2014 Summer Travel Preview

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Fun day trips and longer stays for summer 2014.

Sunday, May 18, 2014 Special Supplement

Lawrence �������������������������������������������� page 2 Baldwin City ��������������������������������������page 6 Kansas City ����������������������������������������page 8 Shawnee ���������������������������������������������page 10 Bonner Springs and KCK ���������page 12

Topeka �������������������������������������������������page 14 Southeast KS �����������������������������������page 16 Central KS ����������������������������������������� page 17 Western KS ���������������������������������������page 19

WEEKENDS! FREE Family Fun

Every Saturday and Sunday | 1–4 p.m. Hands-on activities, close looking and conversation with museum guides in the galleries and at the FUN Spot.

45th & Oak, Kansas City. Missouri 816.751.1ART | ne ls on -a tk in s. org

Story Time for Preschoolers Every second Sunday of the month 1:30 p.m. | Noguchi Court | FREE

LAWRENCE WHY GO THERE: If you like to mix things up in the summer, Lawrence can certainly help you stir. There will be sports (cyclists shooting through downtown streets), street performers (think escape artists and sword swallowers) and arts aplenty (films, music and installations). Several of these things will even be happening within blocks of each other during the same weekends, perfect for mixing things up. TO THE MOVIES, JUNE 25-29 The Lawrence Arts Center is bringing back the Free State Festival, formerly the Free State Film Festival, for its fifth year, replete with outdoor art installations and projections, live music, discussion panels and, of course, the films. The theme this year centers on the relationship between film and music,

By Elliot Hughes ehughes@ljworld.com

as well as the centennial anniversary of author — and former Lawrence resident — William S. Burroughs. About a dozen feature films will be shown, along with other shorts and a youth film program, according to Amy Albright, the art center’s marketing director. Eight artists will set up installations downtown. Music stages will be assembled on Ninth Street, New York Street and Pennsylvania Street. One “major act,” yet to be identified, is expected to perform. And if that’s not enough to stimulate you, the Lawrence Arts Center is partnering with Kansas University to organize panel discussions and presentations on a series of ideas and topics. A schedule is expected to be released in early May.

Nick Krug/Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Bruce Scherting, director of exhibits and design at the Natural History Museum gives a tour from inside the panorama on the main floor at Dyche Hall. Scherting and other officials at the museum hope to restore the display, which was created for the Columbian Exposition in 1893.

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL

(785)945 -3225 14910 BLUE MOUND RD. VALLEY FALLS, KS 66088 thebarn@embarqmail.com

www.thebarnbb.com

A PLACE TO GET THAT MUCH NEEDED R&R. VISIT WITH OTHER GUESTS OR YOUR FRIENDS IN ONE OF OUR THREE LIVING ROOMS OR OVER A GREAT EVENING MEAL.

GREAT FOR FAMILY REUNIONS, CHURCH RETREATS, QUILTING RETREATS AND SCRAP BOOKING

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summer travel preview

LAWRENCE BREAKING AWAY, JUNE 27-29 If you need any kind of respite from the arts scene, you’ll be in luck. Hundreds of cyclists will be spending the weekend racing the downtown streets of Lawrence and KU’s campus. The sixth annual Tour of Lawrence will see probably 900 bikers competing for the $20,000 in prizes that are up for grabs. Friday will see cyclists performing street sprints — racing a block and a half on Massachusetts Street. Saturday and Sunday will see lengthier, multi-lap events, with the courses snaking through downtown and over campus roads. Opportunities to see the riders take curves at high speeds will be plentiful. But it’s not all about the pros on those two-wheeled steeds. On Friday, there will be live music and kids get to participate in a free race. The weekend-long tour will also be bookended with a beer garden and kid’s zone assembled near the finish lines downtown. ATTRACTING A CROWD, AUG. 22-24 During this weekend you may notice several large crowds gathering in circles all over downtown. Those onlookers will be watching the performers of the seventh annual Lawrence Busker Festival, where a herd of street entertainers will do just about anything to earn those “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd. Sword swallowers, fire eaters, breakdancers, slapstick comedians, musicians, escape artists and all sorts of other stunts and entertainment can be witnessed for free during the three-day event.

You can also do more than just admire each performer’s skill. The festival is prefaced by an event called the Busker Ball, held on Aug. 21, where every performer will be on hand inside the Granada Theater to meet people. STRUMMIN’ ON THE OL’ BANJO, AUG. 22 During the last day of the Busker Festival you can find one big jam session going on at South Park in Lawrence, for the 34th annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships. The event has a competitive side. Dozens of musicians will enter themselves into nine skill competitions, such as youth fiddling, flatpicking guitar, ensemble folk and banjo. But there’s also just an easy-going, watch-and-admire side as well. Gayle Sigurdson, the event’s organizer, said there will be four local acts booked for concerts. Luthiers will also be on hand, for any musician to admire the craftsmanship behind these stringed instruments. All the while, the park can also fill up with people who just want to jam on their own guitars. “There are just jam sessions in the park,” Sigurdson said. “There could be another hundred playing in the field all around.”

ABOVE: Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Artwork is displayed in Phoenix Gallery Underground during the August 2013 Final Fridays event. BELOW LEFT: John Young/ Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Linsey Lindberg, Kansas City., rips a phone book in half during a street show at Eighth and Massachusetts streets in 2013 as part of the annual Lawrence Buskerfest. BELOW RIGHT: John Young/ Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Peter Champan, of Brooklyn, N.Y., known as Peter Rabbit, plays his 5-gallon bucket drums during a street show at the Buskerfest.

FINAL FRIDAYS Once a month, artists of all kinds come out to show us their stuff. Several dozen restaurants and store fronts all

CONTINUED PAGE 5

sunday, may 18, 2014

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It’s All Here For YOU in Lawrence Arts & Culture • Shopping • Dining History • Museums • KU • Sports Activities • Entertainment

Convention & Visitors Bureau

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summer travel preview

H E A RT L A N D A RT G U I L D ’ S

LAWRENCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 over downtown host art galleries, where spectators have the chance to appreciate art, music, dance, theater and other kinds of visual art. The galleries typically open at 5 p.m. and close around 8, although some may stay open later. You can count on activities designed to engage kids. WHAT TO SEE In between all the crowd-gathering events going on over the summer, there is ample time to visit one of Lawrence’s repositories of history, science, art and culture. • The Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., preserves the history of Lawrence and Douglas County through active exhibits and educational programs. The building hosts permanent exhibits on the settlement of Douglas County, former resident Langston Hughes and the area’s storied connection to the game of basketball. The museum itself is housed in a building rich in history. The Watkins Building, completed in 1888, is a former bank and is an example of Richardson Romanesque architecture. • The Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St., houses Kansas University’s collection of 37,000 artworks covering the art histories of European, North American and East Asia through paintings, sculpture, photography, decorations and prints. Workshops, discussions and other events are scheduled nearly every week in the museum. • The KU Natural History Museum, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., showcases natural wonder in all sorts of degrees here — from the molecular level to the giant-skeletons-of-dinosaurs level. The museum features exhibits on evolution, bugs and those aforementioned fossils — like the 45foot mosasaur that hangs above the lobby. Also don’t forget the 120-yearold panorama portraying the earth’s many natural habitats with dozens of preserved animals. • The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350

