Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for kansas
Chalk Pyramids in Kansas
By Linda Tancs
The first landmark in Kansas chosen by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark, Monument Rocks are a series of large chalk formations in Gove County, Kansas. Voted one of the eight wonders of Kansas, these natural formations were created during the Late Cretaceous Period of geologic history and are rich in fossils. About 20 miles south of Oakley, they rise up to 50 feet above ground and descend 300 feet below. Note that this natural wonder is located on private property made accessible to the public.
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Prairie Style in Wichita
By Linda Tancs
The last of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses, Allen House was commissioned by newspaper publisher Henry J. Allen and his wife for their home in Wichita, Kansas. Wright designed the house while working on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, explaining the home’s Japanese aesthetic. Featuring more than 30 pieces of Wright-designed furniture, the interior also boasts art glass windows, bookcase doors and masonry wall joints covered in gold leaf. Reservations are required for a visit, which is led by a docent.
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The Search for Gold in Kansas
By Linda Tancs
Built in the 1930s and resembling an old stone fortification, Coronado Heights Castle in Lindsborg, Kansas, marks the spot where a conquistador allegedly gave up his search for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Specifically, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is believed to have visited what is now the Kansas wilderness in the 1540s during his hunt for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Like other explorers, he was unsuccessful in his mission and returned to his native land. Today the site is a favorite for picnicking, flying kites, hiking or riding the off-road bike trails.
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A Giant Easel in Kansas
By Linda Tancs
A big piece of art is blooming in Goodland, Kansas. That’s where you’ll find “the world’s largest painting on an easel,” a reproduction of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase. The 24 foot by 32-foot canvas stands on a steel easel that is 80 feet tall. The site, on Cherry Avenue, was chosen due to its connection to sunflower agriculture.
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The Little Apple
By Linda Tancs
Nestled in the heart of the scenic Flint Hills, Manhattan, Kansas, is probably best known as the home of Kansas State University. Given its name, it should come as no surprise that it’s nicknamed “The Little Apple” as a play on New York City. Like its eastern sister, you’ll find great dining, shopping and outdoor activities. Just outside the city is Konza Prairie scenic overlook, where reportedly you’ll find some of the most picturesque Kansas sunsets. Hike the trails and learn about the endangered tallgrass ecosystem.
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Greyhound Capital of the World
By Linda Tancs
Abilene, Kansas, is the heart of the greyhound industry in the United States, earning for itself the moniker “Greyhound Capital of the World.” The history of the world’s fastest canine is presented at the Greyhound Hall of Fame, where you’ll find displays of greyhounds from ancient times to the present as well as information on handlers who shaped the industry. The museum’s official greeters are two retired racers, whose only interest is in chasing after your affection. Admission is free.
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Prairie Dog Town
By Linda Tancs
The first state park in Kansas, Kanopolis State Park is situated in the scenic Smoky Hills region of the state. In addition to sandstone canyons, you’ll find Prairie Dog Town. Prairie dogs were transplanted into the area after flooding in 1993 forced them from their prior home; wildlife viewing opportunities abound. The park is located on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway northwest of Marquette along K-141.
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A Ball of Twine in Kansas
By Linda Tancs
Cawker City, Kansas, is a quintessential small town at just one square mile and less than 1,000 residents. That might sound a bit sleepy, but as the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s because the unassuming little town lays claim to hosting the world’s largest ball of twine. As recently as 2018, the ball weighed in at 20,511 pounds! It’s composed of sisal twine, a thread made from the fibrous agave plant, typically used to keep small bales of hay together. That’s the use to which local farmer Frank Stoeber put it. He started rolling his abundance of excess twine in 1953. By 1961, his ball had become a local tourist attraction. It’s been added to continuously—first by Frank, then his neighbors, and ultimately, by visitors who are provided pre-measured and weighed twine. That tradition continues to this day, especially during Twine-a-Thon, a festival on the third weekend each August. You’ll find the ball as you enter Cawker City from U.S. Highway 24.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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The Center of the USA
By Linda Tancs
The geographic center of the contiguous United States is the point where a plane map of the 48 contiguous states would balance if it were of uniform thickness. That point has been officially established by the U.S. Geological Survey nearest the town of Lebanon, Kansas. This arguably obscure fact is commemorated by a stone monument at the end of Kansas Highway 191. The actual center is about a half mile away in the middle of a former hog farm. Another more colorful marker is a few miles away on U.S. Highway 36. At least this community can boast that it is, quite literally, at the center of it all.
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A Medicine Magnate’s Mansion
By Linda Tancs
Dr. A. B. Seelye made his fortune concocting patent medicines, compounds marketed under colorful names in the 18th and 19th centuries as cures for various ailments. His success bought him a stunning 25-room Georgian mansion in Abilene, Kansas. One of the finest historic homes in the state, the Seelye Mansion boasts among its charms a Tiffany-designed fireplace, original Edison light fixtures, gold-laden French furniture and a bowling alley purchased at the 1904 World’s Fair held in St. Louis, Missouri. You can tour the patent medicine museum at the rear of the house.
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