Kansas Road Trips

By Roxie Yonkey

The beautiful state of Kansas gets its nickname, the Sunflower State, from the wild sunflowers that highlight its open spaces, and nearly three million people call it home.

The battle over slavery marred Kansas’s early history. The undeclared Civil War started in Kansas when pro- and anti-slavery forces fought to decide whether Kansas would be a slave state or a free state. This unrest became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

Land and Sky Scenic Byway
Glacial Hills Scenic Byway
Route 66 and Frontier Military Historic Byway
Flint Hills and Native Stone Byways

Kansas Websites

Land and Sky

Land and Sky Scenic Byway, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/land-and-sky
Goodland hotels, thetopsideofkansas.org/community/plan-your-visit/lodging
Mid-America Camp Inn, bit.ly/midamericacamp
Mount Sunflower Bed and Breakfast, mtsunflowerbedandbreakfast.com
Spencer House Bed & Breakfast, thespencerhousebandb.com
Cheyenne Valley Cemetery, army.mil/medalofhonor/valor24/recipients/weinstein/?f=recipient_list
Cheyenne County Museum, cncoks.us/museum
St. Francis Motorcycle Museum, stfrancismotorcyclemuseum.org
Hardt Gallery, facebook.com/CheyenneCenterForCreativity
After your indoor browsing, opt outside at Keller Pond, ]mtbproject.com/trail/7040796/kellers-pond-river-walk
Sawhill Park, stfranciskansas.com/directory/saw-hill-park
St. Francis Aquatic Park, bit.ly/sfaquatic
Fresh Seven Coffee, freshsevencoffee.com
Diamond R Bar, bit.ly/diamondrbar
El Jalapeño Mexican Restaurant, bit.ly/eljalapenorestaurant
Arikaree Breaks map, bit.ly/arikareebreaksmap.
Arikaree Breaks, bit.ly/breaks8wonders
Bird City Golf Course, bit.ly/birdcitygolf
Tri-State Antique Engine & Threshers Association Annual Show, threshershow.org
Big Ed’s Steakhouse, bit.ly/bigedssteakhouse
Kidder Battlefield map, bit.ly/kiddermap
Kidder Battlefield, travelks.com/listing/kidder-massacre-site/39933
Giant Grasshopper, getruralkansas.org/Goodland/210Explore/1802.shtml
Giant van Gogh Painting, travelks.com/listing/the-big-easel-giant-van-gogh-painting/37207
Pioneer Dog Park, gogoodland.org
High Plains Museum, highplainsmuseum.org
Northwest Tech Mavericks, ntmavericks.com
Carnegie Arts Center, goodlandarts.org
United Telephone Building, kshs.org/natreg/natreg_listings/view/1783
The Goodland Churches Thrift Store, bit.ly/goodlandthriftstore
Goodland Post Office, getruralkansas.com/Goodland/210Explore/1824.shtml
Sherman County Courthouse, getruralkansas.org/Goodland/210Explore/1811.shtml
Goodland Public Library, goodlandlibrary.org
National Weather Service Forecast Office, weather.gov/gld
Olde Westport Spice, oldewestportspice.com
Terra Bona Hawai’ian Shaved Ice, terrabonagoodland.com
Good Grounds Café & Bistro, facebook.com/goodgroundsks
L&T Family Restaurant, facebook.com/ltperla
Sherman Theatre, goodlandnet.com/movies
Soldiers Memorial County Park map, bit.ly/soldiersmemorialmap.
Soldiers Memorial County Park, facebook.com/soldiersmemorialpark
Mount Sunflower map, bit.ly/mtsunflowermap
Mount Sunflower, bit.ly/mountsunflowerfb
21st Century Bean, 21stcenturybean.com
Town’s End Tavern, facebook.com/townsendtav
Penny’s Diner, facebook.com/pennysdinersharonsprings
Fort Wallace Museum, ftwallace.com
Western Vistas Historic Byway, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/western-vistas
Keystone Gallery, keystonegallery.com

