Kansas Vacations
The Flint Hills Scenic Byway is a 48-mile long trip that takes you through the great Kansas grasslands. This is the only untoughed tallgrass praire in the United States and one of four left in the world. This area is part of the Tallgrass Praire National Preserve and the beauty of the praire is enhanced by the colorful and rare wildflowers growing here like the purple Polly mallow or the butterfly milkweed. A great way to really enjoy this national treasure is a walk on the Southwind Nature Trail.
To visit Glasco is to be a family guest. This town of 500 is a quiet destination on the Kansas prairie where visitors are embraced. They soon have a regular table at the Pepper Pot Cafe, and become accustomed to the rhythms of Main Street, coffee at the internet cafe and sodas and smoothies at the soda fountain. The pace is leisurely, the conversation entertaining. Country bed and breakfast accommodations a few miles away allow for drives on country roads. Observe natural rotation of crops, planting and harvest, wheat and sunflowers, the wild life that draws hunters, and the stunning night skies and sunsets. I live in Independence, Kansas and love to tell people the MANY reasons they should visit Independence, at ANY time of the year. Independence has attractions, festivals, and an unquestionable spirit through- out the year. The Riverside Park and Zoo, located on 124 acres, comes complete with facilities, as well as a miniature train that open for rides around the par, miniature golf, and a real carousel that costs just a nickel. Visit monkey Island in the Ralph Mitchell Zoo; home of “Abel”- the first monkey in space by NASA. Another favorite is Little House on the Prairie, located about 13 miles South of Independence. It’s the original site she speaks and wrote about in her books. Complete with a log cabin, Sunnyside School, and Wayside Post Office. Admission is based solely off donations, and a visit of this attraction will leave you feeling like you walked straight out of the 1869. Lets not also forget about the wonderful Historic Homes Tour. Featuring 27 of most magnificent homes built between the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This tour can be walked or driven with ease. Brochures can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office. Not only does Independence, KS have great attractions; we are home of great events and festivals. The first, actually the LARGEST FESTIVAL IN KANSAS, is Neewollah. The largest annual celebration in southeastern Kansas has come a long way since its beginning in 1919 as a way to keep playful pranksters out of mischief on Halloween night. For one full week, Neewollah entertains people from all walks of life, and Independence, a town of around 11,000, becomes a city of over 80,000. Neewollah offers musical stage shows, queen competition and coronation, carnival, concessions, street acts, artists alley, and top performers in the entertainment world. Past performers include Patty Loveless and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.The festival, normally held the last full week of October, is topped off by one of the biggest and grandest parades ever, a two hour kaleidoscope of music, color, pageantry and just good old fun! And, one last great event is the William Inge Festival. Held annually in the Spring, the festival celebrates the life of William Inge, a famous playwright, and Independence native. Packed full of theatrical performances, other famous playwrights and lively seminars and workshops, this festival brings thousands of visitors into Independence every spring. So, in a nutshell, Independence has a unique flair with its attractions, festivals and its quaint downtown shops and specialty stores. Kansas vacations visitors will relish in the lifestyle that Independence has to offer. The best thing about Abilene, Kansas is there's lots of fun things to choose to do here that you can't find in any other town, like riding an old train pulled by a steam engine, a real Wild West stagecoach, and a 1901 carousel that rocks back and forth instead of up and down. We can take you to watch gunfights in Old Abilene Town or a musical at the Great Plains Theatre. At the Eisenhower Center, you can relive the 1950s while the kids play interactive games on touchscreens, and at other museums the kids can talk on old telephones, we women can discuss vintage dresses, and our men can check out old photographic equipment or racing greyhounds. Let’s tour some Victorian mansions and art galleries before deciding whether to eat the best fried chicken in the state or a special seafood dish served in a historic home. A dream vacation spot would be Smith Center, Kansas. It is a friendly, relaxing, laid back out of the way area. We have all the amenities for the vacation you’ve been looking for. This rural community is all about celebrating the joys of one another, and providing a source of strength to those that are in need. We have many sight-seeing possibilities. There is the quaint Higley Cabin that was raised in a day occupied by Dr. Brewster M. Higley, the author of the song, “Home on The Range”. This song was made the State song June 30, 1947. Another interesting sight would be the center of the United States of the contiguous states located just a few miles west at Lebanon, KS. Smith Center also is the home of the Old Dutch Mill that was moved from Reamsville, where it was a working mill