Summer Travel Preview 2013

Fun day trips and longer stays for summer 2013.

Sunday, May 19, 2013 Special Supplement

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02 summer travel preview

Lawrence Why stay here: Sure, maybe you once saw Wilt the Stilt in Kansas University’s historic Allen Fieldhouse. But when is the last you time you saw a fire-eater on stilts in the famed basketball arena?

For that, forget the basketball season, and discover Lawrence’s summer season.

Lawrence in summer brings a whole new meaning to fast breaks, as the community hosts a variety of events ranging from fireeating street performers to history-laden presentations on one of the country’s longest running feuds — Kansans versus Missourians.

So step forward and let us give you a front row seat — something else that is hard to find in Allen Fieldhouse — for a preview of this summer’s premier events.

150 years after Quantrill On Aug. 21, 1863, Missouri raider and Confederate William Quantrill and his crew of 450 men burned the abolitionist stronghold of Lawrence to the ground, killing nearly 200 men and boys in what became known as the Lawrence Massacre.

Even now — a century-and-a-half later — locals still look back on the raid, and the rebuilding that began almost immediately, as the turning point that forged Lawrence as the resilient and independent community it is today.

This summer, visitors will have no problem finding an event related to Lawrence’s bloody Civil War history.

The community is hosting a yearlong series of events and programs titled 1863 Commemorate Lawrence.

But mark your calendars for Aug. 18, when the community will gather at historic South Park for a formal commemoration ceremony, capped off by a concert from the Lawrence City Band.

If you are into eerie, you’ll appreciate this piece of trivia: The Lawrence City Band played on the evening before Quantrill’s pre-dawn raid.

Christina Phelps, director of the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the event would showcase one of the qualities visitors often find charming about Lawrence.

“There is just such a community atmosphere here that you don’t find very often anymore,” Phelps said.

The event also will make it easy for visitors to take in one of Lawrence’s other drawing cards: Downtown Lawrence.

South Park is on the southern end of Massachusetts Street, the city’s hub of activity lined with turn-of-the-century buildings full of shops and restaurants.

A trip to Massachusetts Street — which has been named one of the 10 Best Streets

By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Helpful Sites: For more details check out: visitlawrence.com

in America by the American Planning Association — is a can’t-miss attraction in Lawrence.

“Not only is it a must-see,” Phelps said, “it is usually where people choose to start.”

Did he just do that?

From Aug. 23-25, the streets of downtown Lawrence turn into the crazy section of an outdoor carnival. Crazy as in fire-eaters, pogo stick artists, swordswallowers and something called a “contortionist comedian,” whose humor is sure to leave you twisted up in knots. (Get it? Don’t worry, I’m not performing.)

The three-day Lawrence Busker Festival — which is free to attend, although donations to the performers are appreciated — brings thousands of people to downtown Lawrence as the summer is winding down.

“It is fun,” John Archibold, a visitor to last year’s event, said. “It says (Lawrence) is kind of a friendly and enthusiastic place.” ’Round and ’round they go You would think the stakes would be plenty high when there is a swordswallower on Massachusetts Street. But there’s one downtown event where the stakes may be even higher: the Tour of Lawrence professional bicycle races.

From June 28 to 30, more than 600 riders are expected to be competing for more than $20,000 in cash prizes. The event begins on Friday evening as portions of downtown streets are shut down to host “street sprint racing.” And if watching such high-speed activity sounds as if it would cause you to work up a thirst, organizers are one step ahead of you. The event includes a beer garden, live music and a kids’ zone full of bouncy houses and inflatable games.

On Saturday, the racing heads up to the Kansas University campus for a grueling road race. The event returns to downtown on Sunday for high-speed, wheel-to-wheel racing on a downtown oval course. Also included on Sunday is a special race for any children who want to bring their bikes to race.

If you come, be sure to bring your cowbell. Yeah, we don’t know why either, but hardcore race fans ring them all race long in downtown.

The Art of Fridays Music of a different type can be found on the last Friday of every month downtown as part of the city’s Final Fridays events. The events feature musicians, artists, authors and other creative types at a string of galleries, shops and restaurants in downtown Lawrence. And now the Final

Above: Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo.Members of the Lawrence City Band kick off their concert with the Star Spangled Banner Wednesday evening, June 6, 2012. The concert featured Clyde Bysom with Paul Grey and the Gaslight Gang. Below left: Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo .Kansas guard Mario Chalmers hoists a three-pointer over Memphis guard Derek Rose with seconds remaining in the second half of the national championship Monday, April 7, 2008 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Below Right: Buskerfest, downtown Lawrence, Kan.

Friday events are no longer confined to just downtown. A host of artists display works in the city’s new Warehouse Arts District in East Lawrence, which has converted oncevacant 1900s industrial buildings into rustic gallery and event space.

Championship hardware To view a much-talked-about piece of artwork in Lawrence, head up to Allen Fieldhouse and the adjacent Booth Family Hall of Athletics. There you’ll find a huge photo of a piece of art called “Mario’s Miracle” — a picture of KU basketball guard Mario Chalmer’s last-second, threepoint basket that sent the 2008 National Championship basketball game into overtime.

Walk through the Hall of Champions exhibit that is part of the 26,000-square-

foot museum, and you’ll get a pretty good hint at how that game ended. The 2008 National Championship trophy is on display there.

Take a good look around the exterior of historic Allen Fieldhouse as well. The next time you return, the area near the fieldhouse might look a bit different.

Plans have been announced to build an $18 million, three-story building that will connect to Allen Fieldhouse and house the original rules of basketball written by former KU coach James Naismith in 1891.

A trip to the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the soon-to-be completed tribute to Naismith is a great way to wrap up a trip in Lawrence, because it serves a reminder of a fact about the city that holds true even during the bustle of summer: We never really forget basketball season.

sunday, may 19, 2013

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Lawrence Museums You don’t have to go far from Lawrence to immerse yourself in art, science or history. In fact, you don’t have to leave at all: The city and the Kansas University campus offer several museums that can help you learn about everything from the Civil War to the parasites that can inhabit the human body.

What to see: • The Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., offers rotating exhibits on pieces of the past in Lawrence, Douglas County and Kansas. Current exhibits examine the history of basketball in the area and the childhood of poet Langston Hughes, who grew up in Lawrence. And a longtime favorite attraction is the museum’s Milburn Electric car, which dates to 1916.

• The Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St. on the KU campus, displays selections from its

By Matt Erickson merickson@ljworld.com

collection of more than 37,000 works of art. Its ongoing exhibitions are arranged not by the time or place they were created, but by themes such as the human body between life and death (“Corpus”) or the objects that populate people’s lives (“Empire of Things”).

• The KU Natural History Museum, at 1345 Jayhawk Blvd. in KU’s Dyche Hall, is the public face of the university’s Biodiversity Institute, whose scientists research life all over the globe. On display are fossils, live insects, an exhibit on evolution and the museum’s longtime centerpiece, the Panorama of North American Animals.

