Here’s why you could love South Central Kansas!

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Love South Central Kansas, and you’ll learn that it’s much more than dusty, flat plains! We spent five days touring the area in and around Wichita. Our tourism experiences allowed us to write about all the places we visited. Helping you plan your trip became our goal. The eastern part of our exploration fell in the Flint Hills area. It’s still the Great Plains but picturesque, with hills, forests, rivers, and farmland between the terrain.

Further west, Kansas becomes flatter and more agricultural. Kind of. In the far west, you’ll see more rock formations like Little Jerusalem State Park (A badland area. And Monument Rocks.) An unsurprising place is a sunflower maze. A surprising place is a salt mine about 650 feet underground! Follow me, and we’ll move along to the areas visited. Maybe you’ll grow to love South Central Kansas.

The map shows the area we visited during the trip. Everyone had a great time as we toured. Initially, it’s Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, then primarily small towns. The largest city on our route after Wichita is Hutchinson. It’s known as “Salt City,” but more about that coming up. And all the other places are on the map above. The trip takes north as far as I-70 and south to about 15 miles from Oklahoma. Visit here and you’ll grow to Love S. Central Kansas.

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Wichita

We began our group tour in Wichita and took a large loop visiting small towns, state parks and other attractions. Initially, we visited Hutchison for a salt mine tour and a Cosmosphere. We continued toward the east into the Flint Hills and south to Winfield near the Oklahoma border.

While reading about travel, you may be considering “I need a better back pack!” Or other gear if you are a biker! Here’s the link to Viking Bags.

Doo-Dah Diner

Let’s start our tour at the Doo-Dah Diner. The name comes from another nickname for Wichita. It has an unknown origin but may come from the laid-back, whimsical attitude felt by some visitors to the city. Regarding the diner, the food was tasty, savory, delectable, delicious, and mouth-watering! (I swallowed a thesaurus!) A good place to start the afternoon as we toured Wichita! Here’s a link to the Doo Dah Diner. Be sure to visit for the food!

Exploration Place

Love South Central Kansas - model about this part of Kansas!

The Exploration Place provides a fun learning environment for kids and plenty of things for everyone. Our initial tour covered the children’s area.

Here’s the link to the post with more about Exploration Place.

  Want to see a shop for my road trip photos? You can have them printed as wall art or puzzles. They also work on coffee mugs, t-shirts and more! So, take a look. Maybe you'll see something you will like!

Keeper of the Plains

Wichita built an impressive steel sculpture at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. The 44-foot-tall monument pays homage to the Wichitan native tribe. The land between the two rivers is sacred ground to the Native people.

Originally dedicated in 1974 to celebrate the US Bicentennial, the sculpture and the area received a significant upgrade to create a Keeper of the Plains Plaza. The renovations led to a 2007 dedication. The area also includes the Mid-America All-Indian Museum. The refurbishing included a 30-foot increase in the base of the sculpture. The Keeper of the Plains now commands an even larger view of the area.

Check out the link to Keeper of the Plains here.

Be sure to visit at night if you can. Find out when they light the Ring of Fire around the base of the Keeper. Here’s the link to the Keeper website.

Hotel at Old Town

Want a “historic experience?” Stay at the historic Hotel @ Old Town. It opened in 1906 and recently underwent a refurbishing, keeping as much of the original feel as possible in today’s world while still being comfortable and enticing for guests. I’ve included pictures of the impressive lobby. If you need a break while visiting, take some time to relax here. Check out the hotel’s website.

Here’s a room, already looking “lived in!”

The Hotel at Old Town is an excellent place to lay your head, especially if you want to visit the Old Town of Wichita.

They provide a lobby lounge, a breakfast buffet, and a range of snacks when dinner needs to be followed up!

Dinner at Public at Brickyard

A group of us visited here in 2023 on another trip. Let’s take a look.

