Darnell, Richard T DDS

Take the plunge and keep cool when you take the family to Topeka's Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center. No matter what level of experience your kids have when it comes to swimming, they will love being in the water and enjoying the many amenities offered by this state-of-the-art aquatic attraction. Among its many fine attributes, the center features challenging diving boards, a kiddie section for toddlers to safely make a splash, and of course, the expansive 50-meter pool itself!

If you and your friends are out and want to grab a few drinks in a truly comfortable, no-frills environment, then make your way over to Topeka's Matinee Club. Don't let the name fool you, this charmingly low-key nightlife venue is one of those places that makes little effort to draw attention to itself. Instead, the bartenders, waitresses and fellow guests all enjoy the relaxed if somewhat detached mood of the place. Come in, enjoy a few rounds, and feel like you've been at a friend's house who doesn't like to make a big deal about things, but you still manage to have a great time in his company anyway.

When you visit Lake Shawnee, you can expect to have some great fun outdoors either sunbathing, fishing or enjoying a picnic on the shore. But you may not have expected such excellent amenities as the nearby Garden House, Reynolds Lodge, a marina, tennis courts, volleyball courts, campgrounds and even a golf course. When you spend some quality time at Lake Shawnee, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised!

It's funny how cyclical everything is. About 30 years ago, music fans lamented the passing of the vinyl record album as it was pushed aside by the smaller, silvery compact disc. Now that mp3s and digital music downloads are the norm, the CD has gone the way of the record. But its magic is still very much alive at Topeka's CD Tradepost. There are three locations in town that all feature a constantly changing inventory and will offer you an opportunity to trade your discs in to receive store credit to trade in or purchase something they have in stock. They also offer a great selection of games and movies, too.