By Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette:
Cafe in the Beaumont Hotel
KANSAS DAYTRIPS
It’s summertime. And this season of lasting light allows plenty of time for day-long Kansas adventures.
Emporians have a superior starting point for daytrips. A look at the Kansas map reminds us of cities that are two hours away or less including Wichita, Newton, Hutchinson, Manhattan, Lawrence, and Kansas City. Kansas towns, large and small, offer a variety of museums and family attractions.
If you’re into boating, fishing, camping, and picnicking, eastern Kansas has many lakes and reservoirs within reach: El Dorado, Marion, Council Grove, Milford, Tuttle Creek, Perry, Clinton, Hillsdale, Pomona, Melvern, John Redmond, Toronto and Fall River.
Neighboring communities are something Dave and I hit on a regular basis, but for our daytrips, we often aim for places that are 90 minutes to two hours away. Any farther than that and the trip turns into more of a driving tour and less of a get-out-and-investigate tour.
There are many things I’d like to see in Kansas and you probably have a long list as well.
But if you’d like suggestions, here are a few of my favorite spots. I’ll include some admission fees so you can budget accordingly, but please call ahead to museums and restaurants as some have irregular hours and they are subject to change. It’s no fun to drive 70 miles just to pull on a locked door.
Lunch at the Beaumont Hotel is always fun (620-843-2422.) The tiny town of Beaumont is southwest of Eureka. While sitting in the hotel’s café, you may be able to watch small aircraft taxi in from the grass runway. Several miles south of Beaumont is the Elk River Wind Farm.
Newton is about 75 miles west of Emporia on U.S. Highway 50. I love the Blue Sky Sculpture in Centennial Park. Downtown Newton has a sprawling historic Santa Fe Depot and I’ve enjoyed meals at The Breadbasket Restaurant, 219 N. Main (316-283-3811).
Kansas Cosmosphere
The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is high on my list of must-visits for Kansans. Those who remember the national atmosphere during the Cold War, the triumphant mission of Apollo 11, and the anxious days of Apollo 13 will be moved by the fascinating exhibits. An All-Day Pass which gets you into everything is $17 for adults; $15 for seniors and children 4-12; kids under 3 get in free. Single-venue tickets cost less (800-397-0330).
Lindsborg is a gem of a town. Check out the unique shops and galleries downtown and try some Swedish food. About 10 miles west of Lindsborg is Marquette which has the Kansas Motorcycle Museum (785-546-2449).
President Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home
On the grounds at the Eisenhower Center in Abilene is Ike’s boyhood home as well as an impressive museum that covers the events of the nation during the World Wars and his presidency (adults, $8; seniors, $6; children 8-15, $1; ages 7 and under, free. 877-746-4453.) A popular place to eat fried chicken in Abilene is the Brookville Hotel where meals are served family-style. (Reservations are advised, 785-263-2244.)
Topeka has great places to tour: the Capitol building, 300 SW Tenth (free tours M-F, 785-296-3966); the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW Sixth, (adults, $6; student with ID, $4; kids 5 and under are free; 785-272-8681); and the Brown v. Board of Education Historic Site, 1515 SE Monroe (free admission, 785-354-4273).
Atchison as a whole has a lot to offer. The county museum is in the old Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. 10th (suggested donations: adults $2; children $1; 913-367-6238). Adjacent to the depot is the Rail Museum. The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum is at 223 N. Terrace St. (adults, $4; children 12 and under, $1; 913-367-4217).
Also in Atchison is Riverfront Park, the International Forest of Friendship and a trolley tour which shows you some of the town’s highlights. And, seven years after I dined at Paolucci’s, 113 S. Third, (913-367-6105), I still remember their delicious Guiseppe sandwich.
Yikes, I’ve run out of room, but other favorite places include Hillsdale Bank Barbecue in Hillsdale (913-783-4333), the John Brown Museum in Osawatomie (913-755-4384), and the Osa and Martin Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute (620-431-2730).
Now go, take a trip. And then report back.
Copyright 2010 ~ Cheryl Unruh
Hillsdale Bank Bar-B-Q, Hillsdale
umm I think it’s spelled Pomona! But great column and thanks for all the times and fees. Great info. Kansas is so lucky to have you.
You are right April. I corrected it here. But it will be wrong in all of today’s papers. 🙁
Thanks for this column Cheryl. Larry was just looking online for daytrip places to go in Kansas, and here is a list all made out for us. We’d planned our next one to be the John Brown museum. We’ll see. Maybe after the temps dip back out of the 90’s.
I love the Brookville Hotel; I loved it when it was in Brookville and the floors upstairs were a little slanted. The only little thing I miss, and that was even when it was still in Brookville, is the homemade ice cream. and that reminds me that I haven’t had “homemade” ice cream for YEARS. I don’t even have an ice cream maker anymore. My mom had a recipe that used milk and “dream whip” and it was yummy!
Oh, and I love the column, too, Cheryl. You are a Kansas TREASURE!–and I want to buy your book!