Kansas Blog http://www.travelks.com/blog/ Category - Nature Sun, 26 May 2013 04:12:43 GMT Lovebirds: Prairie Chicken Courtship http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2013/9/Lovebirds-Prairie-Chicken-Courtship/3020/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/PrairieChicken.jpg'/><br/> If you have the chance to spend an early spring day in the native tallgrass prairies of Kansas, you may hear the low booming sounds of a male greater prairie chicken attempting to attract a hen. Birdwatchers and hunters both flock to Kansas in search of these gorgeous birds, known for their&nbsp;peculiar breeding behavior. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2013/9/Lovebirds-Prairie-Chicken-Courtship/3020/ Oh Give Me a Home, Where the Buffalo Roam http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2013/10/Oh-Give-Me-a-Home-Where-the-Buffalo-Roam/2996/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/Buffalo1.jpg'/><br/> Recently I took a short drive to Overbrook with my family to see some &quot;real, live&quot; buffalo. After all, it is our state animal and my kids and I had never seen one up close. We pulled into the Lone Star Ranch and had a picture perfect view of the snowy Kansas prairie and the herd, settled in and grazing just beyond the old fashioned country store. We were greeted right away by Terri Gibbs, who along with her husband Don, owns the property. The buffalo were a majestic sight indeed and unlike us, were not bothered by the winter temps in their thick fur coats.&nbsp; Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2013/10/Oh-Give-Me-a-Home-Where-the-Buffalo-Roam/2996/ Kansas Rocks http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/Kansas-Rocks/2993/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/CastleRock1.jpg'/><br/> Lurking off in western Kansas are two of the state's most fascinating attractions ... the rocks (as I like to call them). Igniting the scientific curiosities from within, these rock formations are some of the state's most bizarre and beautiful natural landmarks.&nbsp; Thu, 27 Dec 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/Kansas-Rocks/2993/ Whooping Cranes at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/29/Whooping-Cranes-at-Quivira-National-Wildlife-Refuge/2911/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/Witt-5241.jpg'/><br/> Catching a glimpse of any wildlife is always an exciting experience, but to see rare species in a natural habitat is a rare and treasured opportunity. In this delicate shift from fall to winter, the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge welcomes winged visitors who are in the midst of their migration. One such bird is the whooping crane. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/29/Whooping-Cranes-at-Quivira-National-Wildlife-Refuge/2911/ A Rugged Treasure Hidden in Southwestern Kansas http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/1/A-Rugged-Treasure-Hidden-in-Southwestern-Kansas/2815/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/PondGrasses.jpeg'/><br/> One of the hidden treasures of Kansas is a very scenic county fishing lake called Clark County Lake. It is located 10 miles south of Kingsdown or 20 miles southeast of Dodge City. That 10 mile road goes through basically flat Kansas crop land. Then, like magic, before our eyes is this absolutely amazing multicolored rocky canyon with a deep blue sparkling lake at the bottom. It&rsquo;s hard to believe it is Kansas. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/1/A-Rugged-Treasure-Hidden-in-Southwestern-Kansas/2815/ 5 reasons to visit the Tallgrass Prairie in the fall http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/26/5-reasons-to-visit-the-Tallgrass-Prairie-in-the-fall/2792/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/TallGrass.jpg'/><br/> I recently had the pleasure of heading out the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve&nbsp;to see the fall scenery. I&rsquo;ve made this trek before and at varying points of ... Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/26/5-reasons-to-visit-the-Tallgrass-Prairie-in-the-fall/2792/ Camping in Cimarron National Grassland http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/-Camping-in-Cimarron-National-Grassland/2701/ <img src='http://www.travelks.com/includes/content/images/media/Grassland.jpeg'/><br/> Having just left the infamous Boot Hill Casino&nbsp;in Dodge City, our road trip took us to the southwestern corner of the state to Cimarron National Grasslands, one of 20 National Grasslands in the U.S.Knowing the route we wanted to take, the Grasslands seemed like a logical place to camp, despite not knowing much about them (or where to camp). Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/-Camping-in-Cimarron-National-Grassland/2701/ Off Roading in the Sand Hills http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/30/Off-Roading-in-the-Sand-Hills/2583/ I am the first person to proclaim that there is more to do in Kansas than the average visitor (or resident) is aware of. Such is the case with the Sand Hills in Syracuse.Here the Syracuse Sand ... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/30/Off-Roading-in-the-Sand-Hills/2583/ Cattle Drive: The Moore Longhorn Cattle Ranch Experience http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/Cattle-Drive-The-Moore-Longhorn-Cattle-Ranch-Experience/2332/ I had always wondered what it must have been like for the cowboys back in the good old days to drive cattle up from Texas to the railroad heads in Kansas. I figured I would never get the chance to do ... Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/27/Cattle-Drive-The-Moore-Longhorn-Cattle-Ranch-Experience/2332/ Gravel Rocks! – The Dirty Kanza 200 http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/28/Gravel-Rocks-The-Dirty-Kanza-200/2222/ The Dirty Kanza 200 is a mighty event in the heart of the Flint Hills. Dubbed North America’s Premier Annual Ultra Distance Gravel Race the cycling event may seem like an anomaly to many, but to the ... Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.travelks.com/blog/post/2012/28/Gravel-Rocks-The-Dirty-Kanza-200/2222/