What to do and see in Kansas, Kansas: The Best Free Things to do

January 1, 2022 Janean Rudisill

See a buffalo up close, live like a cowboy for a day on a working cattle ranch or visit a stagecoach stop on the Sante Fe Trail are just a few of the many vacation experiences possible in this state in America’s heartland. You’ll love the wide-open spaces and the opportunities to engage in a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences in this marvelous state, which has the largest segment of true tallgrass prairie remaining in the U.S. Regardless of where you visit: a major metropolitan area like Kansas City, a college town like Manhattan or Lawrence or engaging places like Wichita, Dodge City and Salina, there are a wide array of attractions and sights nearby. If you want to familiarize yourself with cowboy culture, visit the Boot Hills Museum in Dodge City, dine on all-you-can-eat barbeque and hear songs of the American Cowboy at Diamond W Chuckwagon Supper in Wichita or explore the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene, which has dance halls, gaming rooms and 32 saloons. For outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching and other activities, three of the state’s most popular parks are: Cheney State Park near Wichita; Scott State Park near Scott City and Tuttle Creek State Park near Manhattan.
Restaurants in Kansas

1. Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

McDowell Creek Road 5 miles northeast of I-70, Junction City, KS 66502 +1 785-587-0441 http://kpbs.konza.k-state.edu
Excellent
86%
Good
13%
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1%
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5.0 based on 84 reviews

Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

Reviewed By gr8chief - Saint Marys, United States

Great place to visit several times throughout the year. This is very peaceful area and would give one an idea of the early settlers being out in the middle on nowhere.

2. Booth Family Hall of Athletics

1651 Naismith Dr Allen Fieldhouse‎, Lawrence, KS 66045-4069 +1 785-864-7050 http://www.kuathletics.com/facilities/kan-booth-hall.html
Excellent
86%
Good
11%
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3%
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5.0 based on 106 reviews

Booth Family Hall of Athletics

Reviewed By R9368JBdavidw - Tulsa, United States

It's a must see for Fans of KU Athletics. The Booth Family Hall of Athletics is an exceptional Shrine to KU Athletics and is located on the eastern section of the historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse on the KU Campus. There are many, many display cases filled with memorabilia, photos, and hanging displays that pays homage to the great and storied athletic traditions and major successes that is the University of Kansas. Seeing the KU Basketball National Championship trophies is great as are the stories and history displayed telling about those championships, as well as Olympic World Championships won by KU in basketball, track and field athletes throughout the years. KU Athletes and teams in a myriad of sports and their major successes are also on display. The 2008 Orange Bowl Championship trophy in football is one of my favorites! Seeing the story of one of the greatest milers of all time, Jim Ryun is a must see too. Another of my favorites is the story of Dr James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, bringing the game to KU and being it's first coach, as well as the exploits of his teams, and how he and Phog Allen made KU the dominant power of jntercollegiate basketball in the US, and how their accomplishments have kept KU as a true blue blood even in today's game! The Booth Family Hall of Athletics is very well done. If you want to see the actual and "original" handwritten rules of basketball by Dr. Naismith...they are literally about 100 feet North of the Booth Hall, in a building (attached to Phog Allen Fieldhouse) called the De Bruce Center. You can see and read the rules as well as listen to Dr Naismith give an early radio interview about basketball. The recording is the only known voice recording of Dr. Naismith!

3. Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa

9053 Monticello Rd, Lenexa, KS 66220 +1 913-477-7500 https://www.facebook.com/LakeLenexaBlackHoofPark/
Excellent
88%
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9%
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5.0 based on 32 reviews

Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa

Reviewed By D2567BYkellyb - Lenexa, United States

This park is very close to where I live so I walk there on a regular basis. It’s always fun to see the kids playing on the swings . There is a ramp for small fishing boats and there are always people fishing from the banks also. There is also a shelter for celebrations and parties .

4. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

1515 SE Monroe St, Topeka, KS 66612-1143 +1 785-354-4273 [email protected] http://www.nps.gov/brvb
Excellent
65%
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27%
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4.5 based on 323 reviews

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

The Monroe Elementary School, one of the segregated schools involved in the 1954 Supreme Court decision aimed at ending segregation in public schools, is now a National Historic Site commemorating this landmark ruling.

Reviewed By JennCMorris - Kingwood, United States

It was easy to get to. It was closed when we got her. There are signs ALL over to give you history and information. It is a beautiful building and we loved seeing history. It is in an neighborhood left very unsafe. We LOVED the mural across the street.

