This accessory adds an extra dimension to the battles. Both the Bakugan Battle Arena and Bakugan Battle Brawlers made their debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City and were immediately placed on the list of hottest 2008 toys.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Ross Taylor
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Now a Kansas Vacation can be one that is filled with history, beautiful lands, great museums, good sports, festivals, cultural events and attraction and great people! You can choose to spend you Kansas vacation in a large city like Kansas City or you can go to the many small towns in the state and get a taste of what makes Kansas special. Primarily, it’s the great people.

Small town Kansas is not a joke. There are a large number of very small towns (under 1000 people) in the state. Just look at Selden with a population of 177 as of July 2007. Now, they may be small but these communities have pride! What the smaller towns mean is that there is more open space to be enjoyed. Here people appreciate the land and all that comes with it, from the fabulous farms to the wheat fields and great hunting. There are farms and hunting clubs available in the state for you to try your luck with the pheasants during hunting season. You’ll enjoy the experience.

If you like haunted places then you really want to go to Atchison where there is a Haunted Atchison Trolley Tour that will take you through the “Most Haunted Town in Kansas.” The trolley runs in September and October. The 1 hour Ghost »”>ghost tour takes you to a number of homes in the community such as the McInteer Villa where lights go on and off in areas where there is no electricity, ghostly appearances have shown in the tower of the house and also in family photographs. There are footsteps where no one is and doors slamming in rooms that are empty. This is just one of the many houses that you will visit while riding the 1880 AT&SF trolley.

Near Augusta there is Henry’s Sculpture Hill with its wide array of unique outdoor sculptures, primarily made from steel and/or found objects. Now, this being a private hill the owner has stopped tours for now due to “maintenance, insurance, old age, and attitude, [but] serious buyers who are looking for original steel sculptures are welcome by appointment.” Now doesn’t that just sound like an artist? How neat and fun. If you are looking for something totally different you may want to visit the hill as a “buyer”.

There are times in our lives when being in the Garden of Eden seems like it would be a fabulous way to live. Obviously Dinsmoor of Lucas, Kansas thought so too. Following the Civil War this retired school teacher spent his final 31 years building his Garden of Eden. The “log cabin” was built with limestone logs up to 27 ft long and put together just like a log house would be constructed. None of the windows or doors are the same size to give the house a unique appearance. He then went on to build his garden which contains 113 tons of concrete adn with limestone and tells the history of the world starting with its creation. He gave tours of his 11 room house for years and now, you can see it and enjoy the history even though he has been gone for years! The cost for the tour is just $6 for adults and $1 for children so it is an inexpensive break from traditional sites.

If you are in the Manhattan or Junction City area you may want to stop in at Fort Riley. There are some truly unique things at the Fort like the Stable Tour where you can see the building that was home to the horses of the last cavalry training stables with its original cobblestone flooring. This building was built in 1889 and originally housed 76 horses; today the building is home to the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard and houses 20 horses. Of course there are new and technological training programs that take place at the Fort but there is so much history to study while there that it could be a more than one day experience.

Now let’s go back to the comments about flat land. If you want to see something really pretty you want to visit Gypsum Hills. This is an area of rolling hills, mesas, canyons and buttes in central Kansas. There are red cedar trees and with the ground being filled with iorn oxide the land is actually red! Most of the area is open range so keep your eyes open for livestock strolling along, particularly if you get off the paved roads and go along the dirt roads in the area. This 42 mile drive, from Coldwater to Medicine Lodge, has been designated the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway by the state of Kansas.

Hot and Cold water towers dot the skyline of Canton. Here the townspeople used their sense of humor to make them stand out among the usual settings of towers. Just think of how funny they think it is when “city folk” ask if they really do hold hot and cold water!

Tags: Arts & Entertainment by Greg Everett
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