International 10th ANNUAL

Petefish Drive, tells the life story of its namesake, former U.S. Senator and onetime Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole. It houses his congressional papers and other various artifacts of his past. The institute also hosts a number of forums and lectures from noteworthy political professionals. • The Booth Family Hall of Athletics, 1651 Naismith Drive, will provide your offseason Jayhawks fix. You can always bask in the glow of Kansas Athletics’ hall of fame. There you will find national title trophies on display and exhibits on KU legends like Wilt Chamberlain, James Naismith and Phog Allen. FOR THE FAMILY • Every Saturday, from 11 a.m. to noon, a mammals curator at the Natural History Museum provides a lesson on a specific mammal species. The event is aimed at children and families. The museum also hosts a monthly event called Science Saturday, another free drop-in event based around a specific theme, held from 1 to 3 p.m. • Families and other groups can visit the Spencer Museum of Art every Saturday to participate in hands-on art projects. Materials are provided by the museum. • Every Wednesday in June and July, the Watkins museum will host a free family activity called “Summer Games through the Decades.” Different games from each decade of the 20th century are played every week. The games run from 10:30 a.m. to noon. • Also at the Watkins museum is a “Let’s Build a Mud Fort” program, a Civil War-era themed activity. Kids can sign up through Lawrence Parks and Recreation for a $25 fee and will learn to make a real mud fort along the Kansas River. • And on Aug. 16, the Watkins museum is offering a full day’s worth of “Civil War on the Western Frontier” programs. Quantrill’s Raid tours, by foot and bus, will be offered, along with an author talk and a concert, among others.

sunday, may 18, 2014

05

atur e s i n i M — Art Show — EXPERIENCE

JUNE 30 – AUGUST 2

Amazing

in Friendly Paola, Kansas

ADVENTURE!

MIAMI COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

an

VISUAL ARTS

FREE ADMITTANCE (Museum Appreciates Any Donations)

Bring a Friend or make it

A GROUP ACTIVITY

12 East Peoria, Paola, Kansas 10am to 4pm Monday – Saturday (Closed July 4TH) Show closes at Noon on Aug. 2nd.

Artwork is for sale.

Groups can be scheduled for complimentary refreshments and a presentation of the show by an art guild member. For scheduling contact: Patsy at 913-244-4587 or Anita at 913-557-6834

Visit historic Osawatomie! A City of History and Promise

HALLOWED GROUND • Soldiers Monument • 1856 pre-Civil War Battleground • Old Stone Church – est. 1861 HERITAGE SITES • John Brown Museum State Historic Site (Adair Cabin) • Osawatomie History and MoP RR Depot Museum HISTORIC BRIDGES • Asylum Bridge – Parker reverse truss • Carey’s Ford Bridge – camelback & Warren pony spans • Creamery Bridge & Pottawatomie Bridge – 2 of 8 Marsh triple arch bridges in Kansas

JOHN BROWN HISTORIC SITE | 913.755.4384 Find out more online at osawatomieks.gov or osawatomiechamber.org

BALDWIN CITY

By Elvyn Jones ejones@theworldco.com

By Elvyn Jones | ejones@theworldco.com WHY GO THERE: People have been finding their way to what became Baldwin City since a small service settlement sprang up near a water well on the Santa Fe Trail. A town company organized the community of Palmyra at that site in 1854. In 1858, Methodist ministers meeting at Palmyra agreed to found a college that became Baker University, the oldest four-year university in Kansas. The college that was built to the south of the existing town site and the settlement near the campus, named for its chief benefactor John Baldwin, soon supplanted Palmyra. Like other communities tracing back to late Kansas territorial days, Baldwin City’s early history was intertwined with the Bleeding Kansas conflict between proslavery and Free State supporters. On June 2, 1856, abolitionist John Brown’s forces intercepted those of Capt. Henry Clay Pate about three miles east of Baldwin

City on the Santa Fe Trail. The subsequent skirmish became known as the Battle of Black Jack and is considered the first Civil War conflict between organized forces. Visitors to Baldwin City today will find a town of about 4,500 people with newer subdivisions and a large oldtown section of brick streets lined with the town’s signature maple trees. It is a community that is proud of its history and still tightly linked to Baker University. WHAT TO SEE THERE: The downtown intersection of Eighth and High Streets provides quick access to the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce office, which occupies the northeast corner of the intersection, and Baldwin City Hall on the southwest corner. Both have written materials available on the city’s attractions. The downtown is home to a Mexican restaurant, Chinese restaurant, coffee and sandwich shop and four antique

Artwalks & Exhibits TBA City-Wide Garage Sale JUNE 7 Black Jack Battlefield Event JUNE 7 Day Out with Thomas MAY 30-JUNE 1 & JUNE 6-9 Maple Leaf City Sprint-Triathlon JULY 26 Vinland Fair AUGUST 4-8 Kansas Belle Dinner Train SATURDAY & SUNDAY DEPARTURES Community Theatre Production JUNE 19-22 & JUNE 26-29 Historic Trolley Transportation SATURDAYS JUNE 5-OCTOBER 25

Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Boy Scouts re-enact the Battle of Black Jack last fall at the Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park about 3 miles east of Baldwin City. The confrontation between militias of John Brown and Henry Pate was the first organized armed conflict of the Civil War. The site is open to self-guided tours from dawn to dusk daily and guided tours are available at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from May through the third weekend in October.

stores or consignment shops. The Baker campus is one block to the north. Just east of the chamber office at 718 High St. is the Lumberyard Arts Center, which features gallery shows and classes for youngsters and adults. The Lumberyard also sponsors art walks, which this summer will be scheduled to coincide with monthly downtown concerts the Baldwin City Economic Development Commission sponsors. The Baldwin City Community Theatre annually enlivens late June with a presentation of an outdoor downtown musical. This year’s production will be “The Phantom Toll Booth.” THE MAPLE LEAF FESTIVAL: Timed each year to coincide with the peak of fall foliage displays during the

third full weekend of October, the Maple Leaf Festival annually attracts more than 30,000 people. The festival’s big draw is its Saturday and Sunday craft show that brings more than 300 vendors from as far away as New York. Other festival features include a quilt show, carnival, musical entertainment and petting zoo. BIGGEST TOURIST ATTRACTION: The Santa Fe Trail brought travelers to Baldwin City early in the town’s history, but it is a railroad that attracts visitors now. Midland Railway, which purchased an abandoned section of track from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in 1987, now offers round-trip passenger rides, which start at the historic Baldwin City Santa Fe Depot, 1515 High St. Eleven-mile round trips to Norwood

Midland Railway Historical Association The Midland Railway operates excursion trains on a line originally constructed in 1867. Train rides feature an over-20-mile round trip from Baldwin City via “Norwood, Kansas” to Ottawa Junction, Kansas, traveling through scenic Eastern Kansas farmland and woods via vintage railway equipment.

