Get Schooled On The State’s Agricultural, Geological, And Human Histories At Marvelous Museums And Beneath The Towering Dome Of The State Capitol.
 

Lawrence

• Baker University Wetlands
  Peace prevails where a boardwalk and other trails provide opportunities to spot more than 200 bird species and nearly 500 varieties of plants.
• Booth Family Hall Of Athletics &  Debruce Center
  Fans flock to Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the adjacent DeBruce Center to learn about basketball’s history and see former coach James Naismith’s original rules of the game. 
• Robert J. Dole Institute Of Politics
  The home of the Kansas statesman’s archives features a 29-foot stained-glass window of the American flag and beams from the World Trade Center.
• Spencer Museum Of Art
  Looking for some visual inspo? Head to this free University of Kansas museum to see the 47,000-piece collection, including works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Grant Wood. 

Hiawatha 

• Brown County Agriculture Museum
  Take a breeze of a stroll past more than 40 windmills along Windmill Lane. Antiques hunters find buggies, cars and tractors galore among early 1900s farm buildings and equipment.

Lecompton 

• Constitution Hall State Historic Site 
  Return to pre-Civil War days when an antislavery group crashed a proslavery constitutional convention meeting. In the balance: whether Kansas would join the Union as a free state.

Osawatomie

• John Brown Museum State Historic Site
  Abolitionist John Brown attacked proslavery settlers, sparking the Bleeding Kansas era of retaliatory fighting. Attend exhibits and events in a refurbished log cabin at John Brown Memorial Park, where the initial battle took place.

Kansas City

• Kansas Speedway
  See one of two annual NASCAR Cup Series races or get behind the wheel yourself with the NASCAR Racing Experience, which lets adrenaline fiends take an exhilarating ride around the 1½-mile tri-oval.
• Legends Field
  In 2021, the T-Bones of the American Association of Professional Baseball became the Monarchs, honoring the KC team that dominated the old Negro Leagues for decades. Watch them knock one out of the park at Legends Field.
• Legends Outlets
  Shopping pros get their fix at Legends Outlets, with more than 70 stores delivering discounts on just about any brand you can imagine, plus nearly 30 dining options. 
• Children’s Mercy Park
  When it comes to great sporting events, it’s game on in Kansas City. Catch a Sporting KC soccer match under the canopy roof of Children’s Mercy Park, voted one of the most intimidating places to play in all of Major League Soccer. (The fans aren’t afraid to show their devotion.)
   

Photography By Kansas Tourism 
 

Olathe

• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop And Farm Historic Site
  In the 19th century, a vehicle’s horsepower meant just that. Ride in a reproduction stagecoach and get a taste of 1860s farm life. It’s the Santa Fe Trail’s last stagecoach stop open to the public.

Merriam 

• Merriam Marketplace
  On Saturday mornings from May through September, a farmers market brims with baked goods, fresh produce, flowers and artwork. Enjoy a pastry at one of the picnic tables, then walk off the carbs along the Turkey Creek Streamway Trail.

Overland Park 

• Museum At Prairiefire
  The Kansas City area looked a bit different 300 million years ago. Experience an era of mammoths, rain forests and giant sloths, and see the skeletons of a carnivorous seagoing lizard and the giant fish Xiphactinus. 

Topeka 

• State Capitol
  The 1903 landmark soars 17 feet higher than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Inside, look up for a dazzling view of the inner dome, featuring 256 glass panels and a 900-pound chandelier.
   

Photography by Jess Hoffert

Kansas grains, grapes, honey and apples put many of these sip-and-dine treasures on the map.  

Olathe 

• Black Labs Craft Meadery
  Julie and Carl Hinchey—along with black Labs Zak and Petey—open up their small batch meadery for free tastings on weekends. Creative varieties include Social Deduction, aged with habanero peppers.

Topeka

• The Burger Stand
  Burgers aren’t just burgers in Topeka. At The Burger Stand, bite into Kobe beef topped with truffle butter and pickled red onions.
• Hazel Hill Chocolate
  Third-generation Chocolatiers Craft Truffles And Butter-toffee Popcorn. Their Treats Make Great Gifts … Especially For Yourself.
• Jong’s Thai Kitchen
  If you’re looking for something light, go for the beautifully presented papaya salad. Their Tom Yum soup with lemongrass and fresh veggies warms the soul on cool nights.
• Norsemen Brewing Company
  In the heart of the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District, raise your glass of Odin’s One EyePA and toast the creative energy—and cuisine—that thrives around here.
• The White Linen
  For A Classy Date Night, The White Linen Comes Through With Dishes Like Roasted Pheasant With Pomegranate And Honey Vinaigrette—and Swanky Cocktails At The Knox Next Door. 
• The Pennant
  Try a Mighty Mushroom (Black Angus beef with mushroom Bordelaise and fried onion strings). The vibrant, airy space is also home to dazzling milkshakes and vintage arcade games.  

