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
Far from the wooded areas of eastern Kansas, the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway traverses west-central Kansas in the Smoky Hills.…
As you begin heading East on I-70 out of Manhattan, you might notice some road signs that say “Native Stone”…
Often called the Gateway to the Prairie, Manhattan, Kansas is a scenic city that offers a little bit of everything…
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…
Often called the Gateway to the Prairie, Manhattan, Kansas is a scenic city that offers a little bit of everything from a clear, beautiful state lake to the sprawling Kansas State University campus. Manhattan is located just 90 miles from Kansas City. Be greeted by the Flint Hills…
When people think of the Kansas countryside, they often picture scenes from Little House on the Prairie or other shows where people roam through pastures of tall grass and wildflowers dotting the landscape. The Flint Hills of Kansas is a region that typifies this image. Drive about two…
Osawatomie, Kansas was founded in 1854 by Free-State families from the Ohio Valley and New England. Osawatomie was a major point of interest during the Bleeding Kansas era. The Battle of Osawatomie, the most significant battle during the conflict over slavery during that time, stood as a rallying…
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