I once had a trip to Junction City, Kansas. Junction City is about a 2-hour drive west of Kansas City, Kansas. Close your eyes and imagine what Junction City must be like. Okay, open them. Junction City is just like you imagined.

Beyond the rolling hills of the countryside rests this small town. Dinner choices included Denny’s, a Subway and that Chinese Restaurant (truth be told, I found a nicer place on my third night in town). When I asked a local where I should eat, they were very delighted to share with me that Olive Garden would be opening soon – but that it wasn’t open yet.

Now, I enjoy a good endless soup, salad and breadstick every once in a while. But when an Olive Garden Opening is the most highly anticipated event of the year, you can see that sometimes business travel isn’t all that it’s hacked up to be (and here are 10 more reasons why).

So that Chinese Restaurant for dinner it was, complete with moldy ceiling tiles, dirty glasses and forgettable food. In a moment of desperation on night number 2, I discovered Harry’s in Manhattan, KS. Located in a college town 20 minutes away, it’s a fine dining restaurant that was purely delicious (one of the 8 reasons why I love business travel).

I was seated at a booth in the back far from the street-side window. Jokingly because of my slightly causal appearance in this fine-dining restaurant I assumed. In an old hotel in town, it had a storied history including ghost sightings. Character, great food and even better wine.

My trip to Junction City reminds me of a tenet of business travel…

“You’ll either have a great trip, or a great story about a trip.”

Junction City, Kansas was the latter.

But what about you? What do you have more often when you travel, great trips or great stories about trips? Share by commenting.

I’ll see you out there…!

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