The Town In Kansas That Comes Alive During The Winter Season
As far as vacations are concerned, many people focus their travels on the warm weather months. Spring and summer mean sunshine, time off from school for the kiddos, and plenty of festivals and events to enjoy. But to neglect traveling in the winter months is a mistake. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that your vacations have to end. There are lots of great winter trips in Kansas, and one of our favorites is Garden City. The city is one of the largest in western Kansas, and the county seat of Finney County.
We get it: many of Kansas's most popular attractions are located in the eastern part of the state. Many people don't head towards the west, so even though Garden City is a fairly large city, with a population of nearly 30,000, it gets somewhat ignored as a travel destination.
We think a winter visit to Garden City is especially magical. The city gets around 21 inches of snow a year, which is less than the national average, so you're not likely to be trapped in a blizzard.
But there's plenty to do after the holidays, too. There aren't too many indoor water parks in Kansas. In fact, Garden City's Parrot Cove Indoor Water Park is the only one between Denver and Kansas City!
You'll find 36,000 square feet of year-round fun here, with slides, pools, and plenty more to entertain the whole family.
Parrot Cove Indoor Water Park, 990 Stone Creek Dr, Garden City, KS 67846, USA
Another great winter attraction in Garden City is the Lee Richardson Zoo. This AZA-accredited zoo is home to more than 100 species of animals. Many of the animals tend to be more active when there's a bit of a chill in the air, making winter a great time to visit.
Lee Richardson Zoo, 312 E Finnup Dr, Garden City, KS 67846, USA
Another Garden City favorite is Hidden Trail Brewing. This is one of our favorite family-friendly breweries in Kansas. There are arcade games and board games here, plus it's dog-friendly.
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. Practically all of her free time is spent trapping and fixing stray cats. She also likes reading, playing Pokemon Go, and going to concerts. Her dog Cece is the best dog in the whole world. You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