• The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive on KU’s west campus, has exhibits on the life and career of its namesake, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. It also houses the Dole Archives, which include a host of documents and pictures from Dole’s career, including the letter that thenPresident Bill Clinton sent to Dole following the 1996 presidential election.

Go to the institute’s reading room to request a look at items from the archives.

04 summer travel preview

A lightning strike lights up the sky behind the Dole Institute of Politics during dedication events July 21. The 28,000-square-foot building was dedicated on Bob Dole’s 80th birthday July 22.

Special attractions: • The Watkins Community Museum will open two new exhibits this summer.

One, “Occasional Mayhem,” will showcase the history of crime in Lawrence, with help from the Lawrence Police Department. It opens in late May. Then, coming in August, another exhibit will focus on William Quantrill’s raid of Lawrence, marking the 150th anniversary of the event this

year. It also will examine the Bleeding Kansas and Civil War eras in the state.

• Still on display through Aug. 11 at the Spencer Museum of Art is “An Errant Line,” a collaboration between a former KU art teacher and student that features large-scale installations in multiple galleries. Also up through

Continued page 5

Lawrence Helpful Sites: For hours, admission and other details, check out: watkinsmuseum.org, naturalhistory.ku.edu, spencerart.ku.edu and doleinstitute.org.

Continued from page 4 • July 28 is “Conversation XIV: Water,” which concerns a topic worth thinking about after the drought of recent years.

• New this month at the Natural History Museum is an exhibit on parasites and microbes that can inhabit the human body, which museum spokeswoman Jen Humphrey says will be appealing and interesting to people of all ages who have strong stomachs. “There’s a little bit of a gross-out factor,” she said.

For the kids: • At 11 a.m. each Wednesday in June at the Watkins museum, kids can come try their hand at games popular in past eras, such as the early days of Kansas or the Great Depression.

• The Natural History Museum each month holds a “Science Saturday” drop-in event for families. The next one, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on May 25, is called “Wild Gardens” and will offer a chance to explore some out-there varieties of plants, including plants that eat animals and lichens that glow. Check the museum’s website, naturalhistory.ku.edu, for announcements of future Science Saturdays.

• The Spencer Art Cart is a family drop-in program each Saturday (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 4 p.m.) designed for children and families. Visitors can work on art projects inspired by other works on display, based on a theme that changes each month. A family activity also is offered on the last Saturday of each month.

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sunday, may 19, 2013

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Helpful Sites: For more details, check out: kansasbelle.com, midlandrailway.org blackjackbattlefield.org, baldwincity.org

Baldwin City

By Elvyn Jones | ejones@theworldco.com

Kansas Belle Why go there: The Kansas Belle Dinner Train provides a chance to experience the golden age of passenger train travel of the 1940s, according to one of the owners, Bruce Eveland. That was the decade when more Americans rode trains as they hit the rails for military postings and new opportunities in World War II. The dinner train currently offers 3.5-hour Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon round-trip rides on the Midland Railway line from Baldwin City to Ottawa. It plans to add a Friday evening trip when demand warrants. The evening rides feature five-course meals prepared by the 23rd Street Brewery in Lawrence. The evening excursions are romantic, couples-oriented outings and are considered formal dining with passengers encouraged to dress accordingly. Sunday outings are more casual and child-friendly, and feature three-course meals. A fullservice bar is available on all rides.

Costs for the trips are $65 for evening rides, $55 for adult Sunday afternoon rides, $28 for children Sunday afternoon rides. Rides on the live entertainment car cost an additional $21.

What to see there: Passengers can choose the dining car experience, with the scenery along the 22mile round trip in reconditioned Canadian National Railroad dining cars the primary diversion, or opt for an entertainment car featuring live music or murder mysteries performed by troupes enlisting passengers willing to take on roles in the show.

Things you must see: The trip starts at Midland Railway’s yard in Baldwin City, home of a surviving Santa Fe depot built in 1906 in the Southwestern architectural style the railroad favored.

The depot is open to the public and offers a glimpse into a time when depots were vital centers of community activity.

The Midland Railway tracks from Baldwin City to Ottawa that the dinner train traverses are what survive of the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Fort Gipson Railroad. In a time when most railroad investors were thinking of building eastwest lines, the LL&G Railroad owners sought to link northeast Kansas to its southern state line and eventually the Gulf Coast. The line went through several changes of ownership before the Santa Fe Railroad took control in 1880. The line was abandoned in the mid-1970s.

In 1987, Midland Railway purchased the line from Baldwin City to Ottawa .

Side trips: Midland Railway offers excursion trips of its own from Baldwin City to Ottawa throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Make it a transportation day in Baldwin City with a side trip to the Ivan Boyd Prairie Preserve, where ruts the heavily loaded wagons plying the Santa Fe Trail carved in the prairie are still visible. The site, three miles east of Baldwin City on U.S. Highway 56 and quarter-mile south on East 2100 Road, is adjacent to the Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park, where John Brown skirmished with pro-slavery forces in the 1856 Battle of Black Jack. The National Park Service last year designated the site as a National Historic Landmark.

Christyne Hays of Lee Summit, Mo., serves passengers Sunday in a dinning car of the Kansas Belle Dinner Train. The dinner train has been offering Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon trips since January on the Midland Railway’s tracks from Baldwin City to Ottawa.

What’s new: The dinner train itself, at least at its Kansas location. Late last year, the owners of the Kansas Belle relocated the business to Baldwin City from Fremont, Neb., where it had operated for 24 years.

For the kids: The more informal Sunday afternoon trips are more child-friendly. With the trip lasting 3.5 hours, the diversion of the entertainment car might be a wise choice for parents with children.

Did you know: The Baldwin City depot welcomed a president and former president to the community. In 1911, President William Howard Taft was greeted by 1,400

people at the depot before speaking at the inauguration of Wilbur Mason as Baker University president. Theodore Roosevelt visited the community in 1912.

How to get there: The Midland Railway yard is at 1515 High St. in Baldwin City. Those traveling to Baldwin City should remember that U.S. Highway 56 is closed until October from Baldwin City west to U.S. Highway 59 for the replacement of three bridges.

Travelers on U.S. 59 can turn east on North 800 Road, which connects with County Road 1055 about two mile north of Baldwin City or, if coming from Lawrence, simply take Haskell Avenue south past the Baker Wetlands, where it become County Road 1055.

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

06 summer travel preview

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

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Abolitionist John Brown, played by Kerry Altenbernd, of Lawrence, leads spectators on a guided tour commemorating the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Black Jack at the Black Jack Battlefield Saturday, June 2, 2012 east of Baldwin City.

