Off the trail

You can’t spend all your time hiking, biking, and riding – here are our recommendations for other ways to enjoy your time in Kansas along with upcoming events.

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Best barbecue in Kansas City

What better way to refuel after a day on the trails than with some tasty Kansas City barbecue?

We know that Kansas City exists in both Kansas and Missouri, but as the Kansas Trail Guide, we’re going to stick on the Kansas side. Even by narrowing Kansas City barbecue options down to just the Kansas side of the city, there’s no way to pick just one. So here are three of our favorite Kansas City barbecue restaurants that all got their start on the barbecue competition circuit. Are these in your top three? What are your favorite Kansas City barbecue places? Let us know in the comments!

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que

Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque has its roots in barbecue competitions – the team of Slaughterhouse Five went on to win award after award at competitions across the nation before they opened their barbecue restaurant in a gas station at 47th Avenue and Mission Road — it used to be Oklahoma Joe’s but they updated the name to Joe’s Kansas City BBQ in 2014. While you can still go to that original gas station location, they have restaurants in Olathe and Leawood.

Anthony Bourdain named Joe’s Kansas City BBQ as one of his 13 restaurants to visit before you die in Men’s Health in 2011, and we don’t disagree. The Z-Man Sandwich is popular, it’s slow-smoked beef brisket, smoked provolone cheese, topped with two crispy onion rings, on a toasted Kaiser roll. The ribs are outstanding, and of their sides, it’s a tie for us between their mac and cheese and dirty rice. If you’re lucky, there will be some burnt ends available, but you really can’t go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu.

There might be a line, but it usually moves pretty quickly and you can always order online and get it to go if you’re in more of a hurry. And if you’re not in the area, you can even put in an order to be shipped, and your award-winning meat will show up at your house in a cooler. 

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm. Closed Sunday
Locations: Original gas station location: 3002 West 47th Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66103, 913-722-3366
11950 South Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS 66062, 913-782-6858
11723 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66211, 913-338-5151

Q39

Q39 is another barbecue restaurant that got its start in the competition world. Chef Rob Magee was classically trained, and he competed with the Munchin’ Hogs team to take home multiple trophies before opening Q39 in 2014 in Midtown. In 2017, they opened another one in Overland Park, so that fits our Kansas barbecue requirement.

At both locations, you definitely want to make a reservation if you want to avoid a wait, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays — you can make one online. You can also order it online and get it to go.

Their mac and cheese is outstanding, the ribs are fall off the bone delicious, and their pork belly appetizer comes with Mexican street corn and a chipotle BBQ sauce. They’ve got some unexpected items from a barbecue restaurant on their menu, like the smoked beef brisket poutine, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and wood-fired grilled smoked salmon salad. I’ve heard the apple crumble with ice cream is tasty, but I’ve never saved enough room for dessert. Maybe next time. 

Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm, Friday to Saturday: 11am to 9:30m
Locations: 11051 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210, 913-951-4500

Slap’s BBQ

Slap’s BBQ got its name from founding brothers Mike and Joe Pearce’s Squeal Like A Pig bbq competition team. They tend to sell out, particularly of their ribs and burnt ends, so maybe pick this one for lunch if you have your heart set on something specific. There’s also likely to be a line, but you can order online to pick up if you’re in a rush. They’ve got a tender, thick-cut brisket, they put bacon in their mac & cheese (which is always a win for me), and their sausage game is on point, particularly the jalapeno cheddar sausage. They’ve also got daily specials — burnt end street tacos on Tuesdays, smoked chicken wings on Wednesdays,  and spicy fried chicken sandwich on Thursdays.

They do catering, and though I’ve never tried that option, it seems like it would be definite crowd pleaser. And then even offer classes on how to get into the bbq competition scene. 

Hours: Sunday to Saturday: 11am to 7pm or until they sell out.
Location: 533 Central Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101, 913-213-3736

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Experience The Lofts in Iola is the ideal spot to explore Lehigh Portland State Park

If there’s something better after hours on the trail than a giant jacuzzi tub, I’ve yet to find it.

