Many people think of Kansas tourism as this flat wasteland in the center of the United States. How wrong they are! Kansas is filled with interesting history, beautiful prairielands, museums, cultural events and attractions and the nicest people anywhere. You can travel in Kansas going from the large city of Kansas City to the little bitty town of Garnett where hospitality is shown in abundance.



When I tell you that you can visit the small towns it's no joke. Kansas has a large number of towns under 1000 people. Take Selden for example. Here, according to the July 2007 report there is a population of 177. Even though there are small towns there is huge pride and friendliness so stop in and say hello. There is land enough to give you some space, views that go on for "ever" and history that will keep you interested for hours on end. Try your luck hunting the pheasants at one of the ranches or farms that take you out during the season.

When you visit Atchison you may want to take a ride on the Haunted Atchison Trolley. Atchison has been dubbed the "Most Haunted Town in Kansas" so in conjunction with this the chamber has offered the trolley tours in September and October. These 1 hour ghost tours leave from the Visitor Information Center in the 1880 AT&SF freight depot. One of the homes on the tour is the McInteer Villa which is said to have numerous ghostly appearances from lights going on in the tower where there is no power to figures appearing in the tower windows and in family photographs or footsteps and other noises on occasion as well as slamming doors. There are quite a number of "haunted" houses on the tour and each has a story of its own to tell.

Take the time to enjoy Henry's Sculpture Hill near Augusta. Here are sculptures created from steel and/or found objects will have you enjoying the creativity of this wonderful artist. The display is privately owned and the artist has stopped tours, at least for now. He said because of "maintenance, insurance, old age, and attitude, [but] serious buyers who are looking for original steel sculptures are welcome by appointment." Take a little time and see this delightful site.

Want to visit the Garden of Eden? Just think of your Kansas vacation as an opportunity to do just that in Lucas at the "log house" built by a retired school teacher following the Civil War. Dinsmoor took "logs" made of limestone, laid them in the same pattern as timber logs would be placed and created his home. None of the windows or doors are the same size, he wanted the house to have character and attract attention. The construction took 31 years before he was completely done with the house and the gardens where he used 113 lbs of concrete and limestone to create his vision. The 11 room house was shown in tours to those that wanted to see it in his time and still today. To visit the house has a fee of $6 for adults and $1 for kids.

If you are in the Manhattan or Junction City area you may want to stop in at Fort Riley. There are some truly unique things at the Fort like the Stable Tour where you can see the building that was home to the horses of the last cavalry training stables with its original cobblestone flooring. This building was built in 1889 and originally housed 76 horses; today the building is home to the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard and houses 20 horses. Of course there are new and technological training programs that take place at the Fort but there is so much history to study while there that it could be a more than one day experience.

Take the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway to see the true color of Kansas. Here the hills are filled with canyons, rolling hills, mesas and buttes in stunning color, right in central Kansas. The red cedar tress add a beautiful touch to the terrain. The land is red because it is full of iron oxide which is actually rust. Get off the paved roads to see the real beauty but keep in mind that this is open range so keep your eyes open for animals.

No one can say that those from Kansas don't have a sense of humor. In the town of Canton there are two water towers, one Hot and one Cold. Now how many towns do you know that would do that? It's great to know there is such a place in Kansas!