Awesome Attractions in Kansas

Kansas has a lot more to offer than just Dorothy and Toto. Check out some of these awesome attractions in Kansas!

Cosmosphere

Spend the day in outer space at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson. This museum offers educational exhibits on the United State’s journey to space, planetarium presentations, and entertaining science shows.

Strataca Underground Salt Museum

Also located in Hutchinson (and not too far from the Cosmosphere), Strataca takes visitors deep underground to visit a salt mine. There you’ll learn more about salt, the mining process, and all the other things the mines can be used for.

Amelia Earhart Hanger Museum

Learn about the adventurous spirit of Amelia Earhart at the incredible Amelia Earhart Hanger Museum located in her home town of Atchison. You can even see the last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E aircraft in existence…a twin to the one Amelia Earhart flew herself!

Step into the Wild West

Experience Kansas as part of the wild frontier. The Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop in Olathe, and Fort Scott in offer a glimpse of what life was like in the wilder times.

Saltwell Farm Kitchen

Venture out into the countryside for an amazing gourmet meal highlighting fresh and local ingredients at Saltwell Farm.

Discover the ‘World’s Largest….’

You can find a variety of particularly large items in Kansas including the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, the World’s Largest Easel (or at least the largest in Kansas) near Goodland, the World’s Largest Hand-Painted Czech Egg in Wilson, and the World’s Largest Belt Buckle in Abilene. And because the second largest is still really, really big…you can find both the World’s Second Largest Hand-Dug Well and the World’s Second Largest Pallasite Meteorite in Greensburg.

Find all the Dala Horses

Lindsborg, Kansas, is often known as Little Sweden…and Dala Horses abound! Try to track down all the painted statues around town. (For more ideas of what to do in Lindsborg, check out this blog post.)

Meet the Inspiration for Tow Mater

Meet the real Tow Mater in Galena! Pixar executives took to Route 66 as research for a movie they had in development…when they came across an old rusty tow truck in Galena, Kansas. And Mater was born!

Center of the US

Kansas is at the heart of the US in more ways that one. Visit the Geographic Center of the Lower 48 States near Lebanon. Or check out a mural honoring the initial starting point for Google Earth (on Apple computer) in Chanute (the initial starting point for Google Earth on PCs was also in Kansas…Lawrence to be exact!)

Presidential Museum

Learn all about President Eisenhower at the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Boyhood Home.

Check out Kansas’s natural wonders

While many people consider Kansas flyover country, they’re missing out on some amazing scenery. Experience the incredible tallgrass prairie at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the Konza Prairie Biological Center, or the Flint Hills Discovery Center. You can also check out some interesting rock formations at Monument Rocks, Castle Rock, and the Little Jerusalem Badlands all near Oakley.

The Rabbit Hole

Step into your favorite children’s books at The Rabbit Hole in Kansas City. This immersive museum of children’s literature is constantly evolving and offers seminars and hands on learning opportunities as well.

WWI Museum

Kansas City houses the only museum in the United Stated dedicated to WWI–the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

Travel over the rainbow

Of course there’s plenty of Wizard of Oz references to be found. You can check out the Oz Museum in Wamego or visit Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz in Liberal.