It’s in the lower level of an Old Town building. When you’re here, everything is good! Notice the old brick streets. And it’s only a few blocks from the historic Hotel at Old Town.

Let’s look at another course for our meal—another appetizer, scrumptious like all the food we ate. Then, there’s another dining room/special event room. Again, a great place to eat.

Homegrown – For Breakfast

Okay, after a good night’s sleep at the Hotel @ Old Town, we’re off for breakfast to start our day. By the way, the name contains “and” not “@.” I’m just updating it to use current naming habits! Sorry, Hotel!

The inviting Naftzger Park in Wichita borders HomeGrown. It’s downtown Wichita, and it appears that you just want to lie down or roll in the grass. It’s a small park but a welcome addition to any downtown area!

All enjoyed the distinctive breakfast. HomeGrown focuses on breakfast and serves lunch with the same zeal! While in Wichita, be sure to consider this for breakfast or lunch.

HomeGrown started in Wichita in 2017, and its focus on locally sourced ingredients and superior service became an overnight sensation. Currently, they have three locations in the Wichita area, four in the Kansas City area, and two more each in Iowa and Arkansas. Another one opens soon in Nebraska, giving them a presence in five states! Where will they appear next?

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Tanganyika Wildlife park near Wichita. Watch the sloth "zoom" around!
Look at the sloth zooming around!

The sloth is one of the slowest-moving animals in the world. At its “full speed,” it travels about one foot per minute—at that rate, traveling a mile takes 88 hours! Compared to many animals, it doesn’t even look like it’s moving.

I found this in a Microsoft screen saver. The credits said I could use it. Although I mainly take my photos, this one appears just as I write about sloths!

The caption calls it a “smiling sloth!”

As you travel around S. Central Kansas, stop at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park. You’ll see a variety of animals from all over the world. Learn more here… Here’s the link.

Kansas Maze – Sunflowers

As we continued our day, we stopped at the Kansas Sunflower Maze. Although the season was already over, we viewed the sunflowers and part of the maze. During their short season, they have many events here. Here’s a link to the Sunflower Maze.

Notice the piano at the edge of the field. Looks like they find many props to spice up their events.

Note: When planning a trip like this, it’s impossible to schedule all the people and events that will happen during the visit. You’ll very often find something closed or out of season.

Carriage Crossing

We stopped at Carriage Crossing for lunch and/or a snack. Unfortunately, the only usable image I have is to the left. (Sorry!)

Here’s a link to the business.

Wait a minute, don’t penalize them because I don’t have another image to post!

It’s in Yoder, Kansas, an Amish community, the largest such community in Kansas.

Hutchinson

In addition to Strataca and the Cosmosphere, Hutchinson regularly hosts the Kansas State Fair, the National Junior College Men’s Basketball tournament, and state high school tournaments. The Hutchinson Community College provides local higher education to the area.

Since 2013, they’ve hosted a national comic-book convention called Smallville Con. The name honors Superman’s fictional hometown in Kansas.

Here’s the link to events in #visithutch.

Strataca – The Salt Mine & More

You can visit a fascinating museum and see part of a working salt mine, which has been “in business” since 1923.

The Museum’s roots date back to 1959. Find out why Hutchinson is nicknamed “Salt City.” Link in the next paragraph!

Be sure to visit (link here) when traveling in the area. Hutchinson is a small city worth visiting because of its business and entertainment options. And here’s one of them!

Cosmosphere in Hutchinson KS

Hutchinson has a salt mine museum and a space museum. How do they fit together? Probably not, but both ended up here!

Patty Carey, founder of Cosmosphere and president of the Hutchinson Arts and Science Foundation, loved astronomy. She felt everyone should have a chance to better understand the sky above them and the Earth they lived on. One way salt and space relate to each other is that Patty Carey was married to Howard J. Carey of the salt company.

She used her influence and rallied the community to support a planetarium. Developed on a shoestring budget, the planetarium became part of Hutchinson Community College. It was the first junior college in America to have a planetarium.