5. Arkansas River Trail

Wichita, KS
Excellent
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4.5 based on 102 reviews

Arkansas River Trail

Reviewed By jbjclass - Wichita, United States

This is a very peaceful and beautiful place to walk along the river. You can walk for a few miles, so you pass different parts of Wichita, like the Keeper of the Plains, Exploration Place, some fancy apartments and hotels, and on and on. It's very well maintained, and there's quite a bit of parking. It connects to other walking/biking trails, so we started keeping a map of everywhere we've walked, and it's fun to see how they go together. The Veterans' Memorial Park (right off the trail) is also very nice and worth visiting.

6. Kansas State Capitol Building

10th and Jackson, Topeka, KS 66612 +1 785-296-3966 http://www.kshs.org/capitol
Excellent
76%
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4.5 based on 560 reviews

Kansas State Capitol Building

Built in 1866, the Capitol building contains magnificent artwork, including murals by native-born artist John Steuart Curry, ornate architectural features and elaborate Senate and House Chambers.

Reviewed By newengland50 - Franklin, United States

The State Capitol Building was fully renovated and it's a great and beautiful place to visit. One tour is a walking tour of the building. The guide was knowledgeable about the building's history. It was an informative and enjoyable tour. The second tour was a bit more adventuresome and fewer people took it. It included climbing stair to reach higher into the building and to see more of its structure. Then, we reached a point where some people decided not to go further. We climbed steel stairs that rose high above the interior dome (see photo). If you fear heights, the second portion of this tour is definitely not for you. Next, we reached the top of the building and had an opportunity to go outside (it's safe) and see a high, panoramic view. It was spectacular and worth the climb. Both tours are free. There is also a nice little store.

7. Gage Park

635 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66606-2079 +1 785-251-2600 http://parks.snco.us/index.aspx
Excellent
60%
Good
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4.5 based on 247 reviews

Gage Park

Reviewed By bghjwp - Topeka, United States

With a community theater, a small zoo, a swimming pool, the kids' train and lots of playground equipment, Gage park is an ideal place to spend a day with the kids.The fishing pond, so many trees and the amazing rose garden provide a beautiful and tranquil setting. The Discovery Center is located there too! The City really needs to resurface the tennis courts, however. They are so torn up it has become almost impossible to play on them.

8. Spencer Museum of Art

1301 Mississippi St, Lawrence, KS 66045-7595 +1 785-864-4710 http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/
Excellent
50%
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7%
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4.5 based on 74 reviews

Spencer Museum of Art

Reviewed By 497claudettej

The Spencer Museum of Art, located on the KU Campus, is a small but well curated art museum that has a good permanent collection combined with ever-changing selections. Parking at the KU Student Union lot across the street is convenient.

9. Massachusetts Street

Lawrence, KS +1 785-865-5000 http://www.chaneyrealty.com/0/Home
Excellent
72%
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4.5 based on 471 reviews

Massachusetts Street

Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States

Massachusetts Street is basically the Downtown in Lawrence. It is a lively and beautiful street teeming with a variety of retail businesses. In fact, there are two brewery restaurants well worth the visit. Just one block west is the wonderful library, a modern architectural design not to be missed. Then there is the South Park, a beautiful community park with a lovely garden. The Kansas River Levee trail is not too far from Massachusetts; it is a nice place to walk and enjoy the expansive views of the river if it is not a hot day. All in all, Massachusetts Street is an enjoyable downtown area for leisurely walk, shopping and food.

10. The Legends at Village West

1843 Village West Pkwy Ste 127, Kansas City, KS 66111-1854 +1 913-788-3700 http://www.legendsshopping.com/
Excellent
58%
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4.5 based on 313 reviews

The Legends at Village West

Large retail, lodging and entertainment complex features a wide range of tourist venues including Cabela's, Nebraska Furniture Mart, The Great Wolf Lodge and the Community America Ballpark.

Reviewed By amazeh2016

The Legends in Kansas City, Kansas provides a complete travel experience. You will find Affordable lodging in fabulous hotels. Wonderful shopping in your favorite outlet stores, and excellent restaurant choices to satisfy everyone’s dining needs! The AMC Movie Theater had wonderful comfortable lounge seating as well as great food to enjoy during the show! A perfect end to our day!

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