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway

Overland trails, octa-trails.org/the-missouri-and-kansas-trails
Union Park Guest House, bit.ly/unionparkguesthouse
Red Door Cottage, facebook.com/RedDoorCottageinAtchison
Ma-Hush-Kah Museum, facebook.com/mahushkah
Four-State Lookout, bit.ly/4statelookout
Sparks Flea Market, facebook.com/SparksFleaMarket
Doniphan County Courthouse, dpcountyks.com/doniphan-county-history
Feed Store Café, facebook.com/FeedStoreCafe
Byre and Bluff Barn Trail, bit.ly/byrebarntrail
Lincoln in Elwood, kshs.org/kansapedia/abraham-lincoln-in-kansas/12132
Doniphan, bit.ly/doniphancemetery
Brenner Vineyards Historic District, bit.ly/brennerhistdistpdf
Benedictine Bottoms Wildlife Area, bit.ly/benedictinebottoms
Independence Creek Trail, bit.ly/independencecreektrail
St. Benedict Catholic Church, benedictine.edu
St. Benedict’s Abbey, kansasmonks.org
Riverfront Park, cityofatchison.com/location/riverfront-park
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, ameliaearhartmuseum.org
International Forest of Friendship, ifof.org
Amelia Earhart Earthwork, visitatchison.com/highlight/amelia-earhart-earthwork
Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org
Mount Vernon Cemetery, findagrave.com/cemetery/93155/mount-vernon-cemetery
Sallie House, visitatchison.com/highlight/sallie-house
Visitor Information Center, visitatchison.com/plan-your-visit
Atchison County Historical Society Museum, atchisonhistory.org
Muchnic Art Gallery, atchisonart.org/the-muchnic-gallery
Farmers Market Place, atchisonfarmers.market
Snowball Ice Cream Shop, bit.ly/snowballicecreamshop
Paolucci’s Restaurant, facebook.com/paolucci.loungerestaurant
Outdoor pedestrian mall, visitatchison.com/biz_cat/shopping
World’s Largest Baseball, roadsideamerica.com/tip/38003
United States Federal Penitentiary, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/united-states-federal-penitentiary
Fort Leavenworth, home.army.mil/leavenworth/index.php/my-fort/all-services/gate-information
Wayside Tour extends into the City of Leavenworth, home.army.mil/leavenworth/index.php/about/visitor-information
Circle of Firsts, army.mil/article/74095/monument_circle_of_firsts_honor_black_soldiers
6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion, womenofthe6888th.org/the-6888th-monument
The Lewis and Clark Center, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/fort-leavenworth
Carroll Mansion, leavenworthhistory.org
Leavenworth Historical Museum Association, firstcitymuseums.org
Richard Allen Cultural Center & Museum, jazzbytheriverleavenworth.com/museum
Leavenworth Landing Park, alltrails.com/us/kansas/leavenworth
Leavenworth National Cemetery,bit.ly/lvnatlcemetery
Melissa Etheridge tour brochure, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/melissa-etheridge-hometown-tour
Mido’s Halal Mediterranean Grill, facebook.com/MidosHalalMediterraneanGrill
The Depot, thedepot1887.com
Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant, bit.ly/islandspicejamaican
Z&M Twisted Vines Wines & Winery, zmtwistedwines.com
Downtown Leavenworth, visitleavenworthks.com/visitors/page/shopping

Route 66 and Frontier Military

Historic Route 66, travelks.com/things-to-do/byways-and-highways/byways/route-66
Courtland Hotel & Spa, courtlandhotel.com
Route 66 Visitor Center, bit.ly/baxterspringsstation
Van’s Steakhouse, facebook.com/vansbaxter
Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Tri-Point, roadsideamerica.com/story/50144
Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum, baxterspringsmuseum.org
Fort Blair Historic Site, civilwaronthewesternborder.org/map/fort-blair
Baxter Springs Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot, bit.ly/soldierslot
North Baxter Springs Historic District, kshs.org/natreg/natreg_listings/view/1707
Show Me Birds, showmebirds.com
Eisler Bros.’ Old Riverton Store, eislerbros.com
Cars on the Route, facebook.com/CarsOnTheRoute
Ghost Bike, route66news.com/2018/05/21/ghost-bike-erected-in-memory-of-two-killed-cyclists
Galena Mining & Historical Museum, facebook.com/GalenaMuseum
Schermerhorn Park, geokansas.ku.edu/schermerhorn-park-and-cave
Southeast Kansas Nature Center, facebook.com/SEKNatureCenter

Frontier Military Historic Byway

Columbus Museum, columbusks.gov/community/columbus-museum-and-genealogy-library
Columbus driving tour, chamberofcolumbus.com
Hot Air Balloon Regatta, columbusdayballoons.com
Columbus City Cemetery, khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=021-369
Saint Bridget Church, ckcocatholics.org/saint-bridget-scammon-kansas
Big Brutus, bigbrutus.org
Mined Land Wildlife Area, ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Southeast/Mined-Land
Hudgeon Bridge, bridgehunter.com/ks/crawford/hudgeon
Little Balkans Festival, littlebalkansfestival.com
Amazon Army, amazonarmy.com
Miner’s Memorial and Immigrant Park, minersmemorialpittks.org
Frontenac Mine Disaster, frontenac249.org/history/frontenac-mine-disaster-1888
Pittsburg Public Library, facebook.com/PPLonline
Kiddieland Amusement Park, facebook.com/kiddieland.park
Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, psuvetmemorial.org
Pittsburg fried chicken, kansassampler.org/8wondersofkansas-cuisine/crawford-county-fried-chicken
Typhoon Restaurant, typhoonthai.com
Miners Hall Museum, minershallmuseum.com
Longest Sidewalk Between Two Towns, kshs.org/kansapedia/franklin-arma-sidewalk/18986
Fort Scott, visitfortscott.com
Fort Scott National Historic Site, nps.gov/fosc
Dolly the Trolley, visitfortscott.com/transportation-accomodations
Fort Scott Downtown Historic District, fscity.org/372/Historic-District
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, lowellmilkencenter.org
Gordon Parks Museum, gordonparkscenter.org
Sharky’s Pub & Grub. facebook.com/sharkyspub
Luther’s BBQ, luthersbbqfs.com
Viñedo del Alamo Winery, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063548324675
Riverfront Park, visitfortscott.com/see-and-do/riverfront-park
Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, ksrockspark.com
Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield, kshs.org/p/mine-creek-civil-war-battlefield/19567
Linn County Historical Museum in Pleasanton. linncountykansas.com/html/historical.html
Cookee’s Drive-In, facebook.com/cookeesdrivein
Mound City Historical Park, moundcity.org/historical-park
Sugar Mound Arts & Crafts Festival, sugarmoundartscrafts.com
Marais des Cygnes Massacre, kshs.org/p/marais-des-cygnes-massacre/19576
Trading Post Museum. facebook.com/tradingpostmuseum
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, fws.gov/refuge/marais-des-cygnes