Check out more about the Cosmosphere in this link to “Their Story!”

Cosmosphere worked with space-affiliated organizations to obtain space vehicles. All the displayed items are either an actual flown artifact, a “flight-ready backup,” an engineering model, or a historically accurate replica.

Visit Cosmosphere, and the staff will tell you about each exhibit. That’s part of the experience; the excellent team will give you background on all the exhibits.

Again, all of these will be explained by the excellent staff.

Ellinwood

Moving right along, we made it to Ellinwood, a small town of about 2,000 people. We visited Ellinwood Underground, spent the night at the historic Wolf Hotel, and had dinner there.

Historic Wolf Hotel

We had dinner together as a group. It was a delicious dinner, served family style. On a trip like this, sometimes it’s like drinking from a firehose! But we tried to savor every part of it and look back with fond memories. Following dinner, we visited Ellinwood Underground. But first, let’s look at the hotel.

The hotel was small, and there wasn’t room for all of us. Three of the group stayed here, and the remaining three stayed in an “annex,” like a Bed and Breakfast. It was a bed and breakfast, but we didn’t have breakfast there.

Back to the hotel: It is historic and has a story. Over the years, it transitioned from a home to a bank, to other retail types, and, eventually, to a hotel. When you visit there, ask about the hotel’s history, and they will tell you what happened to the bankers.

Since I stayed here, I can’t speak to staying at the Historic Wolf Hotel. Stories continue to circulate that it’s haunted, but not this place, apparently.

The house is obviously old but very well maintained. The first-floor rooms are inviting. You’d likely find it worth relaxing in the living room before bedtime.

Ellinwood Underground

Ellinwood is a Swedish settlement. Those immigrants dug tunnels underground as they did in Sweden. Most of them are now gone, filled in for safety’s sake. A resident saved one with tireless fundraising and lobbying the city to allow it to stay.

The barber’s business included providing baths for customers and pulling teeth! The approach started because customers like to talk about many subjects. Some might include needing to clean up or a tooth bothering them!

Bathing had two costs: one for using existing water from another bath and a higher price if you wanted fresh water!

Another part of the underground was under the hotel. Here are a few more images. Again, the light is poor.

Here are pictures of a dining room. It’s reputed to be haunted! People have taken similar pictures and reported they saw images that weren’t there when they took the photo. The closed sign represents the Prohibition Era.

Rambling: The Prohibition Era began in 1920 with the enactment of a constitutional amendment banning the production, sale, and possession of alcoholic drinks. Finally, in 1933, another amendment canceling the prohibition amendment got the drinks flowing legally again. A lesson in civics: constitutional amendments can only be changed with another amendment.

Gather (for breakfast)

We were preparing for our next adventure but needed breakfast before leaving.

Gather (restaurant name) is next door to the Historic Wolf Hotel. We had an energy-infusing breakfast, and it was good! But now it’s time to move on to the day.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center

Fort Hays State University operates the Kansas Wetlands Education Center.

Below is a map of the area. It’s in the northwest corner of South Central Kansas.

Here’s the link to a post about Kansas Wetlands Education Center.

Here’s a map to show the location of Cheyenne Bottoms. We are near I-70, about 30 miles south of that highway. It’s the westernmost point we visit.

Look here for the link to the more detailed post about Kansas Wetlands Education Center.

Mushroom State Park

Mushroom state park - more reason to Love South Central Kansas
One of the formations in the park

You’ll find mushroom-shaped rocks spread around the five acres of this park. If you happened across the park on KS-141, you’d be surprised (unless you were looking for the park 🥴) because it’s just “there” all of a sudden!

Here’s the link to learn more about the Mushrooms!

City Sundries in Marquette

After our earlier adventures (see above) we stopped for lunch at City Sundries in Marquette, Kansas.

