After a hike at the Sand Creek Trail or Harvey County West Park, try lunch at The Breadbasket (219 N Main, 316-283-3811) in Newton. This humble eatery has been dishing up authentic German fare along with genuinely good soups and sandwiches since 1984. For lunch, the deliciously wide variety of soups are highly recommended. With at least eight unique choices ranging from chicken borscht, green bean & ham, to a spicy Philadelphia peppercorn you’re sure to find something that’s just right. The soups are hearty and thick with a good balance of bold flavors. To go with your soup, cut off a thick slice of fresh-baked bread from the loaves available with every meal. If you are in town for supper on Friday or Saturday, try The Breadbasket’s Low German buffet complete with authentic verenike and other old country fare.
Author: kansastrailguide
Kansas Trail Map
Looking to find a trail in Kansas near you? This interactive map provides trailhead locations, pictures, and directions to help you find a trail that’s perfect for you. As we keep hiking we’ll add more trails for your enjoyment!
Some of the best Kansas City barbecue: Oklahoma Joe’s
The Kansas City area has some great hiking and biking trails, like at Kill Creek Regional Park in Overland Park, which will be featured in our Kansas Trail Guide book, coming out early 2015. And while you’re in the Kansas City area, it would be a waste to miss out on authentic Kansas City barbecue. As a Kansan, I’d argue it’s some of the best barbecue in the world. And one of the best places to get the best barbecue is at Oklahoma Joe’s.
Oklahoma Joe’s. Photo by Marshall Astor
The birthplace of Kansas City was near 18th and Vine on the Missouri side of the state, but Kansas boasts some great barbecue options in the barbecue city. The original Oklahoma Joe’s is rather unexpectedly located in a gas station, but don’t be put off. It was opened by Jeff Stehney and his wife in 1996 after their barbecue competition team, Slaugherhouse Five, had won hundreds of awards, and it will have lines out the door for lunch.
But the line is worth it, and one of their most popular dishes, and one that’s won a lot of their awards, is their pulled pork. I’m partial to the brisket, but really, you can’t go wrong with just about anything on the menu. It’s quite literally finger-licking good, and if you spend some time on the nearby trails in Kansas City, you won’t have to feel guilty about digging into the overwhelmingly delicious (though not really all that healthy) lunch.
Visitor information:
3002 W 47th Ave (the original gas station location)
Kansas City, KS
913-722-3366
11950 S Strang Line Rd
Olathe, KS
913-782-6858
11723 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66211
913-338-5151
Hiking with bison
The chance to get up close and personal with large free-ranging bison is an unforgettable experience. There are a few places to observe bison in Kansas; including the Sandsage Bison Range near Garden City, the Konza Prairie south of Manhattan, and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in the heart of the Flint Hills. However, one of my all-time favorite locations to see these shaggy beasts is at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge just north of Canton. Maxwell maintains a herd of around 200 bison and 50 elk, making this the only public area in the state where you can observe both of these species. The really cool thing about Maxwell is that the access road for the state fishing lake runs right through the middle of the bison pasture. A leisurely drive will easily give you the chance to see large bison bulls and cow/calf groups scattered throughout the mixed-grass prairie hills.
Bison grazing at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge
If you have binoculars, climb to the top of the wildlife observation tower which lets you look out over almost the entire area and really see the wildlife that’s out there. We drove through the area last weekend and were lucky enough to see part of the elk herd and have several bison walk within 10-feet of our vehicle (which was about as close as we would have liked them to be).
This kind of a viewing experience would cause a traffic jam and photography frenzy at Yellowstone, but we virtually had the whole place to ourselves. It’s easy enough to see bison and elk most days, but to see even more of the refuge and find out a little more about the natural history of the area you can also reserve a backcountry tram tour through the Friends of Maxwell Group website.
After checking out the wildlife we took the family on a little hike along the nature trail by the state fishing lake. The woods were starting to show signs of spring with buds swelling and getting ready to burst at any time. We didn’t see any morels, but saw several people out on the hunt. The trail was a nice short hike through the woods by the lake with a loop option to add a little variety. The highlight for the kids was definitely the stream at the end of the trail (and the trail snacks of course). All said, it made for an afternoon of good hiking and great wildlife-viewing!
Where to buy hiking and camping gear in Kansas
Here are some of our favorite places to get new hiking and camping gear.
