Kansas's Best Small Towns for a Weekend Escape

Unwind and rejuvenate from the week’s stress. Kansas’s small towns offer the best escape spots for the weekend. Lindsborg’s Scandinavian heritage, artsy Lucas, and Abilene’s enthralling attractions, among others, provide visitors with unique experiences. Each town has different and varied attractions that might just make you consider a permanent move to Kansas. Grab a drink and explore your next adventure location.

Dodge City

Dodge City is a former frontier town that has its Wild West history still preserved in its activities and architecture. A visit to Boot Hill Museum will give you a feel of Dodge City’s history. Adults and children have the opportunity to dress up as gunslingers, saloon girls, prairie women, and gamblers when they stop by and have the memories of the day etched in an 1800s picture style. In the summer, visitors get to watch a reenactment of gunfights and the longest-running seasonal theatrical show in the nation, the Long Branch Saloon Variety Show, which has been held for the past 60 years.

You may like to satisfy your taste buds at Dodge City Brewing, which serves hand-brewed beer with brick-oven pizza. Guests who do not wish to participate in the many adventures that Dodge City boasts can relax in one of its many parks. Liberty Garden, a memorial to 9-11, serves as a great spot for a picnic. Holiday Inn Express & Suites is a great accommodation located in the heart of the town.

Colby

Colby’s rich agricultural history and culture are evident through its vibrant architecture and attractions.

The Prairie Museum of Art & History is filled with art and relic collections that give visitors detailed information about Colby's history. The museum is also home to the largest barn in Kansas, the Cooper Barn, with different exhibits showing off the region’s agricultural heritage. You might love to shop at the Museum’s gift shop for a souvenir to take back with you.

The Colby Aquatic Park is the perfect spot to cool off with family-friendly water-based recreational activities. Be sure to check their schedule, as business dates and hours change frequently. Twisters Bar & Grill is a great dining spot with a wide variety of activities, including live entertainment and karaoke, amongst others. Colby RV Park is a safe and serene spot for campers.

Norton

Norton is a small town located in the northwestern part of Kansas with about 2568 occupants. It is an awesome destination for your next weekend's adventure. There are activities for everyone. Golfers would want to check out the Prairie Dog Golf Course. Beginners and Professionals alike would find this 9-hole course exhilarating. The Prairie Dog State Park is home to about 300 prairie dogs. Visitors can enjoy hiking, archery, camping, fishing, and watching wildlife. For more history of life in Norton, you can check the Norton County Historical Museum which also has on display one of the largest meteorites to hit North America.

Pet friendly, the Sleep Inn & Suites is a suitable accommodation to rest for the night with a hearty breakfast in the morning.

Council Grove

A town surrounded by historic sites as well as activities for everyone, Council Grove serves as one of the best weekend getaway destinations. Council Grove Lake is open for sport-fishing. Hunting is allowed, but some areas are off-limits for hunting. Hikers can enjoy viewing the wildlife that inhabit the Pioneer Nature Trail.

For a feel of one of the last remaining landscapes in America, you can visit the Last Chance Store and Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, which houses a tallgrass prairie with native grasses and flowers. These attractions are within walking distance of Saddlerock Cafe, which offers the best home-cooked meals. The Cottage House is a beautiful accommodation to complete your visit.

Lindsborg

Commonly called ‘Little Sweden,' Lindsborg is a city in McPherson County splattered with a variety of activities for visitors. Its Swedish heritage is an added advantage, providing a rich history and culture. Art connoisseurs will find Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery incredibly exciting. Get to experience the mind of the artist Sandzén, whom the museum was named after, through his artworks. Have you heard of the oldest house in Lindsborg, Kansas? Stenhuset (Stone House) is an old historic house that is available as a rental vacation home.

While in Lindsborg, go on a drive or walk the hill to Coronado Heights, northwest of the town. At the top is a stone castle-like shelter with picnic spots and a pleasant view of the landscape. You can explore the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum which gives an extensive overview of the history and culture of Lindsborg. This Museum also provides visitors with archives of old documents they can use to trace their roots. Stop by Renaissance Café in Assaria, approximately a 13-minute drive from Lindsborg, where there are varieties of meals, including vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options.

Lucas

Lucas is a small town with a small population known as the Grassroots Arts Capital of Kansas. This town appeals to artists and lovers of art. S. P. Dinsmoor's Garden of Eden is a popular attraction that features a log cabin home and 150 sculptures around the property made with cement and limestone by S. P. Dinsmoor.

Down the road is the Grassroots Art Center where you can enjoy exquisite art pieces made with recycled materials like wood, cement, metal, limestone, chewing gum and a few other materials by local self-taught artists.

Another artistic spot is the Bowl Plaza, a public restroom constructed like a large toilet. Your visit would not be complete without paying a visit to the World’s Largest Things Museum. K-18 Café is the perfect spot to fill your stomach, and the Quality Inn is an excellent lodging option.

Cottonwood Falls

Cottonwood Falls is a small but enchanting town, perfect for a weekend getaway. Start your visit by stopping by the oldest working courthouse in the state of Kansas, Chase County Courthouse. Its French Renaissance native limestone architecture is a sight to behold. Chase State Fishing Lake is a great campground and fishing spot.

Tallgrass Antique is open only on weekends if you are into architectural salvage, furniture, glassware, and smaller items. For more historical items and artifacts, you should visit the Chase County Historical Museum and Roniger Memorial Museum. Grand Central Hotel & Grills is a popular accommodation for guests with its Western-style architecture and is within walking distance from the varied attractions in Cottonwood Falls.

Fort Scott

Named after Winfield Scott, a proficient general who fought in the American-Mexican War, Fort Scott was formerly a military base established in 1942. With its rich history tied to the Civil War, the town has become a tourist attraction. Original buildings from the 1840s line the Fort Scott National Historic Site, which is a great location to start off in as it provides an in-depth and detailed history of the town.

You might want to visit the final resting place of veterans and their families, Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Gunn Park is a great spot for family-friendly activities. It features camping sites, disc golf, fishing, playgrounds, shelter houses, and trails for hikers, runners, and bikers.

After a long day, Travelodge by Wyndham, with its historic ambiance, is a fantastic place to stay the night.

Abilene

Rich with history and loaded with arts, Abilene is another perfect tourist attraction destination.

Begin your tour with a visit to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, a notable attraction where visitors can learn about the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States. You may also love to stop by the Greyhound Hall of Fame, where you will learn about the history of Greyhound Racing.

Join the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Living History Museum project) for an informative excursion on the history of the Kansas railroad.

The Smoky Valley Limited is a popular dinner train that will satisfy your taste buds. Eisenhower Park and Rose Garden is a beautiful spot to walk around and relax. It has over 150 different types of roses and a variety of flower species. This spot will leave you refreshed and relaxed. Check into Holiday Inn Express & Suites for the night, where a hearty breakfast is served in the morning.

Plan Your Weekend Getaway to Kansas’s Charming Small Towns

These midwestern towns nestled in scenic landscapes, rich with history, charming architecture, beautiful art, and wonderful people, should be your next weekend getaway destination. With the unique experience that each of these towns offers, you should pack your bags and get ready to have the experience of a lifetime.