Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City

Even with a slight chill in the air, you can still enjoy the waterpark inside Great Wolf Lodge! Featuring 8 waterslides, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, 4 activity pools, and 2 large whirlpools, there is something for everyone in the family. The lodge also offers a 7,000-square-foot arcade and game room, a family restaurant, gift shop, and confectionery shop, so it’s a one-stop shop no matter the weather!
 

Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, Topeka

Venture outside on a nice day to see the newly opened Tiger Trails and Den Academy to learn about the conservation of critically endangered Sumatran Tigers. Wander through the tropical rainforest or explore Camp Cowabunga for all things Africa. You may even get to see the zoo’s newest resident, an Amur Leopard! Grab a snack at the Sunflower Café and browse the Zoo Shop for souvenirs and gifts that celebrate global conservation efforts. Find your next piece of artwork created by the animals!

Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan

Explore the largest endangered ecosystem in the world, the North American Tallgrass Prairie, indoors! A short, dramatic 4D immersive film captures the wonder and emotion of its story as you enter. Explore where an ancient inland sea once was, where east meets west, and where cowboy culture began. Kids will have a blast in the Prairie Playscape with hands-on exhibits, working, exploring, and sharing the land of the prairie. Step out onto the rooftop garden terrace to find iconic native plants and enjoy the view of Manhattan. Don’t miss their special exhibits like the Smithsonian’s Sea Monsters Unearthed, on display until January 3, 2027!
 

Smoky Hill Museum, Salina

The oldest nationally accredited museum in Kansas, the Smoky Hill Museum is a “hands-on, minds-on” space. Visit for immersive experiences, hands-on activities, and to see the changing exhibits. The museum has over 34,000 artifacts in its collection, which started in 1879. That’s almost 150 years ago! Visit to learn about Salina and the surrounding area and explore “The Curiosity Shop” through a dynamic, sensory environment.

Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center, Rexford

Visitors get a first-hand look at a real working dairy farm at McCarty Family Farm’s on-site educational center for visitors of all ages. Follow milk’s journey from “soil to yogurt cup” and learn about water conservation, regenerative farming, and cow care. Explore interactive activities, including hand milking a fake cow and how the dairy industry works. See cows being milked on the world’s largest cow milking carousel, which can milk 120 cows at a time!
 

Nicodemus National Historic Site, Nicodemus

The town of Nicodemus was established in 1877. It is the only town settled by African Americans at the end of Reconstruction that remains west of the Mississippi River. Featuring five historic buildings representing the spirit of the town, they show the strength of character and desire for freedom of individuals and as a collective. Learn about Black history and culture from the post-Civil War era. The site was designated as a unit of the National Park Service in November 1996. The Visitor Center in the Township Hall has videos and interpretive displays to view before exploring the rest of the site. It is also part of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

Museum of Creativity, Fort Scott

A place for the whole family, the museum is filled with interactive activities and fun exhibits. Free arcade games, climbing areas, and play structures will keep kids entertained for hours. See their model trains, Lego displays, and Barbie exhibit throughout the building. Walk through a themed maze and make your own crafts to take with you. They also offer use of their Maker Space for an additional fee.
 

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, Chanute

Explore your wild side on safari at this one-of-a-kind museum! Martin and Osa Johnson brought exotic adventure to the public from the 1920s to 1940s. Pioneering documentary filmmakers, they documented the native peoples and animals they encountered during their travels across Africa, Borneo, and the South Seas. Their work gave a passion for African wildlife conservation and popularized camera safaris to generations of Americans. Located in Osa’s hometown, the museum houses permanent exhibits about their travels and their lives, educational programs, and special exhibits.

Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum, Hutchinson

The “best space museum on planet Earth” houses the largest collection of U.S. and former Soviet space artifacts, including three flown spacecraft from early manned spaceflight programs (the Mercury Liberty Bell 7, the Gemini X, and the Apollo 13 Odyssey). It is the only Smithsonian-affiliated museum in the state. Visitors can view documentaries and feature films in its dome theater, explore the universe in the Justice Planetarium, and watch live science demonstrations in Dr. Goddard’s Lab. Children can explore CosmoKids, an interactive STEM area, accompanied by an adult. Learn about space science, restoring artifacts, and more!
 

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City

This park is the only site in the National Park Service that is dedicated to preserving what’s left of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, which is less than 4%. It also tells the story of the end of the Open Range Era with its historic ranch buildings from the 1880s. The park covers nearly 11,000 acres and offers more than 40 miles of nature and hiking trails, making it a great destination for nature lovers. Dozens of species of animals and plants are found on the preserve, including a resident bison herd. Grab your camera for this photo-worthy spot!

Mid-America Air Museum, Liberal

Home to over 100 aircraft on display, this museum has collections of expected military and commercial aircraft. They even have a collection of homebuilt and experimental aircraft! Their special exhibits include Kansas Aviators, Hall of Aviation Science, hot air balloons, and more! They offer guided tours as available and house a play zone for the kids as well as a gift shop. You may even get to sit inside certain aircraft! Visit to learn more about aviation history and development in Kansas.
 

Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City

Old West fans of all ages will find something entertaining at this interactive recreation of Dodge City’s historic Front Street. See the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame and watch historic gunfights. Explore their collection of over 60,000 artifacts, photographs, and documents. While you’re there, make sure to stop by the Beatty & Kelley Restaurant or get your photo taken at the Old West Photo Parlor. Discover your next favorite tale of frontier outlaws or famous lawmen in Dodge City, Queen of the Cowtowns.