LOCATION:

Kansas, also known as the Sunflower State, is located in the heartland of the country. Nebraska on the north, Missouri on the east, Oklahoma border Kansas on the south, and Colorado on the west. It is located equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The geodetic center of North America is located in Osborne County.

TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KANSAS:

North Central Kansas: This part of the state is marked by plains and was named Post Rock Country for its creative use of limestone. Geological discoveries like Mushroom Rock State Park near Kanopolis Lake are worth visiting.

For nature enthusiasts, there is the Jamestown Waterfowl Area, which is on the migration path for thousands of geese, ducks and cranes. For fishing and water sports, visit Kanopolis Lake, Milford Lake, and Lovewell Reservoir.

Experience the Old West at Ellsworth, one of the original cowboy towns.

The Pawnee Indian Village State Historic Site, an archeological site of 1820s, is the only major intact Pawnee village site that retains surface indications of lodges, storage pits and fortification wall.

North Eastern Kansas: The region is well known for steep, wooded river bluffs and sprawling prairie. The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka is considered one of the finest state history museums in the country. Also visit the home to the US Cavalry since the 1800s at Fort Riley near Junction City and tour the Cavalry Museum. Check out the Rolling Hills Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center near Salina, which has over 50 species of rare endangered animals, all living in natural habitats.

Other attractions include the Museum of Natural History and the Spencer Museum of Art on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, and the Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs.

North Western Kansas: The high plains of North West Kansas, once the hunting grounds of nomadic Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians are a vast expanse of scenic prairie and golden fields of grain.

Check out the fossils found in the area at Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays. At Oakley's Fick Fossil & History Museum, see the unusual collection of fossil artwork made from petrified sharks' teeth. Visit Nicodemus, the only remaining Western town established by African-Americans in 1877. The Garden of Eden has a collection of concrete statues that Civil War veteran S.P. Dinsmoor built from 1905 to 1925.

South Central Kansas: Step back to the yesteryears at Old Cowtown Museum to get a true sense of 1870s. Get on the history trail at Fort Larned National Historic Site. The Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center in Hutchinson is one of the most comprehensive space museums in the world and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Visit Quivira Wildlife National Refuge near Stafford or Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge east of Great Bend for migrating fowl, whooping cranes, peregrine falcons, eagles and pelicans.

South Eastern Kansas is marked by rich wooded hills and winding rivers. Fishing can be done at lakes reclaimed from mine pits and the four major reservoirs located in South East Kansas. There's a treasure of rich history in this region. The US Army established Fort Scott in 1842 to keep the peace. Today the restored fort is the only military post operated by the National Park Service dedicated to Dragoons, the colorful mounted infantrymen of the 1840s.

South Western Kansas: Here you'll find open spaces of beautiful grassland prairies and green fields of irrigated corn.

Walk along the Dorothy's Yellow Brick Road in Liberal and check out the original miniature farmhouse used in the 1939 classic film "The Wizard of Oz".

The Cimarron National Grassland near Elkhart is full of native wildlife and plants. Many buffalo graze the prairie at Big Basin near Ashland and roam the Finney Game Refuge near Garden City.
The Wild West had its share of desperadoes, among them the infamous Dalton Gang. At Meade, the outlaws dug an escape tunnel from their home to the barn to bluff lawmen. It's still there leading to the Dalton Gang Museum.

THINGS TO DO:

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens: Enjoy themed gardens such as the Shakespeare Garden, Rose and Wildflower Garden and the new Sensory Garden. Visit the Butterfly House and stroll among hundreds of butterflies.

Sedgwick County Zoo: Visitors to the zoo can see more than 2,500 amazing animals in eight imaginative and naturalistic exhibits including the African Veldt, Nor American Prairie, Children's Farm, Koch Orangutan & Chimpanzee Habitat, Herpetarium and Jungle. The Zoo is involved in research and conservation and boasts several successful breeding programs for endangered species.

Sternberg Museum of Natural History: A department of Fort Hays State University with one of the most significant Cretaceous Period fossil collections in North America.