Kansas: A Fly-Over State That’s Worth a Visit
- Elisabeth Caraballo
- Sep 5, 2017
- 3 min read
“Fly-over states” are generally the states that are not destinations for travelers, and are simply flown over (or driven through at night) when traveling from one end of the country to the other. I’m even guilty of doing this, as my favorite places to visit are the beach and the mountains. Not until a few years ago did I start seeing the true beauty of my home state of Kansas and other parts of America’s Heartland. The Midwest has a lot to offer for travelers, especially Kansas.
1. Nature
Spending time in nature is one of the first things I like to do when I visit a place. Kansas has an enormous amount of nature with beautiful scenery that’s very photogenic. From the Rolling Flint Hills, farmlands, wild animals, sunflower fields, and sunsets, Kansas is a photographer’s dream. Many travelers might even get lucky (if they’re not scared of storms) to get an awesome storm [tornado] photo while visiting; this will turn anyone into an honorary Kansan- Kansans love to stand outside and watch the storms roll in. There are so many different places for photo opportunities in Kansas. Some are right in front of you, and some you must go off the beaten path to look for. Here is a link of some of the best views in Kansas for photos.
2. Hidden Gems
There are many places in Kansas to visit that even some Kansans don’t know about. These hidden gems range from just places to stop, admire, and take photos of, to a fun-filled day out with friends and family. Fun Fact: I had never heard of any of these places until last year. Yes, I know. What kind of Native Kansan am I? Some of these hidden gems include The Monument Rocks (Chalk Pyramids) - Gove County, Kansas Underground Salt Museum (Hutchison, Kansas), Pillsbury Crossing (Riley County, Kansas), and Grinter’s Sunflower Farm (Lawrence, Kansas). Here is a link to some more awesome hidden gems in Kansas.
3. Indoor/Outdoor Fun
My whole life I have always heard how boring Kansas is, and that there’s nothing to do; yes, these words have even come out of my mouth. However, Kansas is not boring and there are tons of things to do. Yes, a lot of things may be spread out from one another, and you may have to drive a little out of the way to get there, but, I mean, you would probably spend that amount of time on Facebook or Twitter anyways. So, why don’t you use that time to go do something that’s fun and somewhere you can make memories? Along with the list of hidden gems (above) here are some more indoor and outdoor fun things you can do in Kansas:
Indoor: Great Wolfs Lodge (Kansas City, Kansas), Flint Hills Discovery Center (Manhattan, Kansas), Cosmosphere (Hutchinson, Kansas), and Locked Manhattan (Manhattan, Kansas).
Outdoor: Schlitterbahn (Kansas City, Kansas), Milford State Park (Milford, Kansas), Wildwood Outdoor Adventure Park (Manhattan, Kansas), Kenwood Cove (Salina, Kansas), and Sporting Park (Kansas City, Kansas).
I know everyone has their preference on places they want to travel, but I think Kansas should be on everyone’s list. The term “Fly-over state” shouldn’t even exist anymore; every place is unique, has rich history, and is beautiful in its own way. I think you should give Kansas, and all those so called “Fly-over states” a chance.
Elisabeth is the Founder, Publisher, & Editor-In-Chief of Travel Pass Magazine. A native Kansan who has had a love for travel ever since her first trip to Disney World at four years old, and is an adrenaline junkie who will try almost anything once. She's a full-time adventurer living out all of her life passions. Check out more of her writing and photography at www.elisabethacaraballo.com.