🍦 Step Back in Time at City Sundries: Marquette’s Sweet Spot! 🕰️

Nestled in the heart of Marquette, Kansas, City Sundries is more than just an ice cream parlor – it’s a portal to the past! 🚪✨ (Does suddenly adding emojis give you whiplash?)

This charming establishment, housed in a beautifully restored 1900s building, offers visitors a taste of nostalgia along with its delicious treats. As you step through the door, you’re greeted by the familiar jingle of an old-fashioned bell, transporting you to a simpler time. 🔔

It’s much like the old “General Store” that graced the downtowns of many small towns!

What makes City Sundries special? 🍨 Homemade ice cream in unique, locally-inspired flavors 🥤 Classic phosphate sodas mixed at an authentic soda fountain 🍔 Mouthwatering burgers and sandwiches for lunch 🛍️ Vintage candies and souvenirs to take home

But it’s not just about the food! The ambiance is what truly sets City Sundries apart: 📻 Retro tunes playing softly in the background 🪑 Original wooden booths and counter seating 🖼️ Walls adorned with local historical photographs.

City Sundries is a must-visit destination whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just looking for a cool treat on a hot Kansas day. It’s the perfect spot to create new memories while surrounded by echoes of the past.

So, next time you’re cruising through central Kansas…

Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail

Discover the Wild Beauty of Kanopolis State Park: Buffalo Track Canyon Trail 🦬
(I thought I’d throw in some emojis in this section!)

We are calling all nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers! If you’re looking for a hiking experience that combines stunning scenery with a touch of Kansas history, look no further than the Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail in Kanopolis State Park.

This 1.5-mile loop trail offers breathtaking views of rugged canyons, diverse prairie flora and fauna, excellent birdwatching opportunities, and exciting rock formations to explore.

As you trek along the path, imagine the thundering hooves of buffalo that once roamed these lands. The trail’s name isn’t just for show – you might spot actual buffalo tracks preserved in the sandstone!

Highlights include: (Just for variety, including some emojis!)
🌊 Scenic overlooks of Kanopolis Lake
🌸 Vibrant wildflowers in spring and summer
🍁 Spectacular fall foliage
🏜️ Unique Dakota sandstone formations

Remember to bring:
🧴 Sunscreen
💧 Plenty of water
📸 A camera for those Instagram-worthy shots

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a casual nature lover, the Buffalo Track Canyon Trail offers an unforgettable journey through Kansas’ natural wonders. Happy hiking! 🌄🚶‍♀️

Lindsborg Kansas

Lindsborg is a beautiful small town. The residents are very proud of their Swedish heritage. For more about the city, follow up here with the linked post.

Drom Sott Inn

Drom Sott Inn

We stayed here for our night in Lindsborg. I, apparently, didn’t save the pictures I had to show more about the Inn. Sorry. It’s a wonderful place with large, well-kept rooms and a delicious breakfast the following day, including Swedish items. Their Swedish pancakes are very thin (almost delicate?) and “to die for!”

Bella Sol Bistro

We had dinner next door to the hotel. The meal was delicious, and the tourism team in town joined us. We had a good conversation about our plans to visit Coronado Heights for the sunset! (Among other topics, of course!)

Coronado Heights Sunset

Evening time, enjoying the great weather and meeting the local team.

Check out the post, which includes more information and representative pictures from Coronado Heights.

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Visit the Bison!

🦬 Discover the Wild Heart of Kansas: Maxwell Wildlife Refuge 🌾

Step into a living time capsule at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, where the spirit of the untamed prairie still roams free. This 2,254-acre sanctuary offers visitors a rare glimpse into Kansas’ natural heritage, showcasing bison herds, elegant elk, diverse prairie ecosystems, and rich birdwatching opportunities.

As you’ll see (click here) more about the bison! Here’s a link to the park’s website.

