Roger Schwartz and Matt Miller, a Valley Falls farm boy, got their picture taken with Larry King at the Nate ’N Al Deli and Restaurant in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Matt Miller with Marcia Cross.

Matt Miller stands with Rob Reiner.

Traveling has always been a hobby of mine. Growing up a farm boy in rural Valley Falls, I always wanted to explore places beyond Kansas. This year my summer travels took me to the epicenter of food, fun and film: Beverly Hills.

My best friend, Roger Schwartz, and his wife, Laura, reside there. My six-day Beverly Hills bash began May 29 and ended June 3.

You probably don’t need me to tell you how exciting Beverly Hills is. The name alone, at least for me, conjures up a mishmash of exciting thoughts, images and questions. This trip was a mission! The mission was to locate as many celebrities as possible and have my photo taken with them. As touristy as it sounds, it was a rare opportunity for this Kansas farm boy to rub elbows with the stars.

My first celebrity encounter occurred on Beverly Drive. As I scanned the drive, a swarm of photographers, positioned outside a small clothing store, captured my attention. As I approached the store, I quickly realized this wasn’t a group of tourists casually taking photos. It was the paparazzi! There were about 10 of them, all armed with a variety of electronic devices including cell phones, Blackberries and digital cameras.

Being the intrepid soul that I am, I promptly asked one of them, a male, “Who are you guys photographing?” “Kim Kardashian” he replied. “She’s shopping for dresses.” It was somewhat surreal. I thought to myself, “This is insane! Am I really with a group of paparazzi photographing Kim Kardashian in Beverly Hills?!”

As Ms. Kardashian exited the store, the photographers surrounded her like a pack of hungry hyenas. “Kim, over here,” yelled one photographer. The sounds of camera shutters, accompanied by blinding camera flashes, ensued.

A tip from one of the photographers led to my second celebrity sighting. I was advised by the gentleman that Marcia Cross, also known as Bree Van De Kamp of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” was having coffee at the Earth Café a couple blocks away. “Thanks, man” I said to the photographer in a hurried tone and made a dash for the Earth Café.

My timing was impeccable, as Ms. Cross was sipping coffee at a table to my left. In an effort to appear somewhat inconspicuous, I ordered a coffee and seated myself close enough for a photo. “Ms. Cross, do you mind if I take a quick photo with you?” I asked in a nervous, unsure tone. “Sure,” she said reluctantly. It was palpable she wasn’t thrilled about taking the photo.

Later that evening, also on Beverly Boulevard, I stumbled upon a reception honoring legendary television director Norman Lear. Mr. Lear was responsible for creating numerous television sitcoms such as “All in the Family,” “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons” and many more. Former cast members of these shows were invited to attend. Fans, some with DVD copies of these shows in hand, anxiously awaited their arrival. As the former cast members trickled in, they kindly stopped for autographs and photos. Actress Marla Gibbs and Rob Reiner stopped for a quick photo with me. This made for celebrity sightings three and four.

Before departing the land of swimming pools and movie stars, there was one more celebrity I wanted a photo with: Larry King. Wednesday morning, just hours before my flight departure, Roger and I had breakfast at Nate N’ Al Deli and Restaurant, a famous diner celebrities frequent in Beverly Hills.

Our schedule was tight, so we immediately asked the waitress, a short, middle-aged woman, what time Mr. King would arrive. “He usually arrives between 8:30 and 8:45,” she said. “Would he mind taking a couple pictures with me and my friend?” I asked. “Sure! He loves taking photos with his fans.”

Within minutes Mr. King, along with a few of his cronies, arrived for breakfast. After finishing his breakfast nearly 40 minutes later, he headed for the door. The waitress, who speaks to Mr. King frequently, asked him if he would take a quick photo with us. He must have said yes, because he immediately introduced himself. “Hi guys, how’s it going?” he asked, in that distinct, gravely Larry King voice. Of all the celebrities I met, he was the most down-to-earth. He’s the kind of guy you’d want to have a beer with.

After my Larry King photo op, it was time to board the bird. While driving to the airport, Roger asked if I’d ever consider moving to Los Angeles. I told him “No, I don’t think so. Kansas is home for me.”

Roger prompted me to think about why we live where we live. Traveling to new places is always fun and adventurous, but home for me is Kansas and its vast wide-open spaces, diverse weather seasons, exciting college towns and warm and friendly people.