HISTORICAL LECOMPTON

TERRITORIAL CAPITAL OF KANSAS 1855-1861

PRE-CIVIL WAR HISTORY Member of Tree Campus USA

CONSTITUTION HALL

National Landmark Kansas Historical Site 10-5 p.m. Wed-Sat • 1-5 p.m. Sun

TERRITORIAL CAPITOL MUSEUM National Historic Site Eisenhower’s Parents Marriage Site 11-4 p.m. Wed-Sat • 1-5 p.m. Sun

TERRITORIAL DAYS

June 21-22 Dedication of 1892 City Jail June 22 • 2 p.m.

Tours 887-6148

LECOMPTON TURNPIKE EXIT sunday, may 19, 2013

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Kansas City Why Go There: If you like jazz, barbecue and fountains — or, better yet, all three — Kansas City, Mo., is the spot for you this summer.

The city has a long history with all three, birthing its own style of jazz and type of barbecue in the early 20th century, around the time architect George Kessler built the city’s first fountain. Next to Rome, in fact, Kansas City has more fountains than anywhere in the world; it’s not called the City of Fountains for nothing.

What to Do There: College basketball fanatics should take a trip to the College Basketball Experience and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, 1401 Grand Blvd. Shoot free throws, dunk basketballs, try to hit the winning shot as the clock expires, record yourself doing a sportscast, see how your hand and shoe size and height match up to college basketball greats, take part in a timeout huddle — at the College Basketball Experience, you’ll not only get a workout, but a lesson in the history of collegiate

By Giles Bruce gbruce@ljworld.com

basketball. The hall of fame, founded in 2006, features an interactive exhibit that allows you to view a video recap of your favorite star’s career. Among the inductees are former Jayhawk players and coaches such as Wilt Chamberlain, Danny Manning, Larry Brown and Phog Allen.

Things you must see: Since we all send greeting cards, begrudgingly or not, wouldn’t you like to see where the majority of them come from? Armed with two shoeboxes of postcards, Joyce Hall came to Kansas City from Nebraska more than 100 years ago, building what would become the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the world. The Hallmark Visitors Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., lays out the company’s journey from its humble beginnings to now, when its annual revenues reach above $4 billion. The interactive visitors center shows how the famous greeting cards are made (most are actually manufactured in Lawrence), and displays cards, as well as

Ap Photo.Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Mo.

Hallmark’s famous keepsake ornaments, from throughout its 85-year history. The visitors center also features a hands-on art exhibit for kids, called Kaleidoscope.

Things to do with the kids: Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., features several kid-friendly activities,

such as Legoland Discovery Center, the Sea Life aquarium (although it is fairly small and somewhat pricey, so keep that in mind) and a Crayola Store. The facility also is packed with stores, so mom and dad can shop while kids have their fun.

Continued page 9

KANSAS CITY ZOO Helzberg Penguin Plaza Opening late 2013!

TIGER TERRACE

Now Open!

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.

08 summer travel preview

816.513.5800 kansascityzoo.org

Helpful Sites: Check out Kansas City’s official travel website at VisitKC.com and on Twitter @VisitKC. Kansas City’s fountains are sprinkled all across town; a list of them, with pictures and locations, can be found at KCFountains.com.

And find out where to go to get your blues fix at KCBlues.info.

Kansas City Continued from page 8 If you’re hungry, the facility has a wide range of eateries, such as Big Momma’s Bakery-Cafe, the perfect place to stop for a light lunch in preparation for your dinner of Kansas City-style barbecue.

History: To enjoy the city’s jazz scene, start with where it all began: 18th and Vine.

The historic district, where most of Kansas City’s jazz clubs traditionally have been located, is home to the American Jazz Museum (and the Negro Leagues Museum), 1616 E. 18th St. Kansas City jazz is said to have marked the transition from big-band to the more modern, bebop sound. See for yourself: Listen to live jazz most nights at the Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St., or Danny’s Big Easy, 1601 E. 18th St. Kansas City has several more museums of note, including the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th St.; the Nelson-Atkins Museum

of Art, 4525 Oak St.; and the Steamboat Arabia Museum, 400 Grand Blvd., which tells the story of the doomed side-wheeler that sank in the Missouri River in 1856, then was rediscovered 132 years later. And Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, is a train station/science museum rolled into one, featuring the interactive Science City, a planetarium, the historic KC Rail Experience, a huge 3-D theatre at the Extreme Screen, traveling exhibits, miniature displays, and live theatre at the H&R Block City Stage.

What to Eat There: If you’re in Kansas City and you aren’t a vegetarian — if you are, you might be in the wrong city — you must try the barbecue. Smoked and full-flavored with a dry rub, typically served with white bread, pickles and add-it-yourself bottles of sauce, Kansas City barbecue has a style all its own. The city also has a famous blues scene, and if you like to listen

to music while you eat, check out BB’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St., which not only has fantastic smoked meat and delicious sides, but live blues six nights a week (and many afternoons). On a recent evening, Lawrence’s own Brody Buster Band rocked the joint with an awesome mix of blues, rock and bluegrass.

Never have a kind of food and style of music gone so well together. And this place has been doing it for years; a sign posted in the establishment reminds customers that BB’s is “not renovated” and “under old management.”

Two of the legendary Kansas City barbecue establishments are Arthur Bryant’s, with its flagship restaurant at 1727 Brooklyn Ave., and Gates BarB-Q, which has restaurants across the metro, including at 1221 Brooklyn and midtown at 3205 Main St. Other recommended barbecue joints include Rosedale BBQ, 600 Southwest Blvd.; LC’s Bar-B-Q, 5800 Blue Parkway;

Danny Edward’s Boulevard BBQ, 2900 Southwest Blvd.; Big T’s Bar-B-Q, 6201 Blue Parkway; and Smokehouse BarB-Q, 8451 NW Prairie View Road.

Did You Know?: Kansas City boasts one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. Swope Park — which features the Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theatre, Kansas City Community Gardens and Lakeside Nature Center — is more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park (1,805 acres to 843).

How to Get There: The quickest route is to go east on Interstate 70, though you will have to pay a toll on the Kansas Turnpike. If you want to avoid forking over money and don’t mind a slightly longer trip, head east on U.S. Route 24/40 to I-70. You can also drive east on Kansas Highway 10, then north on Interstate 35 — the fastest way to the city’s south side.

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LEGOLAND® Discovery Center 816-471-4386 Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of KC 816-881-2683 National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial 816-888-8100 SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium 816-471-4386 Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center 816-841-1000 Union Station and Science City 816-460-2000 The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center 816-474-4400

sunday, may 19, 2013

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Kansas City summer amusement When looking for amusement this summer, you won’t have too far to drive. From Worlds of Fun to Legoland Discovery Center, Kansas City has several family-friendly options to keep the fun and excitement alive and going strong this summer.

Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun 4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue (Oceans of Fun is just next door) Kansas City, MO 64161 Why go there: This year marks the 40th anniversary of Worlds of Fun. To celebrate the anniversary, both parks are offering a summer full of events and new attractions, including Worlds of Fun’s new interactive exhibit, “Dinosaurs Alive!,” and Ocean’s of Fun’s major expansion, which includes six new waterslides. Plus, you really can’t beat another offering

in store for this summer: admission to both parks for the price of one ticket.