Since we finished the research for the first edition of the Kansas Trail Guide: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Riding in the Sunflower State back in 2014, Kansas has added an impressive amount of new trails, which is the reason we’re putting in the legwork to get you the latest details on Kansas’ new trails for a second edition. And so far in our research, one definite standout set of trails are the ones right outside of Iola in southeast Kansas. Clearly we weren’t the only ones impressed by what’s going on there; the state of Kansas made Lehigh Portland State Park into Kansas’ newest state park.

It’s under a 2-hour drive from Kansas City and about 2 hours from Wichita, though whichever direction you’re coming from, the drive is going to be worth it. The drive or the bike ride — Iola is also a main trailhead two rail trails — the Prairie Spirit Trail that runs for 52 miles north to Ottawa and the Southwind Rail Trail that takes you south 6.5 miles to Humboldt — I mean, there’s a reason that Iola was voted Kansas Trail Guide town of the year in 2017.

If you’re planning a visit to check out the 14+ miles of trails just south of Iola, I’d highly recommend making a weekend of it. You could see a lot of cool stuff there in a day, but staying overnight gives you a chance to get out on the trails early as well as check out the area and get a chance to relax. At some point when the state park infrastructure is built up, there will be camping at Lehigh Portland State Park.

But until then, and even then, for those who prefer their overnights in a comfy bed with all the amenities of home, I’d highly recommend a stay at Experience The Lofts. *Full disclosure, my visit there was hosted, but that in no way impacts how awesome I found this place!*

Experience The Lofts is right on Iola Square — the largest courthouse square in America — in a renovated historic building, less than a 10-minute drive and about a 15-minute bike ride from the state park trails.  They have 11 different loft suites to choose from, named after major players in Iola’s history, and they all have full kitchens, Roku TV, free WiFi, and BONUS! free snacks.

The beds are comfy, the bathroom is stocked with all necessary toiletries, and the full kitchen means it’s easy to feel at home. It’s contactless check-in; you’ll get key codes as the way to get into the doors from the street and then the door to your loft / suite. And if you need anything, help is just a text away. As an FYI: it is a somewhat steep flight of stairs to get up to the lofts, so keep that in mind.

You basically have your own personal apartment at Experience The Lofts, and there are options for pretty much every group size, whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with a group. I got a chance to stay in The Beck Suite with its two bedrooms complete with king size beds, full size kitchen, living room with picture windows overlooking the square, walk-in shower, and a jacuzzi tub — the perfect way to relax after spending time at the state park.

If you’re out for multiple days on the trail, you don’t even have to pack extra clothes if you don’t want to — there’s laundry right on-site.

Staying at Experience The Lofts feels like being a part of the revitalization of Iola. Plus, it’s super convenient to check out Lehigh Portland State Park’s fantastic trail system. 

If you go:
From $120/night
1 E Madison Avenue
Iola, KS 66749
tel: 620-365-1785, email: tcsparks106@gmail.com

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What’s so special about Kansas: Interview with Brad Loveless, KDWPT Secretary

In 2019, Brad Loveless was named the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. We reached out to him to see what he felt was so special about Kansas.

What are the latest developments in regards to the parks and  trails in Kansas?

BL: We continue to make improvements to our parks and trails. I don’t think we could go to a single one of our facilities and not find changes even over the last few months, fueled by ever-increasing demand. We continue to repair camping areas damaged by the devastating 2019 floods, add and improve campgrounds and access. With our patrons’ shift to larger campers with higher energy demand, we are upgrading all of our camping areas electrically to accommodate those.

Little Jerusalem. Photo from: The Nature Conservancy

Our Flint Hills Trail is not complete and we are working to extend the west end clear to Herrington and have segments to the east that are useable but which aren’t up to our preferred standard. Since that trail is fully bordered with private landowners with shared fencing, fence upkeep and improvements are a continuous need and critically important to us because we want to be good neighbors

What value do you feel public trails and public lands have in Kansas?

It’s never been more obvious that access to public space outdoors is essential to society’s health and well-being. Besides the increasing demand for these spaces for hunting, fishing and boating, the science is clear that time outdoors for any reason leads to measurable physical and mental health benefits.

What are some of the biggest Kansas misconceptions you think people have?

