Kansas | The Traveler Carl

My friends called Kansas as the flat land area. I asked them if there’s an attraction to see and they smiled at me and said, never-ending fields. A friend whom I used to work with and my flat mate was relocated in Pratt, Kansas thus, I made a decision to stay in Kansas for 2 days while moving to my new home in Texas. While I was driving on my way to Pratt, I saw some very interesting advertisements on the interstate. Then, I looked up the web and found out that what to see in Kansas, there’s a lot.

Here are some few of the attractions in the state of Kansas:

1.Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center in Topeka

Coming from the state of Missouri, Topeka is the nearest city from Kansas City. The state capitol visitor center looked really splendid and grandiose. It sure attracted my attention when I was browsing the web that it made me add it in my itinerary. I was just passing by and didn’t really plan of going inside the center.

2.Keeper of the Plains in Wichita

Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot tall steel sculpture standing at the point where the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers join together in downtown Wichita. Surrounding the base of the statue were multiple displays which described the local tribes that used to inhabit the area, as well as several fire pits which sometimes lit up to illuminate the statue at night. Too bad it was off limit when I got there due to weather and icy rivers.

3.Exploration Place in Wichita

Exploration Place is the state’s premier hands-on science center for all ages, located on a 20-acre site along the Arkansas River in the city’s downtown museums on the river district. The museum emphasized on interactive displays that featured aviation, geography and traveling that showcase the importance of math and science in the world.

4.Attractions in Pratt such as the Old Train Station, Windmills and Pratt All Veterans Memorial

Most of the these attractions were either historical or plainly sight to see. Either way, these spots were must to see when in Pratt. The Pratt All Veterans Memorial is a complex that is fully dedicated to the history of WWII in the area. It showed how the city of Pratt contributed to the war.

5.Monument Rocks in Grinnell

Monument Rocks is a cluster of towering rocks in the middle of Kansas fields. They also called it Chalk Pyramids. According to history, about 65-70 million years ago, there was a gigantic inland sea in the middle of the North American continent, in what is now the Great Plains. When it receded, it left the Great Plains and numerous amazing rock formations.

6.Big Well Museum in Greensburg

Big Well Museum features exhibits on the history of Greensburg and the digging of the Big Well, tornado, and the rebuilding of the town. It is the world’s largest hand-dug well, 32 feet wide and 109 feet deep using only picks, shovels, pulley, rope and a half a barrel in 1887-88. 10 years after the Big Well was opened to the public, the world’s largest Pallasite meteorite was discovered and was added as an attraction. On May 4th, of 2007, the whole town of Greensburg was blown to smithereens by a mile-wide mega-tornado. The town people mourned and rebuilt the city to where it is now. The little town has an odd mix of state-of-the-art green buildings and empty lots filled with weedy rubble. It is a reminder that you’re in a deadly twister territory.

7.Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City

Boot Hill Museum is located on the original site of the Boot Hill Cemetery and highlights the glory days of the Queen of the Cow towns with creative, lively, interactive displays and activities. Dodge City was famous for being infamous. Back in 1870s, it is the wildest town in the Wild West, and probably the most dangerous place in America. When scoundrels and drifters died, they were buried on Boot Hill.

I’ve been to 6 different locations in Kansas and it proved to me that what to see in Kansas, there’s a lot of tourist attractions. A traveler just need to be open minded and eventually will find something interesting. It was a fun 2-day stay in Kansas. The state is located in a tornado alley and prone to twisters due to its landscape but it also has the edge to show the country and the world that they have something to offer for tourism.

Last quarter of 2018, I thought my life needs more stability. My job was not doing well when it comes to investments and getting the attention it needed from the administration. Thus, it made me realise to move somewhere stable and has better future. I even finalised it that my moving out of state will be the first quarter of next year. I was still in a relationship at that time and we were on the same page. Apparently, the reason of our breakup was not being ready to go with me and leave the family in MidOhio Valley. I almost changed my plan to just stay to save our relationship but my ex already let go. My reasons of moving have changed. Before it was because of career opportunity but now, it was mainly because I want to move on from my failed relationship. Lastly, I have planned of moving to another state since I have explored most of the Eastern states in the US. It was time for me to discover the west.

The Move started on February 8th which was also the last day of me working in once was a great hospital in MOV, Selby General Hospital. It went downhill when Memorial Health System took over. Anyway, here is the overview of my journey.

Day 1: I left Marietta, OH around 2AM EST. I started my drive straight all the way to my first stop. My first stop was at White River State Park in Indianapolis, IN. I arrived in Indianapolis at 0630H EST. It was freezing cold outside. As I can remember, It was 17 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of 1. I still went outside but it was still dark and took some photos of the park.

Park during the day cr. visionsoftravel.org

It was really freezing that I only stayed for 5 mins and decided to go back on the road. Next stop was Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, IL. I arrived in the location at 0920H.

I spent about an hour in the museum and left at 1000H EST and drove to the third stop. The next stop was the Old Cathedral of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, the Gateway Arch, and Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO. I was in St. Louis, MO at 1100H EST.

Old Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, King of France

I drove around Missouri. From St. Louis, I traveled to Kansas City for my last stop of the day. I went to National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO at 1610H CST. I called it a day after visiting the museum and slept at the most relaxed hostel in downtown Kansas City. I stayed the night at Honeycomb Hostel.

Day 2: I started the day early again. The road was still covered with snow. But I left the hostel at 0545H CST. I went back to driving heading to Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center in Topeka, KS. I arrived in Topeka around 0700H.

After Topeka, my next itinerary for that day was the Keeper of the Plains in Wichita, KS. I got to Wichita at 0930H CST.

Since my friend lives in Pratt, KS so, I diverted my route to going to Pratt instead. I haven’t seen my friend for 4 years. We had lunch in Pratt and then, he toured me around the city. We went to the Old Train Station, Windmills, and Pratt All Veterans Memorial in Pratt, KS.

Day 3: I was still in Pratt. My friend and I planned on going on a road trip. We went to Monument Rocks in Grinnell, KS. I let him drive my car so, I wasn’t mindful of the time. I just enjoyed the day without having time constraints.

We also decided to check the Big Well Museum in Greensburg, KS.

Last attraction for the day was the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, KS.

Day 4: My final day of the Move has come to an end. But before I get to my destination, I made sure to take the opportunity to see some sights in the next state which was Oklahoma. I visited the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, OK.

After seeing the state capitol, I drove south and get to Turner Falls Overlook in Davis, OK.

It was a 4-day trip for the Move. But it was memorable and if given a chance to do it again for another location, I would do it in a heartbeat. I traveled from Ohio and finally have settled down in Dallas, Texas. I surely miss my second family back in Ohio but life must move on. I’m in a new environment and I am starting my life anew. The Move was a success. I drove thousands of miles and saw different states on the way. The trip could have been done for 14-16 hours but I took the long route and it was the best.