Kansas TourismWhat’s New
• The World’s Biggest Baseball Takes Shape: The people in the small town of Musoctah have placed an old water tower tank on an empty lot, which will eventually become the World’s Largest Baseball. A baseball museum is being constructed inside. Atchison County.
• Award For Switchgrass Bike Trail: The Switchgrass Mountain Bike Trail has received an ‘Epic Award’ from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Wilson State Park.
Attractions
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark: Take an open air tube ride down the ‘Bahnzai Pipeline’ or chill out with a relaxing tube float down ‘Kristal River’. Kansas City.
• Kansas Cosmosphere And Space Center: This comprehensive space museum plus IMAX theatre features a live rocket science demonstration and a planetarium. Hutchinson.
• Exploration Place: Creative science discovery centre with hands-on experience for kids. Wichita.
• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop And Farm Historic Site: The only original stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail. Olathe.
• Arty Salina: Beautiful architecture adorns the downtown area of the ‘cultural and entertainment centre’ of Salina. The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts is a restored Fox Theatre that presents concerts. It’s also home to the Salina Symphony. You’ll also find plenty of public art downtown, as well as a great selection of working art studios like Studio B, Bergen’s Studio and Art Gallery and the Art Center Warehouse.
• Dodge City Trail Of Fame: Medallions are located throughout downtown Dodge City that include famous Dodge citizens like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Chalkley Beeson, as well as fictional characters played by the likes of Buck Taylor and Errol Flynn. Explore alone or as part of a guided tour.
Smoky Hill
Events
• William Inge Theatre Festival (April), Independence.
• Chase County Prairie Fire Festival (April), Cottonwood Falls.
• Art In The Park (May), Lawrence.
• Wichita River Festival (June), Wichita.
• Symphony In The Flint Hills (June), Flint Hills region.
• Smoky Hill River Festival (June), Salina.
• Dodge City Days And Rodeo (July/August), Dodge City.
• Kansas State Fair (September), Hutchinson.
• Kansas Scottish Festival (September), McPherson.
• Svensk Hyllningsfest Smorgasbord (October), Lindsborg.
Kansas TourismPlaces
• Boot Hill Museum: Living history museum offering a taste of the 1870s Wild West. In addition to the 60,000 objects, photographs, and documents on display, families will enjoy a visit to the Boot Hill Cemetery – where most people were buried with their boots on. Dodge City.
• Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum: Five distinct buildings make up this attraction: Eisenhower’s boyhood home, a museum, a research library, a visitors’ centre and a place of meditation. Abilene.
• Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: The only unit in the National Park System dedicated to the natural and cultural history of the tallgrass prairie. Strong City.
• Kansas Speedway: Experience the thrills of stock car racing and ride with a professional instructor. Kansas City.
Hidden Gems
• Wetlands Education Center: Considered one of the most important shorebird migration stopover points in the Western hemisphere. Cheyenne Bottoms.
• Atchison: The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum provides a showcase for Amelia’s personal memorabilia.
• Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas: A community of 460 people offers artistic and unique attractions within easy walking distance. Lucas.
• Salina Shopping: The Lee District has specialty shops that feature everything from antiques and collectibles, to unusual gifts, quilting, pottery, jewellery and Kansas specialty products. Salina.
• Cowboys: Real life cowboys still live in Kansas. Moore Ranch, located near Dodge City, allows guests to experience the Old West lifestyle. You can herd and drive cattle, learn to rope and relax by the campfire at the end of the day. Dodge City.
Did You Know?
• State Motto: To The Stars Through Difficulty
• State Flower: Native Sunflower
• State Bird: Western Meadowlark
Fast Facts
• Region: GREAT FRONTIER
• America’s Byways: Kansas has 11 byways – eight scenic (two of which are National Scenic Byways) and three historic. The National Scenic Byways are the Flint Hills Scenic Byway and the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway.
• Direct Flights: Air Canada.
• Sales Tools: Kansas travel guides, outdoor guides, event calendars and KDOT highway maps. Group tour information is available at www.travelks.com.
• Info: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks And Tourism
(785) 296-2009
www.travelks.com