I would cite the thought that Kansas is uniformly anything – flat, windy, dry – you name it and we will routinely vary from that. We are a state with terrific variety and beauty from north to south and east to west. Some of my favorite places are in the corners and until people take the time to explore, they won’t enjoy many of the unique wonders we have to offer in Kansas.

Photo by Kristin Conard

When you think of Kansas, what’s the image that comes to mind?

I have a myriad of images that I love and have for Kansas so I’ll share the one I experienced this morning with my grandson at the dawn of his first birthday. The sun rising through eastern clouds toward a clear sky. Quail calling softly to each other as they were waking up and a marsh hawk wafting over the waving prairie in search of breakfast. Kansas for me is a picture is a picture suitable for framing almost everywhere you look.

For someone who’s never been to Kansas, do you have any recommendations for where to go or what to see?

I do, but let’s talk about it. I want your readers to come and enjoy the parts of Kansas and the activities that they will enjoy most. Call us at 620-672-5911 and let’s visit about what you’re most interested in. We’ll help you find it.

For someone who grew up in Kansas and feels like they’ve seen everything there, do you have any recommendations for where to go or what to see?

Depends on the time of year. Summer and right now I wouldn’t miss the waterfowl and shorebird migrations through our Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivera and McPherson wetlands. The next few months will be prime fishing in our reservoirs and winter means the finest upland bird hunting for quail and pheasant in the US.

Spring will bring some of our hottest fishing action and the greening of our expansive prairies – Flint, Smoky and Red Hills with a spectacular prairie flower display that changes weekly from June through September. There are terrific things to do and see all year round in Kansas!        

What makes Kansas special for you?

Astounding variety, breath-taking beauty and life-giving plants, animals, water and fine people.

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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing

July 20, 1969 was the day that a man first walked on the moon. 50 years later, the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is going all out this summer for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Through the summer

This includes showing the APOLLO 11: First Steps Edition film, watch the trailer below, an Apollo 11 scavenger hunt, a selfie station, and perhaps coolest of all — an authentic Apollo-era Mission Control back room console in the Our Universe Gallery. Designed and built by the Cosmosphere, this exhibit was funded by the NASA TEAM II Grant.

Anniversary Week 7/15 to 7/20

For anniversary week, there are loads of special events with more details here. Presentation and book signing by Rick Houston, author of the book Go, Flight! The Unsung Heroes of Mission Control on Monday.

Tuesday is the world record attempt for most rockets launched in a day, an initiative by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and in the evening, a free presentation on what it was like to be one of the 600 million people watching footage on the moon landing.

Opera Kansas will perform moon-themed songs in the Grand Lobby from 10:30 to 11am on Thursday.

And on the anniversary day itself, Saturday, July 20, at the Cosmosphere, there will be a screening of the Smithsonian documentary The Day We Walked on the Moon, 11:00 am, 1:00 and 3:00 pm docent led tours that are Apollo 11 and Apollo-era focused.

From 6 to 11:30pm on the Hutchinson Community College Lawn there will be a free “Landing on the Lawn” event with hands-on space themed activities, 1969 original moon landing footage, a screening of the Smithsonian documentary after dark.

The grand finale will be moon and planet observations through a giant 16” diameter telescope, led by Cosmosphere Space Science Educators. Learn more about the event here.

The Cosmosphere is a space museum with over 13,000 spaceflight artifacts, the world’s largest combined US and Russian collection of artifacts. It has the Apollo 13 command module, the Liberty Bell 7, the Gemini 10 space capsule, the backup of the Russian Sputnik 1, moon rock from the Apollo 11 mission, and much, much more.

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Big Kansas Road Trip – going on now! Barber, Comanche and Kiowa counties

The Kansas Sampler Festival had its last run in 2017, but to replace it is the Big Kansas Road Trip.

From May 3 to May 6 2018, in three counties: Barber, (Hardtner, Hazelton, Isabel, Kiowa, Medicine Lodge, Sharon and Sun City); Comanche (Coldwater, Protection and Wilmore) and Kiowa (Greensburg, Haviland and Mullinville), the red carpet is rolled out for visitors with events and deals at local restaurants and stores.

