Family travel destinations attractions and things to do with kids in kansas

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

If your family vacation destination planning has you stumped, consider a visit to the state of Kansas. The Sunflower State has a great deal to offer in the form of attractions, activities and entertainment, and is quite diversified in its areas of interest. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the territory, here are some suggestions for great vacation attractions to aid in the planning of your itinerary.

Your trip wont be complete unless you pay a visit to the Gunfighters Wax Museum, located in Dodge City. Housed within the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, this facility is dedicated to bringing the historical outlaws of the Wild West C and their nemeses C into the 21st century through beautifully crafted life-size wax representations. Among the many residents of the museum are Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, Davey Crockett, Buffalo Bill, Belle Starr, Bat Masterson, the James Brothers and many more. This attraction is not suitable for a winter vacation itinerary, as the museum is only open from May through September, but its well worth the trip for those who are in the area during the summer months. There are numerous historical figures here, making it a great place for Old West enthusiasts and kids who are interested in learning about the heroes and villains of the past.

Wichita is home to Exploration Place C a huge modern facility whose purpose is to introduce children to the wonders of science through hundreds of interactive exhibits. Kids will be able to participate in activities such as a simulated ride over Kitty Hawk in the Wright Brothers plane; a communicative dance with honeybees; an archeological dig to uncover marine fossils; an interactive computerized journey through the human eye and much more. In addition, the museum offers Kids Explore, an imagination center thats designed with kids from 5 through 10 in mind. Youngsters will be delighted by The Shadow Room, Gepettos Workshop, and the Dr. Seuss Animation Station, as well as a multitude of other activities. KSN WeatherLab C a real, working weather broadcasting station C is on site, allowing children to make use of the various types of equipment during those times when the meteorologists are not on the air. On your way out, be sure to visit the Explore Store, a huge gift shop which offers a multitude of unique toys, jewelry and more.

Also located in Wichita is Joyland C a family theme park which offers a delightful day of wholesome fun for children and adults alike. Boasting numerous rides, the park caters to all age ranges. Amusements include Giant Slide, Log Jam, Paratrooper, Whacky Shack and Zumur, as well as many others. For the little ones, Joyland offers Big Trucks, Helicopters, Horse N Buggy, Race Cars and much more. While youre there, dont forget to catch a ride on SkyCoaster - a thrill ride of breathtaking height C and the Go-Kart Track. Also available are a wide variety of games, such as Hi-Striker, Water Wars, Shoot out the Star and lots more. Special events and attractions are also available, including Louie the Clown C a perky fellow who sits at his station in the Main Midway, playing a Military Pipe Organ for the pleasure of all who stroll by. Parents should note that very young children may be frightened by Louie the Clown, as has been documented in a number of park reviews. Also located in the Main Midway is a small stand that sells food and beverages for those who need to take a break from the rides and enjoy a bit of refreshment.

If youre looking for a great zoo, be sure to stop by the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, Kansas. This beautiful 60-acre facility, housing more than 80 species of animals, is an ideal place to spend the day, and is sure to delight the kids and those who are kids at heart. Visitors may choose between exploring the zoo on foot, using a 1 ? mile walking path, or by tram C for an additional fee. Among the many inhabitants are the Giant Anteater, African Pygmy Goat, Snow Leopard, Burmese Python, Cotton-Top Tamarin, Wallaroo, Dwarf Zebu and many more. The zoo also offers a large number of programs for families C and some specifically for children which dont allow adult accompaniment. Included in the program line-up, youll find Leapin Lizards Its a Lemur; A Hunting We Will Go; Camp Trek; Junior Zookeeper; Wind, Rain & Shine; Night Around the Campfire and Night on the Plains. This facility will also accommodate reunions and birthday parties, for those who are interested.

