Beat the Winter Blues With a Snowy Getaway to Rural Kansas

I'm about to say something a wee bit controversial, so buckle up: winter in Kansas is beautiful. Yep, I said it. Now, before you come at me about the bitter cold, the snow, and the ice, just know - I know, and I celebrate every last bit of it. Those wildly in love with the stunning state of Kansas love it during all seasons, not just the summer. Yes, summertime in Kansas is wonderful, but I promise: winter is just as magical. The best way to experience this is to simply grab your camera and go for a drive; rural Kansas is gorgeous, but when it's covered in layers of winter's bounty, it's so much more enchanting.

Kansas is an amazing state with hundreds of miles of highway, and every last mile is worth exploring. Most folks prefer to stay indoors in the winter, but I'm a little different - I go out and experience it. We live for the hoarfrost and fresh, new layers of brilliant white snow.

I have a handful of all-time favorite scenic drives in Kansas that wind through rural countryside, offering intrigue and wonder everywhere I wander. First and foremost, I love The Land and Sky Scenic Byway, which shows off some of our state's most important agricultural sites and farmland. This drive will take you through small towns like Goodland (one of my faves), the Arikaree Breaks, and Mount Sunflower. In the winter, it is significantly less busy than usual - and honestly, it's not even terribly busy in the summer. Gotta love Kansas!

Some folks might prefer ski resorts and sledding hills, but I prefer the prairie's quiet. The stillness is wonderful for the soul; there's nothing like a nice, peaceful drive to settle the mind.

Another must-do scenic drive through rural Kansas that you ought to try in the winter is the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This 47-mile-long adventure leads you through some of the state's most iconic plains and prairie. The Flint Hills are absurdly beautiful; this drive is my favorite way to experience it. If you're willing to make stops (which I recommend), the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is awe-inspiring. If you're wondering where the deer and the antelope play... this is it.

The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway is another fan favorite; it covers about 63 miles in northeastern Kansas. You'll begin in Leavenworth, where the K-92 and K-7 intersect. From there, you'll meander the hills and discover much more to Kansas than so-called "flyover" country.

My heart will always belong in Kansas, even when it's a bit chilly out.

I can't necessarily list all the best scenic drives to do in Kansas in the winter that you ought to do, but if you'd like more ideas (you know, once you've done the ones I've mentioned here so far), you should check out the top scenic drives in Kansas that are even more amazing in the winter. If you're planning to explore the Sunflower State and are hoping to stay somewhere amazing while you do, check out the incredible options from our friends at VRBO.

What are your favorite drives to do in Kansas during the winter? Is rural Kansas not the best? I think so. If you have a favorite drive or rural area you love to visit in the winter, tell me about it by filling out our nomination form. I'm always on the lookout for an incredible winter wonderland!