Between NOMADS volunteer projects and other plans in TX and Nebraska we have about 4 weeks to do some sightseeing. We will be travleling through Kansas during that time. So, what is there to see? Looking for suggestions for campgrounds too.
Thanks!
DorisandDave said
09:19 PM Mar 16, 2012
The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Dodge City in SW Kansas, Leavenworth, KS is a picturesque city, Topeka has some interesting museums including the Natural History Museum. I'm from Manhattan, so I could recommend that nice little town..home of K-State Wildcats, Fort Riley, and they have a new Flint Hills Discovery Center.
We always stay at Tuttle Creek State Park, Riverpond area just outside of Manhattan. There are also is some beautiful country side in the Flint Hills.
Racerguy said
09:36 PM Mar 16, 2012
We really enjoyed the Dwight D Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.
Terry and Jo said
10:30 PM Mar 16, 2012
With no clue in mind of where you might be traveling, I haven't much to add. However, if you do cross Kansas, somewhere along the line you will cross the Santa Fe Trail.
(OK, I realize the Santa Fe Trail was a commercial enterprise, but gimme a break.)
If you get near Junction City, Kansas, the New Horizons RV factory is there. Stop and drool.
Given more information on a route, I might could come up with more.
Terry
RVPAINTER said
12:01 AM Mar 17, 2012
No Kansas for me Dorothy - I'm staying out of tornado country!
RickandJanice said
01:55 AM Mar 17, 2012
Tornadoes and Kansas, can't mention one without the other! Now we do not like being in tornado alley any more than others that are not from that area, but being from Ohio and having to deal with tornado season every year, I guess we too learn to watch the weather when in tornadoes each spring. So 2 years ago we had to travel the length of Kansas on our way to a rally in Colorado. It was in June, tornado season in Kansas. Driving along listening to the local radio station when the music stopped and a truly pleasant little "tune" chimed and then the NOAA alert sounded that we were under a warning. Then back to music. This happened several times while going out and then coming back from the rally. Each Kansas campground we stopped at always made part of the check in procedure telling where their tornado shelter was and how they would notify campers in the event that one was truly coming. Seemed quite an every day, kind of casual affair to Kansas residents. My wife is a Nervous Nelly when it comes to storms so this did not set very well with her. Well no storm came close and when we stopped on our return trip in Missouri for the night, DW asked the desk if they had a tornado shelter. Looking out the window at the beautiful clear sky, they hesitantly said "not really just use the shower house", DW replied "thank God, you do not know how nice that is to hear again, we just cam across Kansas twice in the past 12 days and I'm really tired of hearing about tornadoes and shelter locations!" Really an uneventful trip and we joke about it to this day!
Kansas is a beautiful state and we cannot wait to go back some day and visit all of the sites mentioned so far. Just needed to add some humor about Kansas' reputation for bad weather and let everyone know they really are used to it and prepared better than allot of other states where tornadoes can occur.
Ckerr said
02:34 AM Mar 17, 2012
You can always stop and see us in Branson, MO. A bit out of the way, but I hear there's plenty to do.
I stayed a couple of days at Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma. It's just a bit off IH35 near Sulphur I believe. The rv park there is really nice... great sites. And the Chickasaw Cultural Center was worth the trip. It's not Kansas, but it would be on the way...
Sorry about that...the html code I inserted was correct, the forum was adding code to the link. I've made a change and it should work now. Dan
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Sunday 18th of March 2012 08:42:03 AM
phyllen said
02:53 PM Mar 17, 2012
My ideal would not be to travel in Tornado alley during this season. However, seems the season gets longer each year. Last year we did a project in April in OK. Warnings all around us. Then we were in AR. Same thing. Then MO, Same thing. Then down to Louisiana thru Mississippi. Same thing.
To answer Terry and Jo's question. We will be in OKC mid April then head on north. Project looks to be near Lincoln, NE but we are open to any area for those 4 weeks. Really thinking about heading towards Dodge City area.
Terry and Jo said
04:52 PM Mar 17, 2012
Well, if you stop over in OKC, get in touch with us and I just might buy you some Braum's ice cream somewhere. There's a store within 3/4 mile of us.
