Billed as an Oasis on the Plains, the town of Colby exudes vacation vibes with palm trees, parrots, and tropical fish that dot the shores of Colby Aquatic Park. Just off Interstate-70, the serpentine slides, kiddie pool, and lazy river draw travelers for a refresh. Garden City replaced the city’s 2.6-million-gallon Big Pool with a full-fledged water park: Garden Rapids at the Big Pool. Grab the handrails and careen down Slip Stream, a rare stand-up waterslide experience.

Garden Rapids - Garden City
Credit: Kansas Tourism
 

The park’s two Fly Tyme slides result in serious airtime before you make a huge splash. At Derby’s Rock River Rapids, youngsters flock to the zero-depth-entry pool and a host of spray features. (A giant bucket dumps water every 90 seconds.) Choose your water-based adventure at Lenexa’s Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center: lap lanes, deep-water diving, slides, a lazy river, and poolside climbing walls.

At Lindsborg’s Indigo Moo’d Ice Cream, small batches are slowly cooked in a stovetop pot using milk from a Kansas dairy. Fresh-picked blackberries, mint, lingonberries, and locally roasted coffee grounds infuse a rotating lineup of flavors. You’ll want to try them all in a made-from-scratch waffle cone.

Indigo Moo'd - Lindsborg
Credit: Courtesy of Indigo Moo'd
 

Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream has dished up best-selling Da Bomb—cookie dough, Oreos, and chocolate flakes—at its Lawrence and Olathe parlors for nearly 30 years. The 40-flavor menu always includes homemade cones. For 60-plus years, travelers on US-36 have pulled off at Mankato’s Sweden Creme for burgers followed by Sweden Swirls ice cream crafted with house-made fruit toppings and pie crust crumbles.

Salina

Smoky Hill River Festival (June 11th-14th)

Fifty musical acts perform on three stages at this big gig, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The beat goes on with rock, folk, country and jazz music from across the globe. An arts show, kids’ entertainment, and 30 food vendors anchor the riverside fun in Oakdale Park.
 

Bonner Springs

Country Stampede (June 25th-27th)

Scoot your boots to one of the Midwest’s largest and longest-running country music festivals, marking its 30th year in 2026. A dozen stars put on a three-day show at Azura Amphitheater.
 

Winfiled

Walnut Valley Festival (September 16th-20th)

At this premier pickin’ party, thousands gather to hear acoustic folk and bluegrass music by 30-plus performers. Watch guitar and fiddle players vie for national championships, or pack your instrument for campground jamming. Kids get their own showcase and music camp.

Walnut Valley Festival - Winfield
Credit: Ryan Donnell

In the Woods
Feel a sense of renewal at Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat, home to three tree houses and a cabin suite in Easton. Climb the spiral staircase within Whispering Elm, take an alfresco shower on the deck of Graham’s Treehouse, or dine on the spacious patio of Serenity Creek. Upon arrival, sign up for a slot to enjoy private outdoor hot tub time.

Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat - Easton
Credit: Aaron Patton
 

On the Lakeshore
Overnight in a cabin, yurts, or campsites that border Horse Thief Reservoir, carved into a pristine prairie near Jetmore. Yurts come rustic (with no running water) or with creature comforts (a kitchen, television, and shower), but all boast twilight vistas at the self-proclaimed Sunset Capital of Kansas. Hike, bike, boat, fish, and play disc golf during the day.

By the Pool
You’re officially on island time at the new-in-2025 Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City. Chill in this tropical haven with a variety of Tex-Mex tacos and refreshing frozen cocktails at LandShark Bar and Grill, or amp up the activity level by scaling an indoor rock climbing wall and tackling the obstacle course. Outside, soak up some rays at the resort-style pool before retreating to spacious guest rooms accented with sea-, sand- and sky-inspired decor.

Margarittaville Hotel and Resort - Kansas City
Credit: Brian Minnich Photography