Great Wolf Lodge, located in Kansas City, Kansas, is host to a magnificent waterpark that covers 40,000 square feet of watery fun C both indoors and outdoors. Totem Towers offers a pair of body slides, each three stories tall, and Howling Wolf sports a 336-foot toboggan ride which winds through the park, capable of carrying groups of three per ride. Bear Track Landing boasts five pools and eight waterslides, while Alberta Falls hosts two tube slides which run inside and outside of the Lodge. Also in Bear Track Landing is Fort MacKenzie C a massive interactive tree house reaching four stories in height with a plethora of water-related activities. Among the many tree house activities are web crawls, suspension bridges and cargo nets. For the kiddies, theres Whopping Hollow, which contains three junior slides. For the very young, the Lodge offers Cub Paw Pool C complete with interactive water toys with which to amuse the children. One of the most delightful features of the waterpark is a 48-foot bucket which fills with 1,000 gallons of water every few minutes, to be dumped downward from the top of the tree house C if youre standing under it or anywhere in the near vicinity, look out below!

Dont leave Kansas City without making a stop at Union Station. Originally constructed as a train station in 1914, this site is now a huge complex, filled with a surfeit of exhibits, special events, shops, theaters, restaurants and more. Folks can choose to explore the various venues on their own or take an audio tour, which consists of obtaining a map and audio wand. Through a variety of Story Shows and Exhibits, you can learn about the stations colorful past and the characters that graced its halls. Kids will love the Science City Fountain! This puzzling 18-nozzle fountain sprays the water upward instead of downward, in complete defiance of gravity. Youngsters can stand under the sprays and not get wet. In fact, the fountain comes equipped with special motion sensors that will detect your proximity and turn off so that you can get into the fountain before resuming. Examples of the numerous childrens events include past and current performances such as Timeless Toys; Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body; Free Music Fridays; and GrossFest. Also housed within Union Station is The Extreme Screen Theater, with its screen rising five stories high and its width measuring 75 feet. A variety of 3D movies are shown in the theater, such as MisAdventures in 3D C a must see. Live stage performances are also offered, such as past examples of Amelia Bedelia, A New Brain and lots more. Science City is a huge interactive science museum that has to be seen to be believed, being geared toward even the youngest of the bunch. All of this, as well as fine dining and shopping, will make Union Station the number one attraction on your vacation itinerary.

The Lawrence Arts Center C located in Lawrence, Kansas C offers a variety of childrens theater performances each year through the Seem-To-Be-Players Childrens Theater Company. These lively, colorful stage shows include a portfolio of past and current entertainment such as The Ugly Duckling, Los Zapatos Magicos: Pedros Magic Shoes, The Run-A-Way Orchestra, Tales of Tom Sawyer and more. The settings are fun; the costumes, breathtaking. Children of all ages will delight in these exciting stage presentations. While the theater company provides a number of performances at The Lawrence Arts Center each year, they are also a touring company, tending to tour during the fall and winter months. For those who are vacationing during the summer, the chances are much better of being able to catch one of the shows, so be sure to visit the Arts Center and be entertained by this very talented group of people.

Hutchinson, Kansas is the site of the Cosmosphere and Space Center C complete with a museum, IMAX Theater, a host of camps and much more. Children will be in awe of the various exhibits that the museum has to offer, including a life-size replica of the Space Shuttle, a training jet for astronauts and the command module from Apollo 13, to name a few. Within its walls, you and your family can explore the Hall of Space Time Machine, offering space exhibits that relate to specific periods of history. These exhibits include World War II flying machines, astronauts in full regalia and all manner of space-related paraphernalia up to present day technologies. Also on location is the Justice Planetarium, which offers presentations of the night sky, fantastic laser shows and public astronomical viewing. In the IMAX Theater, youll be treated to thrilling movies which include titles such as Island of the Sharks and NASCAR: The IMAX Experience. Be sure to stop in at Dr. Goddards Lab for a wonderful presentation of early scientific experiments in the replicated 1930s lab of Dr. Robert Goddard, the Father of Modern Rocketry. To round out your visit, stop in at the Cargo Bay Store for a wide variety of space-related merchandise that can be purchased as souvenirs or gifts for the folks back home.

Kansas provides an exciting, diverse environment for the entire family, and offers much in the way of attractions for visitors. This kid-friendly state is a wonderful vacation choice for those who are looking to have a great family experience. For further information, contact the Department of Tourism or your local travel agent.