Moving to Kansas from Germany; what is there to do for fun?

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by Modron

Please keep in mind that Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. The Kansas City metro area is larger and has more offerings, but that includes the Missouri side of the KC metro area. Other than that, you're looking at slim pickings for young adult activities in Kansas.

Even though the Kansas side of the KC area is suburban and there is not one city larger than Wichita on that side of the metro, the population of the Kansas side of the metro alone is about 700,000-800,000 people and the KC-Lawrence metro area is around to 2.2 million which really dwarfs Wichita.

I’m not saying anything bad about Wichita, but only saying that Kansas basically has a large metropolitan area associated with it. That is something that a lot of Midwestern states do not have.

It’s also something that is very overlooked by people on the coasts, in other big cities, more populated states and overseas. Kansas and metro KCMO, (because of its association with Kansas) is very underrated and has an image of only the wizard of oz, cows, tornadoes, brown, flat etc.

Wichita is a nice small city, rural Kansas is not near as bad as people think, I would rather live in most parts of rural Kansas (flint hills, near KC etc) than in rural Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, etc. Kansas is not flat, it's one of the prettier states in the Midwest, especially between KC and Wichita and west of KC.

It really depends on what part of the state you live in though as to how you would like living in Kansas every day. I would think as a younger person that living near a major metro area like KC would be a must, but people keep telling me that you can survive in rural or isolated small towns or cities like those in central Kansas .

Regardless, I think Kansas offers as much culture and nightlife and urban/big city entertainment options and outdoors activities a state could offer so long as you include the KC area and sometimes the Lakes in central Missouri as part of the overall package of living in Kansas. People that live in Kansas are always in the lake of the Ozarks, metro KC attractions, metro Denver attractions and the rocky mountains. Rural KS is as nice or nicer than most midwstern states, it has metro KC, a small city (Wichita), a couple of nice college towns (Lawrence and Manhattan) and it’s close to Missouri and Colorado for mass amounts of outdoor entertainment, big cities, theme parks etc.

I know a lot of people don’t like that fact that I don’t like suburban Johnson County in Kansas. But that is really the only area in Kansas that really rubs me the wrong way. Overall, it’s a great state and like KC, a well kept secret in the states.

[Aidan8et]

Well, if you're used to the hustle & bustle of the big city, forget it. Most of the people I've seen in the month or so I've been at Ft Riley drive either exactly at the spped limit or 5+ MPH under it. Also, on post I have not found a single place I can pass those slower drivers. There is a brand new PX that just opened in Feb that is very nice. As for weather, I've seen all for seasons hit this post within the last week alone. There is a lot to do here & you don't have to look too hard to find any of it. While the mojrity of things to do are geared more towards the younger crowd (nearby Manhattan is home to Kansas State U afterall), I've found a lot of things to do otherwise in the surrounding communities. If you willing to drive even 1 hr your options are opened even more. The local populas is generally well mannered & quite friendly as well.