The 9 Essential Places In Kansas Every Out-Of-Towner Should Visit
By Clarisa|Published June 08, 2019
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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.
We always end up having visiting friends or family from out of state, but what do you do when you have a week to spend with them and nowhere to go? These attractions are a few of the essential places you should take visiting friends when they come to Kansas. When it comes to road trip buddies, the more the merrier, right? We sure think so!
There's no reason why we wouldn't share one of our favorite attractions with anyone and everyone who visited us. Especially if they're of the mind that Kansas is a fly-over state. This stunning rock formation is up to 70 feet high in some areas, with a great arch named "The eye of the needle" where many take photos comparing their height to the rocks.
The whole town of Lucas is worth visiting, to be honest. It's filled with art installations from the Grassroots Arts movement, which uses plenty of concrete and mosaics made of whatever you can get your hands on.
This town is known as "Little Sweden" and is full of beautifully painted Wild Dala Horses, which you can purchase the miniature hand-painted versions at the local gift shop. Other than that, exploring the local businesses here in town is the best part. Make sure to stop by Coronado Heights on your way through!
If your friends are visiting from out of state, they may be tempted to make an Oz joke or two. Hopefully showing them more about the universe created through this novel series, movie, and theater adaptation will help them get the jokes out of their system.
All of these concretions are harder rock left behind when the wind and rain washed away the softer rock that stood here over what may have been thousands of years. Today we get to climb, take photos on, and enjoy this giant area filled with boulders the size of people or small cars.
If you're not afraid of enclosed spaces, then this journey to our very own salt mine hundreds of feet below the surface is perfect for you. If you're feeling extra excited about exploring new places, the nearby Cosmosphere is a great follow-up destination to check out as well.
Another one of our most beautiful areas is the Flint Hills, best seen through the hiking trails of the Konza Prairie, where the hills are alive with the sound of the wind rushing through the grass.
Wilson Lake is a beautiful place that combines family fun at the lake with miles of hiking trails and plenty of beautiful rock faces to explore. Spending a day here is one great way to show your friends what Kansas recreation is really all about.
Address:
9. The new World's Largest Mural (by one artist) on Wichita's Beachner Grain Elevator
Thanks to YouTube creator MerhlinsPlace, for this stunning drone footage of this huge mural during the daytime.
Address: 519 East 20th Street North, Wichita, KS 67214
Here’s a link to the map you see below, if you’d like to bookmark it for later.
Do you and your visiting friends go anywhere special when they’re in town? Let us know in the comments what sort of attractions you like to see and do while you have guests. In addition to this list, we also think this Margarita Mile would be fun to do with plenty of friends with you.
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