in its earlier years, to Smith Center City Park. It is decorated with Christmas lights every year and hosts many family and local events. The Mill was built by Charles G. Schwartz in the winter of 1879. Charles was an immigrant that was born in West Prussia Germany in 1840 and came to America in 1873. Smith Center is a wonderful hub for hunting deer and pheasant. We have many hunters who find their way to our area during these seasons for a Kansas vacation and are warmly welcomed by all. They enjoy local, home-cooked food and our motels and hunting lodges. For a real treat on your Kansas vacation, book a night at the Ingleboro Mansion for Bed & Breakfast. Ingleboro Mansion is a beautifully Victorian decorated historical building. Their cuisine is excellent and you’ll be treated like royalty on your Kansas vacation. Why shouldn't you vacation in Fort Scott, Kansas? It is a place of hidden treasures and simple pleasures. From the wonderful treasure of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, a restored and reconstructed 1842 fort, to National Cemetery No 1 (Arlington is 3, Gettysburg is 2), you can do the Grand Tour of Fort Scott on our own Dolly the Trolley. This treasure of a tour takes 50 minutes as you ride the trolley over our brick streets and through our historic downtown and past our grand old dames -- the Victorian houses that line many of our residential streets. You can experience our idyllic lifestyle by staying in one of our Victorian bed and breakfasts or a historic hotel. A simple pleasure is sitting on the front porch of a bed and breakfast watching traffic go buy. Another simple pleasure is a picnic in Gunn Park. Grab a lunch from one of our local restaurants and head to the park with it's two lakes, many picnic tables and remember to bring extra for the hungry ducks and geese. A simple pleasure is enjoying a meal at one of our local restaurants -- from diner food to deli food, from Mexican food to a Chinese buffet, from fried chicken to fast food. We may not have a Starbucks but we have our own local coffee shop where a simple pleasure for both Fort Scottians and visitors alike is enjoying an espresso or latte or mocha. Hidden treasures abound at our antique shops and flea markets and a treasure is just waiting for you! Come and enjoy my town on your Kansas vacation and see how many simple pleasures you can enjoy and how many hidden treasures you can find. Syracuse Sand Dunes Park is situated in the sand hills of the Arkansas River Valley near K-27 highway and at the south city limits of Syracuse, Kansas. Known as the only municipally-owned sand dunes park in the country, the Syracuse Sand Dunes Park covers approximately 1,300 acres of dunes and riding trails for the off-road enthusiast. ATVs, sand rails, dune buggies, and 4WD vehicles of all kinds have been coming to the Sand Dunes Park since its opening July 4th, 2007, all looking for a chance to test the endurance of their vehicles, relax after a hard week at work, or to fish in Sam's Pond or the Arkansas River in the camping/parking area. Syracuse offers a variety of recreation, from the dunes, to tanking or tubing a hot afternoon away in the river, to a round of golf at nearby Tamarisk golf course. Swimming is not allowed in Sam's Pond, but a dip can be had in the River. Of course a visit into Syracuse can be a fun evening, with the historic Northrup Theater showing the latest movies or a chance to knock a few pins down at Prairie Lanes Bowling Alley. Visitors to the park can build a campfire and camp at one of the six RV hookups or dry camp near the River. A private campground to the west is also available for patron use as well as campgrounds in town. Free showers are available as well, after a hard day's ride. The Syracuse Sand Dunes Park is open 24 hours each day. Many of its patrons enjoy a late night ride in the park, when the weather is at its coolest. Not to worry, there is a green beacon light available to guide the new visitors to the park exit. Each driver is required to have a bright orange flag on a pole which, when attached to the vehicle, is at least 10 feet from the ground to its highest point. Night driving requires a headlamp and tail lamp and riders under 18 are required to wear helmets. Rails, buggies, and wheel drive vehicles are required to have seatbelts in use and, of course, adequate seating space is required for each rider. The City of Syracuse invites you to a Kansas vacation. Come Ride With Us at the Syracuse Sand Dunes Park. See you on the dunes. Your readers should vacation in Sedan, Ks. because they could stroll down the World's Longest Yellow Brick Road which has over 11,000 yellow bricks with people's names printed on them from all over the world. The bricks circle around the whole downtown area sidewalks along the historic buildings that were built in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Visit the world famous Emmett Kelly Museum on your way to the Hollow Park Garden, which consists of a one room original school house, a board walk beside the creek and the beautiful flower gardens. Now you will want to shop in the unique gift shops, art galleries, coffee bar, clothing boutique and the ice cream shoppe where you'll find Wizard of Oz souvenirs. Of course you won't want to leave town without eating in one of our 6 restaurants, everything from hamburgers to steaks. Come and visit us & look for Toto along the Yellow Brick Road.
