10 Best Resorts in Kansas

Accommodations in Kansas are diverse, and travelers staying in the Sunflower State can choose from a rustic cabin, historic bed and breakfast, or a modern high rise hotel during their stay. Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Some restaurants are currently offering pickup only. Hours/availability may have changed.

10 Best Resorts in Kansas

• Acorns Resort, Photo: Acorns Resort
• Barn-Bed & Breakfast Inn, Photo: Barn-Bed & Breakfast Inn
• Boot Hill Casino & Resort, Photo: Courtesy of dvoevnore - Fotolia.com
• Cedar Crest Lodge, Photo: Cedar Crest Lodge
• Clover Cliff Ranch, Photo: Clover Cliff Ranch
• Hotel at Old Town, Photo: Hotel at Old Town
• Hotel Broadview Wichita, Photo: Hotel Broadview Wichita
• Prairie Band Casino & Resort, Photo: Courtesy of one - Fotolia.com
• Rock Creek Marina & Resort, Photo: Courtesy of Bits and Splits - Fotolia.com
• Senate Luxury Suites Hotel, Photo: Senate Luxury Suites Hotel
• Cover Photo: Courtesy of alhim - Fotolia.com

More Ideas in KS: Fort Larned National Historic Site

Fort Larned, 6 miles west of Larned, Kansas, is a National Historic Site. The remarkably preserved sandstone fort buildings were in service through the 1860s and 1870s during the Indian Wars, and soldiers stationed there were known as the “Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail.” The fort is home to nine historical buildings. Officer’s Row was built to house the officers from four companies. Two halls, each with four rooms, housed a lieutenant and captain.

The rear of each building housed a kitchen and staff bedrooms. Officer’s quarters are outfitted with period furnishings and demonstrate what life was like for those stationed on the frontier. Games, taxidermy, books, and music were among the main leisure activities. The Old Commissary, the fort’s oldest building, and the quartermaster’s storehouse are examples of the warehouses and storage units at the fort. An issue room is stocked with the uniforms, boots and supplies that were allotted to soldiers. Shops at the fort demonstrate the role of civilians in army life. A blacksmith shop, bakery, leatherwork shop, and carpenter shop were all staffed by civilians or soldiers looking to earn extra wages. The barracks were designed to hold up to four infantry and cavalry companies. On average, 150 troops were stationed at Fort Larned, although the barracks could hold up to 500, and this number was briefly reached in 1868.

Today, visitors to the barracks can see the bunks lined with bed sacks made of grass ticking as well as the period furnishings of a squad room in the late 1800s. One of the barracks is furnished as a hospital, just as it was in the 1870s. A third barrack’s building has been renovated to serve as the park’s visitor center and museum. Staff and volunteers at the fort dressed in period clothing bring history to life through reenactments and demonstrations. Living history staff may be encountered at the blacksmith shop demonstrating their craft as well as at the schoolroom, hospital or arsenal, and can also be found demonstrating their weapons. An historical heritage garden behind the officers' quarters contains vegetables that would have been grown during the time of the fort’s use. A blockhouse is the only building on site to have been used solely for defense. The hexagonal building included an underground well in case of prolonged attack. Eventually, as the threat of attack lessened, the building was put to use as the fort’s prison. There are no restaurant facilities at the fort, but a picnic area near the entrance provides shaded tables, water, and restrooms.

History

Fort Larned was involved in major military conflict against the Cheyenne in 1867, in what was known as Hancock’s War. The conflict ended the same year with the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which was negotiated at Fort Larned. The 10th U.S. Cavalry’s Company A was stationed at Fort Larned. The all-black company was one of just two authorized by the U.S. Congress after the Civil War, known as the “Buffalo Soldiers,” and was sent to Fort Larned to patrol the area and protect against Native American threats. The company routinely dealt with racism, resentment, and aggression from the white infantry soldiers also on duty at Fort Larned. In 1869 tensions escalated. While Company A was out on patrol, a fire was set at their stables, with another attempted at their barracks. The 10th Cavalry was sent to Fort Zarah soon after to avoid additional conflict, and would not be replaced at Fort Larner before the fort was abandoned in 1878.