Flint Hills and Native Stone

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, travelks.com/ksbyways/flint-hills
Native Stone Scenic Byway, travelks.com/ksbyways/native-stone
Grand Central Hotel, grandcentralhotel.com
Millstream Resort Motel, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035054565777
The Cottage House, cottagehousecgks.com
Council Grove Lake, recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233599
Manhattan hotels, manhattancvb.org/hotels
Teter Rock, travelks.com/blog/stories/post/time-at-teter-rock
Texaco Hill, mickeyshannon.com/kansas/landmark/texaco-hill
Cassoday Bike Run, cassodaybikerun.org
Bank Art Space, matfieldgreen.org/thebank
Pioneer Bluffs Center, pioneerbluffs.org
Schrumpf Hill Scenic Overlook, travelks.com/listing/schrumpf-hill-scenic-overlook/12131
Chase Lake Falls, chasecountychamber.org/chase-county-lake
Elmdale, ghosttowns.com/states/ks/elmdale.html
Clements Stone Arch Bridge, chasecountychamber.org/stone-bridges-and-waterfalls
Drinkwater & Schriver Mill, cedarpointmill.com
Chase County Courthouse, cwfks.org/chase-county-courthouse
Downtown Cottonwood Falls, chasecountychamber.org /shopping
Prairie PastTimes, prairiepasttimes.org
Symphony in the Flint Hills, symphonyintheflinthills.org
Keller Feed and Wine Co., facebook.com/KellerFeedAndWine
Community Connection Trail, getoutdoorskansas.org/trails/chase-county-community-connection-trail
Bottomland Trail, nps.gov/tapr/planyourvisit/nature-trails.htm
Flint Hills Rodeo, flinthillsrodeo.org
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, nps.gov/tapr
Lake Kahola Waterfall, geospectra.net/kahola/kahola.htm
Dunlap, core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188060403.pdf
Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park, kawnation.com/?page_id=7508
Washunga Days Festival, washungadays.com
Flint Hills Trail State Park, ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Flint-Hills-Trail
Council Grove Historic Sites, councilgrove.com/historicsites
Hays House Restaurant, hayshouse.com
Alma Creamery, almacheese.com
Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, wabaunseecomuseum.org
Grandma Hoerner’s Natural & Organic, grandmahoerners.com
Prairie Fire Winery, prairiefirewinery.com
Wyldewood Cellars Winery, wyldewoodcellars.com
Oz Winery, ozwinerykansas.com
456 Wineries, 456wineries.com
Liquid Art Winery and Estate, liquidartwinery.com
Mill Creek Antiques, millcreekantiques.com
Paxico Blues Festival, paxicobluesfest.com
Oz Museum, ozmuseum.com
Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, visitwamego.com/see-and-do/beecher-bible-rifle-church
Pillsbury Crossing, manhattancvb.org/listing/pillsbury-crossing-wildlife-area/532
Kansas River Trail, kansasriver.org
Konza Prairie, keep.konza.k-state.edu/visit
Tuttle Creek State Park, ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Tuttle-Creek Tuttle Creek ORV Area, nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Tuttle-Creek-Lake/Trails/Off-Road-Vehicle-Areas
Kansas State University, events.k-state.edu
Call Hall Dairy Bar, facebook.com/ksudairybar
K-State athletics, kstatesports.com
Game Day Guide, manhattancvb.org/events/kansas-state-gameday
Flint Hills Discovery Center, flinthillsdiscovery.org
Blue Earth Plaza, mhkprd.com/172/Blue-Earth-Plaza
Manhattan Festival of Lights, mhkfestivaloflights.com
Bourbon & Baker, bourbonandbakermanhattan.com
LABCo. Market and Restaurant, littleapplebrewery.com
Aggieville, aggieville.org
Manhattan Brewing Company, mhkbeer.com
Tallgrass Tap House, tallgrasstaphouse.com
Varsity Donuts, varsitydonuts.com
The Fridge Wholesale Liquor, fridgeliquor.com
Kansas Byways, travelks.com/ksbyways