The Sunflower State of Kansas has much more to offer than what most people are familiar with from the movie than it is most famous for serving as the setting for the American classic The Wizard of Oz.
Kansas, which is the 15th-largest state in terms of area, has its roots in agriculture, as indicated by the seemingly unending fields of wheat and maize as well as the tallgrass prairies, which continue to be one of the state’s top tourist destinations.
Displays like the Keeper of the Plains and the Mid-America All-Indian Center in Wichita proudly highlight the rich Native American past.
While Kansas Tourist Attractions boasts a serene, historic, and natural atmosphere, the state also transports visitors to the real old west by conserving historical sites like Boot Hill and Fort Larned, which haven’t altered much since Buffalo Bill passed through in the 1800s.
10 Best Kansas Tourist Attractions
In addition, Kansas is a fantastic destination for anyone who enjoy the arts, music, speed, and adventure. At the Evel Knievel Museum, you can daydream about becoming a daredevil or watch a race.
With this list of the top tourist attractions in Kansas, you can find out more about the greatest things to do.
1. Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
One of the best things to do in Wichita is to visit Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. The gardens magnificently celebrate horticulture.
There are approximately 30 themed gardens to explore at the property, which is open all year. Consider taking a stroll around the fascinating and instructive Downing Children’s Garden to see the children playing in the treehouse or experiencing the Monster Woods exhibit.
Explore the Shakespeare Garden to observe flowers and plants from the Elizabethan era. As you stroll the 17-acre property, take in the beauty of the scenery, the sculptures, and the more than 4,000 different plant varieties while taking in the Butterfly gardens and Koi pond pavilions.
2. Kansas State Capitol, Topeka
Take a tour of the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka to brush up on your state history.
The 20-acre capital complex is located in the centre of the city and is regarded as a gem by those who love architecture. After the first stone was laid in 1866, it took 37 years to finish the structure in the French Renaissance style.
The Capitol’s murals, sculptures, and regular events are always fascinating, but the free Dome Tour offers a genuinely exceptional experience. Visitors who can physically climb the 296 steps can see the dome up close and get a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Topeka from the top by doing so.
3. Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita
The Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita is one of the best family-friendly destinations in Kansas. 400 different species of animals totaling over 3,000 will excite kids. Elephants, gorillas, lions, chatty kookaburras, and even tigers are among the attractions.
The free tram, which operates every hour with ongoing narration, can be used to tour the zoo or can be taken on foot. An even better choice if you find yourself at the zoo on the weekend is to go on the boat trip, which departs every half hour (additional fee).
Spending time with penguins, rhinos, tortoises, and other animals is possible and can be arranged for a price. Giraffe feeding is the simplest and least expensive animal engagement.
4. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, Abilene
Visits to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s boyhood home and presidential library while sightseeing in Abilene will help you understand his contributions to American politics and society, even if you don’t know much or anything about him.
Five structures make up the complex: the Presidential Library, which has exhibitions and research archives; a museum; the visitor centre, which is located on the grounds of Eisenhower’s former primary school; a facility for meditation; and his boyhood home.
The most recent interactive exhibits have recently been added to the museum. Ike and Mamie will now be able to discuss the issues that are most important to them in front of you.
5. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Have you ever wondered how the American West seemed prior to the development of farms and neat fields of corn and wheat? If so, schedule a trip to the Kansas Flint Hills’ Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
This area is one of the few in America where you may travel to witness the grandeur of this distinctive ecosystem in its natural state, with less than 4% of America’s original 170 million acres of land remaining as tallgrass prairie.
You can explore the area at your own pace on foot, via bus, or with a self-guided mobile tour. Attending one of the unique events that are planned throughout the year is one of the most memorable ways to see the tallgrass prairie and its connections to America’s heartland.
6. Cosmosphere
Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, is one of the most well-liked family attractions and focuses on space education. Visitors to this facility can relate to the developments in space exploration via the use of interactive exhibits.
Kids enjoy participating in live demonstrations of the power of rockets at Dr. Goodard’s Lab. At CosmoKids, younger children have a separate area of the museum that is full of interactive play experiences that teach about subjects like gravity.
Experience every sense as you watch one of the daily programmes at the Justice Planetarium. Learn about how the night sky changes with the seasons and the initiatives being taken to one day make travel to Mars through the immersive projection displays.
7. Boot Hill, Dodge City
Do you want to know what it was like in the Wild West in the 1800s? Then consider going to Boot Hill in Dodge City, where not much has changed since 1870.
Thousands of items and images from Dodge City’s early years, including its businesses and social scene, can be found in the Boot Hill Museum.
Take a tour through some of the historic structures, such the schoolhouse and the Fort Dodge Jail, to put things in perspective. Discover what the neighbourhood saloon and general store were like in the early 1900s.
8. Evel Knievel Museum, Topeka
Only one genuine American daredevil ever dared to perform life-threatening motorcycle exploits, and that man was Evel Knievel.
The historic Topeka Harley-Davidson dealership houses the Evel Knievel Museum, which houses a sizable collection of memorabilia and data about the illustrious stuntman.
Collections in the two-story structure include colourful costumes and the motorcycles and helmets that Evel Knievel rode. To fully understand what it’s like to live life on the edge, try the 4-D leap experience or the Broken Bones interactive exhibit if you’ve ever wanted to be a daredevil.
9. Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence
For those who appreciate art, the Spencer Museum of Art stands out since it is the only museum in the state to house more than 45,000 works in all media. The collection has an intellectual bent and interdisciplinary connections between art and experience because it is housed on the Lawrence campus of The University of Kansas.
African, Asian, European, American, Latin American, and Native American art are among the genres represented in the permanent collections. In order to engage art enthusiasts more deeply throughout the year, there are visitor programmes and frequently changing shows that focus on different artists and media.
10. Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan
The Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan houses one of Kansas’s most unique interactive exhibits.
While the center’s primary focus is on the history of the Flint Hills, it also serves as a profound introduction to some of American nature, fauna, inventions, and popular culture. The museum features displays on topics like the preservation of the North American bison and the environment in the tallgrass prairies. It is a hybrid of science and culture.
Attend a viewing in the Immersive Experience Theater to experience the Flint Hills’ winds blowing over your hair as you watch a documentary about the region’s development.
