~ Top 10 Attractions in Kansas, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Attractions in Kansas, USA

Dorothy may not be in Kansas anymore, but thankfully we are. Slap bang in the middle of the USA lies this diverse and unique state. From the wild west history to the prairies, Kansas is pretty much unique in the States and the top ten attractions are right here:


1. Monument Rocks
 


Eighty million year old limestone structures jut from the flat earth in amazing formations, here at Monument Rocks. This landmark is nothing short of stunning, leaving you with your draw dropped, gazing at arches, buttes and pyramids. Taking endless photos. Full of fossils, these incredible structures rise from the near desert badlands, formed in prehistory by the Smoky Hill River. This used to be a shallow ocean, where the chalk was laid down and embedded with the remains of sharks, giant oysters and flying reptiles. Words just can't describe the place. Just go there. Try and be there at sunrise or sunset for the best views. From Highway 83 going south, take the Oakley exit and follow the signs for about six miles.

[MysteRy]

2. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
 


In the Flint Hills to the north of Strong City lies a natural reserve of prairies that covers over 44 square kilometres. Here, the landscape that once covered almost half a million square miles of the USA, is preserved for prosperity and visitors. Once, a sea that was shallow covered this land. Flint began to form, creating ideal conditions for a prairie. Unsuitable for mass cultivation, this became grazing land for bison and cows. Now? Where nature has been allowed to thrive, the national preserve maintains a unique biosphere with over thirty breeds of mammal, no less than 500 types of indigenous plant, almost 150 types of birds and a whole heap of reptiles and amphibians. There are many hiking trails that are open all year round, 24/7. Get to the Preserve by car off the National Scenic Byway to the west of Strong City and following the signs.

[MysteRy]

3. Dodge City
 


Don’t get the flip out of Dodge, because you'll be missing far too much. This frontier town is well worth a visit of at least two days. This is a legendary town of cowboys, gun fights, plus film and television history. This is the Old West, rich in sites of historical interest. Stroll into a saloon, letting the doors swing closed behind you. Walk down the main street, keeping an eagle eye for snipers behind the historic doors. Go on a cattle drive or take part in a rodeo. Watch the can can dancers and showgirls. See a gunfight re-enactment. Walk down the streets of Wyatt Earp. Explore what was once the wickedest town in the west on the Santa Fe Trail. Visit the Boot Hill Cemetary to see where the ne'er do wells are buried.  It's all great fun, and find it in the south west of the state, on Highway 400, 2.5 hours west of Wichita and under five hours north of Oklahoma City.

[MysteRy]

4. Wamego
 


On the banks of the meandering Kansas City is the true home of Oz: Frank L. Baum and Dorothy style. The 'Oz Cluster' here includes a great museum with over 25,000 exhibits relating to The Wizard of Oz, Toto's Tacos, the Yellow Brick Road ride (for cycling) and Oz Winery. If you visit in October, you can take in the Oztoberfest which is a massive town celebration. It's only a little town, with under 5,000 residents, and no-one is quite sure where the link between The Wizard of Oz and Wamego comes from, but the link with Kansas is of course inextricable. The town is west of the state capital of Topeka on Highway 24, just a three quarters of an hour's journey by car.

[MysteRy]

5. Kansas State Capitol, Topeka
 


The state capital houses the grand state capitol, quite naturally. This Renaissance style building, built from local limestone and marble, was built in 1866 and it boasts a copper dome that is higher than the US Capitol's in Washington D.C. This is one of the few capitol buildings that still allows tours to to apex of the dome. Almost 300 steps take you up. The building is also fairly unique in having murals that depict the less savoury aspects of Kansas history! In the east wing, a huge mural by John S. Curry shows abolitionist and protestor John Brown. He was later convicted for treason. The capitol is set in twenty acres of grounds and tours are free, but should be pre-booked.

[MysteRy]

6. Lindsborg
 


Incongruous though it may seem at first, you can get a little bit of Sweden right here in Kansas.    In between the wheat fields is a town that was first settled by the Scandinavians back in the nineteenth century. It holds on to that heritage: through its architecture, art and the Svensk Hellingfest celebrations, held every other year in October in odd numbered years. Over 35% of the population remains Swedish to this day. It's not a tacky theme town however, Lindsborg just prides itself on its heritage. But yes, you can get your Svenska souvenirs and dala horses on the many shops in the main street!  Lindsborg lies just west of Interstate 135 in the very heart of the state.

[MysteRy]

7. Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Wichita



Almost four hectares of land is set aside in Wichita to make a place of tranquility and sensory delight. You'll find a butterfly house, aquatic gardens, arboretum, a rose garden and much more here at Botanica. Wander slowly through the various, beautifully sculpted gardens to your heart's delight. There are twenty-six different landscapes designed to please every sense. Take a woodland walk, or enjoy the wildflowers. Enjoy the pansies and the greenhouses, even in winter. Water and nature combine gorgeously in several of the sectors, including the Margie Button Memorial Fountain and Garden, the Jayne Milburn Aquatic Collection and the Shakespeare Garden, amongst others. The gardens are always open, all year, from Monday to Saturday.

[MysteRy]

8. Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita
 


This is the most visited attraction in Kansas, and the zoo has won many awards, both nationally and internationally for its breeding program and conservation efforts, particularly with rarer breeds. There are over 2,500 animals here from 500 different species, housed in four main zones: the Pride of the Plains, spotlighting African animals including lions, wild dogs and meerkats. Then there is Penguin Cove, with a colony of the very rare Humboldt penguin. Tiger Trek takes you through a landscape with different kind of tigers and other Asian creatures, including the shy red panda. The Downing Gorilla Forest holds not only these primate kings of the jungle, in a huge enclosure, but also different species of monkey and apes including orang utans and chimpanzees. There are many more smaller exhibits and a free train takes you between them all. Admission is very reasonable and the zoo is open every day except New Year's Day.

[MysteRy]

9. Kansas Red Hills
 


In stark contrast to the great plains are the red hills of central and south Kansas, where the red soils and rocks give relief … literally .. from the flat lands. These may not be the highest mountains in the US, but they stand proud at over seven hundred metres and including plunging canyons. The region is sometimes called the Gypsum Hills in honour of the rich deposits of the mineral, and the deposits were formed some 260 million years ago. It's not a developed area with established trails, instead offering a rugged, undiscovered secret that you can often enjoy in peaceful solitude. There is a huge array of wildlife here between the waters and prairies, including delightful flocks of bluebirds, bats, bison, coyotes, deer and prairie dogs. You can drive the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway for some fifty miles from Coldwater to Medicine Lodge.

[MysteRy]

10. Gage Park, Topeka



Back in the state capital, there is a surprising amount of open, green and public land. The largest park is Gage Park between 6th and 10th Streets, with 160 acres of gardens, entertainment and streams meandering through. Created at the turn of the twentieth century, it includes a zoo, the Rheinish Rose Garden, outdoor theatre, vintage carousel and miniature train circuit. The flowers are resplendent especially in the spring, and in summer there is a series of concerts. To cool off, there is a family-friendly water park with a fifty metre pool and four different waterslides. This is a big oasis in the heart of the city that is great for kids and adults alike. Come for a picnic; stay for the day.


Whether you are visiting with the intention of exploring the great outdoors, taking in the Wild West of yesteryear or headed for the cities and their history, Kansas is going to delight and surprise you at every turn. Don't miss it and don't fly through. Not even on your broomstick, or with a twister. To do so would be to miss out on a great vacation in this sunny, friendly state.