Athison is a historic gem located just north of Kansas City that is best known for being the birthplace of aviation legend Amelia Earhart. The city of Atchison adores her legacy so much that it hosts the Amelia Earhart Festival each year, a community-wide celebration and live air show in her honor. This summer, be sure to put July 17-18 on your calendar so that you don't miss out on one of the most epic celebrations just outside of Kansas City!

Don't forget that Atchison also has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places to visit in America. They even have year-round events dedicated to the haunted. This year, in late June, the city will have its Taste of Haunted event on June 26th. 

Amelia Earhart Festival

Haunted Trolley Tours

If you head south of the KC Metro, you'll end up in the city of Louisburg. This charming little town is tucked away from a lot of the traffic and noise that comes with larger cities. The city's most famous attraction is the well-renowned Louisburg Cider Mill, which has some of the best Cider Donuts in the state! Their website maintains a consistent list of events, and you can even find all their events for the summer season by clicking here.

Louisburg is also a great place for cat lovers, especially those who love big cats. When visiting Louisburg, don't forget to also check out the Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary & Education Center, one of the only sanctuaries for felines in the United States. 

Louisburg Cider Mill

Louisburg Cider Mill

Paola is conveniently located along US Hwy 169 and just west of the state's Frontier Military Byway. Paola is perhaps best known for its many wineries and vineyards scattered throughout the city and surrounding area. For those who want the best experience of Paola and Miami County's wine country, be sure to check out the Miami County Trolley, one of the most sought-after tours in Kansas. This private trolley allows visitors to travel through a variety of wineries and vineyards in and around Paola. For those who love going on wine tours, look no further than  Paola!

Miami County Wine Tour

Head only a few miles further South along US Hwy 169 from Paola, and you'll soon be visiting Osawatomie. Much like Atchison, the town of Osawatomie is easily one of the most historic places you can visit in Kansas. As the former home of infamous abolitionist John Brown, Osawatomie was once at the forefront of the Bleeding Kansas era. The city is home to the John Brown Museum State Historic Site, which is a replica of his original cabin where he and his 5 sons lived when they first came to Kansas. 
 

John Brown Museum State Historic Site

Conveniently located right on Interstate 35 and directly southwest of the KC Metro is the city of Ottawa. The largest city on this list, Ottawa, has a population of just over 10,000 people, meaning it brings small-town vibes with some of the amenities often found in larger cities, especially the town's ultra-historic and world record-keeping movie theater!
 

Ottawa is home to the world's oldest movie theater!

Perhaps the biggest draw to Ottawa is the town's historic Movie Theater Plaza 1907 Movie Theater Memorabilia and Museum, which is the oldest purpose-built cinema in the entire world. At 119 years old, this cinema building has stood the test of time and truly does feel like stepping back into the first decade of the 20th century upon entering. While they have upgraded the projectors and sound system to accommodate modern movies, you won't find a movie theater any older than this, making Ottawa one of the most special places you can visit in Kansas.
 

Plaza 1907 Movie Theater and Memorabilia Museum

Northeast Kansas is home to the state's largest urban corridor between Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka. The Northeast region of Kansas might be the most urbanized region of the state, but it's also home to some of the state's best wineries, golf courses, and other outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. This region of Kansas is the ideal setting for those with a wide range of travel interests. If you don't believe us, check out our page of things to do in Northeast Kansas down below to see just how many different activities are available for visitors.
 

Photo: Ward-Meade Park Botanical Garden in Topeka

Drive just a few miles south of many of these towns, and you'll soon find yourself in Southeast Kansas. This region is home to the Kansas Historic Route 66 Byway and some of the state's most beautiful State Parks, including Lehigh Portland Trail, Cross Timbers, Fall River, Elk City, and Crawford.

In addition to maintaining beautiful parks and scenery, Southeast Kansas also has a great reputation for those who enjoy Gravel Cycling and Disc Golf. The Southeast Region is also perfect for exploring small towns, as this region is absolutely jam-packed with cities ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 in population. If you enjoy visiting small towns, then you'll absolutely need to put Southeast Kansas on your bucket list.
 

Photo: Elk City State Park near Independence