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When you visit Kansas bring your rod, reel, and a huge box of tackle. With more than 150 lakes, 24 reservoirs, 55,000 ponds and 10,000 miles of fishing streams, the phrase "I don’t have any place to fish" will never be uttered. Kansas has lots of bass, crappie, walleye, striper, bluegill, gar, and catfish will keep anglers occupied for hours! The state’s capital
of Topeka was originally a railroad town. The
town has many historical sites, some of which are showcased in the Kansas Museum
of History and the Menninger Foundation Museum.
Racing fans will want to visit Heartland Park Topeka.
This track is home to all kinds of races, including stock-car,
motorcycle, and drag racing. While
you are visiting, be sure to stop by the historic Ward-Meade Park.
There you will find a Victorian mansion, frontier log cabin, and one-room
schoolhouse (don’t be surprised if a “schoolmarm” greets you at the door
and reviews some grammar rules). In the southwestern
region of the state, Dodge City became famous during the frontier days when
cattle drives, saloon brawls, and main-street shoot-outs were just about daily
occurrences. Front Street, a
re-creation of Main Street, is lined with museums, saloons, Boot Hill Cemetery,
and Hangman’s Tree.
Unfortunately,
Old Fort Dodge, located a few miles east of the city, is closed to the general
public, but you can still see the wagon ruts created by wagon trains traveling
on the Santa Fe Trail. Wagon trains continued to follow the Trail throughout the
1880’s. Serious walkers
should try out one of these three popular trails,
the South Solomon River Trail located in Webster State Park, the Santa Fe
Trail, located in Cimarron National Grassland, and the Perry Lake Trail, located
in Longview Park. A number of
geological wonders featured in some of Kansas’ parks are Castle Rock in Cedar
Bluff State Park, Table Mound in Elk City State Park, and Inscription Rock,
which highlights petroglyphs from three different Indian nations. Wichita is the
largest city in Kansas. It boasts
many aviation manufacturing plants, such as Beech, Cessna, Learjet, and Boeing.
However, this was originally a “cow town” and proudly displays its
history in the Old Cowtown Museum. You
can stroll around restored buildings from the days of cattle drives and the
westward expansion. Other points of
interest in Wichita are Joy Land Amusement Park, Lake Afton Public Observatory
(which houses a telescope for stargazers), Botanica (a botanical garden with
beautiful fountains and flowering plants), and the Wichita Omnisphere and
Science Center.
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Kansas
If you visit the
Long Branch Saloon look for Miss Kitty.