Kansas Vacation – a taste of what makes Kansas special
Many people think of Kansas tourism as this flat wasteland in the center of the United States. How wrong they are! Kansas is filled with interesting history, beautiful prairielands, museums, cultural events and attractions and the nicest people anywhere. You can travel in Kansas going from the large city of Kansas City to the little bitty town of Garnett where hospitality is shown in abundance.
When I tell you that you can visit the small towns it’s no joke. Kansas has a large number of towns under 1000 people. Take Selden for example. Here, according to the July 2007 report there is a population of 177. Even though there are small towns there is huge pride and friendliness so stop in and say hello. There is land enough to give you some space, views that go on for “ever” and history that will keep you interested for hours on end. Try your luck hunting the pheasants at one of the ranches or farms that take you out during the season.
When you visit Atchison you may want to take a ride on the Haunted Atchison Trolley. Atchison has been dubbed the “Most Haunted Town in Kansas” so in conjunction with this the chamber has offered the trolley tours in September and October. These 1 hour ghost tours leave from the Visitor Information Center in the 1880 AT&SF freight depot. One of the homes on the tour is the McInteer Villa which is said to have numerous ghostly appearances from lights going on in the tower where there is no power to figures appearing in the tower windows and in family photographs or footsteps and other noises on occasion as well as slamming doors. There are quite a number of “haunted” houses on the tour and each has a story of its own to tell.
If you enjoy the unique you will enjoy Henry’s Sculpture Hill near Augusta. Here are an array of sculptures created from steel and/or found objects which will enchant you and entertain you. Since this is a private hill, the creator has stopped giving tours for now because of “maintenance, insurance, old age, and attitude, [but] serious buyers who are looking for original steel sculptures are welcome by appointment.” So, if you see something you want to buy, make sure you go and talk to him, otherwise, just look and leave him alone for now. How refreshing to have someone of his artistic talent be so brutally honest.
There are times in our lives when being in the Garden of Eden seems like it would be a fabulous way to live. Obviously Dinsmoor of Lucas, Kansas thought so too. Following the Civil War this retired school teacher spent his final 31 years building his Garden of Eden. The “log cabin” was built with limestone logs up to 27 ft long and put together just like a log house would be constructed. None of the windows or doors are the same size to give the house a unique appearance. He then went on to build his garden which contains 113 tons of concrete adn with limestone and tells the history of the world starting with its creation. He gave tours of his 11 room house for years and now, you can see it and enjoy the history even though he has been gone for years! The cost for the tour is just $6 for adults and $1 for children so it is an inexpensive break from traditional sites.
If you are in the Manhattan or Junction City area you may want to stop in at Fort Riley. There are some truly unique things at the Fort like the Stable Tour where you can see the building that was home to the horses of the last cavalry training stables with its original cobblestone flooring. This building was built in 1889 and originally housed 76 horses; today the building is home to the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard and houses 20 horses. Of course there are new and technological training programs that take place at the Fort but there is so much history to study while there that it could be a more than one day experience.
Flat land right? How about the Gypsum Hills in central Kansas with their canyons, rolling hills, mesas, and buttes? That sure isn’t flat and boring! There are red cedar trees growing on the red land that is full of iron oxide so the land is actually red! Take the 42 mile drive from Coldwater to Medicine Lodge on the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway and you will be surrounded by beauty. Now, when you are off the paved roads and back on the dirt roads keep in mind that it is open range area so watch for livestock. You don’t have to get off the paved roads, but it sure is fun if you do.
No one can say that those from Kansas don’t have a sense of humor. In the town of Canton there are two water towers, one Hot and one Cold. Now how many towns do you know that would do that? It’s great to know there is such a place in Kansas!