This Charming Kansas Town Is Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip
Atchison, Kansas, known for its haunted reputation and historic sites, is a perfect autumn day trip destination with scenic drives, unique shops, and seasonal events.
No matter your whereabouts in Kansas, you are pretty much guaranteed to find yourself amidst some beautiful changing colors. However, if we had to choose one place in particular to visit this fall, it would have to be this charming northeast town that is perfect for an autumn day trip:
It may have the reputation for being the most haunted town in Kansas, but don't let that dissuade you from visiting colorful Atchison; a community of just under 11,000 that is a must see for everyone!
In addition to being the birthplace of the legendary Amelia Earhart (and housing her fascinating Birthplace Museum), Atchison is also home to a large number of other attractions including...
As if that wasn't enough, Atchison is also home to unique shops, wonderful boutiques, and one-of-a-kind restaurants that you will only find in this charming town.
Think fast: if someone were to ask you to name Kansas's fastest-growing city, what would you say? The truth is there are several small cities (and large towns) that can easily take this title, but today, I'd like to highlight one amazing town in particular that's exploding in population - so much so that it's made it onto numerous fastest-growing cities lists across the web. This town, known as Gardner, Kansas, is a little slice of paradise right here in the American Plains.
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Of all the small towns in Kansas, Gardner is one that doesn't seem to get enough love and attention - and honestly, I kind of prefer it that way. The quieter the town, the brighter the charm - at least for me. I love my towns small and my residents friendly, and that's exactly what you can expect from Gardner.
Gardner, Kansas, is located in Johnson County and has a population of 24,206 as of 2022. The town has seen steady growth since at least 1990, when the population was 4,393, until now - about 20,000 residents later. Talk about booming!
Often considered the southwesternmost "gateway" to Kansas City, this amazing town is heralded as a place where the city meets the country, and I'm inclined to agree. If you should ever find yourself torn between big-city and small-town life, I implore you to explore Gardner. I suspect it'll fit the bill you're looking to fill mighty perfectly.
Thanks to its ever-growing status, there's a seemingly endless stream of amazing things to do in Gardner, Kansas. One of my favorite places in the entire world is Celebration Park, which is iconic in its beauty and serves as the perfect blend of city life and natural wonder.
I mean, come on. Look at that. Just look at it. Kansas is a place of amazing beauty as long as you know where to look - and Gardner is an excellent place to start.
Other notable places in Gardner, Kansas, that are worthy of a visit on a day trip, weekend trip, or longer include hidden gems like Transport Brewery and the Gardner Farmers Market, and a lengthy assortment of museums, historical sites, restaurants, breweries, farms, parks, and more to keep you occupied. In this beautiful small town, you'll never get bored.
It is truly tough to understate the magic of this little town, but one thing's for sure: it won't be little for very much longer, and anyone considering a move to a new town - or to Kansas in general (spoiler: do it, it's a great place to live) - ought to consider a visit or two to Gardner as a starting point. It can only go well!
For more information about this small town in Kansas, check out the official Town of Gardner website. If you can't get enough of Kansas and all its wonders, check out nine awesome things you can only find in Kansas. Planning to visit and need a place to stay? No worries—check out all the coolest offerings from our friends at VRBO.
When talking to someone not from the area, we often expect a bit of backlash at the idea of larger cities in Kansas. Of course, those of us who have spent much time in the Sunflower State know that we really do have some larger metropolitan regions, just take a look at Overland Park or Wichita! While our cities make for great day trips or weekend destinations, no trip through Kansas is complete without a stop in a great small town... or two, or three. Small towns are the backbone of life in Kansas, and it's our incredible variety of tiny farm towns and small cities that make life here so amazing. If you're looking to explore some of the best small towns in Kansas, we think you'll love the road trip we're featuring today. It will take you through five of our favorite areas of the state that are often overlooked by those visiting the state for the first time.
In all, our full curated road trip requires just under six hours of driving. Of course, if you don't have that much free time, you can always opt to edit the customizable itinerary to fit your schedule better. Make sure you've gathered up all the road trip essentials you might need for your trip before hitting the highway!
Our first stop on this small-town road trip in Kansas is the little town of Atchison. This is one of our favorite day trips in the Sunflower State, and as the birthplace of famed aviator Amelia Earhart, it has immense historical significance. There's a lot to explore here, including the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.
For our next stop, we'll hit up Wamego, population 4,800. Wamego City Park is a wonderful spot that's perfect for a stroll on a warm day. It's home to a historic windmill and has beautiful tulips in the springtime. Other popular attractions include Lincoln Street Lanes and the OZ Museum, both of which are great if you're traveling with kids. The OZ Museum highlights everything from L. Frank Baum's original novels to the Judy Garland film, and even The Wiz.
Our third stop is in Abilene, population 6,500. This charming small town is most famous for being the adopted hometown of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Though he was born in Texas, "Ike" was raised in this former cow town, which is now home to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Interested in traveling to Europe but not interested in the expensive travel costs? Luckily, Kansas is home to its own Little Sweden in the darling town of Lindsborg. This town of 3,800 was founded by Swedish immigrants and still has strong ties to the homeland. You'll find colorful Dala horses all over the town, and Hemslojd, Inc. is the perfect spot to pick up souvenirs. It's a great spot to end this small-town road trip - or start it off if you choose to follow the route in reverse!
How many of these small towns in Kansas have you visited? Any others you'd love to see featured in a future article? Share your thoughts in the comments!
