Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
When one mentions the state of Kansas, rows upon rows of cornfields come to mind, as does Dorothy flying over the rainbow with her little dog, Toto. Yet, Kansas is a terrific gateway to the American West and some may be surprised at the rich history that has played out upon its plains. There are plenty of things in this state to amaze and amuse the entire family.
In Topeka, which is the states capital, the Capital Building is an austere seat of government with wonderful murals and art. Kids will enjoy a trip to Heartland Park to see a race take place on its popular tracks. The Kansas Museum of History is here as well.
Another interesting town is Dodge City, famous for its rowdiness during the days of the Wild West. A family can spend their entire vacation here and be perfectly satisfied. Originally a cattle town, there are museums dedicated to cattle drives and a statue of a cowboy on Boot Hill dedicated to the cattle rustlers of yore. A family can also visit Boot Hill Museum which, along with artifacts dating back from the beginnings of the town, stagecoach rides are offered and kids will surely love the mock gunfights. Fort Dodge is also here, built in 1867 and a haven for settlers traveling the Santa Fe Trail in which remnants of that track can also still be seen to this day. Other sites and attractions to see are the DCF&B Railroad which is a scenic 16 mile trek that will take the visitor back to the 19th century, the Dodge City Zoo, and the Coronado Cross where the Spanish explorer crossed the Arkansas River in the 16th century looking for the fabled cities of gold. For dinner, the family can go to the Marchal Ranch, a wild west dinner theater where they can whoop it up with the cowboys, Indians, showgirls, and soldiers.
Wichita is also a city worth the visit. The small, but fun Joyland Amusement park is here as well as the Old Cowtown Museum which is a 17 acre open air town set in the mid-1800s. Here, people dressed in period clothing show how the pioneers lived and the arduous tasks they had to do daily to survive. Another interesting museum is the Museum of World Treasures which has a full-scale skeleton of an albertosaurus among with many more interesting items. Other museums worth seeing are the Mid-America All-Indian Center and the Kansas Aviation Museum. For souvenirs, the Flying Moose Antique Mall is a great place to shop for original artifacts.
Kansas is, indeed, an interesting state full of American history. From the capital city of Topeka to one of the most famous gateways of the West, the family will surely enjoy and be surprised at the rich heritage that has helped shape the United States, itself.
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