​DAY TRIPPING: At The Rabbit hOle

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

After taking one step though the entrance of The Rabbit hOle, I knew my wife Stacy and four young guests were about to experience a magical journey featuring nostalgia, the books we read when were youngsters, and the type of wide-eyed wonderment that helped make our childhoods to special. 
 
If you are looking for a destination where adults and children can visit, look no further than The Rabbit hOle, 919 East 14th Street, North Kansas City, 816- 492-7915.

There you will find a world of tapestry of adventure. And it all starts with a trip down R. Fox Rabbit's rabbit hole.

The Rabbit hOle is the only experimental museum in the country built around children's literature. With more than 40 showcase replications of children's classics, it brings those special childhood memories back to life.

When my sons, Zach and Sean, were youngsters - they are now 40 and 37, respectively - they had the opportunity read childhood masterpieces like, "Strega Nona,"  "The Stinky Cheese Man," "Where the Sidewalk Ends," "Curious George," "No, David," and the list goes on and on...

Believe it or not, all but two of the artists who create the magical kingdom of once-in-a-lifetime journeys through the a world of literature, are elves. They're tough to find, but if you do, they will be happy to share their creative journey with moms and dads, sons and daughters and grandparents, too!

The Rabbit hOle is the only experimental museum in the country built around children's literature.

R. Fox Rabbit, the founder of the Rabbit hOle, invites everyone to read one of the more than 90 books - that are available at each point of interest - then share a journey with the Stinky Cheese Man, Curious George and that famous sidewalk where you can climb to the end and discover your final destination.

"We encourage you to stop and read along the way," R. Fox Rabbit explains. "We want you to discover books you have never heard of, and rediscover old favorites."

And that's what we did.

We arrived at The Rabbit Hole with four youngsters aged 5 through 16, and witnessed the joy and wonderment in their eyes as we shared their amazing journey.

"I'm not coming home with you," exclaimed 5-year-old Isaiah. "I'm going to live here. I don't ever want to leave."

His 11-year-old sister Annabelle, added, "This is the coolest place I've ever been. I want to come here every day."

Sixteen-year-old Maddie looks around this one-of-a-kind fairy tale, and whispered, "This is where your favorite books come to life. It's amazing. I know I'm having as much fun as Isaiah, and he's having the time of his life."

And 14-year-old Elijah, adds, "This is an 11 on a 10 scale. No wait, it's a 20 on a 10 scale. Everywhere you look there's something new to see and books to read. How did they create all of this?"

A 20-foot python, who is as gentle as a baby bunny, tree houses, sidewalks, gardens and a trolley car were all created in a 22,000-square-foot fabrication area that is manned by human artists during the day and artistic elves at night.

They capture the impact books make on the lives of children, and create a world where you can watch a pasta explosion in Strega Nona's kitchen, sit next to the cap man under his "Caps for Sale," tree or share a drink with "The Tigers Who Came to Tea."

Youngsters can slide down a pole in "The Fire Cat's" firehouse, take a trolley ride and enjoy a ride to "The Last House on Market Street" and stroll through the colorful "Gladiola Garden."

Look up to find "The Three Little Wolves and the Big, Bad Bunny," as they look across the horizon where you can grab Madeline's hand as she strolls the streets of Paris.

Max's Kansas City offers meals on-site, and whether you order Blueberries for Sal or a Stinky Cheese Man grilled cheese sandwich, which is a delight to the taste buds. And everyone needs to stop at Lucky Rabbit Books and gift shop.

For older kids, The Rabbit hOle is home to the Letterpress Print Shop, where you can create journals, cards, posters and bookmarks, and next to the print shop is the Story Lab, where visitors create their own books in a variety of printing and bookbinding processes.

For more information go to rabbitholekc.org.

Photo credit: Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News