Kansas City is renowned for its hundreds of fountains. And it’s no wonder: A recent study revealed it has the purest water of any major city in the country.
Fervere (816-842-7272, www.fervere.com) bakes loaves in a hand-built brick oven using organic wheat farmed from the fields of Kansas. Grab a loaf of the whole-grain travel bread for the roadas its name suggests, this dense bread keeps well.

At The Prairie Center (913-856-7669, www.kdwp.state.ks.us), six miles of walking trails wind through a 300-acre preserve where native wildflowers, such as goldenrod and aster, and tall grasses wave in the breeze under wide-open skies.

After cold mineral springs were discovered in the suburb of Excelsior Springs in the late 1800s, the town passed a law requiring a doctor's prescription to take the waters. Fortunately, today's visitors to The Elms Resort and Spa (800-843-3567, www.elmsresort.com) only need an appointment. Be sure to try the Spa Escape ($230), which includes a milk and aromatherapy bath, a detoxifying mud wrap, and a full-body massage.
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