Back in 2011, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Division, published a spectacular 160-page collection of best-of-Kansas scenes by the best Kansas photographers. This book, My Kansas: A Photographic Journey Across the Sunflower State, may now be easier to borrow than to buy. But if you can find a copy, by all means enjoy it. This beautiful book includes photos in the following … Continue reading My Kansas
Christmas will be here before you know it! Prepare tasty treats and heartfelt gifts from your own homegrown offerings, and snuggle up on the couch for a little storytelling. Retell the story of Sod Corn Jones. Read Scripture passages about the meaning of Christmas. Make a sweet potato beetle. Encourage your child to start an EcoJournal. Give a weather diary this Christmas. Create homemade gifts … Continue reading Get Ready for December 2016
Looking for a particular landmark, or just curious to know what historic places are in your part of Kansas? Check out the registers kept by the Kansas Historical Society. These databases can help you view historic sites listed in several places: National Register of Historic Places. Register of Kansas Historic Places. Kansas Historic Resources Inventory. Along the way, read about historical background, architectural notes, and … Continue reading Registers of Historic Places
Don’t let that summer heat turn you off of birdwatching. Fall migration season is just around the corner! Are you ready? Stock your birdwatching bookshelf with good identification tools before you need them. Here are a few that we’ve enjoyed: Peterson Field Guides to Birds: Every birdwatcher needs a good field guide, and these have stood the test of time. The accurate color plates and … Continue reading 6 Great Birdwatching Resources…and a Bonus!
Many Kansas towns have charm. However, a few stand out as delightful places to visit and explore. Allow us to share 10 towns that we feel are must-sees. 10. McPherson A larger town with a busy but inviting feel, named for Union General James McPherson of the Civil War. Enjoy the attractive architecture, particularly the stunning, castle-like county courthouse. Keep your eyes open for … Continue reading Top 10 Kansas Towns
If you love to travel Kansas and see the spectacular plants and animals our state has to offer, Watching Kansas Wildlife: A Guide to 101 Sites by Bob Gress and George Potts may be a book you’ll want to keep in your car. After an introduction to wildlife viewing, Watching Kansas Wildlife lists 101 of the best places to see wildlife in Kansas, whatever your … Continue reading Watching Kansas Wildlife
When most of us think about what makes Kansas cities and towns unique, spinach is usually far from our thoughts. Learning that Lenexa was once hailed as the Spinach Capital of the World may come as a bit of a surprise. The first white settler of Lenexa was none other than Wild Bill Hickok. However, the town was named for a Shawnee woman alternatively called … Continue reading Lenexa: Spinach Capital of the World
Summer is fast approaching! It’s time to battle the bugs, brush up on music skills, and plan some family time for Memorial Day. Discover the historical geography of the United States. Choose the right string gauge for your guitar. Deter garden bugs before they show up for lunch. Start a homemade construction project. Learn how to communicate with a sheepdog. Improve your banjo technique. Read … Continue reading Get Ready for May 2016
Looking for a taste of the Smoky Hills? We have pulled together ten of our favorite destinations. Some of these stops are along I-70. If you are just passing through, by all means, take a minute to stop and see what Kansas has to offer. You’ll be glad to get out and stretch your legs! But this list is far from comprehensive. To see more, … Continue reading Top 10 Sights to See in the Smoky Hills
The site of the present-day Pawnee Indian Museum near Republic, Kansas, was accepted by the state in 1901, making it the oldest State Historic Site. The site was dedicated and opened to the public that same year. Thousands came to witness the ceremony and to see a granite monument—to an event that never happened in Kansas. The obelisk still stands proudly outside the museum, proclaiming … Continue reading Pawnee Indian Museum