Ongoing Programs and Education

Ranger-led tours are available throughout the year. The 1-hour tours provide a perspective on life at Fort Larned during the Indian Wars and the time of the Santa Fe Trail. Tours take guests through the buildings and enable them to interact with the living history interpreters. 2017 marks the 150-year anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers and several special events at the park are scheduled to honor their service and remember their history. Events include kids’ days, author talks, and reenactments.

What’s Nearby

The Santa Fe Trail was at one time a major thoroughfare between the United States and Mexico. Ruts from the wheels of covered wagons are still visible approximately 5 miles from the Fort Larned site. Visitors to the fort who would like to see the ruts can travel south on gravel roads to the parking area. Once there, the ruts may be viewed from a short walking path or a platform, which allows visitors to view the historic landscape from above.

1767 KS Hwy 156, Larned, KS 67550, Phone: 620-285-6911

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More Ideas in KS: Kansas Cosmosphere

The Kansas Cosmosphere is located in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Even though the museum sits a reasonable distance off the beaten path, it is worth the detour to explore the many exhibits and displays the Kansas Cosmosphere has to offer.

History

Patty Carey had a vision in 1962. The Cosmosphere founder wanted to create a public planetarium, and did so by setting up a borrowed planetarium projector inside of the Poultry Building located on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. It was one of the first established in the Midwest.

In 1966, Hutchinson Community College offered Carey a new home for the planetarium on its campus. To better suit its new resident, the college built a more modern, larger science center.

As the planetarium grew in popularity, the board of directors, along with Patty, discussed an expansion campaign that would allow for the creation and development of a space and science center worthy of international acclaim.

The new, thirty-five thousand square-foot facility opened in 1980 and consisted of the planetarium, new classrooms for additional school programs, an exhibit gallery, and a one of the first of its kind IMAX Dome Theater.

The cosmosphere expanded again in 1997, growing to a one hundred five thousand square foot facility, which displayed an authentic SR-71 Blackbird in its lobby. A year later, the Kansas Cosmosphere was identified as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, establishing a long-term relationship with the National Air & Space Museum.

Another major renovation was announced in 2014, as the museum continues to search for and find new ways to provide interactive education for science, along with its various collections of artifacts. These endeavors continue today as the Kansas Cosmosphere seeks to engage visitors in stimulating and educating exhibits and displays.

Exhibits

The Kansas Cosmosphere is a place without limitations. Curiosity is free to run amuck, and excitement is encouraged. Visitors to the Cosmosphere are invited to learn and explore the incredible history of those who came before and continue to inspire us.

Justice Planetarium

The Justice Planetarium is a cutting-edge, dual projector experience that will engage both your mind and senses. This exhibit is part of the Our Universe display and will provide entertainment and education for visitors of all ages.

Hall of Space

The Hall of Space exhibit is touted as the most extensive collection of space artifacts consisting of both the United States and the Russian space programs in the world. It tells the incredible story of both country’s race to space, and nothing like it can be viewed anywhere else on the planet.

Dr. Goddard’s Lab

Considered to be the father of modern Rocketry, Dr. Robert Goddard of Goddard’s lab offers a trip back to the 1930s. This interactive exhibit provides a fantastic show including some explosive surprises. Live demonstrations are used to show visitors the history of rocketry.

Education

The Kansas Cosmosphere offers many educational programs designed to meet science standards for the current generation along with Common Core. Many packages for educational trips include curriculum focused opportunities with interactive experiences.

Families

Children show a natural tendency toward science as they examine, experiment and explore their surroundings from a young age. The Kansas Cosmosphere seeks to nurture and encourage this interest in the sciences by providing a fun-filled experience for the whole family.

Applied science displays and activities are available for children ranging from two to twelve, and strives to inspire young minds to continue to stay engaged and keep learning. Asking questions and exploring are keys to staying interested in young minds.

Museum Shop

The Kansas Cosmosphere museum shop offers great options for gifts and souvenirs to take home. Items range from space suits to jackets to drinkware and more. Whether it’s a poster signed by an astronaut or a pair of socks adorned with the Milky Way galaxy, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect item for your collection.

