9 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Kansas

Let the magic and wonder of the state of Kansas sweep you away into nine of the most captivating small towns. Even though these towns are in a twister’s pathway in Tornado Alley, you will not be flung astray like wheat and sunflower in a state where wheat and sunflower are most abundant. Instead, you will be firmly rooted in quirky small towns, like Lucas, and destinations, like Lindsborg and Wamego, that will transport visitors to different little worlds. Here in the Sunflower State, you can allow yourself to be amazed and astounded by these most captivating of all small towns in Kansas.

Wamego

Around 45 miles away from the city of Topeka, the small town of Wamego will wow and amaze you with its many attractions along the Kansas River. Among these amenities are all the things you love and remember from "The Wizard of Oz." Whether you are traveling a real-life Yellow Brick Road to admire the many Oz-ian murals in town or learning more about the films and books at the Oz Museum, you will undoubtedly be swept away as if a tornado was taking you somewhere magical rather than dangerous. One can pet statues of the dog Toto in different spots, and you might also fancy attending one of Wamego’s annual festivals, such as the Tulip Festival and OZtoberFest. At the end of the day, you can either go gallivanting through Schonhoff Dutch Mill or watch a show or two at the historic Columbian Theatre. You can also sleep well at pleasant inns, such as the Simmer Motel or the Victory Inn Bed and Breakfast. There's no place like Wamego.

Lindsborg

Lindsborg is widely regarded as "Little Sweden" due to its cultural and architectural similarities to one of the Scandinavian countries. You will definitely identify the familiar Swedish culture with Lindsborg’s biennial celebration of Svensk Hyllningsfest every other September. The lovely Swedish homes, you might be curious to find, can be found at the prairies and pastures in Coronado Heights Park and around the Swedish Pavilion. The Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum provides comprehensive narrative of how the immigrants from Sweden in the year 1868 built a new home for themselves. No need to worry about accommodations in Lindsborg, especially when you are vacationing in beautiful places like the Rosberg House Bed & Breakfast or the Dröm Sött Inn (the Sweet Dreams Inn).

Council Grove

For those of you eager to traverse the historic Santa Fe Trail, you ought to stop by one of the many towns dotted all over the route—specifically, Council Grove. Originally a Native American settlement of the Osage nation, Council Grove evolved into a thriving urban community whose Native American connections can still be appreciated at the Kaw Mission State Historic Site. Along the town’s "Main Street of the Flint Hills" are landmarks like the Hays House Restaurant and the Post Office Oak Museum that provide insights into the town’s pioneering heritage. The townsfolk and tourists mostly enjoy taking scenic strolls along the federal reservoir known as Council Grove Lake. There is also a yearly Gathering in the Grove in the month of November when dozens of artists from the Flint Hills gather in Council Grove to commemorate the town’s beginnings. The Santa Fe Trail can be a long and winding route, so you ought to book a room at the Cottage House for a merry stay in Council Grove.

Cottonwood Falls

The tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills surround many beautiful towns in Kansas, among them the lovely village of Cottonwood Falls. As a gateway to a number of scenic destinations, such as the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase Lake Falls, and the Chase State Fishing Lake, Cottonwood Falls will have you falling in love with the laid-back and lush landscapes all over the Flint Hills. Go exploring at the Chase County Courthouse, a French Renaissance-structure that showcases how the judicial system looked like around the year 1872. More of the past can be viewed from the exhibits and articles in the Roniger Memorial Museum. Finally, the Chase County All Veterans Memorial pays homage to American soldiers. Do consider attending either the Symphony in the Flint Hills or the Folklife Festival which are both happening every year on the second weekend of June.

Abilene

Abilene is one of the best locations for you to appreciate a number of American achievements and icons in Kansas. To start your tour in Abilene, you can either explore the Greyhound Hall of Fame to understand more about America’s racing industry or head over to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home to learn all about President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Seelye Mansion and the Old Abilene Town provide an understandable narrative regarding the Wild West and how Abilene coped in that violent period. Meanwhile, Eisenhower Park happens to contain the World's Largest Belt Buckle. Feel joyous on Valentine’s Day, especially when boarding the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Valentines Dinner Train. More importantly, feel pumped and prepared for the Eisenhower Marathon every April. For those of you who might feel tired after a long day of activity, you can feel renewed and restored in resplendent lodgings like the Budget Lodge Inn Abilene or Abilene's Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Lucas

There are plenty of reasons why the town of Lucas has been dubbed the "Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas." One reason is the efforts made by the Grassroots Art Center, whose exhibits and artworks embody the aesthetic aptitude of Kansas. Secondly, there is the Garden of Eden, a folk-art area which Civil War veteran Samuel P. Dinsmoor created with wooden sculptures based on figures and motifs from the Bible. Even more of Lucas’ creative side can be admired at The Bowl Plaza, which was honored as the second-best public restroom in the US as of 2014. A unique array of rock sculptures can be found at Miller's Park, and newcomers can always see the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum. So if you are curious to see how quirky Lucas is, you can always book a room in simple places like the Horseshoe Lodge.

Fort Scott

Curious to know more about how Kansas endured during the American Civil War? Then travel into the historic town of Fort Scott on the Marmaton River. The old military bases at the Fort Scott National Historic Site withstood the conflicts of both Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War, and even contributed to the railroad expansion years later. The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes often hosts a play called "Life in a Jar" that focuses on Irena Sendler’s courageous rescue of Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War II. You might also be interested in taking a 50-minute-long trolley tour throughout the town or attending the annual Veterans Celebration. Elsewhere, you can head over to the Gordon Parks Museum to learn all about influential filmmaker and photographer, who was born here. Consider booking a room in one of Fort Scott’s pristine establishments, such as the Courtland Hotel.

Atchison

Beside the Missouri River, which marks the Kansas state border with Missouri, you will find one of the waystations where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stopped on their westward journey—the small town of Atchison. Since the town is also the birthplace for renowned aviator Amelia Earhart, you can learn all about this sky-blazing woman at both the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum and the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. Additionally, an arboretum called the International Forest of Friendship that the Ninety-Nines helped start (they are an organization of female pilots) also features a bronze statue of Earhart for all to see. Meanwhile, during the third weekend of July the townsfolk commemorate the heroine with the Amelia Earhart Festival. For further exploration in Atchison, you might be interested in a few allegedly haunted houses in town, such as the Dilgert House, the McInteer Villa, and the Sallie House. But if you prefer to vacate in less-spooky locations, you can seek out lodgings in places like the Hotel Eastin Atchison.

Pittsburg

The lovely town of Pittsburg is a remarkable destination for a variety of events and activities. The Little Balkans Days festival during Labor Day is when the townsfolk participate in fun activities based on those from the Balkans in Europe. The Pittsburg ArtWalk in the spring and fall is when hundreds of local artists fill Pittsburg with color. Travelers can have a wide selection of things to enjoy in Pittsburg. The town also happens to be the homebase for the prestigious Pittsburg State University as well as the Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Tourists will certainly enjoy leisurely walks through Pittsburg many parks, and there are dozens more surprises awaiting discovery in one of Kansas' many captivating small towns.

Conclusion

Where tornados and twisters sometimes rampage and where historic personalities like Amelia Earhart were born, the Sunflower State of Kansas contains a panoply of captivating small towns for you to visit. Between Fort Scott’s martial histories to Abilene’s celebrations of all things American, travelers will experience new delights and sensations in a land where trouble melts like lemon drops. So start going over the rainbow from whichever state or country you are from and, rather than landing in Oz, you might be headed to one or more of the nine most captivating small towns in Kansas.