Around Emporia, Kansas, if you are so inclinded there are the wagon ruts from the early to mid 1800s on my families property.

It is amazing, you can still see them and they are deep!

It depends on the time of year. To be truly honest. If you are in western Kansas right before the wheat harvest. It is quite beautiful. When the wind blows, it looks like an ocean. A gold ocean.

History wise, Lecompton Kansas. Its right between Lawrence and Topeka. Long story short. Lecompton was the confederate capital. Bleeding Kansas was extremely stong between the two cities. And the prelude to the Civil War.

Hutchinson has the kansas cosmosphere and space center. Its a cool museum and it has an IMAX theater. If you go there you have to eat at Boogies. Its a local hamburger joint. But the ice cream. They have something like 500 flavors and they keep adding to it, and if they don’t have what you want, they will create it for you. Its about 3 blocks from the Space Center. And stop by Yoder, its close to Hutch., for some amish cinnamon rolls for breakfeast.. mmm mmm good.

If you are in Topeka try the Celtic Fox, its Down Town. Its a nice Irish pub with good food, and most days there is some kind of musical performances. Or if you like mexican, La Siesta. The best mexican food. definetly think about getting the potato mexicana. And no matter what, you have to eat the queso. You will dream of it later.

Hope you have a great trip.

I’m extremely biased, but I’d have to say the best place in Kansas is definitely Lawrence. Downtown Lawrence, to be specific. It rules. I have yet to find anywhere else like it.

Great place to grab a sack full of mini burgers – Cozy Inn – Salina, Kansas

Don’t eat on one of the original 1920 stools if you don’t wanna reek like onions :)

Although I’m a true Lawrence girl, I’d definitely have to say if you’re on your way through on I-70, you’d need to eat at Puffy’s Icehouse in Maple Hill (about 15 miles West of Topeka). They’ve got the best bbq around in my opinion and when you ask for mashed potatoes, they give you a bowl big enough for a meal.

Lawrence by far has the best shopping atmosphere because of the downtown shops on and around Mass(achusetts) Street. A lot of students come to school here and hate that they don’t have the convenience of a mall, but we still have some of the big name stores, you just have to walk a bit to get from one to the next. I like it because it forces you to get a taste of what this city is like. There’s a lot of history on those streets. Be sure to stop by Sylas and Maddy’s Ice Cream while you’re there. They don’t take cards, so be prepared with cash.

Make sure that you visit the Old Galena Museum in Galena. It was really neat! I wasn’t in Kansas for very long. I don’t think I even ate a meal in Kansas but I do recommend eating a “Cherry Mash” at the Eisler Brother’s General Store. (see photo)

I’d say Konza prairie near manhattan during early June when the wildflowers are in bloom.

As a native Kansan, I can think of a lot of places to visit. We may not have something like the Rockie Mts., or the Grand Canyon, but Kansas has a more quiet beauty that will sneak up on you. Get off the big highways and drive some of the smaller ones. Flint Hills, near Strong City are wonderful. There’s the Tall Grass State Park close there and the views, open plains, and tall grasses.

The Kansas Cosmospere in Hutchinson has been mentioned, it is very good museum.
http://www.cosmo.org/
Quite impressive is I do say so myself, since I’m from Hutch.

The Anchor Inn is an Americanized-Mexican restaurant that has been around for 30 years or so.

Also, Skeats is a family run steak house. Good hamburgers.

Of, course, it’s not in Kansas, but if you go to Kansas City, go down to the Plaza area and Westport, very good bars, bbq and blues.

Do you have any idea where in Kansas you will be traveling through? I am from an incredibly small town in southwest kansas (didn’t like Kansas much growing up but still….).

Dodge City was 15 minutes from my house and they have Boot Hill and a fun variety show (if you like that kinda thing—i have friends who sing and act in it) but nothing much else unless you are there in August whenever they have “Dodge City Days” which has a country concert to kick it off and then a rodeo every night of that week.

If you happen to drive through Liberal, KS which is right over the Oklahoma/Kansas border then there is The Wizard of Oz museum. Last time I was there was when I was younger and we would go on field trips and I don’t remember it being anything too spectacular but if you are passing through I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to stop and see it. There is also an Air Museum there that is really cool if you are into planes.

haha…if you continue on Highway 54 heading towards Wichita you will drive right through Meade which has the Dalton Gang Hideout (which is cheesy but okayish) and then Greensburg on down the road has the “World’s Largest Hand Dug Well” haha…you can stop and…look down it and if the museum is opened they let you walk down it…it’s kinda…well sad really but interesting if you need a break from driving.

Hutchinson (like everyone else has said) has the Cosmosphere which I LOVED as a kid…)

Now if you are up around Kansas City (where I am closer to now that I’m in college…) I would go along with the post right before mine…you MUST hit up the Plaza and downtown area. It’s just kinda fun sometimes.

As far as Lawrence goes, I LOVE stopping through there on my way home to stop on Mass Street (massachusetts). If you are there and you like coffee shops I’d recommend Annie’s which is right beside Urban Outfitters. They have some really great drinks and also some buscuits and gravy (served all day long) and you can get them vegetarian or with meat! hehe

That’s all I got. Tata.

ALl of the above are great answers (except for the one about not planning an entire vacation around Kansas). As you can tell, there is so much beauty here, and so many things to see and do.

I live in a small town in Souteastern Kansas (near Emporia mentioned way at the beginning of this. The Flint Hills are gorgeous anytime of year, but especially spring and fall. As are the ripening wheat fields which abound throughout the state in the early summer.

But the cities offer lots, too. Especially KC—the Plaza at Christmas is one of the best I have seen ANYWHERE. And a cheer to the Puffy’s Steakhouse suggestion (also near where I live).

Where ever you go and whatever you decide to do—HAVE FUN, ENJOY, and DRIVE CAREFULLY

If you go thru Wichita, check out the “west bank” of the river, I hear they’ve made it pretty fancy since I’ve last been there. Also on the river (Arkansas, but pronounced like it’s spelled; only in Kansas, of course!) the Keeper of the Plains, a huge red statue of a Native American stands where the river splits in two. And right there is the All-Indian Center, a cool native American museum, sometimes they have authentic dancers there, it’s nice.
Every year around April, they have the River Festival, a must see event. It last 3 weeks, with plenty to see and do! Bathtub races, all kinds of music, a treasure hunt, fireworks, sports, eating, and shopping. Probably a lot more too that I’m not remembering, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been there.
Peace

the biggest ball of twine is in ks. as for eating, zen zero in lawrence is the best.