From the website with details on the event: WHAT IF…

…people who have never been to your towns and countryside before fall in love with what rural communities offer?

…the charm of the unexpected inspires people to get hooked on exploring all over the state?

…they are a thoughtful audience, spend money, and tell everyone about their experience?

It could all be a really good thing.
All communities have to do is be the best
they can be at being themselves.
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New at the 2017 Kansas State Fair

The state fair is in full swing, and this over 100-year-old celebration has some new things. Here are our recommendations.

Pronto Pup t-shirts

Don’t you dare call it a corn dog! The pronto pup is a fair classic and there are at least three spots around the fairgrounds to get one, but only next to the Lair White House and the arena can you get a shirt proclaiming your love of this fair food. $21 a shirt with kids and adult sizes and a few different colors.

Flippin‘ – Acrobat and aerialist show

Where last year ther was a dog show, this year there is an acrobat show. With family members starring, there is a combination of trapeze style work and impressive balance acts with a steampunk theme.

There are no nets or padded mats below the performers and it’s a great great show! Show up 20 minutes or so ahead of time to get a seat.

Free. Shows at Gottschalk Park at 11am, 1:30pm, 6:30pm

Food

There are a handful of new dishes serve up around the fairgrounds. We tried the ‘roni dog’ – a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese and bacon bits from Carousel Cafe.

One of the best things about the dish is that it’s the right size for one person. If you have a hankering for turkey leg, for example, you had better have some people to share it with since they’re so big. But the roni dog is just right.

Lair White House

Each year there is a different display at the little fair museum, and this year it’s on the special food contests from Pillsbury Pie competitions to the (in)famous SPAM contest.

To toot our own horn a bit, a lot of the SPAM items on display come from the Kansas Trail Guide family.

Free.

Escape Room

For $25, you and up to 7 friends, you get half an hour to get out of a specially designed ‘escape room.’ With hidden clues and the promise of ice cream if you figure it out in the time limit, it’s a fun challenge.

Kids 10 and under free. In front of the Encampment Building. Open 9am to 9pm.

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Eat, Play, Stay: Topeka

Topeka, along the Kansas River, has a number of great trails (including near Cedar Crest, the Governor’s Mansion), interesting history, and an active arts scene. Check out our recommendations of where to eat, what to see, and where to stay while you’re in the capital city.

Eat

Hanover Pancake House (1034 S. Kansas Ave. Open 6:30am to 3pm Sundays, 6:30am to 2:30pm Monday through Saturday).

In business since 1969, this mainstay diner style restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and it was voted Topeka’s Best Place for Breakfast in 2016.

Order up! The Burger Stand

Burger Stand (1601 SW Lane Street, College Hill. Open 11am to 10pm Sunday and 11am to 2am Monday through Saturday).

It’s impossible to pick one best burger here, but I’m a fan of the Smoke (Applewood smoked bacon, gouda cheese & chipotle-cocoa ketchup) and Black & Blue (Blue cheese & granny smith apple chutney).

The restaurant has a couple of dining areas, and they’ve got a pool table, foosball table, and pinball machines. The service was quick, and the food delicious.

Hazel Hill Chocolate (724 S. Kansas Avenue. Open 10am to 7pm. Closed Mondays).

Handmade in small batches on-site, the chocolate treats here are incredible. You can get just one, with truffles costing $2.25, or you can stock up and get them by the box.

Moburt’s (820 S. Kansas Avenue. Open 10am to 6pm. Closed Sundays).

For your own cooking, you can add the gourmet touch with an impressively large range of salts, sugars, and spices — espresso sugar, wild blueberry sugar, Hawaiian black sea salt, gingered Thai sea salt, ground Vietnamese cinnamon, pretty much anything you can think of and many you wouldn’t have thought of before. The staff are great at advising for the best pairings.

Play

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site (1515 SE Monroe Street. Open 9am to 5pm daily).

It’s a trailhead for the Landon Nature Trail, and it’s also the place to learn about the historic desegregation decision made in 1954 that helped change schools in America for the better with indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center (4400 SW 10th Ave. Closed Monday, open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, open 1pm to 5pm Sunday. Kids and adults $7.75, seniors $6.75, and under 12 months, free).

