The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Kansas, Kansas

October 13, 2021 Marissa Gamble

See a buffalo up close, live like a cowboy for a day on a working cattle ranch or visit a stagecoach stop on the Sante Fe Trail are just a few of the many vacation experiences possible in this state in America’s heartland. You’ll love the wide-open spaces and the opportunities to engage in a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences in this marvelous state, which has the largest segment of true tallgrass prairie remaining in the U.S. Regardless of where you visit: a major metropolitan area like Kansas City, a college town like Manhattan or Lawrence or engaging places like Wichita, Dodge City and Salina, there are a wide array of attractions and sights nearby. If you want to familiarize yourself with cowboy culture, visit the Boot Hills Museum in Dodge City, dine on all-you-can-eat barbeque and hear songs of the American Cowboy at Diamond W Chuckwagon Supper in Wichita or explore the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene, which has dance halls, gaming rooms and 32 saloons. For outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching and other activities, three of the state’s most popular parks are: Cheney State Park near Wichita; Scott State Park near Scott City and Tuttle Creek State Park near Manhattan.
Restaurants in Kansas

1. Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

McDowell Creek Road 5 miles northeast of I-70, Junction City, KS 66502 +1 785-587-0441 http://kpbs.konza.k-state.edu
Excellent
86%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 84 reviews

Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

Reviewed By gr8chief - Saint Marys, United States

Great place to visit several times throughout the year. This is very peaceful area and would give one an idea of the early settlers being out in the middle on nowhere.

2. Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66221-7803 +1 913-897-2360 [email protected] http://www.opkansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/Deanna-Rose-Childrens-Farmstead
Excellent
86%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 851 reviews

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

Reviewed By homesbyteresa - Overland Park, United States

This is such a family fun place to spend the day. There are sp many things to do and animals to see. My grandkids love feeding and petting the goats, hayride, driving pedal tractors, milking the cows, fishing, exploring and playing at the awesome playgrounds. There are too many fun things to do to mention them all. You will want to spend time checking it out. Bring your lunch and have a picnic.

3. Safari Zoological Park

1751A County Rd 1425, Caney, KS 67333-8558 +1 620-515-2885 [email protected] http://Safaripark.org
Excellent
99%
Good
1%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 786 reviews

Safari Zoological Park

Reviewed By 864cheyennep

This place is awesome the staff gave us such an amazing experience we will definitely be back if you are in the area definitely check it out it’s a very cool place ????

4. Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa

9053 Monticello Rd, Lenexa, KS 66220 +1 913-477-7500 https://www.facebook.com/LakeLenexaBlackHoofPark/
Excellent
88%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 32 reviews

Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa

Reviewed By D2567BYkellyb - Lenexa, United States

This park is very close to where I live so I walk there on a regular basis. It’s always fun to see the kids playing on the swings . There is a ramp for small fishing boats and there are always people fishing from the banks also. There is also a shelter for celebrations and parties .

5. Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

1515 SE Monroe St, Topeka, KS 66612-1143 +1 785-354-4273 [email protected] http://www.nps.gov/brvb
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 323 reviews

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

The Monroe Elementary School, one of the segregated schools involved in the 1954 Supreme Court decision aimed at ending segregation in public schools, is now a National Historic Site commemorating this landmark ruling.

Reviewed By JennCMorris - Kingwood, United States

It was easy to get to. It was closed when we got her. There are signs ALL over to give you history and information. It is a beautiful building and we loved seeing history. It is in an neighborhood left very unsafe. We LOVED the mural across the street.

6. Botanica: The Wichita Gardens

Wichita, KS 67203 +1 316-264-0448 [email protected] http://www.botanica.org/
Excellent
75%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 722 reviews

Botanica: The Wichita Gardens

Located in Sim Park, this gorgeous patch of cultivated flora offers themed gardens such as the Butterfly Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Rose and Wildflower Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden, plus special programs for children.

Reviewed By AIbin0 - Tarrant, United States

I was traveling from out of state on a whim and out of all the places I was hoping to see while in Wichita, The Botanical Gardens was at the top of my list. To be frank, I've never actually been to a Botanical Gardens before, but the one here is absolutely gorgeous. I'm no botanist, but there's a wide variety of flora all throughout the gardens in different sections. Beautiful fountains, a butterfly garden, gorgeous floral arrangements, memorial statues, quiet alcoves, lilly ponds, a koi pond, and much more await you here. After a long year of stress and anxiety, being away from everything for a few hours was therapeutic. I'd definitely recommend seeing it for yourself if you're in the area.

7. Arkansas River Trail

Wichita, KS
Excellent
55%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 102 reviews

Arkansas River Trail

Reviewed By jbjclass - Wichita, United States

This is a very peaceful and beautiful place to walk along the river. You can walk for a few miles, so you pass different parts of Wichita, like the Keeper of the Plains, Exploration Place, some fancy apartments and hotels, and on and on. It's very well maintained, and there's quite a bit of parking. It connects to other walking/biking trails, so we started keeping a map of everywhere we've walked, and it's fun to see how they go together. The Veterans' Memorial Park (right off the trail) is also very nice and worth visiting.

8. Sedgwick County Zoo

5555 W Zoo Blvd, Wichita, KS 67212-1643 +1 316-660-9453 [email protected] http://www.scz.org/
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,326 reviews

Sedgwick County Zoo

To inspire discovery, appreciation, and respect for animals and nature.

Reviewed By travelhigher24 - Wichita, United States

This place is very organized and can easily spend about 3-4 hours there. I went with my family, had a small boat ride, loved spending time with the elephants and that's my fav! The restaurant located there had both healthy and regular options so enjoyed our lunch there.

9. Gage Park

635 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66606-2079 +1 785-251-2600 http://parks.snco.us/index.aspx
Excellent
60%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 247 reviews

Gage Park

Reviewed By bghjwp - Topeka, United States

With a community theater, a small zoo, a swimming pool, the kids' train and lots of playground equipment, Gage park is an ideal place to spend a day with the kids.The fishing pond, so many trees and the amazing rose garden provide a beautiful and tranquil setting. The Discovery Center is located there too! The City really needs to resurface the tennis courts, however. They are so torn up it has become almost impossible to play on them.

10. Cheyenne Bottoms

56 NE 40 Rd, Great Bend, KS 67530-9277 +1 877-427-9299 [email protected] http://www.kansastravel.org/cheyennebottoms.htm
Excellent
72%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 79 reviews

Cheyenne Bottoms

Reviewed By Sapellosam - Wichita, United States

In 72 years I have never gone out to be birds, notice I didn't say "watch birds". I have never done that. There were thousands of birds smack dab in the middle of Kansas. If you haven't been here before, be sure and stop at the visitors center on the south side of the highway.

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