What to do there: A better question might be, “What not to do there?” Between the two parks, pretty much every aspect of the amusement park experience is available, from gravity-defying roller coasters and waterslides to groundlevel food, rides and entertainment.

What to do with kids: The new “Dinosaurs Alive!” exhibit features dinosaurs —more than 30 life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs.

Pocketbook-friendly: Ordering tickets online in advance is the best option, saving you $10 per ticket for an adult — $38.99 for a single day pass when ordered online.

Junior admission for youths under 48

Visit Shawnee Town 1929 Where the 1920s come alive

Discover 1920’s farm life by stepping back in time to experience life on a Shawnee truck farm, when the “roar” of the Roaring Twenties came from a Ford Model AA truck. See the historic farmhouse kitchen and period outbuildings, some with actual livestock!

See yourself in history by participating in it.

inches tall is $29.99 online and at the gate. Two-day passes and season passes also are available. Go to worldsoffun. com/tickets for more information.

keep the ride exciting and, well, pretty wet. Also included is the Cyclone, where guests travel on mats down a 60-foot water tower, and the Black Knight tube slide.

How to get there: Both parks can be accessed easily via Interstate 70 or Kansas Highway 10, continuing to Interstate 435 on the east side of the Kansas City metro.

What to do with kids: Take them to the relaxing Boogie Bay Beach or go exploring on the Schlitterbahn Pirate Ship, complete with rope nets, mini-slides and water-shooting canons.

Schlitterbahn Kansas City 9400 State Ave. Kansas City, KS 66112

Pocketbook-friendly: Some of the most economical options can be found by going online and purchasing either the two-day admission, for ages 12-54, for only $55.99, or a season pass for just a little more than twice that at $119.99. Child tickets, for ages 12 and under, and senior tickets are also available. Go online to schlitterbahn. com/kc/get-tickets for more information.

Why go there: This is THE place to beat the heat in Kansas City, Kan., with a number of waterslides, rides and hangouts.

Connecting everything in the park is a Transportainment river system, allowing guests to travel throughout Schlitterbahn without ever leaving the water.

What to do there: Among the more than 20 attractions at Schlitterbahn is the Torrent River — at 1,800 feet, the world’s longest tidal wave river. Near-constant 20,000-gallon waves

How to get there: From Lawrence, Schlitterbahn is about a 30-minute drive east on I-70, then north on Interstate 435.

Continued page 11

WEEKENDS

mean family time together!

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.

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

www.shawneetown.org 10 summer travel preview

45th & Oak, Kansas City. Missouri 816.751.1ART | n e l s o n - a t k i n s . o r g

Kansas City Continued from page 10 Legoland Discovery Center 2475 Grand Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64108 Why go there: A mecca for Lego enthusiasts, the Legoland Discovery Center boasts more than 2 million Lego blocks, as well as a number of youthfriendly attractions and activities.

What to do there: Kids and adults can watch Legos being made in the Lego Factory or vanquish enemy skeletons and trolls while saving the princess on the Kingdom Quest ride, which comes fully equipped with laser guns. After your quest is over, head over to Miniland, featuring an homage to “The Wizard of Oz� through miniaturized versions of Dorothy’s Farm, the Emerald City and Munchkin Land, made entirely out of Legos.

What to do with kids: For smaller children, there’s the Duplo Village, where kids can build whatever they want out of the hundreds of Lego Duplo blocks available.

Pocketbook-friendly: Your best bet is to book online before you go, saving 15 percent off every ticket. Adult tickets purchased online are $16, while youth tickets are $13. Children under the age of 2 enter free. Adults must be accompanied by a child to enter Legoland. Go online to legolanddiscoverycenter. com for more information.

How to get there: From Lawrence, Legoland can be accessed by taking I-70 to Interstate 670, then getting on Interstate 35 South.

From there, you’ll take the 20th Street exit, turn left, make a right-hand turn on Grand Street and head in to Crown Center, where Legoland is located.

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11

Legends and Bonner Springs Why Go There: There’s a reason the Legends area has been called Kansas’s top tourist attraction.

The Legends Outlets have 101 stores and restaurants, plus a movie theater. In the wider Village West area the surrounds it, there’s Cabela’s, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and other shopping areas that include stores such as J.C. Penney and Kohl’s. Plus three major sports venues — Kansas Speedway, CommunityAmerica Ballpark and Sporting Park — a casino for the adults, a waterpark just across the highway, and five hotels in the immediate vicinity. The area provides some big-time entertainment, and your money stays in Kansas.

What to See There: Families can take in the craziness of the “The Cauldron” fans at a Sporting KC soccer game (there are at least two home games a month through September). Or for adults only, check out the racing action from Hollywood Casino’s Turn 2 Lounge, which overlooks the Kansas Speedway —

Grand-Am Road Racing is scheduled Aug. 16-17.

Attractions: Need to cool off from all that shopping? Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and Water Park is just across Interstate 435 to the east. Its waterslides include the Banzai Pipeline, Cyclone and Black Knight, the Boogie Bahn surf ride and the King Kaw Rapids River, as well as the Mighty Mo chute ride. For adults in need of a night out, there’s the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, with four restaurants, table games and 2,000 slot machines. Adults needing a romantic getaway can check in at the Chateau Avalon, a bed and breakfast with luxury rooms as well as themed rooms such as the Tahitian Treehouse and Egyptian Palace.

Things to Do With the Kids: At the Legends Outlets, children will get a kick out of the animatronic dinosaurs and the dinosaur dig at the T-Rex Cafe, or they can hit the arcade games (designed

City Wide Garage Sale

The city of Lansing hosts a City Wide Garage Sale the first weekend in April. Families, clubs, and 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 Lansing Daze/ 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 barb-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.

By Caroline Boyer cboyer@theworldco.info

Helpful Sites: You can find links to most area attractions under “Plan a Visit” at legendsshopping.com, and there’s also aghalloffame.com, schlitterbahn.com/kc and hollywoodcasinokansas.com. For some nearby smalltown atmosphere in Bonner Springs, try shopbonner.com.

to be fun for adults, too, in the evenings) at Dave & Buster’s. Stay the night at Great Wolf Lodge, which has its own indoor water park and rooms with cabins or tents just for the kids. Just a 10-minute drive away is Wyandotte County Park, where kids can learn about farming at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame; from there, head south on Kansas Highway 7 to watch marbles being made and explore the toys at Moon Marble Co. in Bonner Springs.

Save The Date: The Kanrocksas Music Festival, June 28-29, at the Kansas Speedway, will feature bands Fun., Passion Pit, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sublime with Rome and many more.

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 Legends website.

How to Get There: From Lawrence, head east on I-70 to I-435 North, taking the west exits for either State Avenue or Parallel Parkway.

If you’d rather not pay the toll, there’s always Kansas Highway 10 to I-435 or U.S. Highway 24-40, which turns into Kansas Avenue and takes you right to Village West.