Join us for a train ride – bring the whole family! Normal excursions trains June – October every year. Special Events Include: • Easter Bunny Train • Thomas the Tank Engine • Haunted Halloween Train • Santa Express ©2013 Guillane (Thomas) Limited

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1515 W. High Street Baldwin City, KS 66006-0005 Phone (913) 721-1211 Depot (785) 594-6982 www.midlandrailway.org

BALDWIN CITY Station are available on Thursdays. Saturday and Sunday excursions make a 22-mile round trip to Ottawa. Two special events will bookend the summer for Midland Railway. The popular Day Out with Thomas, with a working replica of the star of the PBS show “Thomas the Tank Engine� will return for the weekends of May 30, 31 and June 1 and June 6, 7 and 8. For the first time this year, Thomas will have the ability to speak to children. Midland will mark the end of summer with its annual Labor Day Weekend Railfest, which will once again include the chance to ride behind a steam locomotive. The Kansas Belle Dinner Train started offering year-round service in January 2013 through a contractual agreement with Midland Railway. The dinner train offers Saturday evening fine-dining excursions geared for couples

and Sunday family trips. Passengers have the option of riding in a car featuring plays and musical reviews or on vintage car in which the passing scenery provides the entertainment. FOR THE KIDS: The city’s modern swimming pool features slides and a kiddie pool. Baldwin City Lake has an 18-hole disc course. The lake, at the intersection of North 100 Road and East 1900 Road, is also open to fishing. EXPLORING THE PAST: The Black Jack Battlefield is 3 miles east of Baldwin City, just south of U.S. Highway 56 on East 2000 Road. Visitors can take self-guided walking tours of the Black Jack Battlefield daily from dawn to dusk. Guided tours are available at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

from the start of May through the third weekend of October. Special events are scheduled on or near the June 2 anniversary of the Battle at Black Jack and the associated Robert Pearson farmstead. Across the road from the battlefield, visitors can view ruts dug by wagons on the Santa Fe Trail. Also of historical interest is the Quayle Bible collection housed in Baker University’s Collins Library. A rare first-edition St. James Bible from the collection was featured on the December 2011 National Geographic Magazine cover. Appointments to view the collection can be made by calling 785-594-8414. Another attraction of English origin now on display on the Baker campus is the Osborne Chapel. Once located in Sproxton, England, the chapel was disassembled and rebuilt in 1996 on the campus. The chapel is

open to visitors most days the university is open and tours for 10 or more can be made by calling 785-594-4553. Artifacts from Baldwin City, Methodist and Baker history can be viewed by appointment at the Old Castle Museum, 511 Fifth St. The complex also includes reproductions of the old Palmyra general store and post office and Kibbee Cabin, in which the decision to found Baker was made. Appointments to tour the museum can be made by calling 785-594-8380. HOW TO GET THERE: Baldwin City is on U.S. Highway 56, four miles east of that highway’s intersection with U.S. Highway 59. Travelers on Interstate 35 can reach the community by exiting the freeway at the U.S. 59 north exit in Ottawa or by exiting north on Kansas Highway 33 in Wellsville to U.S. 56.

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KANSAS CITY WHY GO THERE: 2014 is a year of milestones for some of Kansas City’s most iconic attractions. Union Station is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and Boulevard Brewing its 25th. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is 20 years old, and the Shuttlecocks, each standing 18 feet tall, have been on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for 20 years now, too. Kansas City itself adopted its name 125 years ago, switching from “Town of Kansas” in 1889. This summer, the city is ready to celebrate — and you’re invited. WHAT TO DO: While much of Kansas City is celebrating its history, one area attraction is making history. Schlitterbahn Waterpark, 9400 State Ave. in Kansas

By Nikki Wentling nwentling@ljworld.com

City, Kan., will introduce the tallest and fastest waterslide in the world this summer. Verrückt (German for “insane”) is taller than Niagara Falls and steeper than any ski slope in existence. Thrillseekers willing to take the ride will strap into a four-person raft that drops from a height roughly equal to a 17-story building. The final height and speed of Verrückt have not been released yet; however, Schlitterbahn officials say it is expected to top the current world record holder, Kilimanjaro, which is located in Brazil and stands 163 feet high, reaching speeds of 65 mph. If thrill-seeking is your thing, you may also want to take a trip to Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., in Kansas City, Mo. This season, the theme park will open SteelHawk, which lifts riders 301 feet into the air and spins them

around at a 45-degree angle. Worlds of Fun boasts that it will allow riders to experience the feeling of free flight while giving them a great view of Kansas City. WHAT TO SEE: Since 2014 is a benchmark for so many of the city’s sights, this summer is full of opportunities to see and experience history. Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, is ringing in its centennial with an exhibit that has never before traveled to North America: “The Discovery of King Tut.” The exhibit, which will be on display through September, aims to recreate what archaeologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon witnessed in 1922 when they discovered the lost tomb of King Tutankhamun, an Egyptian pharaoh who lived thousands of years ago. Visitors to Kansas City can also check out some not-so-ancient history by visiting the National World War

EXPLORE KANSAS

I Museum, 100 W. 26th St., which is offering a series of special exhibitions and presentations to commemorate the 100 years since the beginning of the Great War. First up is an exhibition titled “Road to War,” which leads visitors through the issues and pivotal events that led to the outbreak of the global conflict in 1914. To experience history more local in nature, you can take a look at the life of artist Thomas Hart Benton, who would have celebrated his 125th birthday on April 15. Benton, a renowned 20th century artist, spent much of his later life in Kansas City, teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute. The Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, 3616 Belleview Ave., allows a view inside the artist’s home as he left it. A display at the National World War I Museum this summer will outline Benton’s time in the Navy during WWI and how the experience influenced his artwork.

CITY ZOO

Watch Polar Bears Flip and Splash at Polar Bear Passage, Penguins Waddle and dive at Helzberg Penguin Plaza and much, much more!

Always a new adventure! OPEN DAILY kansascityzoo.org 816.595.1234

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summer travel preview

The Kansas City Zoo, a private, non-profit organization is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, partially funded by the Zoological District in Jackson and Clay Counties in MO, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

KANSAS CITY EVENTS TO ATTEND: From fireworks to authentic ethnic food festivals, there are plenty of experiences to be had in Kansas City this summer. Here are just a few: KC RIVERFEST • What: An Independence Day celebration with fireworks, food, live music, inflatables, arts and crafts and other activities • When: July 4 from 4 to 11 p.m. • Where: Berkley Riverfront Park in Kansas City, Mo. • Admission: Tickets are $5; children 12 and under get in free ETHNIC ENRICHMENT FESTIVAL • What: More than 60 cultures are represented through food, dance, music and art. • When: Aug. 15 -17 • Where: Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo. • Admission: Tickets are $3; children 12 and under get in free KANSAS CITY IRISH FEST • What: Celebrate Celtic pride with more than 20 entertainers on seven stages, food, drink and kids’ activities. • When: Aug. 29 -Aug. 31 • Where: Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd. in Kansas City, Mo. • Admission: Single-day tickets are $10 if purchased in advance and $15 at the fest WHAT TO EAT: You can’t (and you shouldn’t) make

