ARIKAREE BREAKS

ST. FRANCIS

Where rugged terrain meets the open sky, onlookers marvel at deep, yucca-studded ravines carved by water and wind. Roads through the breaks are best traversed during dry conditions.
 

FICK FOSSIL AND HISTORY MUSEUM

OAKLEY

Fossil hunters dig the artifacts on display, including the oldest known mosasaur fossil and a massive mineral collection. Step into the past with a stroll through replicas of a sod house and a train depot.
 

MONUMENT ROCKS

OAKLEY - GOVE COUNTY

Outside of Oakley, 80 million-year-old chalk monoliths stand as towering remnants of an ancient seabed. The geologic formations captivate photographers from dawn to dusk.

MOUNT SUNFLOWER

WESKAN

More of a slight incline in a pasture than a mountain, it’s the highest point in Kansas. Go for the expansive prairie views, sign the guest book, and keep watch for local wildlife (cows).
 

PRAIRIE MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY

COLBY

Indoor exhibits feature antiques and local relics. Outside, historic buildings showcase farm life on the High Plains, including the cavernous Cooper Barn, built in 1936 as the state’s largest. 

The ideal northwest Kansas day begins with a shot of “Whoop-Ass Cream” added to your freshly roasted coffee in St. Francis. It’ll keep you rolling through this sensory-filled trek.

Baristas crank out your morning brew of choice from inside a retrofitted trailer at hipster-approved Fresh Seven Coffee. After fueling up, walk a few blocks over to St. Francis Motorcycle Museum to admire more than 150 vintage bikes in pristine condition. Open daily, the downtown museum’s 10,000-square-foot space blows gearheads away with its rare models. Take the nearly two-hour drive east to Norton’s Destination Kitchen for lunch with a side of shopping. Devour a brick-oven pizza or artfully prepared sandwich, then cut into a slice of their famous chocolate cake. You’ll find it hard to leave without purchasing unique home decor or kitchenware. 

Hansen Museum in Logan houses a permanent art collection, including an assortment of ornate Japanese works. Ask about the Artist of the Month, and plan a return trip to see one of the traveling exhibits. In Phillipsburg, C&R Railroad Museum delights model train enthusiasts. Call ahead to ensure engineers are on hand to teach you how to run the controls on four train sets crisscrossing the mountainous terrain. Stroll from rails to reels at Majestic Community Theatre, catching the latest blockbuster in a former opera house. Since 1925, the 236-seat theater’s screen, tin ceiling tiles and neon clock have set a dramatic scene. (Don’t miss the selfie op below a 1910 chandelier.) 

End the day with a comforting meal at Willer’s Casual Dining, celebrating 20 years in 2024. This is where locals do date nights, and you’ll quickly fall in love with the crab cakes, prime rib, slow-cooked riblets and chipotle-glazed pork chops, all served with house-made sauces. 

Born and raised in Colby, Ashley Moser knows all the local gems, starting with her business. She jumped at the chance to buy Golden Plains Garden Center and Greenhouse in 2015, continuing the tradition of growing healthy plants from seeds on-site. The largest greenhouse in northwest Kansas has become a destination for its reasonable prices and botanical-themed parties. “New customers are blown away because they have never been to a greenhouse-like it,” Moser says.

When she’s not playing in the dirt, Moser and her family dine at City Limits Bar and Grill, taking advantage of the extensive soup and salad bar. And she’s a regular at El Dos de Oros, where they know her order: Pollo Bandido (tender grilled chicken strips smothered with cheese). If visitors are looking for a hidden dive, Moser recommends B Hive. “It’s a small, dark bar, and their hamburgers are amazing,” she says. Around town, you may spot Moser perusing downtown stores or selecting farmhouse decor at Maevis and Magpie. “You can go there one day and return another time, and there’s always something new,” she says. Much like Colby itself.

BIG ED’S STEAKHOUSE

BIRD CITY

Hand-cut, fire-grilled steaks are the star attraction here. Enjoy huge portions and a cold beer under a menagerie of taxidermic creatures. Surf and turf served with baked potatoes and other sides make for the ultimate meal. Thursdays draw a crowd for barbecue ribs. 
 

THE ELEPHANT BISTRO AND BAR

HOXIE

Indulge in French-inspired entrees in a laid-back yet refined setting with brick-exposed walls. The owners returned to their hometown of Hoxie from Seattle to serve farm-to-table eats. Start with Spicy Avocado Egg Rolls, and get campy with tableside s’mores.

TRIO TAP HOUSE

HAYS

They don’t mess around with bier in this German-influenced town. Rotating taps take visitors on a tour through some of the finest breweries in the Midwest, as well as those in Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and other European brew centers. A salad, dry-aged steak, and slice of cheesecake comprise the TRIO trifecta.

Settled by African Americans in 1877, Nicodemus National Historic Site tells the story of formerly enslaved people who made this town flourish. A handful of descendants of original settlers still live in the only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River. Self-guided tours of five historic buildings reveal the resilience of early pioneers. The park is accessible by automobile, and Township Hall’s main floor and African Methodist Episcopal Church’s ramp make it possible to navigate by wheelchair.

For more vacation inspiration across all six of the state’s regions, check out the 2024 Official Kansas Travel Guide.