Marysville, Kansas may be small (3,200 residents), but we’re big in preserving our heritage. This is Pony Express Country! The famous Pony Express only ran 19 months, but left a lasting impression on us all. Marysville was designated as Home Station No. 1 on the Pony Express route, where they changed riders and they could sleep. It is the only original home station still standing on the original site. An annex to the back boasts a wonderful museum. Just a block from the museum you’ll find a life size Bronze Pony Express Horse & Rider in a small park dedicated to our heritage. A Lifetiles Mural will soon be added to the park. The Historic Trails Park is a must see. You’ll find information about the 8 different trails that crossed here and a replica of a rope powered ferry that was once very busy on the nearby Big Blue River. Next stop – Alcove Spring, located 6 miles South of Marysville. Alcove Spring was a favorite stop on the Oregon Trail for emigrants. Founded by the famous Donner-Reed Party, you will see rock engravings by the Donner-Reed Party, Naomi Pike Falls, wagon swales, the Sarah Keys monument and hiking trails. Back in Marysville you must visit the Koester House Museum. Once owned by a prominent banker, it was given to the City in the 1970’s with all of the original furnishings. Along with the house you’ll find lions guarding the gates, 13 restored white bronze statues in the gardens, a summer kitchen, and an ice house. The whole block is actually on the National Register of Historic Places, which includes the first Montgomery Ward Retail Store in the United States. You won’t want to miss the Historic Marshall County Courthouse and Genealogical Research Library. The museum has 21 rooms of county history displays, which includes everything from farming tools to wedding dresses to medical equipment, including an iron lung. If that’s not enough to keep you busy all week, you can head to the Doll Museum with over 1,000 dolls, Indian artifacts and antique toys; check out the new Marshall County Veterans Memorial; or just sit in the park and watch for Black Squirrels. We are the Black Squirrel City, with the little critters protected by a City Ordinance. Don’t forget to browse through the quaint shops in the historic downtown and try many of our restaurants and coffee shops. There are so many things to do and see you might want to come back again! Why should you vacation in Lucas, Kansas? Because we want to show you that a town of 400 people can have a lot to see and do. Lucas is home to the "Official" Garden of Eden, complete with Adam and Eve. You can't see that anywhere else! The Garden of Eden is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. After touring the quirky limestone house and concrete sculptures you will enter the dark, damp mausoleum to view the decomposing body of S. P. Dinsmoor, the creator of the Garden of Eden. You can't see that anywhere else! A private night tour, guided by S. P. himself, can be arranged just for you! Your Lucas adventure will continue with a tour of the Grassroots Art Center. You won't find any paintings in our arts center. Grassroots Art is done by untrained artists using recycled materials (junk to you and me). The town has 22 different environments of Grassroots Art, thus getting Lucas the OFFICIAL State Designation of the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas". While here you will find Re-Barbs (recycled Barbie Dolls), a full size motorcycle made from pull tabs, Fork Art (have to see to understand) and Flying Pigs (another have to see to understand. While here you can stay at one of two beautiful bed and breakfasts, one which is in a native limestone home that is 120 years old. Some say that Lucas is Full of Bologna! Well, Brants Meat Market is anyway. Brants has been in business since 1922 selling homemade Czechlovakian bologna using the same recipe brought over from the Czech homeland. Did I mention the Worlds Largest Souvenir Travel Plate? Or the newly renovated Lucas Theater that shows first run movies? If you want you can help sell popcorn or run the projector. Depending on the time of year you could catch a ride in a combine cutting Wheat or Milo. If that isn't enough Lucas sits just 6 miles north of Wilson Lake, a Corp of Engineers dam. The lake is located on the Post Rock Scenic Byway (yes Kansas has scenic byways). Post Rock is the limestone used to build homes, outbuildings and fence posts by the early settlers because of the lack of trees. The stone is the crust of an old seabed and is only found in this area. You can tour the Vonada Stone Quarry and watch them quarry the stone like their ancestors over 100 years ago. The lake offers beautiful rolling hills, rock outcroppings and gorgeous sunsets along with the usual boating, fishing, and hiking and biking trails. Go to Brants and get a picnic lunch then go rent a pontoon at the marina and spend a day exploring the 9000 acre lake. Get away from the crowds and come enjoy the beauty, peace and quiet of the country. I can guarantee you that you won't be disappointed! What I liked best about my summer vacation in Manhattan, Kansas:
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