LEAVENWORTH The “Great Escape”

Explore the quaint historic town of Leavenworth, the “First City” of Kansas, and Fort Leavenworth, one of the most beautiful, well-preserved forts in the U.S. that is still in operation and open to the public.

While visiting our community you can view magnificent vintage homes dating from the mid-1800’s, enjoy a diverse variety of dining choices, experience self-

Lansing’s Independence Day Celebration The Day

Lansing’s Independence 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 Autumn In The Grove 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 Lansing Historical Museum Inhomeaddition to 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

12 summer travel preview

C.W. Parker Carousel Museum

guided historic Leavenworth and Fort Leavenworth interactive waysides tours, take a city tour on a trolley, stroll along the Missouri River, become a kid again and take a ride on a restored antique carousel and shop in a wide variety of eclectic shops in the historic riverfront downtown and throughout Leavenworth.

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Shawnee Why go there: Shawnee has a rich history and likes to show it off. One of the largest cities in Kansas, Shawnee covers 43 square miles that once contained pioneer settlements such as Monticello, where Wild Bill Hickok got his start in law enforcement. It also was home to Gum Springs, so named by the Shawnee tribe, which made that site its headquarters following an 1825 treaty that relocated certain eastern tribes to the Kansas Territory. In 1836 a saw and grist mill was built for the Shawnee on nearby Mill Creek, which today is bordered by a hiking and biking trail that runs from Olathe through Shawnee to Nelson Island in the Kansas River. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was opened for settlement, and two years later the area formerly known as Gum Springs was platted as Shawneetown, later shortened to Shawnee. It soon would find itself in the middle of Civil War border struggles. In 1862, Southern guerillas led

by William Clarke Quantrill burned and looted Shawnee, just months before their infamous raid on Lawrence. A historic marker chronicling the Shawnee raid stands at Shawnee City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive.

By Rob Roberts rroberts@theworldco.info

A good place to start: Pioneer Crossing Park, Shawnee’s newest park, is located at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Melrose Street, just west of Interstate 35.

The park features several historic markers detailing Shawnee’s 19th century status as an intersection of early military and territorial roads leading to the Santa Fe Trail.

The park also features works by local artist Charles Goslin, including a wagon train recreated in a life-size three-dimensional brick wall mural and a limestone and bronze sculpture of local wagonmaster Dick Williams. At its peak, trail traffic through Shawnee included 600 wagons per week.

What’s new: Medicine’s Hall of Fame & Museum was opened in February by longtime Johnson County physician Dr. Bruce Hodges.

Located at 6801 Hedge Lane Terrace, near the southwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Kansas Highway 7, it features Hodges’ collection of more than 4,500 artifacts from more than 20 countries.

Among the more notable artifacts are an example of the fluoroscopes that allowed X-ray views of customers’ feet in U.S. shoe

WESTON A Great Place Place To To Get Awayy

This 1837 town is a popular overnight destination and a favorite day trip.

Shop in antique, home decor, garden, gifts, art and specialty shops all located in restored buildings built prior to the Civil War. There’s an old time hardware store and even a tobacco shop.

Dine in one of our four-star restaurants, cafes, bar and grills, tea room or even an old-fashioned soda fountain.

Stay with us in one of Weston’s many charming Bed & Breakfasts or the restored 1846 Saint George Hotel.

Enjoy an Irish Pub and brewery, wineries, concerts,

museums, historic home tours, city and state parks, along with our special seasonal events.

Historic Weston, Missouri is thirty minutes north of Kansas City.

Shop, Dine, Stay...and Have Fun with Us All Year Long.

www.westonmo.com

14 summer travel preview

Helpful Sites: The Shawnee Convention & Visitors Bureau offers detailed information on all attractions and events at shawneekscvb.com.

Event schedules and other details can be found at oldshawneedays.org. stores from the 1930s through 1950s; iron lungs used to treat polio; a shrunken head from the Jivaro Indians of Ecuador and Peru; and items from more than 20 Native American tribes. Admission is $5 per person, and hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Things to do with the kids: Shawnee’s reputation as a city teeming with kids’ activities was bolstered last year with the opening of the Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park at 6495 Quivira Road.

Other popular children’s attractions include the Wonderscope Children’s Museum, 5700 King St., the Little Monkey Bizness indoor amusement center, 12219 Shawnee Mission Parkway; and the PowerPlay Family Entertainment Center, 13110 W. 62nd Terrace.

Top tourist attraction: Shawnee Town 1929, 11501 W. 57th St., attracted more than 137,000 visitors last year. The living history museum allows visitors to experience 1920s life on a typical truck farm and farm town. The many

buildings are furnished with authentic artifacts from the period and are open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from March through October.

For more history: The Johnson County Museum of History is located at 6305 Lackman Road. It includes documents, photographs and artifacts that bring the area’s pioneer and suburban history to life. Adjacent to the museum building, which is located in an old stone school house, is a nostalgic attraction of more recent vintage: the 1950s AllElectric House. For more information, visit jocomuseum.org.

Online visitor information: The Shawnee Convention & Visitors Bureau offers detailed information on all attractions and events at shawneekscvb.com.

How to get there: Kansas Highway 7 and Interstate 435 run through Shawnee. I-70 lies a few miles north, and I-35 runs just east of the city limits.

Old Shawnee Days When and where: This year’s Old Shawnee Days celebration will take place from Thursday, June 6, through Sunday, June 9. Most of the festivities will take place at Shawnee Town 1929, a living history museum at 11501 W. 57th St. in Shawnee. The festivities will get started with a carnival and concerts from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, the fun will start at 10 a.m. with the 47th annual Old Shawnee Days parade and continue until 10 p.m. On Sunday, hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What it is: Each year, thousands turn out to celebration Shawnee’s history and community spirit through four days of music, games, rides, contests, concession booths, historic re-enactments and more.

Admission: There is no admission fee for the concerts or most other Old Shawnee Days events. Costs may include food and drink, souvenirs, crafts and the carnival. On June 6, visitors will be able to enjoy oneprice carnival wristband night. The wristband prices will be $10 for ages 6 and younger and $20 for all other ages.

Musical attractions: The headline act for this year’s celebration will be the nationally known rock band Blue Oyster Cult, which will perform on the main stage at Shawnee Town 1929 from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. June 8. Three rock ’n’ roll tribute bands also are scheduled to appear on the main stage on June 7.

They are Journeyman, the Eric Clapton Experience, which will peform at 7 p.m.; Landslide, a Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, 8:15 p.m.; and Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones Experience, 9:30 p.m. The slate of mainstage

concerts will kick off at 7:30 p.m. June 6 with a twohour show by The Crayons. It includes three founding members of another tribute band, Liverpool, A Tribute to The Beatles. More musical entertainment will be provided during the Friday through Sunday portion of the celebration on the Shawnee Town 1929 bandstand, where area bands and youth groups will peform.