a trip to KC without trying some of its world-famous barbecue. Perfected by the greats like Henry Perry, Arthur Bryant and George Gates, Kansas City barbecue has its own distinct style: slowsmoked, flavored with dry rub, topped with sweet and spicy sauce and served with a handful of side dishes, including baked beans, coleslaw and white bread. There are more than 100 barbecue restaurants in the Kansas City area to choose from, but some of the more legendary establishments are: Arthur Bryant’s, with its flagship restaurant at 1727 Brooklyn Ave., Oklahoma Joe’s, with its original gas station location at 3002 W. 47th Ave., and Gates Bar-B-Q, which has six locations, including those at 1221 Brooklyn in Kansas City, Mo. and 1026 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kan. If you want to make barbecue a staple of your trip, try making it to one of the KC-based barbecue competitions, like the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, which will be held June 27 and 28. More than 200 judges will taste barbecue from 185 contestants, who are all competing for the title of Grand Champion. These events usually include music, children’s activities and lots and lots of food. HOW TO GET THERE: The quickest route is to travel east on Interstate 70. If you want to avoid paying a toll and don’t mind a slightly longer trip, go east on U.S. Route 24/40 to I-70. The fastest route to the city’s south side is heading out of Lawrence east on Kansas Highway 10, then north on Interstate 35.

Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark images. Courtesy of Schlitterbahn.

Live the Adventure in Chanute, Kansas • Home of the world-famous Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, housed in a restored Santa Fe Railroad Depot • Chanute Art Gallery • Chanute Historical Museum • Cardinal Drug Store OldFashioned Soda Fountain

• Chanute Veterans Memorial • Parks, Fishing Lake, Golf • Aquatic Center with Lazy River and Water Slide • RV Campground • Shopping • Restaurants • Free WiFi in All Parks • Hike/Bike Trails

Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce & Office of Tourism 21 N. Lincoln • Chanute, KS 66720 information@chanutechamber.com www.chanutechamber.com 1•620•431•3350 sunday, may 18, 2014

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SHAWNEE WHY GO THERE: With a history dating back to the mid 1800s, Shawnee is the perfect place to visit whether you’re searching for a historical adventure or a leisurely day of shopping. As the third largest city in the state’s largest county, Johnson County, Shawnee is home to a host of businesses, activities and special events that keep people coming back. Shawnee is best known for its parks system, which includes 34 parks citywide. The newest, Erfurt Park, is under construction near Gleason Road and 71st Street in western Shawnee and should be open by year’s end. Shawnee is also one of three cities in Kansas to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the American League of Bicyclists. The city features roughly 18 miles of on-street bike lanes, 41 Share-the-Road miles and 28 miles of off-street bike trails. Shawnee is also home to two state-of-

By Michael Terry mterry@shawneedispatch.com

the-art aquatic facilities: the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center, 13805 Johnson Drive, and Splash Cove at the Jim Allen Aquatic Center, 5800 King Ave. Pool season runs through Sept. 1. Hours of operation are 12:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:30 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Other Shawnee attractions include a 24,000-square-foot Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive; the Johnson County Museum, 6305 Lackman Road; and the Kansas City Ice Center, 19900 Johnson Drive. A GOOD PLACE TO START: One of the city’s star attractions is Shawnee Town 1929 in the heart of downtown. Each year the city-owned museum, 11501 W. 57th St., draws thousands of visitors to the community to experience what living in Shawnee was like back in 1929.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday, from March 1 through the end of October. In an effort to improve the overall experience, the museum recently completed construction of three new buildings at the historical site off Johnson Drive. The museum now features a typewriter repair shop, barbershop and city jail. Helping bring everything to life is a living history program where reenactors dress in period clothing to give presentations and show what life was like for a family living in Shawnee in 1929. Visitors are also given the opportunity to help with everyday chores like plowing a field or planting crops. WHAT’S NEW While not within the Shawnee city limits, the new IKEA store off Johnson Drive and Interstate 35 is sure to draw a crowd when it opens this fall. IKEA, a Swedish-owned company, is the world’s leading home furnishings retailer. The 359,000 square-foot store, with 1,200 parking spaces, is being built on the former site of the Merriam Village Shopping Center. Downtown also features a number of specialty stores from Encore Unique

THINGS TO DO When it comes to children’s activities, Shawnee doesn’t disappoint. Shawnee features a number of activities geared toward children including Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, 6495 Quivira Road; Little Monkey Buzness, 12219 Shawnee Mission Parkway, an indoor amusement center; and PowerPlay Family Entertainment Center, 13110 W. 62nd Terrace., an indoor amusement park featuring miniature golf, arcade games, go-karts and a soft play area. The Wonderscope Children’s Museum, 5700 King St., is also a popular place for young families to visit. The museum is known for providing fun, inter-disciplinary arts and sciences exhibits and programs aimed at children age 10 and younger. The museum’s philosophy is that children learn best through play and that through fun, imaginative and hands-on learning, they can grow to their fullest potential. UPCOMING EVENTS • June 5-8, Old Shawnee Days, Shawnee Town 1929, 11501 W. 57th St. • June 20, Shawnee Relay for Life, Swarner Park, 63rd Street and Lackman Road

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MISSOURI’S MOST BEAUTIFUL TOWN

Come enjoy our Old-World hospitality as you see for yourself why Hermann has been voted Missouri’s most beautiful town.

7JTJU)FSNBOO DPN r On the Missouri River halfway between Columbia and St. Louis. From Lawrence, take I-70 West to Highway 19 South (Exit 175).

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summer travel preview

Lawrence Journal-World file photo. Various community groups participate in the annual Old Shawnee Days parade, which is on June 7 and runs through downtown Shawnee.

SHAWNEE • July 11, Summer Concert Series, Swarner Park, 63rd Street and Lackman Road • July 25, Summer Concert Series, Stump Park, 47th and Woodland Drive • Aug. 8, Summer Concert Series, West Flanders Park, 55th Street and Nieman Road • Aug. 23, Shawnee Rotary Bike Rodeo, Mill Valley High School, 5900 Monticello Road • Aug. 24, 25th annual Tour de Shawnee, the parking lot of PowerPlay, 13110 W. 62nd Terrace • Sept. 7, The Ninth Annual Wheels & Dreams Car, Truck & Bike Show sponsored by Downtown Business Association, downtown HOW TO GET THERE: Kansas Highway 7 and Interstate 435 run through Shawnee. Interstate 70 lies a few miles north and Interstate 35 runs just east of the city limits.

