Laura Ingalls Wilder – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

New York 14 Aug 2026

Stopping By the Almanzo Wilder Homestead

The Almanzo Wilder Homestead has long been on my “someday” list. Growing up, I read the Little House books and was a fan of the TV show from the 1970s and 80s. As we planned our 2023 East Coast road trip, I looked for a way to include this historic farm on our itinerary. I was super excited when I realized we could fit it in between Niagara Falls and Bar Harbor, Maine! It wasn’t the perfect visit, but as many roadtrippers know, stops along the route aren’t always perfect. We weren’t able to stop while the homestead was open due to timing on the road. But if that happens to you, don’t fear. You are allowed to walk the grounds even when the visitor center and museum are closed. You won’t get a tour or get to go inside the buildings. Still, you’ll be able to walk the grounds where…

0 Shares

Kansas 2 Apr 2020

Our Visit to the Little House on the Prairie Museum

Lately, I’ve had some time for extra reading, so I decided to read a couple of books related to Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve been a Laura fan since I was a girl, so I like to throw in some reading about her life every now and again. As I read, I was reminded of a little day trip we took one summer day to visit the Little House on the Prairie Museum near Independence, Kansas. A Couple of Books About Laura Ingalls Wilder The first was Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller. This is a retelling of Little House on the Prairie from Ma’s point of view. Miller also used some facts that differ slightly from Wilder’s fictionalized version. It was an interesting take, but if you’ve read Little House on the Prairie as I had, you already know what main events will happen. I think that makes it…

Pin231

231 Shares

Missouri 15 Oct 2017

Laura in the Ozarks: Our Visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum

I have been a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan since I began reading her books in elementary school, and I’ve always wanted to tour her home and museum in Mansfield, Missouri. I also loved watching the TV show as a child, even though it is pretty loosely based on the books. As an adult, I’ve wanted to learn more about her life, so I have started taking my family to her homes across the Midwest. We are lucky to live near to two of those homes–The Little House on the Prairie near Independence, Kansas, and Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Missouri. Heading to Rocky Ridge Farm I was pretty excited to bring Kristin to Laura’s homes. She is starting to learn more about her, although currently Jack the bulldog is her favorite character, not Laura. What can I say? The girl loves animals. We’ve also stayed a night in De Smet,…

Pin2K

2K Shares

South Dakota 15 Apr 2017

A Night on Laura’s Prairie at the Ingalls Homestead

o If you are a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan you simply must visit the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota. When my husband suggested a trip to the Black Hills, I immediately knew I wanted to work it into our trip to see the little town on the prairie where Laura came of age and met and married Almanzo. Plus, I was intrigued with the idea of spending the night in a wagon on the actual Ingalls homestead. I knew we had to do it. Visiting De Smet and the Ingalls Homestead is one of my favorite traveling memories! If you’ve read the Little House books, you know that Laura’s time in De Smet begins in By the Shores of Silver Lake. We only spent an afternoon, evening, and morning here, but I could have stayed for days! Since we were on our way to the Black Hills, we didn’t…

Pin1K

1K Shares