Hutchinson area
Heartland Outdoor
1 Heartland Drive
South Hutchinson, KS 67505
620-664-6103
Kansas City area
Backwoods Overland Park
6825 West 135th Street
Overland Park, KS 66223
913-451-8881
Cabela’s
10300 Cabela Drive
Kansas City, KS 66111
913-328-0322
In fall 2013, there will be an REI in Overland Park.
Lawrence
Sunflower Outdoor & Bike
804 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-5000
Manhattan
The Pathfinder
304 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
785-539-5639
Wichita
Backwoods Wichita
1900 North Rock Rd. Suite 108
Wichita, KS 67206
316-267-0350
Cabela’s
2427 North Greenwich Road
Wichita, KS 67226
316-854-3130
Coleman Factory Outlet
235 N. St. Francis
Wichita, KS 67202
316-264-0836
Did we miss your favorite place to get gear? Let us know in the comments.
Strataca – Kansas Underground Salt Museum
The double deckered elevator door shuts and takes you 650 feet below the surface of the earth. On the 90 second journey through the $6 million elevator shaft, you realize it’s a bit more disconcerting than you thought it would be to be descending deep into the earth in near complete darkness, but you’ve just watched a safety video and are wearing a hard hat and an emergency breathing device, so you take a deep breath and know that you’re safe. And as the doors open, you get to see what life is like beneath the surface in the Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson. May 1, 2013 will mark the 6th year since the museum opened, and it’s the only salt museum in the United Sates.
275 million years ago, salt deposits formed, and the first part of the museum includes exhibits and information on the formation of the salt during the Permian Era. This includes one of the world’s oldest living creatures – living bacteria trapped in a salt crystal from 250 million years ago. That kind of time and history is mind-stretchingly old and amazing (older than dinosaurs!), and it can’t be seen anywhere else.
From there, you can check out the other use of the underground space – storage. Since it’s a climate controlled space safe from natural and man-made disasters, it’s an ideal storage space for sensitive information and artifacts. Opened during the Cold War, it’s the world’s largest single storage facility for the film industry – original negatives from film and TV along with props. And some of the famous artifacts are on display, like props from The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Batman, and Men In Black.
The Salt Mine Express Tour: The “dark ride” tram tour takes you on a 40 minute tour where you learn about the history of the mine. In 1923, the Carey Salt Company began mining the salt, and the mine is still in operation as the Hutchinson Salt Company. There’s old, abandoned machinery left beneath the earth; once equipment was brought into the mine, it was there forever. And at one point, they turn off the tram lights, so you can experience absolute and complete darkness (it’s the most intense darkness you’ll ever experience). It ends with a stop where you can gather your own piece of salt from a pile for a souvenir (don’t eat it!).
Visitor information:
3504 East Avenue G at Airport Road, 620.662.1425. Closed Mondays and reservations recommended
All inclusive entrance, which includes admission, guided tram tour, and train ride
- $19 for adults
- $17 for seniors
- $12.50 for children 4-12 (0-3 not admitted)
- $14 for Reno County residents
- $12.50 for members
Kansas by numbers
8 feet – the height grasses can reach in the tallgrass prairie
Author Jonathan Conard with his daughter at the highest point in Kansas
11 physiographic regions
14 mph average wind speed in Dodge City, Kansas’ windiest city
24 state parks
65 feet – the depth of Milford Lake, the state’s largest lake
300 bison (approximately) in the herd on the Konza Prairie
467 recorded bird species
680 feet above sea level – Verdigris River, the lowest point in the state
4,039 feet above sea level – the height of Mount Sunflower, the highest point in the state
Kansas Trail Guide book set for early 2015 release
Those who know the 100+ miles of trail in Kansas have discovered first hand that despite the stereotypes of the state as nothing-to-see flatland, Kansas in fact has some world-class scenery and great trails through the rolling countryside for those on foot, on a bike, and on horseback. From urban trails through historic Kansas City, to singletrack mountain bike paths along the Blue River in Manhattan, to the 117 mile Flint Hills Trail, this book will feature the best of the Kansas trail system.
To be published through University of Kansas Press, our Kansas Trail Guide will include detailed descriptions of trails across Kansas by geographical area, including GPS information, how to get to the trailheads, where to park, which trails are open for cyclists, hikers, and/or horseback riders, suggestions for nearby outfitters and restaurants, and for the long distance trails or as applicable for the shorter trails, the best options for camp sites nearby and along the way.
Kansas Trail Guide 