How it all got started: In 1959, a group of local residents banded together as the Wagon Master’s Heritage Corp. to save a historic Shawnee building from the wrecking ball. Fundraising efforts for the restoration project fell short, but the Wagon Master’s Heritage Corp. kept going. Its members stuck together and formed the Shawnee Historical Society, which was successful in saving another historic structure, a territorial jail building that was in the way of expansion by the Vita Craft Corp. Funds for the jail’s relocation to city-owned land that would become Old Shawnee Town (now Shawnee Town 1929) were raised through the creation of a “Sheriff’s Posse” made up of individuals who donated at least $100 apiece to the preservation effort. On July 13, 1966, the jail building was dedicated as part of a “Good Ol’ Summertime” celebration, which was renamed Old Shawnee Days the following year.

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 to Flint Street, then right one block and left on 57th Street. From I-435, take the Johnson Drive exit and head east about three miles to Cody Street, then left one block and right on 57th Street.

sunday, may 19, 2013

15

Topeka

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Helpful Sites: VisitTopeka.us, Facebook.com/VisitTopeka Twitter.com: @VisitTopeka

Why go there: You don’t hear about a lot of people planning a vacation with Topeka in mind, but the capital of Kansas has a lot of interesting things to see and do that can entertain a family for a day or a week.

Best of all, many of the major tourist sites in Topeka are free. In short, Topeka — its name meaning a good place to grow potatoes — is worth digging into.

What to do there: Topeka has historic attractions, funky neighborhoods, bars, coffee shops and even a thriving arts community called NOTO — the North Topeka arts district, which has gained the notice of The New York Times.

If you’re into hiking, biking, canoeing or fishing, Topeka has beautiful parks,

Lake Shawnee and the newest state park, Kaw River State Park, which runs along the Kansas River.

For race fans, there is Heartland Park, and 20 miles north of Topeka is the Prairie Band Casino.

Things you must see there: Any visit to Topeka must include a trip to the Statehouse, because it is so cool and free.

Although the outside of the building continues to look like a work in progress, renovations inside are nearly complete.

The building sparkles with the aweinspiring murals of John Steuart Curry and a state library complete with winding staircases and a glass floor. The House and Senate chambers will produce more oohs and aahs than a fireworks show. Make

In 1857, abolitionist John Brown began making plans and gathering support for a planned attck at HarperÕs Ferry.John Steuart CurryÕs ÒTragic Prelude,Ó 1938-1940Ó ..Abolitionist John Brown has been famously depicted in a mural done by Kansas artist John Steuart Curry in the State Capitol building in Topeka, completed in 1940. The mural portrays Brown almost as an Old Testament prophet, a Bible in one hand, a rifle in the other.

sure you ride the rattling cage elevator.

To feed your inner historian, also visit the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site housed in the renovated Monroe Elementary School.

The site commemorates the 1954 case that ended segregation in public schools.

Officials there always have interesting programs and displays. Like the

Statehouse, a visit to the museum is free.

There are a wide variety of other museums, including the Kansas Museum of History; the Great Overland Station, which feature’s Topeka’s railroad heritage; and the Combat

Continued page 17

DON’T MISS OUT! May 9th-September 30th Alligator Frenzy June 8th World Oceans Day June 15th-16th Campout with Dad July 13th Brew at the Zoo September 28th Zoobilee September 30th Last Chance to see the alligators Oct 19th and 26th Boo at the Zoo November 28th Thanks and Giving Night

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(The front gate closes at 4:30 for the last admission)

Monday through Sunday 635 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66606 (785) 368-9180

TopekaZoo.com

16 summer travel preview

Topeka Continued from page 16 Air Museum, which features aircraft from World War I to the present.

Things to do with kids: The relatively new Kansas Children’s Center continues to grow with interactive exhibits. The center is located in Gage Park, which could be a daylong stop by itself. The park has an old-time carousel, mini-train, zoo, picnic areas, fishing ponds, an old-timey playground called Animal Land, an arts center and a huge, modern outdoor swimming pool. There are frequent free concerts at the park too.

Not far from Gage Park is Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Park, which has a historic turn-of-the-century village.

Save the date: The Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival on July 4 at Lake Shawnee will feature music, arts and crafts, a car show and a water-skiing show.

The first Friday of every month features an artwalk where participants

check out various art venues around town. For more information visit www.artsconnecttopeka.org.

Did you know: In 2010, city leaders changed the name of Topeka to Google for a month when Google was searching for cities in which to install its new super-high-speed Internet connections. Topeka wasn’t chosen as one of Google’s locations.

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 nearby: Go to Lecompton, which was the territorial capital of Kansas, and learn about the political warfare that led up to the Civil War. Lecompton is about 15 miles east of Topeka.

Lawrence is 27 miles east of Topeka, and Manhattan is 56 miles west.

John Henry/Journal-World Photo. Exterior renovations of the State Capitol Building. Workers will replace stones that were poorly repaired by earlier maintenance.

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SouthEast KS Cedar Cove

By Ian Cummings icummings@ljworld.com

Helpful Sites: For more, see Cedar Cove’s website at SaveOurSiberians.org or connect on Facebook at facebook.com/CedarCoveParkStaff.

What it is: Cedar Cove is a small zoo in Miami County about four miles east of Louisburg, specializing in lions, tigers and other endangered big cats. The park is open to the public for tours year-round, and offers the chance to see familiar animals, such as tigers, as well as lesser-known and unusual-looking cats such as the caracal and the serval, from Africa. All of the animals there were born in captivity, and most come from other sanctuaries or breeders that could not care for them, according to Steve Klein, the senior curator at Cedar Cove.

Why go there: This park has big cats and a smalltown feel. Visitors get a guided tour from a volunteer, who introduces the animals by name and describes their unique personalities and histories. There’s Pauline, an 18-year-old Bengal tiger, who must be kept away from Kimar, a white Bengal tiger, as neither is spayed or neutered.

And there’s Voodoo, the African spotted leopard with a taste for baby food who began life as a house pet for a Kansas couple that soon found themselves in over their heads. On your tour, you might meet Klein, who will show you the holes in his shirts from wrestling with Tonka the lion.

“He could snap my arm off in a heartbeat,” Klein jokes.

What to do there: Weekday tours are available by appointment, usually for school field trips or other large groups. Anyone can visit on the weekend, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays in the summer months. On Saturdays at 4 p.m., you can watch the volunteers feed the cats hunks of beef, turkey, chicken and venison. The volunteer tour guides will educate visitors about the particular animals, their species, physiology, habitats and the danger of extinction many of them face in the wild.

History Cedar Cove opened in 2000 and was founded by William Pottorff, a Vietnam

veteran who became concerned about the future of tigers when he witnessed the effects of poaching and exotic animal traffficking in Southeast Asia. The local George Criswell family donated 11 acres of land to Cedar Cove in early 1997, which allowed the tiger park to maintain a threeacre lake, a picnic area, an exercise area the size of a football field and an education building. The tigers and cougars were moved to the site in October 1997, but the park did not open to the public until three years later. The park is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Association of Zoo Keepers.

