The next morning, we went back downtown to a little restaurant we had noticed the night before. Ray’s Diner is famous for its hamburgers and chili, but this morning we were there for the atmosphere and the eggs. Eating at the diner was like taking a step back in time. The red striped awning and checkered tile reminded me of going to diners for milkshakes when I was a little girl, and I immediately felt that no matter what we ordered, it was going to be good.
The eggs were perfectly scrambled, the pancakes were fluffy and the bacon is extra crispy—just the way I like it. We were set for a great day.
Leaving Ray’s Diner, we walked a short block to the Hall of Waters, a unique Art Deco building that was originally used as a bottling and distribution center for the local mineral water—that same water said to have healing powers. Today, the Hall of Waters houses the Visitor’s Center and Excelsior Springs City Offices. Walking into the historic structure, I was rendered speechless by the beauty of the massive emerald windows and the way the light filtered in, turning the building into a work of art.
In its heyday, the Hall of Waters offered 10 different mineral waters to the public via a water bar. We visited the bar, centered in a yellow and teal, oval-shaped room. Though it no longer sells mineral water, we were blown away by the amount of light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the beautiful tiles and chandeliers. We also took a peek at the Olympic-size swimming pool—though no longer filled with mineral water, it was easy to imagine scores of visitors diving in, eager to reap the restorative benefits that awaited them.
My plan all along was to take my husband to a place he would always remember, a place where we could enjoy spending time together, just the two of us. I think my plan was working.