One Day in Kansas - What should I see? (Kansas City: fit in, house)

[jjg39069]

I have to be in Lincoln, NE for work on a Tuesday and am flying into Omaha the Sunday prior. I've never been to Kansas so am going to spend Monday exploring your state and taking in as much as I can. What are some things I can check out to truly give me a flavor of Kansas that I can cover in one day detour through Kansas on a drive from Omaha to Lincoln? Local/famous restaurants to check out (no chains!!)? Campuses to explore? Landmarks to see?

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by jjg39069

I have to be in Lincoln, NE for work on a Tuesday and am flying into Omaha the Sunday prior. I've never been to Kansas so am going to spend Monday exploring your state and taking in as much as I can. What are some things I can check out to truly give me a flavor of Kansas that I can cover in one day detour through Kansas on a drive from Omaha to Lincoln? Local/famous restaurants to check out (no chains!!)? Campuses to explore? Landmarks to see?

For interesting natural features I would recommend the Tallgrass Praire Preserve in Chase County, KS. I also like the Konza Prairie Preserve south of Manhattan in the Flint Hills. Other interesting things to explore would be Lawrence, Manhattan, and the Kansas City metro area.

[LivinOPks]

Originally Posted by jjg39069

I have to be in Lincoln, NE for work on a Tuesday and am flying into Omaha the Sunday prior. I've never been to Kansas so am going to spend Monday exploring your state and taking in as much as I can. What are some things I can check out to truly give me a flavor of Kansas that I can cover in one day detour through Kansas on a drive from Omaha to Lincoln? Local/famous restaurants to check out (no chains!!)? Campuses to explore? Landmarks to see?

The nelson adkins is amazing...as well as the plaza and crown center areas. Deanna rose farms is nice...And we have LOTS of small restaurants..not chains...what part of the state are you looking to drive though? And what kind of food ya like?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

For interesting natural features I would recommend the Tallgrass Praire Preserve in Chase County, KS. I also like the Konza Prairie Preserve south of Manhattan in the Flint Hills. Other interesting things to explore would be Lawrence, Manhattan, and the Kansas City metro area.

While going down to Tallgrass the OP could also have steak in the Hays House at Council Grove, close by (by rural Kansas standards, at least, which means one county away). An excellent way to experience the kind of foods the locals enjoy, rustic/casual environment but food neither casual nor foodieish--just done right. And take my word that people in the Flint Hills take their beef seriously. The stuff they serve in most restaurants where I live (eastern Washington) simply wouldn't be acceptable there.

Also interesting to check out the Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls (same county as Tallgrass), see the old slammer in back (just ask the clerks in a friendly way and they won't mind), and a brief stop at the small but interesting Roniger Museum kind of behind the courthouse. The Flint Hills are more cowboy country than farming country, not that you won't still see a good deal of cropland, but a lot of it is suitable mainly for pasture.

If you are into Notre Dame football, you probably know Knute Rockne's plane went in near Bazaar (just down K-177 from Cottonwood, still in Chase County). It's in a pasture on private property, though, so one can't just go unbidden (unless something's changed that my relatives haven't told me about). However, this is where the ladies at the Courthouse come in. If they felt you were a pretty nice person, you might be able to ask if they'd call the property owner and see if it was okay for you to go visit. The same could also happen if you were having a beer in a local tavern.

That's kind of how things work in rural Kansas. Friendliness and courtesy get you all sorts of little benefits, recommendations, suggestions and phoning-my-friend-Edna-to-help-you-out sort of stuff. Not to be underestimated. As a visitor, people might look at you a little curiously to begin with, but just give them the time of day and they size you up quickly enough. For example, when I'm back there (not often enough for locals to remember me), at first they look a little askance at the heavy beard. But I act like I'm comfortable (because I am; both my parents went to Chase County High School), and am always polite to folks, so I always have nice visits with people. Every reason you can do the same.

Sorry, Granite, replied to you instead of the OP because it seemed to fit best following onto your suggestion.

[thriftylefty]

If you are getting in early on Sunday I would drive South on 29 to Johnson Co, you might be able to catch the blues and Barbecue contest;
Location
11600 Johnson Dr
Shawnee Town
Shawnee, KS 66203
Phone: (913) 631-5200
Web site
http://www.shawneegreatgrillers.com
Features
Restroom facilities, Food/drink vendors, Accessible parking/accommodations

Maybe have some time to get to Bonner (almost straight north) for the Renaissance festival
Location
628 N 126th
Bonner Springs, KS 66012
Phone: (913) 721-2110
Toll Free: (800) 373-0357
Web site
http://www.kcrenfest.com
E-mail
sales@kcrenfest.com
Features
Restroom facilities, Food/drink vendors, Accessible parking/accommodations, Admission charge
You could drive west on I-70 Monday stopping in Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan( to big campuses) and I would drive north on 77 a scenic route through the flint hills in to Lincoln. Its fall festival season and Kansas has quite a bit of German roots so you could practically fly by the seat of your pants and find road side stops along the way. If you want to see more of the state on your drive west take the old highway 24 to Manhattan.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

For interesting natural features I would recommend the Tallgrass Praire Preserve in Chase County, KS. I also like the Konza Prairie Preserve south of Manhattan in the Flint Hills. Other interesting things to explore would be Lawrence, Manhattan, and the Kansas City metro area.