Things you must see There are some unusual animals at Cedar Cove that would be hard to find elsewhere. Sami, 4, from Atlanta, will probably be the first caracal a vistor has ever seen. Like other caracals, which are medium-sized cats native to Africa and the Middle East, she is easly identified by her elongated, tufted black ears, which would blend in with leaves of grass when hunting prey in the wild. And there are Jack and Molly, a pair of coatis. These animals, which look something like a cross between a small bear and a monkey, are relatives of the raccoon family, native to South America, Central America and southwestern North America.

What it costs: The price of admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 4 to 12. Children ages 3 and younger are admitted for free.

How to get there: From Lawrence, drive about 27 miles east on Kansas Highway 10, merging onto Interstate 435 East in Johnson County.

From there, take exit 81 to U.S. Highway 69 South about 22 miles and take Kansas Highway 68 to Louisburg. Turn left on Kansas Highway 68 East and find Cedar Cove about four miles east of Louisburg, on your right. You’ll find a sign by the road with a picture of a tiger and the park’s name.

18 summer travel preview

Ian Cummings/Journal-World Photo.Steve Klein, senior curator of at Cedar Cove, plays with Kimar, a white Bengal tiger.

Kimar came from an animal sanctuary in Caney, Kan., and is one of the more rare cats at Cedar Cove, a small zoo in Miami County about four miles east of Louisburg.

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Central KS

By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Helpful Sites: www.abilenecityhall.com, Twitter: @AbileneKS www.facebook.com/pages/Visit-Abilene-Kansas www.eisenhower.archives.gov

Abilene Why go there: If you like “Ike” and museums, Abilene’s the ticket. It has five museums within a foursquare-block area, with the anchor being the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum.

What to do there: The Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum attracts researchers, historians and tourists from around the world. Also open to the public is The Place of Meditation, where President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie Eisenhower, are buried.

Things you must see there: Abilene isn’t only about “Ike.” Not far from the presidential library are the Greyhound Hall of Fame, where you can learn about the history of greyhound dog racing; The Heritage Center, which depicts life on the Plains during pioneer days; and the Museum of Independent Telephony, which re-creates the history of the telephone system.

Things to do with kids: Take the young’uns to Old Abilene Town, which depicts the wild days of Abilene. During the summer, gunslingers draw their irons, and you can sip a sarsaparilla while watching cancan girls dance in the Old Alamo Saloon.

Save the date: The 35th annual Chisholm Trail Day Festival is Oct. 5. It features food, music, entertainment, crafts and rides on the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel, powered by the original steam engine.

Did you know: Abilene is home to the world’s largest boot spur. It stands 27 feet high, weighs a ton and is large enough for a semi-trailer truck to pass through. It is located at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo Arena grounds How to get there: Abilene is located on Interstate 70 about 116 miles west of Lawrence.

Also near: Junction City, about 25 miles east of Abilene.

Fort Scott K A N S A S 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 | 620-223-3566; 800-245-3678 May 30-June 1 Good Ol’ Days Street Fair & Celebration

Photo Daniel M. Silva / Shutterstock.com

June 7-9 Echoes of the Trail, Best of America

by Horseback June 15 Garden Tour Fort Special Evening Program July 13-20 Bourbon County Fair, Tractor Pull & Live Entertainment August 4 Blackwood Brothers in Concert

May through October Concerts in the Park Each Friday Farmers Market Each Saturday Year Round Entertainment Country Music Shows 1st & 3rd Sundays

VISIT FortScott.com for many other events!

“The Middle of Everywhere” 1842 National Historic Site · 1862 National Cemetery No. 1 · Concerts in the Park Entertainment · Hunting & Fishing, Guides · Bed & Breakfast · Spa & Massage

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce sunday, may 19, 2013

19

Central KS

By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Helpful Sites: For information on lodging and other attractions, go online to skyways.org/towns/CottonwoodFalls or contact the chamber office at 620-273-8469 or chasechamber@sbcglobal.net.

Cottonwood Falls

Lake, naturalkansas.org/chase.htm, offers fishing, wildflower- and wildlife-spotting, and primitive camping.

Photo by Pat Larkin, Cottonwood Falls The vast views found in the Flint Hills surrounding Cottonwood Falls are a favorite subject for painters and photographers.

Why go there: You’ll find vast views, fresh air and a taste of small-town life in Cottonwood Falls, in the heart of Kansas’ famous Flint Hills. “You can drive for miles in this beautiful prairie and not see anybody else,” Cottonwood Falls Chamber of Commerce co-director Kris Lancaster says.

“That’s what people come here for.”

Explore Where History Happens! nga Days WasJunehu20-22, 2013

Washunga Days

www.councilgrove.com 620-767-5413 chamber@tctelco.net

20 summer travel preview

What to do: Cottonwood Falls’ historic 1873 French Renaissance courthouse — the oldest functioning courthouse in the state — is the centerpiece of downtown. For a tour, check in at the Chamber of Commerce, 318 Broadway St. Enjoy a steak dinner at the Grand Central Hotel and Grill, and jam sessions every Friday night at the Emma Chase Cafe, which also plays host to monthly breakfasts for bicyclists, bikers and antique car enthusiasts. Don’t leave town without a new pair of cowboy boots — Jim Bell and Son Clothing Co. has two levels of western wear for men, women and children.

Outdoors: The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has accessible nature trails, backcountry hiking trails, an 1881 ranch house, a one-room schoolhouse, prairie bus tours and interpretive nature activities. Find information at the visitor center, 2480B Kansas Highway 177 in Strong City, and online at nps.gov/tapr. Chase State Fishing

Prairie art: Find prairie-inspired fine art at the Flint Hills Gallery, 321 Broadway, the chamber office and the Symphony in the Flint Hills Office, 331 Broadway.

The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs, in the main house of the former Rogler Ranch, features contemporary art and activities, such as plein-air painting and Flint Hills photography workshops. Learn more at pioneerbluffs.org/gallery.

Did you know?

Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America. Within a generation, the vast majority was developed and plowed under, and today less than 4 percent remains. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was designated to protect a remnant of this once-vast phenomenon.

Kid-friendly: Pick up a Junior Ranger activity booklet at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Kids can complete activities to earn an official Junior Ranger badge.

Save the date: River Suite — an outdoor dinner and live music on Cottonwood Falls’ historic downtown bridge — is June 14. The FlintHills FolkLife Festival is June 15 and 16. The 76th annual Flint Hills Rodeo — a PRCA ProRodeo competition and the oldest consecutive rodeo in Kansas — is June 7, 8 and 9 in Strong City. The annual rodeo parade marches from downtown Cottonwood Falls to the rodeo arena on June 8.

How to get there: From Emporia, drive west on U.S. Highway 50 about 30 minutes. At Strong City, turn south on Kansas Highway 177; Cottonwood Falls is just 2 miles south.