Jacalito Mexican Restaurant

We had lunch before moving on to our next adventure. The food was awesome! Here’s a link to their website.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Tall Grass preserve - Love South Central Kansas

The Tallgrass National Prairie Preserve is located near Cottonwood Falls and Strong City. Only four percent of the original tallgrass prairies in the American West remain, much of which is in Kansas. The Preserve represents that land and is actively addressed here. Follow here for more information about the Preserve.

Cottonwood Falls & Strong City

Cottonwood Falls and Strong City are a mile apart. A sidewalk covers the distance between them. Here’s a link to a page about the two small towns.

Strong City, which has a population of about 425, is home to the Flint Hills Rodeo, held annually on Memorial Day weekend.

Despite their small populations, both towns thrive and attract visitors. Their location on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway contributes to their thriving as stable Kansas small towns.

We had time to walk around town alone for a couple of hours. Across the street from the hotel was the Flint Hills Gallery.

Love South Central Kansas

Chase County Courthouse

Cottonwood Falls, the county seat of Chase County, has the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas. It’s an attraction visited by many. The courthouse is open for self-guided tours during business hours. It’s now on the National Registry of Historic Places and the Kansas Historical Site Registry. The city has a current population of about 850.

Here’s a link to the county website. Above are a couple of pictures from the courthouse. The courtroom is in use now. The jail is not! In the early years, the county included a jail to have prisoners near the court and make it easy for the Sheriff’s family to provide food for them! (The person in the jail cell was one of our group since it isn’t used for prisoners!)

Grand Central Hotel & Grille

The hotel is historic!

The hotel opened as the Central House and became The American and The Cottonwood Falls Hotel. It formally reopened on November 17, 1995, as The Grand Central Hotel and Grill. 

This historic gem, initially built in 1884 and always a hotel, has been lovingly restored to its former glory, offering guests a unique blend of 19th-century ambiance and modern comfort. Situated in the heart of the Flint Hills, the hotel is the perfect base for exploring the region’s stunning tallgrass prairie landscapes and rich cowboy culture. With its elegant Victorian architecture and period-appropriate decor, The Grand Central Hotel transports visitors to a bygone era while providing all the amenities expected by today’s discerning travelers.

Grand Central in Cottonwood Falls

The Grand Central Hotel isn’t just a place to rest your head; it’s a destination. Each of the hotel’s ten rooms is individually decorated with antique furnishings and local artwork, giving guests a taste of Kansas hospitality. The on-site restaurant, known for its farm-to-table cuisine, offers a delightful culinary journey through local flavors. Whether you’re in town for the annual Flint Hills Rodeo, exploring the nearby Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, The Grand Central Hotel provides an unforgettable stay. With its warm hospitality, rich history, and prime location, it’s no wonder this charming hotel has become a beloved landmark for locals and visitors alike.

After the day, getting a good night’s sleep and moving on!

Another Adventure

We made it to another day! These adventures were our last full day, so we focused on enjoying the day before we went our separate ways. We stopped at several places while going to our destination for the day. In this case, we went south and ended up in Winfield, KS, near the Oklahoma border.

Chef Stan’s Place

On our way out of town before the day’s adventures, we had brunch at Chef Stan’s Place in Strong City. Check out their Facebook page for open times. Currently, serving brunch. They prefer that you have a reservation, or they may be unable to accommodate you. (Yes, they are that popular!) Here’s a link to their Facebook page.

Here are a few photos for “your viewing pleasure!”

Lazy Moon Ranch

Want to see a unique ranch/farm? Pay a visit to the Lazy Moon Ranch to “scratch that itch!” You’ll have fun, both adults and kids. You’ll find quirky attractions, animals (visitors can feed some of them), and painting lessons! Here’s the link to their website.

Here’s our team’s work. (There was more to see, but you get the idea!)

Wonder around the farm, and you’ll see more sights like this. Walking around was fun! Just stop by on your way to other places.

Here’s some information about the farm from the owners.