In the southwest corner of Gage Park, also home to the Topeka Zoo, is the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center filled with interactive exhibits. The outdoor classroom area has a zipline, music garden, treehouse and more. Inside, there is an art play space, puzzle garden, science gallery, and more with activities for babies, toddlers, and elementary school age kids.

NOTO Arts District (800 and 900 Block of North Kansas Avenue. Keep in mind that many of the shops are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays).

The best time to visit is for the First Friday Artwalk, but if you can’t make it then, there’s still plenty to see. A mix of artist studios, antique stores, boutiques and a handful of cafes.

See that statue on top? You can climb practically all the way to it!

Capitol Dome Tour (300 SW 10th Street. Tours are free and run Monday through Friday: 9:15, 10:15, 11:15 a.m., 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15 p.m. Saturday: 10:15, and 11:15 am., 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 pm. Keep in mind, if it’s too hot, tours will be cancelled).

296 steps and you’ll be at the top of the nation’s only state capitol dome where you can walk outside. The tour starts with checking out some of the capitol building’s many murals, and then you head behind the scenes and up, up, up.

It’s a bit intense if you’re scared of heights, but there are protective railings and a tour guide to put you at ease. And the views from the top, especially on a clear day, are impressive You can also turn back at any point. Read more about it here.

Ted Ensley Gardens (3650 SE West Edge Rd. Open 6am to 11pm).

You can boat, fish, sail, and swim at Lake Shawnee, but there’s more to the area than water activities. Along the west side of the lake are the Ted Ensley Gardens. Trails through the arboretum, a meditation garden, and over a thousand types of flowers and trees, it’s a pleasant, pretty spot.

View from a Capitol Plaza Hotel room

Stay

Capitol Plaza Hotel (1717 SW Topeka Boulevard. Rooms from $109).

Next to the Kansas Expocentre, the Capitol Plaza Hotel is a great place to stay. It’s pet-friendly and non-smoking complete with an indoor pool, hot tub whirlpool, and exercise room.

You get free WiFi throughout the hotel, and there are two restaurants — the Falling Water Grille and Water’s Edge Lounge.

There’s plenty of parking, the beds are comfy, and I must admit that even as an adult, I’m always a fan of glass elevators — this one overlooks the garden atrium.

Part of the Great Mural Wall of Topeka near the Capitol Plaza Hotel in summer 2016

It’s also a few minutes walk from the Great Wall of Topeka-Mural along SW Western.

Ramada Inn Downtown (420 SE 6th Avenue. Rooms from $84).

If you want to easily access history, stay at the Ramada Inn Downtown as it has the in-house Holley Museum of Military History. Along with this unexpected amenity, the hotel has three restaurants: Madison Street Diner, Maddie’s Cocktail Lounge, and Uncle Bo’s Bar, which has live bands every Friday and Saturday night.

Along with the seasonal outdoor pool, there’s an indoor pool and hot tub. Each room has a microwave and mini-fridge, and they have a free hot and tasty breakfast. You get free WiFi, and in the fitness center, you can take a yoga class.

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What’s so special about Kansas: Interview with First Lady Mary Brownback of Kansas

We were honored to be invited to a reception at Cedar Crest Mansion in Topeka for the Kansas Book Festival this past September, and we were able to chat with First Lady Mary Brownback of Kansas. We reached out to her again recently to get her thoughts on what’s so special about the Sunflower State, and here’s what we found out!

Cedar Crest Mansion. Photo by Mark Conard

Cedar Crest has many trails close by – it’s particularly unique to have public trails so close to a governor’s mansion – what value do you feel public trails and public lands have in Kansas?

These public trails and lands give so many of our residents the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature, to see and experience so many new things.

I think about people living in large, metropolitan areas and, not that there aren’t opportunities for those people to enjoy the great outdoors, but it seems the opportunities are fewer and farther between.

Do you see a lot of trail users at MacLennan Park and Cedar Crest?

Every single day. Regardless of weather, there are plenty of people who will bring their dogs for walks on the trail. When the weather is nice though, the trails are full of walkers, runners, bikers and hikers, alike. There are many who come to fish at the ponds, as well.

