The 7 Best small towns in Kansas To Chill Out
Kansas offers a lot of charming tiny towns that you may visit for weekend vacations or combine a couple to make a nice Kansas road trip. Several are also day excursions from bigger Kansas cities such as Topeka, Lawrence, Overland Park, Manhattan, and Salina. While there is no official ranking of the top Kansas towns, the ones included below are locations I believe are worth a visit!
Council Grove
Council Grove is a small village with a gorgeous lakeside that offers a nice tranquil and pleasant escape. It is well-known for its Council Grove Historic District, which comprises of six disconnected districts significant to the history of the Santa Fe Trail and American migration to the West. It was established in 1858 and is situated in Morris County. The Kaw Mission State Historic Site was a missionary chapel and boys' school that may still be visited today.
This village of fewer than three thousand people has an appeal considerably greater than its number, so don't pass it up! Council Grove is roughly 45 minutes from Emporia and nearly one hour from Topeka. Tourists should stop by the Council Grove Reservoir and travel the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. You should also stop at Hays House Restaurant and Pub, a locally owned bar providing wonderful American food, for a real small-town experience.
Marysville
Marysville, Kansas, is a community of roughly 3,000 people located on the Big Blue River in northern Kansas, about an hour north of Manhattan and near the Nebraska border. Marysville was one of the first Pony Express stations established west of St. Joseph, Missouri. When in town, stop by the museum, which is situated in the actual barn where the ponies were kept! If you enjoy small-town American festivals, Marysville has many of them. Big Blue River Days, Mother's Day Market, and Black Squirrel Night are all reasons to visit the town.
There are also a few other museums in Marysville to check out, such as the Doll Museum, Lifestyles Murals, and art exhibitions. Marysville also features a lovely town park with a swimming pool, a steam engine, and a Union Pacific Depot from 1901. Keep a look out for the local squirrel population, whose fur is an astonishing jet black!
Lucas
Lucas is an agricultural hamlet filled with eccentricities. Lucas is known as the "Grassroots Art Capitol of Kansas," and it is home to the Garden of Eden, an American folk art marvel. For those who want to visit Kansas off the main route, there's also the Outsider Art Museum, Deeble House, and other oddball art venues. S.P. Dinsmoor's Garden of Eden is the most famous feature. S.P. Dinsmoor was a retired Civil War veteran who created amazing concrete sculptures of people going about their daily lives all around his house. Visitors may now go on guided tours and see the artwork for themselves.
The Blue Stem community was established in 1877. The ancient Old Tobias Water Tower, which also serves as a prison, is a sight to see. While you're here, visit Wilson Reservoir, which has one of Kansas' nicest beaches!
Come see for yourself what this little town has to offer! With a population of fewer than 400 people, it's an ideal place to get away from the throng. You may drive here in 70 minutes from Hays or three hours from Topeka. Lucas is an excellent destination for visitors interested in geological wonders, art, small-town life, and natural scenery.
Wamego
This lovely village seems like home. It is historically known for individuals walking along the Smoky Hill Trail on their route to Denver to locate gold. Wamego was named after a Potawatomi Native American chief and was established in 1866. It is situated at the crossroads of Routes US 24 and K - 99, and the Kansas River runs along the city's outskirts.
Before you go to Wamego, you should see the American classic film The Wizard of Oz. Wamego is the authentic Oz, with an Oz Museum which has a collection of more than 25,000 Oz memorabilia, an Oz vineyard, Oz souvenir stores, and even Oztoberfest, where live performers transform Wamego's streets into the real-life yellow brick road. Wamego, a hamlet of fewer than 5,000 people now, is home to an annual Tulip Festival. Wamego is easily accessible from northeastern Kansas because it is 45 minutes west of Topeka and 20 minutes east of Manhattan. Apart from the Oz overload, Wamego is adjacent to natural areas that are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who want to fish, hunt, camp, paddle, horseback ride, trek, and more. There is also a strong artistic culture, with displays demonstrating how much talent can be found in a tiny town.
Abilene
The well-crafted architecture of Abilene is only the tip of the iceberg in this delightful small town. President Dwight D. Eisenhower grew raised in Abilene and is buried there. Of course, there's more history here than President Eisenhower (but don't miss a visit to the Eisenhower Presidential Library). Abilene was created in 1857, although it wasn't named until 1860, after a Biblical passage that means "city of the plains." The town has become a popular destination for visitors interested in Wild West tourism, with saloons offering cancan dancers and reenactments of cowboy battles. It's on the north bank of the Smoky Hill River. The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad transports people back in time to when Kansans traveled by train.
This town of fewer than 7,000 people welcomes visitors with open arms, but don't mix it with Abilene, Texas! Abilene, Kansas, is located in central Kansas, thirty minutes east of Salina, ninety minutes west of Topeka, and ninety minutes north of Wichita. Abilene is rich in history, with five world-class museums all within walking distance of one another. But don't be fooled by the abundance of museums; this little town is far from dull. Abilene has preserved its past by preserving saloons complete with cancan dancers and shootout reenactments that pay homage to bygone eras. Abilene was previously President Eisenhower's residence, and there is now a museum and library dedicated to him. The Seelye House and the Native American Art Center are both must-sees. Don't pass up the chance to ride the 100-year-old train down the Smoky River Hill Valley path and dine in their wooden car.
Atchison
Atchison is a little riverbank town brimming with historic charm. It is famed for being the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, which is commemorated each July with an Amelia Earhart Festival. Atchison was established in 1854 and named for Missouri Senator David Rice Atchison. It is located on the Missouri River, approximately 25 miles northwest of Leavenworth.
The Atkinson County Courthouse, erected in the early 1890s, is a popular tourist destination. It's one of my favorite modern-day castles in Kansas, and it's now a history museum. If you enjoy paranormal travel, Atchison is said to be one of the most haunted towns in the United States, thanks in part to its rich pioneer heritage. There are over eleven haunted excursions to select from, including eating with spirits, ghost hunting 101, wandering through cemeteries, and one with an Edgar Allen Poe twist. You'll have to decide if this is all a tall yarn or the reality for yourself.
Lecompton
This small community of fewer than 800 people offers the key to learning about an important period in Kansas's history. Many consider Lecompton to be the "birthplace of the Civil War when slavery began to die."
It was founded in 1854 in Douglas County, near Lawrence and the University of Kansas. Those interested in history can go to the Territorial Capital Museum, which is housed in the former location of territorial meetings. While you're here, take a self-guided walking tour of Lecompton's most notable historic sites.
Conclusion
Finally, Kansas contains 105 counties and almost 600 incorporated towns and communities. When seeking a nice place to visit or perhaps reside, there are many little towns to select from. There are outstanding towns with a lot of history, wonderful food, nice people, and beautiful landscape. You'll undoubtedly find the perfect town for you!