OLD SHAWNEE DAYS Each year, thousands turn out to celebrate Shawnee’s history and community spirit through four days of music, games, rides, contests, concession booths, historic re-enactments and more. WHEN AND WHERE: This year’s Old Shawnee Days celebration will run June 5-8. Most of the festivities will take place at Shawnee Town 1929, a living history museum at 11501 W. 57th St., Shawnee. The festivities will get started with a carnival and concerts from 6 to 10 p.m. June 5-6. On June 7, the fun will start at 10 a.m. with the annual Old Shawnee Days parade and continue until 10 p.m. On June 8, hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ADMISSION: There is no admission fee for the concerts or most other Old Shawnee Days events. Costs may include food and drinks, souvenirs, crafts and the carnival. On June

5, visitors will be able to enjoy one-price carnival wristband night. The wristband prices are $15 for ages 6 and younger and $25 for all other ages. MUSICAL ATTRACTIONS: The headline act on June 6 will be the Travelin Band, a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, who will perform from 7 to 7:55 p.m. on the main stage. The evening will also feature performances by Rattle and Hum, a tribute to U2 and American Fool, a tribute to John Mellencamp. On June 7, the headliner will be The Guess Who, a Canadian rock band,

known for hits such as “American Woman” and “These Eyes,” who will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. on the main stage. HOW TO GET THERE: Shawnee Town 1929 is located three blocks west of Nieman Road on 57th Street and is accessible from all major thoroughfares. From Interstate-35, take the Johnson Drive exit and go west about one mile and take a right on Flint Street, and left on 57th Street. From Interstate-435, the Johnson Drive exit and head east about three miles and take a left on Cody Street, and right on 57th Street.

SUMMER FESTIVALS!

Just one hour from Lawrence on the Kansas Turnpike May 31 Dirty Kanza 200 Bike Race and Finish Line Block Party, Downtown Emporia June 12 Fallen Educator Memorial Dedication, nthf.org June 13 National Teachers Hall of Fame Induction, ESU July 19 Twinkie Fest, Flinthills Mall August 8-15 Lyon County Fair August 22-24 Flint Hills BeefFest, Lyon County Fairgrounds September 13 Great American Market, Downtown Emporia

Call 800-279-3730 or Click visitemporia.com sunday, may 18, 2014

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BONNER SPRINGS AND KCK WHY GO THERE: In the past few years, western Wyandotte County has become a place where you can catch a great outdoor concert, watch a marble being made, experience a day on the farm or take a trip back to the Renaissance, find a great bargain on discount clothes or catch a professional soccer game or Nascar race. But this summer, it also will be a place where you can soar through the tree tops, go down the world’s tallest water slide and watch hundreds of hot air balloons take to the sky. The area surrounding the Legends Outlets in Kansas City and Bonner Springs has continued to grow. Check out the newest attractions and events below. WHAT’S NEW: Outdoor enthusiasts will love the new Adventure Zip KC zip line park, located just southwest of Bonner Springs. Visitors can climb a 65-foot tower atop a hill to

travel down 300 feet through the tree tops on one of five zip lines. Visitors also can soon choose the Hike and Zip option — hike the distance between three zip lines in Adventure Zip’s 143-acre park. Since opening in 2009, Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and Water Park has slowly been expanding on its site, just across Interstate-435 from the Legends. It already boasted slides such as the Banzai Pipeline, Cyclone and Black Knight, the Boogie Bahn surf ride, and the King Kaw Rapids River and Mighty Mo Chute ride, but this summer, a new attraction will open: Verruckt, which at 17 stories tall, will officially be the world’s tallest water slide (don’t worry, you don’t go down it solo — you and some friends take the plunge in a four-person raft). A GOOD PLACE TO START: The Legends Outlets has 101 stores and restaurants, plus Cabelas and Nebraska Furniture Mart, other shopping areas that

City hosts a garage sale in the Spring (April) and fall (September). Families, clubs, and CityWideGarageSale The organizations are invited to participate in Lansing’s Citywide Garage Sale. The City advertises

each garage sale by publishing a list of the garage sale locations and on the City’s website – www.lansing.ks.us. A map is also available at City Hall, and the city’s website www.lansing.ks.us. This event is free to participants and features garage sales throughout the City and draw treasure hunters from surrounding areas.

in 2007, the Lansing DAZE LansingDaze/Brew,Blues,&Bar-B-Q Beginning Festival and Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q

were combined. The first Friday in May marks the arrival of the bar-b-q contestants with the main competition held the following day. The Lansing DAZE Festival is held in conjunction with the bar-b-q competition and includes a fun day of family activities, entertainment, displays, crafts, and great food! Brew, Blues, and Bar-B-Q is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and is also a State Championship competition, which includes a proclamation from the Governor of Kansas. Lansing’s Independence Day Lansing’s IndependenceDayCelebration The Celebration is held at Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park, located at 4-H Road and Gilman Road. As the sun sets, the fireworks display begins as the community celebrates Independence Day. The evening event maintains a safe family atmosphere for every age to enjoy. Visit www.lansing.ks.us for details. the city of Lansing held its first fall event, Autumn in AutumnInTheGrove Inthe2006, Grove, which takes place on the second Saturday of October in Kelly Grove Park. This event gives local organizations the opportunity to raise funds and share information about their group. Vendors are asked to keep a fall theme with their products. Local artisans display their creations and in some cases provide demonstrations. Kelly Grove Park is located at the intersection of K-7 and Gilman Road. Come out and enjoy the live entertainment along with numerous children’s activities. There is something for the entire family! to the annual celebrations, Lansing is home LansingHistoricalMuseum toIn addition the Lansing Historical Museum. Residents and

visitors alike can educate themselves about Lansing’s history. The Lansing Historical Museum, 115 East Kansas, has been located on Lansing Correctional Facility property since 1992. The museum is one of only two public/commercial buildings which remain from the original downtown area. The Lansing Historical Museum features a number of rotating displays and unique artifacts which the entire family will enjoy.

For more information visit www.lansing.ks.us or email cvb@lansing.ks.us or call (913) 727-5488

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summer travel preview

By Caroline Boyer cboyer@theworldco.info

include stores such as JC Penneys and Kohls, three major sporting venues, the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway for the adults, and five hotels in the immediate vicinity. The area provides some big-time entertainment, and your money stays in Kansas. SAVE THE DATE: The 2014 U.S. Bank Midwest Balloon Festival will take place Aug. 8-10 on the grounds of the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The event will cover approximately 50 acres to the west of the Speedway’s grandstand and features mass balloon ascents, food vendors, traditional and tethered balloon rides, children’s events, a carnival and evening balloon glows. Advance tickets go on sale online at midwestballoonfest.org and at all area Hy-Vee locations on May 26. Tickets start at $15 for adults 15 and older and $7.50 for children. Children under 3 are free. Multi-day pricing is also available.

THINGS TO DO WITH THE KIDS: Children will get a kick out of the animatronic dinosaurs at the T-Rex Cafe, or hit the arcade games at Dave & Busters. Stay the night at Great Wolf Lodge, which has its own indoor water park and rooms with cabins or tents just for the kids. If you are up for a 10-minute drive, head south on K-7 to see a marble made and explore the toys at Moon Marble Co. in Bonner Springs. DID YOU KNOW: Shopping at The Legends Outlets is also a lesson in state history. The shopping center is sprinkled with more than 80 plaques, murals and other markers dedicated to famous Kansans. An audio walking tour is available from the Customer Service office, and a Scavenger Hunt can be printed from the shopping center’s website. HOW TO GET THERE: From Lawrence, head east on Interstate-70 to Interstate-435 North, taking the west exit for either State Avenue or Parallel Parkway.