Um, he has one day and he's driving down from Omaha.

Unless you were planning to spend the entire day just in the car, I wouldn't try to see Tallgrass or the Flint hills. You will be pretty much like Chevy Chase looking at the Grand Canyon in "Vacation." Know what I mean?

If I were you I would drive down to Atchison. That will be almost a three hour drive. It's a quaint little town. Home of Amelia Earhart, nice little museum there. Plus a lovely view of the river from her home. A spot you could get to relatively quickly and walk around a little. Fall is a pretty time of year just about anywhere, but especially near the rivers.

Then if you feel like venturing farther Southwest, you could go another hour South to Topeka. The Brown vs Board of Education site is a quick stop and worth seeing IMO. I think our capital bldg is pretty cool and it's open to the public.

Then if you still want to go another hour Southwest or West, you could check out Tallgrass or the Flint Hills. But remember you will have a 5 hour drive back.

Have fun!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

Um, he has one day and he's driving down from Omaha.

Unless you were planning to spend the entire day just in the car, I wouldn't try to see Tallgrass or the Flint hills. You will be pretty much like Chevy Chase looking at the Grand Canyon in "Vacation." Know what I mean?

If I were you I would drive down to Atchison. That will be almost a three hour drive. It's a quaint little town. Home of Amelia Earhart, nice little museum there. Plus a lovely view of the river from her home. A spot you could get to relatively quickly and walk around a little. Fall is a pretty time of year just about anywhere, but especially near the rivers.

Then if you feel like venturing farther Southwest, you could go another hour South to Topeka. The Brown vs Board of Education site is a quick stop and worth seeing IMO. I think our capital bldg is pretty cool and it's open to the public.

Then if you still want to go another hour Southwest or West, you could check out Tallgrass or the Flint Hills. But remember you will have a 5 hour drive back.

Have fun!

Those are some good ideas for the OP.

My lens is a bit different since I do a ton of driving and I didn't think that east-central KS is that much of a detour considering how fast one can go on the local interstates.

[Mercator Projection]

Cabelas.

[jjg39069]

Thank you all. I'm loving the suggestions. Had I known about the blues & BBQ I would've flown in Saturday night. That is right up my alley. Alas, I don't arrive until Sunday evening.

I'm going to try to skip the big city because I know I'll have more fun exploring the smaller towns as I'm a farm girl from MI living in the city now and I miss talking to 'good people'.

So here's what I'm thinking. Stay near Omaha Sun night because I want to drive in the daylight to enjoy the scenery. Head south on 75 or 29 eventually working my way to Atchinson to check out the AE museum. From there down to Lawrence and grabbing lunch in a famous college hole (any suggestions?) and maybe checking out the book store for a UK souvenir. Head west on 24 and take it all in checking out what ever I stumble upon. Hays house really caught my interest. But if I'm in Manhattan late afternoon is it worth driving 1 hour in the wrong direction for dinner (I have to be in Lincoln Monday night for Tuesday work)? Thoughts? Are they going to look at me weird if I'm by myself at Hays House? Is there a bar I could sit at and eat dinner?

Can I fit all this in? Can I fit in one of the preserve's still too?

What time does the sun set out there right now. I'm going to get moving early so I can get as much daylight scenery as possible.

I'm so excited. Thanks all. Keep it coming!

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by jjg39069

From there down to Lawrence and grabbing lunch in a famous college hole (any suggestions?) and maybe checking out the book store for a UK souvenir.

Free State Brewpub. Where you can still feel a hint of the old abolitionist fervor if you close your eyes. Oh, and one suggestion: if you say UK, they will think you mean the United Kingdom instead of KU.

If you want to get a really great t-shirt, find your way to Joe College in Lawrence. My favorite: KANSAS: KEEPING THE WORLD SAFE FROM MISSOURI SINCE 1854. Has a silhouette of John Brown. Ask around, everyone will know where it is (my wife ordered mine online as a present).

Originally Posted by jjg39069

Are they going to look at me weird if I'm by myself at Hays House?

No. They may be interested in what brings you there, but not in a prying or suspicious way--rather, because it's interesting to visit with people who come through, and they will be really happy that their homies spread far and wide are putting out the good word about Hays House. My own term for it is the Flint Hills Diaspora.