Troy 

• Feed Store Cafe
  Bring a big appetite to this friendly small-town cafe. Mom’s Favorite Homemade Pancakes fill the plate, and the biscuits and gravy practically require their own zip code.

Lenexa

• Ibis Bakery At Black Dog Coffeehouse
  Think of the truffle grilled cheese sandwich (served on freshly baked bread) as the adult answer to childhood cravings. Strong coffee prevents a post-cheese snooze.

Leavenworth 

• Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant
  This military town draws a diverse population that influences the dining scene. Try curried goat or oxtails, then refresh with sorrel, a punch made from dried hibiscus flowers.

Lawrence

• Ladybird Diner
  The savory hashes and sweet French toasts provide all the fuel you need to walk Mass Street.
• John Brown’s UndergroundSip topflight cocktails in a basement setting at this spot known for creatively designed menus and expert mixologists. Order a seasonal drink or stick with one of their classics, like Let Me Be Clear, a clarified Jungle Bird made with Haitian-distilled rum.
   

Photography By Aaron Patton
 

Kansas City

• Kck Taco Trail
  For local fare, follow the KCK Taco Trail to more than 50 taquerias, such as Carlos Falcon’s Jarocho and Carlos Mortera’s Poió Mexican BBQ.

Louisburg 

• Louisburg Cider Mill
  After posing for a pic in front of the postcard-ready barn, treat yourself to fresh apple cider, house-made Lost Trail Root Beer, and cider doughnuts at the 80-acre farm.  

Atchison 

• Paolucci Restaurant, Deli And Lounge
  This 1983 spin-off of the 1894 Paolucci’s Grocery keeps aficionados of Italian food satisfied with generous portions of lasagna and shrimp Alfredo. Hankering for hash browns? They also do all-day breakfast.

Leawood 

• Rye
  Chef Colby Garrelts’ 2013 James Beard Award proves that capable hands can turn fried chicken into fine dining, and executive pastry chef Megan Garrelts’ Chocolate Mo-Kan Pie showcases nuts from the region.

Paola 

• Somerset Ridge Vineyard And Winery
  Weekends bring food trucks and live music to this country winery that features a tasting room with picnic provisions. The wines, some made from Kansas grapes, include off-dry whites and a Cabernet Franc. . 

Dover 

• Sommerset Cafe
  Since the late Norma Grubb’s coconut cream pie was named the nation’s best by ABC’s Good Morning America in 2008, dessert-lovers have visited in droves. The juicy burgers also earn raves from locals.

Merriam 

• Strawberry Hill Baking Company
  If You Had To Live By Bread Alone, You Might Want To Go With Povitica (pronounced Poh-va-teet-sa), A Filled European Sweet Bread With Intricate Swirls. Try Samples Of Some Of The 10 Flavors, Including Apple Cinnamon And The Signature English Walnut. 

Overland Park 

• Strang Hall
  With six restaurants in one airy space, the meal combos are endless. Order steam buns from Anousone, tacos from Fénix, grilled shrimp from Solstice and Brussels sprouts from Minglewood for the ultimate sampler.
   

Photography By Aaron Patton 

Rest easy. Whether you opt for an urban boutique hotel or a rural retreat, the hospitality here is second to none.

Valley Falls 

• The Barn Bed And Breakfast Inn
  Host a family reunion in the country that’ll keep everyone entertained. Disc golf, an indoor heated swimming pool, a game room, and fresh breakfasts and dinners make planning easy. 

Topeka 

• Cyrus Hotel
  Named for Cyrus K. Holliday, one of Topeka’s founders, the city’s first boutique hotel is full of modern amenities and unique antiques, like an ornate eagle door knocker in the lobby. Fine-dine at on-site Fedeli’s Steak and Pasta.

Kansas City

• Great Wolf Lodge
  Everyone digs a super-soaked stay here. Kids let loose at the sprawling indoor water park, which is heated to a balmy 84 degrees year-round.

Easton 

• Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat
  A trio of tree houses provides wooded serenity in a forest north of Leavenworth. The Whispering Elm tree house blows guests away with its spiral staircase and spacious screened-in patio.
   

Photography By Aaron Patton

Prairie Village 

• The Inn At Meadowbrook
  Bask in one of 54 luxe rooms or in the lakefront courtyard. Get active in the pool and fully equipped fitness center. And start the day right with fresh coffee and pastries at The Market.

Lawrence 

• The Oread
  You’re allowed to feel like royalty at this castle-esque limestone lodging overlooking the KU campus. Cheer on the Jayhawks at Bird Dog Bar and enjoy a late-night drink on the hotel’s rooftop terrace.
• Circle S Ranch And Country Inn
  A rural-chic stay means horseback riding and hayrides followed by Jacuzzi time in the wood silo. Don waffle-weave robes and cozy up by double-sided fireplaces in the barn.