“We are a small family-operated hobby farm in Butler County, Kansas, just 15 miles east of Wichita. Our farm is home to a delightful menagerie that includes Alpacas, Miniature Donkeys, and Dwarf Nigerian Goats—and that’s just a few of our furry friends!”

“Here at our farm, we’re absolutely head over heels for our animals, and we get a real kick out of showing them off to visitors. Over the years, we’ve crafted a truly unique and quirky farm experience that we’re thrilled to share with anyone who stops by.”

“Whether you’re an animal lover, a farm enthusiast, or just looking for a fun day out, we’ve got something special waiting for you. Our goal is to create lasting memories and bring smiles to faces, both young and old.”

“So why not come down and see what all the fuss is about? We promise you’ll find a farm experience unlike any other!”

Winfield Kansas

Winfield is south of Wichita and close to Oklahoma. We had a great time here: A beer, dinner, dessert, another drink, and an evening at The Barns at Timber Creek. Another day of business!!

Ladybird Brewing

When we got to Winfield, we stopped at Ladybird Brewing. Here’s a few images from the stop, including out group in the last photo. We wanted to keep our pictures small to be unrecognizable! Although my yellow shirt stood out! Here’s the link to Ladybird.

Luigi’s Italian Restaurant

It was unusual that we’d have a beer before dinner, but we moved on to Luigi’s after the Ladybird stop. Here are a few photos from there. And here’s the link to their Facebook page. Just a quick look at a couple of the dishes we had plus a “what’s that” on the wall!

Shindig’s Bar and Grill

After Luigi’s, we stopped at Shindig’s Bar and Grill for dessert and another drink. It was converted from a rail station. The rails are still there, and trains pass through here regularly. Here’s the link to the place.

Picture of a dessert at Shindig's Bar & Grill
There is my dessert!

Barns at Timber Creek

The Barns at Timber Creek is an elegant bed and breakfast and a Wedding and Event Center. Check out the pictures below, and here’s the link to their website. And here’s the link to the post about The Amazing Barns at Timber Creek.

Breakfast to top of the adventures

It was the last day of our S. Central Kansas adventure! To cap off our event, the Barn at Timber Creek team served breakfast!

Wrap-up and summary of Kansas Adventures.

Exploring south central Kansas offers diverse experiences, from urban attractions to natural wonders. Starting in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, visitors can enjoy a mix of cultural experiences at places like the Wichita Art Museum and Old Cowtown Museum while also taking in the natural beauty of the Arkansas River and Botanica Gardens. Moving northwest to Hutchinson, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center provides an out-of-this-world experience, while the nearby Strataca salt mine offers a unique underground adventure. The small town of Ellinwood surprises with its underground tunnels and rich German heritage, providing a glimpse into the area’s immigrant history.

Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to explore in the region. The Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, collectively known as the Kansas Wetlands, offer world-class bird-watching opportunities and serene landscapes. For a change of scenery, Mushroom Rock State Park presents intriguing rock formations that spark the imagination. Lindsborg, known as “Little Sweden USA,” charms visitors with its Swedish heritage, colorful Dala horses, and quaint downtown filled with unique shops and eateries.

The journey continues with a visit to Cottonwood Falls, home to the stunning Chase County Courthouse and the nearby Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, offering a glimpse into the vast prairies that once covered much of the central United States. The trip concludes in Winfield, known for its beautiful Walnut Valley Festival and historic architecture. Throughout this tour of south-central Kansas, visitors experience a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty, from the wide-open prairies to charming small towns and urban centers, each offering its unique slice of Kansan life.

I hope you can ignore those who tell you there is nothing to do in Kansas and visit here!

Thanks for following along!

Classic Rock Recollection

“Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

I close my eyes
Only for a moment, and the moment’s gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Written by: Kerry Livgren

#thedrivebytourist #the-driveby-tourist #Kansas #Wichita