Destinations > Kansas
Welcome to Kansas — The Sunflower State
Kansas is a land of contrasts from the sweeping prairies to the west to the lakes and cottonwoods of the east. Kansas, situated on the American great plains, is on a slant, sloping upward from the southeastern corner towards the northwest near Colorado. Near central Kansas, exploring the gentle rise of the Flint Hills is like going back in time and seeing the Great Plains as they have existed for the early pioneers. Looking for things to do in Kansas? To experience this area is to spend time exploring the historic trails, plentiful lakes, and great barbeque. Kansas destinations include everything from hills to prairies to spectacular sunsets.
Capital: Topeka
Largest City: Wichita
Area: 82,278 square miles
Major Rivers: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri
Elevation: 679 feet above sea level in the southeast to 4,039 in Western Kansas
Bird: Western meadowlark
Flower: Sunflower
Tree: Cottonwood
Motto: Ad Astra per Aspera (To the stars through difficulties)
Song: “Home on the Range”
State Travel Site: Kansas Travel
From covered wagons and Civil War battlegrounds to the Old West and Bison, this drive along the Kansas prairie marches…
Osawatomie, Kansas was founded in 1854 by Free-State families from the Ohio Valley and New England. Osawatomie was a major…
Much like the city of Lawrence, Fort Scott, Kansas, is an old frontier military town that played a significant role…
From covered wagons and Civil War battlegrounds to the Old West and Bison, this drive along the Kansas prairie marches…
Much like the city of Lawrence, Fort Scott, Kansas, is an old frontier military town that played a significant role…
Far from the wooded areas of eastern Kansas, the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway traverses west-central Kansas in the Smoky Hills.…
When people think of the Kansas countryside, they often picture scenes from Little House on the Prairie or other shows…
Paola, Kansas, is a charming small town about forty minutes south of Kansas City, Missouri, with a history that goes back to 1832 when it was originally settled by Native Americans. The town itself was founded in 1855 as the Paola town Company; the city was incorporated in…
Overland Park, Kansas, is the second most populous city in Kansas and it shows. Driving any of the main thoroughfares, you’ll see the explosive growth of Johnson County in its high-rises, shopping centers, and (frankly) crowded streets. It’s easy to see that Overland Park is Kansas City’s largest…
I’ve taken the first step by having a pre-Memorial Day road trip across the country. My original plan involved a trip to the Virginia Beach, Virginia, area. I realized late that it was Victoria Day weekend and thought it would be fun to travel back to my old…
From covered wagons and Civil War battlegrounds to the Old West and Bison, this drive along the Kansas prairie marches along the Santa Fe trail. Lanesfield Historic Site, for example, sits alongside the rocky Dilly road, an original stretch of the Santa Fe trail. In some spots, such…
Looking for free or low-cost activities this summer in the Kansas City metro area? Sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Interpretive Site Coalition, Kansas City’s Passport to Adventure’s free annual program has information about 22 nature and wildlife centers, museums, gardens, historical sites, and education centers in the…
Much like the city of Lawrence, Fort Scott, Kansas, is an old frontier military town that played a significant role during the turbulent “Bleeding Kansas” era. From the diverse Downtown Historic District to a large 1840s military fort, Fort Scott is still on a crossroads (U.S. Route 69)…
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