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TOPEKA WHY GO THERE: As the capital of Kansas, Topeka has played a pivotal role in the history of the state and nation, and that story is re-told in Topeka’s many museums and the newly renovated Statehouse. But Topeka is also a fun place to visit with the relaxed attitude and family attractions of a small, big city or a big, small town. WHAT TO DO THERE Whether it’s gambling, racing, shopping, biking, going to the theater or any number of other activities, Topeka fits the bill. Art galleries, studios, funky restaurants and kitschy antique stores are thriving in the growing NOTO Arts District. First Friday ArtWalk, on the first Friday of each month, brings thousands of people to the old area of refurbished buildings. Heartland Park is a multi-purpose motor sports racetrack about 5 miles

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

south of Topeka, and 15 miles north of Topeka is Prairie Band Casino. Topeka is also home to a vibrant theater scene, and has numerous live music venues and top-class museums, such as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, the Kansas Museum of History, the Combat Air Museum and Great Overland Station. Topeka’s HarleyDavidson dealership has a downstairs area filled with rare Harleys and other items. If the weather is nice, hit the city’s expansive parks. Gage Park includes the Topeka Zoo, Reinisch Rose Garden, Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center, a minitrain and a carousel built in 1908. Also hike around the woods of the state’s newest park, Kaw River State Park, or fish, boat, sail or swim at Lake Shawnee. THINGS YOU MUST SEE THERE If you have only time to see one thing, go see the Statehouse. After years

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summer travel preview

of renovation, the building gleams with a new copper dome, shiny visitor center, and restored House and Senate chambers and committee rooms that are inspiring. It’s free and tours of the dome are offered. Make sure to ride the cage elevator and take some time looking at the John Steuart Curry murals on the second floor. From the Statehouse it is just a few blocks to the Brown v. Board National Historic Site, which is dedicated to telling the story of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made racial segregation illegal. Also, across the street from the Statehouse on Saturdays from April through October is one of the Midwest’s largest farmers’ markets, featuring more than 100 vendors. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS The ever-growing Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will get those kids to put down their hand-held devices. The children’s museum has exhibits, hiking trails, an enormous treehouse and obstacle courses. Another fun place is Ward-Meade Park and Old Prairie Town, which has an old mansion, botanical gardens, a street of 19th century buildings, and a drug store with a working soda fountain. Guided tours of the site cost $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12. SAVE THE DATE June 7-8 for the Mulvane Art Fair at Washburn University. The open-air festival draws nearly 100 artists from across the country and features a children’s arts activity tent, food and entertainment. DID YOU KNOW In 2014, for the first time in 35 years, candy giant Mars Inc. opened a new plant and it’s in Topeka. The plant will produce 14 million bite-sized Snickers and 39 million M&M’s each day.

John Milburn/AP Photo. With a 13-year renovation nearly complete, the Kansas Statehouse has a new main entrance on its north side, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, in Topeka, Kan. The entrance takes visitors into what used to be a dark, unfinished and crowded basement.

HOW TO GET THERE Interstates 70, 470 and the Kansas Turnpike all go through Topeka, as do U.S. Highways 24, 40 and 75. Amtrak’s Chicago-to-Los Angeles Southwest Chief stops in Topeka. Also this year, United Air Service started daily service between Topeka and Chicago. ALSO NEARBY Lecompton, which was the territorial capital of Kansas, is about 15 miles east of Topeka. Step back in time in this historic town on the Kansas River and tour Constitution Hall and Territorial Capitol Museum to learn about the political and military strife that led up to the Civil War.

sunday, may 18, 2014

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SOUTHEAST KS KS SOUTHEAST WHY GO THERE: The Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory and Education Park is a modest outdoor zoo in Miami County featuring nearly 30 animals, most of which are cats — big, small, popular, obscure, endangered or threatened. Most of the cats were acquired from other sanctuaries or private owners who thought they might make a cool pet, according to Steve Klein, the zoo’s board president and senior curator. There are the usual King-of-the-Jungle types, like lions, tigers (both orange and white), leopards and bobcats. But there are also smaller predators that don’t get always get the same media attention, such as leopard cats and caracals. Pairs of wolves and coatis, a relative of the raccoon, fill out the rest of Cedar Cove’s roster.

By Elliot Hughes ehughes@ljworld.com

WHAT TO DO THERE: Take a guided tour with one of the park’s volunteers. They last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, Klein said, depending on the level of engagement from visitors. Guests learn about each individual animal’s personality and history. Look out for Voodoo, the leopard, who tends to stare at kids, usually ones wearing purple. “He will follow them back and forth; he will launch himself against the side of the enclosure,” Klein said. Visitors are also educated on each species’ physiology and standing in the wild. About a third of the species at Cedar Cove are listed as either near threatened, vulnerable or endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Summer hours are from 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tours are also offered by appointment during weekdays. THINGS TO SEE: Cedar Cove provides an opportunity to admire some of the more uncommon wild cats that nature has to offer. The big cats are a sight to see, but the medium and smaller-sized felines are worth admiration as well. Leopard cats are about the size of an everyday house cat, but with leopard fur patterns. The medium-sized caracals, notable for their long tufted ears, are gifted bird hunters, able to snatch one in mid-air. On Saturdays at 4 p.m. it’s feeding time for the felines, and visitors get to watch the animals chow down on slabs of meat. It’s an event that has brought over 300 people to the park at a time in the past, Klein said. “When you see them eating and crushing through the bone like they’re going through pretzels, it’s quite an impressive sight,” he said. HISTORY: Cedar Cove formally opened in 2000 after years of assembling the right

resources with minimal financial capital. The late William Pottorff, a Vietnam veteran, led the way. While overseas on his tour of duty, Klein said, Pottorff was moved to protect these types of animals after witnessing them being killed and their hides being put up for sale in local markets. In 1997 Pottorff received a land donation of 11 acres from a local family. Over the next several years he acquired his first tigers and cougars and earned licensing from the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Association of Zoo Keepers. To this day, the park relies on donations and its volunteer staff. Klein, who took over for Pottorff after his passing two years ago, lives on-site and is the only one to receive a monthly stipend. He is assisted by a crew of up to 18 weekly volunteers. COST: Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for kids under the age of 12, as well as for seniors age 65 and older.

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Little Apple...

BIG SUMMER FUN

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summer travel preview

CENTRAL KS HUTCHINSON WHY GO THERE: To an outsider’s eye, Hutchinson may seem to be a sleepy small town, but some know it is home to some rare – and random – museum collections. But if moon rocks and salt crystals aren’t up your alley, the town also offers adventures for people of all ages. WHAT TO DO THERE: One Hutchinson museum is truly out of this world. The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is home to one of the largest collections of United States space artifacts, second only to the Smithsonian. From Apollo XIII to the gloves Neil Armstrong used to touch the moon’s surface, the Cosmosphere artifacts provide a fun, educational experience. In 2007, the Kansas Sampler foundation named the museum one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. THINGS YOU MUST SEE: Once you’ve seen what’s far above, go 650 feet below the Kansas plains into the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, “STRATACA.� After the 90-second elevator ride, visitors take a tram ride with a tour guide to learn about geology, salt mining and the cultural significance of salt. Additionally, guests can tour the underground vaults and storage gallery, which is home to many items from popular culture including costumes from “Batman� and “Superman,� James Dean’s shirt from “Giant� and the snowman from “Jack Frost.� At a constant 68 degrees and 45 percent relative humidity, the salt chambers are prime for storing valuable goods. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS: The last thing you might think to see on a Kansas vacation can be found at Hedrick’s Exotic Animal Farm on Highway 96 about eight miles west of Hutchinson. At this safari-like zoo, visitors can pet zebras, ride camels and feed giraffes without leaving the great plains. And if your Hutchinson-area adventures wear you out, Hedrick’s also offers a bed and breakfast resembling an old west main street with balcony views of the animals roaming the farm.