Food

Space exploration can build up an appetite, so the Kansas Cosmosphere offers a few options to stop in and grab a bite to eat while taking a load off.

Cosmosphere Cafe and Concession Stand

The Kansas Cosmosphere Cafe and Concession Stand offers an opportunity to grab a snack or a meal while visiting. Guests can sit down for a burger and fries, or just grab a bite to enjoy while watching a movie in the Carey Digital Dome Theater.

Kansas Cosmosphere 1100 N Plum St Hutchinson, KS 67501

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More Ideas in KS: Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum

The presidential library and boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower is located within a 22-acre five-building campus in Abilene, Kansas. The library presents a world-class collection of historical records and papers, photographs, and films as well as over 70,000 artifacts pertaining to Eisenhower’s presidency and the history of the United States during the time in which he served, from 1953 through 1961. The presidential library is one of 13 under the management of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Eisenhower Museum and Boyhood Home teaches visitors the history of Eisenhower’s upbringing, his service in the United States Army, and the road to his presidency.

Visits to the library and museum begin with a short film at the visitor center, which provides guests with an overview of Eisenhower’s life and legacy. Over 30,000 square feet of museum gallery space host an array of artifacts and exhibits that illuminate both the public and private life of the president as well as the first lady, Mamie Eisenhower. The museum explores the social and cultural happenings of the 1950s and the partnership that the rise of television in particular had on America’s first “television president” as well as the office of the presidency itself. Details of Eisenhower’s presidency highlighted by the museum include the introduction of the first Civil Rights legislation since the U.S. Civil War, the enforcement of school integration in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the establishment of the Interstate Highway System.

Eisenhower’s boyhood home was occupied by the Eisenhower family from 1898 through Ida Eisenhower’s death in 1946. The six-room 19th century home is typical of the architecture of the era, and is furnished as it was in 1946, including exact reproductions of the home’s wallpaper. The campus includes the Place of Meditation, the final resting place of Dwight D. Eisenhower, his wife Mamie, and their first son, Doud Dwight. The chapel features stained glass handmade in Minnesota and chipped glass windows from Pennsylvania. The chapel’s exterior, as well as that of the library and museum, are built from Kansas limestone. In accordance with Eisenhower’s wishes, the Place of Meditation is open to the public and offers a quiet space where visitors are encouraged to reflect upon American ideals. A bronze statue of Eisenhower by the artist Robert Lee Dean, Jr. overlooks the campus in front of five stone pylons inscribed with a dedication to the Eisenhower family and their homestead.

History

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States and served two terms, from 1953 to 1961. Having served the U.S. during World War II as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, he is the only 5-star general to have become president. The Eisenhower boyhood home has been open to the public since 1947, originally as a World War II Veterans Memorial. The library, visitor center, and museum were opened in the 1950s with public funds raised by the Eisenhower Foundation, a non-profit founded in 1945. The presidential library is one of only two to have been opened prior to the close of the president’s term. The museum was opened in 1952, prior to the election of Eisenhower as president, at the suggestion of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, who wished to honor Eisenhower with a museum. The foundation is currently in the process of raising funds for a complete overhaul of the museum. The redesign will incorporate new technologies, update current permanent exhibits, and incorporate new scholarship in its interpretation of historical events. The 1-year project is slated to begin in 2018.

Ongoing Programs and Education

Research areas of the presidential library are not open to the public, except by request to access the archives. Tours of the museum, boyhood home, and visitor center are available daily. Tours run from 30 minutes to over 2 hours in length, depending on the breadth of the campus one wishes to see. The suggested route begins at the visitor center, includes a guided tour of the boyhood home, and then continues with self-guided tours of the museum, temporary exhibits in the library lobby, and the Place of Meditation.

Past and Future Exhibits

Galleries at the museum include rotating exhibits. Current exhibits focus on the Chisholm Trail, a historical cattle-route from ranches in Texas to railheads in Kansas. Photographs, artifacts, and displays educate guests on the origins of phrases such as “the real McCoy” and “square meal” and highlight life in early Kansas at the time of Eisenhower’s birth.

200 Southeast Fourth Street, Abilene, KS 67410, Phone: 785-263-6700

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