What are some of the biggest Kansas misconceptions you think people have?

I think two of the biggest misconceptions about Kansas are that Kansas is flat and that there’s nothing to see or do here.

View from MacLennan Park. Photo by Jonathan Conard

Out of staters often think of Kansas as “flyover country” – what would you say to change their minds?

If they’re only flying over Kansas, they’re sure missing out on a lot. The Flint Hills are absolutely beautiful, the college and university campuses are wonderful and, in my travels across the state, I’ve seen some of the most unique main streets with artisan shops and local flair.

When you think of Kansas, what’s the image that comes to mind?

Without a doubt, I picture “home.” This is the state where I grew up, where I live among some of the friendliest people in the world. It’s where I’ve put down roots with my own family and raised my children. There’s no place I’d rather be.

For someone who’s never been to Kansas, do you have any recommendations for where to go or what to see?

There are so many great places to take a first-time visitor to our State. A walk around the campus of the University of Kansas (my alma mater!), the Flint Hills, the Kansas Cosmosphere and the salt mines in Hutchinson all immediately come to mind.

But there’s also the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield. So many great attractions that make Kansas such a special place.

At the Kansas Book Festival with Mary Brownback.

For someone who grew up in Kansas and feels like they’ve seen everything there, do you have any recommendations for where to go or what to see?

Many of my answers for this question could overlap with the question above. If you’ve grown up in Kansas, you’ve surely had a tour of the State Capitol. But with the recent renovations, that is definitely a site that you’ll want to plan to visit again; it’s absolutely beautiful.

If you’ve never been to Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita or the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure in Salina, those are a couple of the more unique zoo experiences that you’ll find in this area.

Finally, most Kansans get a good laugh out of the fact that we’re home to several “world’s largest” sites but if you haven’t seen it before, the world’s largest hand dug well in Greensburg really is quite the sight.

What makes Kansas special for you?

Many of my fondest memories have taken place in Kansas. Having spent the majority of my life here, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. This is home.

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Don’t miss the sandhill crane migration at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Sunset at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mark Conard

Sunset at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Mark Conard

From around Valentine’s Day to April Fool’s Day – the cranes come through Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

Recent sightings at the refuge have included sandhill cranes in the thousands on the west side of Big Salt Marsh.

Kansas is a part of the “central flyway” – a migratory route for a variety of birds between Canada and Central America and the marshes and wetlands of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge provide an ideal resting and refueling spot.

Sandhill cranes in flight

Some crane facts

Sandhill cranes are passing through Kansas on their way north to breed from their southern wintering locales.  The birds, which can be 3-4 feet tall, gather in large groups during migration — strength in numbers.

At night, the waters and marshes are an ideal resting spot as any predator coming upon them will disturb the water, notifying the cranes that danger is near.

If you see two flying together, it’s likely a mated pair. If it’s three together, it’s likely to be a family group — juvenile cranes will stick with Mom and Dad for the first 10 months or so.

They can be noisy birds with distinct calls — rattling bugling type sounds that can be heard up to a mile away. Click to listen to them here.

They mate for life, which can be 20 years. Mate selection happens after courtship in the form of dancing — leaping, bobbing their heads, displaying their wings. One example is a male will fling a piece of grass or vegetation into the air as if to say “Look at me, choose me, I can build a good nest.”

They also have distinct “displays” and you can tell from their body language what they’re trying to say. Bowing, stretching their necks, jumping – each display communicates something unique.

Stop by Quivira National Wildlife Refuge — the Big Salt Marsh is one of the best places to see the cranes. It’s open daily from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset.

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Kansas Day is on its way

Kansas was founded on January 29, 1861. It was the 34th state to join the Union, and it joined the Union as a free state. Slave owning was not acceptable in Kansas when it joined the Union. While not disparaging other states, the pride of always having been a state where all men and women are created equal can’t be denied. Kansas joined the Union as a free state, and it fought ferociously to defend that. Including one of the first battles of the Civil War – at Black Jack Battlefield. In trying times, it is reassuring to know that Kansas’s history shows it as a freedom loving state.