By Caitlin Doornbos news@ljworld.com

ALSO NEAR: Escape to a simpler time just 13 miles south of Hutchinson on Kansas Highway 96 to the authentic Amish community of Yoder. There, visitors will drive beside horse-drawn buggies and can stroll along the quaint town’s quiet Main Street. The town’s popular restaurant, Carriage Crossing, offers homemade comfort foods and freshly baked pies as well as a wholesome country atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. SAVE THE DATE: For more than 100 years, Hutchinson has been home to the Kansas State Fair. Each year, thousands flock to admire the 4-H projects, livestock, arts and crafts, Midway rides, live entertainment and deep-fried foods. The 2014 State Fair will be Sept. 5 - 14 and will feature grandstand concerts from artists including Cheap Trick, 3 Doors Down and Hunter Hayes. HOW TO GET THERE: From Lawrence, drive about 175 miles on Interstate 70 west to Salina, then take Interstate 135 south about 50 miles to McPherson. There, take the Hutchinson exit to follow Kansas 61 into town. WICHITA WHY GO THERE: As the largest city in Kansas, Wichita has plenty to offer. Whether touring one of the city’s many museums, seeing some of the notable sights or taking in a festive community celebration, Wichita visitors can choose from a wide variety of entertainment and activities. WHAT TO DO THERE: With 33 museums, eight shopping districts, 22 attractions and 17 festivals, it’s impossible to do everything in Wichita over one weekend. Visitors can take their pick from the long list of options including viewing the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex discovery at the Museum of World Treasures or taking in a show at the Intrust Bank Arena, where Motley Crue, James Taylor and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will perform this summer. Wichita also has its own

CONTINUED PAGE 18 sunday, may 18, 2014

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CENTRAL KS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 professional sports teams to watch, including Wichita Wingnuts baseball. THINGS YOU MUST SEE: Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright considered the Allen-Lambe house at 255 N. Roosevelt in Wichita among his best. Designed in 1915, the home includes elements of architecture with its 23 pieces of original Wright furniture, an expansive koi pond and outdoor concrete vases. The house is open for guided tours by appointment. To make a reservation, call 316-678-1027 at least 10 days in advance. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS: Exploration Place, Inc. offers a handson approach like none other in the region. At the educational museum, children can learn about engineering, science, history and geography through fun, interactive exhibits. Visitors can experience flight like Wilbur and Orville Wright by lying on a horizontal simulator and soaring above images of Kitty Hawk, N.C., or feel what it’s like to be in an EF1 tornado in the Kansas Explorer exhibit’s tornado simulator. Exploration Place also puts on live science shows and screens science films in its dome theater and planetarium. SAVE THE DATE: The annual Wichita Riverfest brings thousands together each year for live entertainment, outdoor activities, food, fireworks and fun. For $5, festival attendees gain access to events May 30 through June 7 including showcases, contests and concerts. See country star Jerrod Niemann perform May 31 and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts play June 1. Or watch hot air balloons float through the sky and jet ski races on the river. And if you’re feeling adventurous, soar high above on the Riverfest zipline or rent a paddleboat on the Arkansas River. ALSO NEAR: Hit the jackpot at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, about 22 miles south of Wichita on Kansas Highway 15 South. Opened in 2011, the casino offers nearly 2,000 slot machines, 55 table games and a poker room.

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HOW TO GET THERE: Take Interstate 70 west toward Topeka, and then turn onto Interstate 335 South. Continue on to Interstate 35 and take exit 50 onto US 400 west toward Wichita. LINDSBORG WHY GO THERE: Known locally as “Little Sweden,” the Swedish-settled community of Lindsborg offers a mix of cultural, recreational and historical sites and events. WHAT TO DO THERE? Experience Swedish culture in Lindsborg while admiring handcrafted art by viewing the many Dala Horses around the town. A Dala Horse is a wooden horse without a tail that is colorfully painted. A traditional custom, they often are displayed with family names on Swedish families’ front porches, but they can also be seen around town as large fiberglass figurines decorated by local artists. THINGS YOU MUST SEE: One of seven historic buildings at the Old Mill Heritage Square, The Swedish Pavilion was displayed by Sweden at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. After being donated to Lindsborg’s Bethany College at the conclusion of the fair, the pavilion came to Kansas to become the school’s center for the arts until it was moved to Heritage Park in 1969. The pavilion follows the design of a traditional Swedish manor house and offers a look into the architecture of early 20th century Sweden. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS: Just three miles northwest of Lindsborg is Coronado Heights, the southern-most bluff of the Smoky Hills. Legend has it that Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado surveyed the prairie from the bluff. Spanish artifacts like coins, armor and a bridle have been found in the area. SAVE THE DATE: Midsummer’s Festival celebrates the beginning of summer with Swedish food, music, games and dancing the third Saturday in June every year. This summer’s event starts at 9 a.m. June 21 and will feature the traditional “midsommarstång,”

summer travel preview

or “midsummer pole” and Swedish folk dancers in traditional costume. ALSO NEAR: Twenty three miles from Lindsborg is Kansas’ first state park. Visitors can enjoy central Kansas’ great outdoors at Kanopolis State Park in Marquette, where they can see the area’s rolling hills and wooded scenery, stroll sandy beaches, boat on the lake or stay overnight under the stars or in a cabin. The park has a full-service marina and plenty of picnic areas and hiking trails. HOW TO GET THERE: Take Interstate 70 west to Salina, then take Interstate 135 South. Merge onto US 81 south toward Wichita and take exit 78 for Kansas 4 toward Lindsborg. ABILENE WHY GO THERE: The home of former President Dwight Eisenhower, Abilene has much to offer visitors whether or not they “like Ike.” With its rich history and attractions, CNN named Abilene as “the spot” to visit in Kansas in its 2014 travel suggestions. WHAT TO DO THERE: Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Russell Stover Candies Factory and Outlet Store along Interstate 70 or learn about the history of dog racing at the Greyhound Hall of Fame. Visitors can also visit The Heritage Center to learn about pioneer life on the prairie or visit the Kansas Auto Racing Museum to see the first-ever NASCAR trophy, which was won by Kansan Jim Roper in 1949. THINGS YOU MUST SEE: Though born in Texas, Eisenhower called Kansas home. In Abilene, visitors can view Eisenhower’s boyhood home and grave site and learn about his life and career in his presidential library and museum. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS: Walk back in time to Old Abilene Town, where gunfights are seen every Saturday morning and can-can dancers perform three times a day while you sip a cool sarsaparilla in the Old Alamo Saloon. SAVE THE DATE: This summer will mark the 70th year since D-Day, and the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home are planning a remembrance event June 6 -7. Attendees will see numerous events including a C-47