Central KS

Photo by Pat Larkin, Cottonwood Falls. These vintage cars are 30 to 50 years younger than the historic Chase County Courthouse in downtown Cottonwood Falls. Built in 1873, it’s the oldest operational courthouse west of the Mississippi.

Cottonwood Falls

Photo by Pat Larkin, Cottonwood Falls River Suite, an outdoor dinner with live music on a historic bridge, is an annual event in downtown Cottonwood Falls.

Little Apple...

Big Attractions

Lightning strikes!

Outside on the tallgrass prairie and Inside at the FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER! Thunder into Manhattan; get to know the home of Country Stampede; savor our local dining; cheer Big XII sports; wander into our quaint shops, eclectic art galleries, museums and outdoors.

Get caught in the beauty of The Little Apple®!

www.visitmanhattanks.org Call for a free Visitors Guide - 800-759-0134 Manhattan Convention & VIsitors Bureau 501 Poyntz Avenue • Manhattan, KS 66502 sunday, may 19, 2013

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Western KS Why go there?

Although often maligned by travelers who simply speed through it on their way to the mountains, western Kansas is home to some of the most scenic natural wonders in the state. You just have to get off the interstate and hit the back roads.

There you’ll find eye-popping geological formations and ruins of Native American civilizations; lakes, parks and museums; fishing, hunting and camping; vast prairie expanses and, believe it or not, some rolling hills. And that’s all before you get to the casino in Dodge City.

What to see there: Western Kansas is a place where people measure distance in terms of hours, not miles, so allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy all the sites. It’s more than a day trip, but certainly doable over a threeor four-day weekend. Some of the highlights include:

By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com

Hays: Kansans often disagree about where “western” Kansas really begins. Some people in Lawrence and Kansas City think it starts just a little bit past Topeka. But Hays, about 235 miles from Lawrence on Interstate 70, is really the gateway into the “High Plains” region of western Kansas.

• Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University is a mustsee, especially if you have kids who are fascinated with dinosaurs. The exhibits include fossils collected from throughout Kansas and the western United States, including many from when Kansas sat at the bottom of an ocean some 70 million years ago.

• Fort Hays State Historic Site is a restored U.S. Army post established in 1865 that was home to soldiers of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry, as well as the African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 9th and 10th Cavalry.

Photo by Peter Hancock. Castle Rock is a large limestone pillar in Gove County, south of the Quinter exit off of Interstate 70. It is formed out of limestone and chalk deposits some 80 million years ago when western Kansas sat beneath a large inland sea. Part of the spire toppled over in 2001, not long after this photo was taken.

Buffalo Bill Cody is also said to have spent time at the fort.

• Cedar Bluffs Lake is a 6,800-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in Trego County, just west of Hays. The state park is divided into two sections. The Bluffton Area on the north shore offers modern camping hookups, a boat ramp, swimming beach, cabins (call ahead for reservations) and numerous primitive campsites. The Page Creek area on the south shore is less developed but still has plenty of utility and primitive camp sites. During the summer, bird watchers can find plenty of hawks and turkey vultures. In the spring and fall, the lake is a stopover point for numerous migrating water fowl.

Castle Rock and Monument Rocks: Located in Gove County, these are two of the most iconic geological formations in western Kansas. The limestone formations appear to jut up out of the ground, but are actually deposits of sea minerals that are left standing after some 80 million years of erosion. The two sites are several miles apart and both are located on private property, although visitors are welcome.

But don’t be surprised if a stray cow or two approaches you while you’re there.

Castle Rock, south of the Quinter exit on Interstate 70, reminds visitors of the turret of a medieval castle. Monument Rocks –

22 summer travel preview

sometimes also called the Chalk Pyramids – includes a distinctive archway formation that is a perfect backdrop for vacation photos.

Lake Scott State Park: This is truly one of the hidden jewels of western Kansas. Situated off U.S. Highway 83 in Scott County, about 36 miles south of Oakley, it sits at the bottom of a canyon – yes, there are canyons in Kansas – and offers a 100-acre lake for fishing and swimming, a hunting area, utility and primitive camp sites, and cabins available for rent. In addition to hiking trails that defy any notion that western Kansas is “flat,” it also offers visitors archeological remains from El Cuartelejo, the northernmost Pueblo Indian settlement in the U.S. Dodge City: Dodge City was once the home of Wyatt Earp, as well as the setting for the fictional radio and TV series “Gunsmoke.”

It’s now one of the most popular tourist destinations in western Kansas, with a casino, museums and other attractions.

Here are just a few of the city’s many attractions: • The Boot Hill Casino and Resort opened in 2009 and offers hundreds of

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Western KS Continued from page 22 • slot machines and various table games. Guests must be 21 or older to enter. • The Boot Hill Museum is a restored Old West town with a variety of exhibits, a dinner show and entertainment activities. • Carnegie Center for the Arts is the city’s local art museum, which hosts a number of activities and special exhibits throughout the year. • Dodge City Days, July 26-Aug. 4 this year, is the city’s annual summer festival featuring concerts, a PRCA rodeo, barbecue contest and many other activities. • Fort Dodge, about five miles east of Dodge City on Kansas Highway 400, was built at the end of the Civil War to protect wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail. It later was converted to the Kansas State Soldiers Home. The Kansas Veterans Cemetery opened in 2002. Several buildings are open for tours, and vistors are welcome to walk or drive through the grounds.

How to Get There: Sternberg Museum: From Lawrence, drive west on I-70 about 228 miles. Take Exit 161, Commerce Parkway. Turn right toward East 27th Street/Airbase Road. Take the first left onto East 27th Street. Take the second right onto Sternberg Drive. Turn Right onto Sternberg Drive.

Helpful Sites: Sternberg Museum: sternberg.fhsu.edu Castle Rock: naturalkansas.org/castle Lake Scott State Park: kansastravel.org/scottstatepark Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.visitdodgecity.org

Lake Scott State Park: From Oakley, drive 30.1 miles south on U.S. Highway 83. Turn right onto Kansas Highway 95 and follow signs to the park.

Dodge City: From Scott City, take U.S. 83 south about 33.6 miles to near

Garden City. Take U.S. Highway 50 Business Route east and south about five miles. Merge onto U.S. Highway 50/U.S. 400 going east. Continue driving east about 47.3 miles to Dodge City. There, U.S. 50 becomes W. Wyatt Earp Boulevard.

Castle Rock: Take I-70 Quinter exit 107 (Castle Rock Road), go 15 miles south to the intersection of Gove County Route 80 and Route K, then four miles east to Castle Rock sign, and north across a cattle guard. (Dry weather road only.)

Monument Rocks: Take I-70 west to Oakley. Exit at U.S. Highway 83. Drive south 20 miles south to Jayhawk Road.

Turn east and drive four miles on Jayhawk Road. Turn right on local road and go three miles south and one mile east. (Dry weather road only.

small town charm

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