This Scenic Road Trip Takes You To All 8 Wonders Of Kansas
By Clarisa|Published September 23, 2018
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Clarisa
Author
Born and raised Kansan, Clarisa has lived in both tiny towns and cities during their time here in the Sunflower State. As a busy mother of one crazy kid, two cats, and two geckos, they write whenever there is spare time.
Have you heard of the 8 Wonders of Kansas before? The most beautiful and awe-inspiring locations in Kansas competed for a spot in the final list, but these 8 attractions were voted through to the top on the Kansas Sampler Foundation website. Let’s see what makes Kansas so beautiful, and what was chosen to represent the state.
Here is a link to the map if you’d like to take a look beforehand, or save it for later use.
Welcome to the 8 Wonders of Kansas road trip! All of the best Kansas locations that represent us best on one map.
If you've been holding out for a special day to see this attraction, wait no longer! There's no better time than this road trip to see it for the first (or 50th) time. These Niobrara Chalk formations were left behind as part of a huge inland sea floor, and are filled with tiny fossils as well as plenty of Kansas sentimental value.
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2. Next up is the Cathedral of the Plains, also known as St. Fidelis Catholic Church.
It's actually not even a cathedral, but it is still huge. A passing traveler gave it the nickname, but we still love it either way. The architecture for a building this old is impressive, and it was once the largest church west of the Mississippi river, back when it was finished in 1911.
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3. After that, rest your eyes for a while and enjoy the sounds of Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
This wetlands area is home to a number of unique Kansas species, as well as a temporary home for hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds every year.
They've remodeled the whole well as a museum about the city and the tornado that changed the town forever. The whole town has come together to rebuild bigger and better than before, and they've created something absolutely beautiful.
5. Then you'll travel to Hutchinson, where two of the wonders are located. The first is the amazing Kansas Cosmosphere, where the sky is never the limit.
Here's a place where you can ride a mini train underground, see how salt is mined today and how it's changed from when the mine was first made. Parts of the mine are still in use to this day!
7. Afterwards, you'll find another relaxing time at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills.
It's one of the last remaining tallgrass prairies in the world, and you'll find that every angle you see it is absolutely breathtaking. Hearing the wind rush over the grass as you take it all in is a sound every Kansan should hear.
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8. Last but not least is the Dwight D Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum.
Eisenhower was an Abilene native, and the only five-star general to become president. Five galleries in the museum showcase his life and accomplishments, and you can also tour the home, where they lived until his mother Ida passed.
Feel free to use the map below to help you get to each location smoothly. It’s a 527-mile drive, so you might need to spread it over a couple days to leave time for food and sleep. Travel carefully, and make sure to have fun!