flyover, as well as hear first-hand accounts of the day during panel discussions and a First Infantry Division band concert. ALSO NEAR: About 25 miles east of Abilene is Junction City, where the U.S. Cavalry Museum and Custer House can be visited. HOW TO GET THERE: Abilene is about 116 miles west of Lawrence on Interstate 70. COTTONWOOD FALLS WHY GO THERE: Nature lovers and music fans alike will find the tiny town with a population of less than 900 people charming. Cottonwood Falls offers a rich bluegrass and country music scene as well as many opportunities to appreciate the beauty of the Kansas Flint Hills. WHAT TO DO THERE: Enjoy dinner at Grand Central Hotel and Grill, locally famous for its steaks. Visitors can also listen to evening jam sessions every Friday at the Emma Chase Café. THINGS YOU MUST SEE: Built in 1873, the Chase County Courthouse on historic Broadway Street is a lovely example of French Renaissance architecture. The courthouse is the oldest functioning courthouse in Kansas and was designed by the notable Lawrencian and Kansas architect John G. Haskell. THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS: The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s nature and hiking trails, 1881 ranch house, nature activities and bus tours of the prairie offer visitors seeking an escape to the wild plenty to explore. Visitors can see bison that were introduced in 2009 or enjoy the natural prairie inhabitants on the 32-acre park. SAVE THE DATE: On June 13 Cottonwood Falls will host its annual River Suite festival along the Cottonwood River with fine dining and live music. On Sept. 28, Bluegrass musician Dan Bliss will perform at 7:30 p.m. as part of Broomweed, a blues and bluegrass festival at the Emma Chase Music Hall. HOW TO GET THERE: From Emporia, drive west on U.S. Highway 50. Turn south on Kansas Highway 177 at Strong City. Cottonwood Falls is then two miles south.

WESTERN KS WHY GO THERE: You may have already made the trip out west, probably in search of some cowboy culture or to gaze upon the flat, dry, vast expanse of land commonly associated with Kansas. You, like many before you, may have driven Interstate 70, thinking, “When is this going to end?â€? But if you get off of the interstate and start exploring, you’ll find surprising, little-known gems in the Kansas prairie. If you’re willing to look, you’ll discover rolling hills, nature conservancies, lakes, parks, museums, grassroots art and more. WHAT TO SEE THERE: Allow yourself a few days to travel and explore the area. Though some people in the northeastern part of the state think western Kansas begins as you exit Topeka on I-70, the “High Plainsâ€? region actually covers just the western third of the state, beginning more than 200 miles west of Lawrence. You’ll need time to travel from site to site before journeying back east. NATURE: Though western Kansas is made up mostly of farmland broken up by small towns, there are natural landmarks that are worth venturing into the flatlands to see. Highlights include: • Red Hills and the Big Basin Prairie Preserve: Spanning Clark, Comanche and Barber counties in southwestern Kansas are the buttes and mesas of the Red Hills region, which gets its name from the red color of the stone, caused by oxidation of the iron contained in its deposits. In addition to the vistas and steep canyons, some scenic spots in the Red Hills are Mount Nebo, Mount Jesus and Mount Lookout, all in Clark County.

By Nikki Wentling nwentling@ljworld.com

Within the Red Hills region is the Big Basin Prairie Preserve, a National Natural Landmark comprising more than 1,800 acres of rolling landscape made up of native mixed-grass prairie and small canyons. Buffalo roam the area, which features two crater-like basins, Big Basin and Little Basin. Within Little Basin is St. Jacob’s Well, a small water-filled sinkhole that has never been known to run dry and is the subject of many local legends. • Meade State Park: Just west of the Red Hills off Highway 23 is Meade State Park, which comprises 803 acres, including an 80-acre fishing lake with a swimming beach. Trees surrounding the lake provide shade for camping, and a variety of trees, grasses, flowers and birds can be seen from a nature trail at the lake’s northwest corner. • Mount Sunflower: If you’re determined to take I-70 all the way west to the Colorado border, you may consider rewarding yourself with the short jaunt to Mount Sunflower. Down a gravel road 20 miles south of Exit 1 on I-70 stands its summit, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet above sea level (more than 3,000 feet higher than Mount Oread). Mount Sunflower is located on a family ranch just one-half mile east of the Colorado border in Wallace County, and on top is a sunflower sculpture that acts as a small shrine, as well as a designated picnic area.

to see its radical transformation into one of the greenest cities in the nation. Greensburg, located off of U.S. Highway 54 in Kiowa County, is a good place to spend a day. Its attractions include: • Greensburg GreenTown: Established to work with city and county officials, business owners and residents to help incorporate sustainability into the post-tornado rebuilding process, GreenTown allows visitors to learn about the town’s green projects and its accomplishments over the past seven years. • The Big Well: Greensburg is home to the world’s largest hand-dug well, an engineering feat that was completed in 1888 to serve as the town’s original water supply. Visitors can climb down into well, which is 109 feet deep and 32 feet in diameter. A museum takes visitors through the history of Greensburg. • To finish off the tour of Greensburg, stop by the Kiowa County Historical Museum and then the Hunter Drug old-fashioned soda fountain. If you’re headed east on the way out of town, stop by the Meteorite Museum and Nature Center, six miles east

of Greensburg off of Highway 54. If you’re going west, take a small detour south of Highway 54 and visit the Fromme-Birney Round Barn, a 16-sided structure built in 1912 that is on the National Register of Historic Places and is dubbed as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture. HOW TO GET THERE: Red Hills: From Wichita drive 22 miles on Kansas Highway 42. Exit onto Kansas Highway 2, and after several miles exit left onto U.S. Highway 160. Follow US-160 for 72 miles until you reach U.S. Highway 183, and the Red Hills will be directly ahead. Meade State Park: From Wichita, drive 170 miles west on U.S. Highway 54 to Meade. At Meade, go south on Kansas Highway 23 for 12 miles, and then turn right onto V Road. Mount Sunflower: Drive 291 miles west on I-70. Exit for U.S. Highway 40 toward Oakley, and follow US-40 for 70 miles. Turn right onto Road 3. Drive for 10 miles, and Mount Sunflower will be on the left. Greensburg: From Wichita, drive 108 miles west on U.S. Highway 54.

small town charm

big time fun!

GREENSBURG: Most widely known for the EF5 tornado that destroyed 95 percent of the town on May 4, 2007, one of the largest tornadoes on record in the U.S., Greensburg is now a destination for those wanting

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→ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 HOW TO GET THERE: Cedar Cove is just a few miles to the east of Louisburg in Miami County. If traveling from Lawrence, drive east on Kansas Highway 10 for about 24 miles. Merge onto Interstate 435 east. Exit onto

U.S. Highway 69 south. After about 23 miles, take the exit for Kansas Highway 68, toward Louisburg. Turn left on 68 and drive through the Louisburg. About two miles outside of town, Cedar Cove will be on the right.

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