I'll do some more research on Kansas to give you an idea of places to stay. If you like places like state parks to stay in (have no idea how long you would be in OK), I would recommend Red Rock Canyon State Park near Hinton, OK. Look in the archives of my blog for April of 2011 for some postings about the park.
Terry
53 Merc said
07:31 PM Mar 17, 2012
Terry, the link Big Brutus jusr circles back to the thread.
phyllen said
09:21 PM Mar 17, 2012
Terry and Jo. We stayed near OKC last year before we had to head to Gore for a project. We stayed at a casino (name escapes me at the moment) north of El Reno. FREE full hookups plus casino vouchers. Will probably stay there again for just a few days. I have a cousin in OKC I would like to catch up with again. When we get to the area, I'll let ya know and take you up on that offer for ice cream! Had some last year, was pretty good.
Terry and Jo said
10:58 PM Mar 17, 2012
Phyllis and Leonard,
You are probably thinking of Lucky Star Casino. It is located up on a hill roughly 10 miles or so north of El Reno. And, yeah.....free would be better, but maybe not as pretty.
I'll send you my e-mail and phone number via private message. Then you can contact me directly if you should need something.
Terry
phyllen said
09:55 AM Mar 18, 2012
Yup, that's the one. I sure should remember that name as they send enough text messages! Not great scenery but can't beat the price. It's good for a few days while in the area. I've got your number and will call when we get there.
rvingft said
04:08 AM Mar 19, 2012
Hutchinson, KS also has the Underground Salt Mines off Airport Road & US 50.
We are in & out of KCK often, so have been looking for a nice RVP, but haven't found one yet. There is a new RVP being built at the race track behind Cabelas on I-70 & I-435 on the west side of KCK.
Chanute, KS has the Nu-Way factory + a nice selection of hi-quality used fifth-wheels that were traded in on new Nu.Wa RVs. If you are shopping, or thinking about a different fifth-wheel anytime soon, it is worth a visit. They are all very reasonably priced and you can see their current inventory on their website too. There is a city RVP park in town near the factory.
Fort Scott, KS is also a nice historic town worth a visit.
On the south side of Kansas, is the Amazon DC in Coffeyville. 2 RVP in that town too.
Jack Mayer said
01:26 AM Mar 22, 2012
And New Horizons is in Junction City, right off I-70. Worth a stop if you are interested in seeing how a luxury 5th wheel is built.
TXRVr said
03:45 PM Mar 23, 2012
It's not an exciting adverture, but if you're in the area of Lenanon, KS you could visit the Geographical Center of the US. At least you can say you have the T-shirt. There isn't any parking for an RV, but it's located away from any normal traffic so just park along the road and then make the block when you're finished.
And if you're just looking for the T-shirt, there is what is advertised as the World's Largest Ball of Twine display in Cawker City. It's a small townso you probably be able to park along the curb without a problem.
Between NOMADS volunteer projects and other plans in TX and Nebraska we have about 4 weeks to do some sightseeing. We will be travleling through Kansas during that time. So, what is there to see? Looking for suggestions for campgrounds too.
Thanks!
The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Dodge City in SW Kansas, Leavenworth, KS is a picturesque city, Topeka has some interesting museums including the Natural History Museum. I'm from Manhattan, so I could recommend that nice little town..home of K-State Wildcats, Fort Riley, and they have a new Flint Hills Discovery Center.
We always stay at Tuttle Creek State Park, Riverpond area just outside of Manhattan. There are also is some beautiful country side in the Flint Hills.
With no clue in mind of where you might be traveling, I haven't much to add. However, if you do cross Kansas, somewhere along the line you will cross the Santa Fe Trail.
(OK, I realize the Santa Fe Trail was a commercial enterprise, but gimme a break.)
If you get near Junction City, Kansas, the New Horizons RV factory is there. Stop and drool.
Given more information on a route, I might could come up with more.
Terry
Kansas is a beautiful state and we cannot wait to go back some day and visit all of the sites mentioned so far. Just needed to add some humor about Kansas' reputation for bad weather and let everyone know they really are used to it and prepared better than allot of other states where tornadoes can occur.
I stayed a couple of days at Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma. It's just a bit off IH35 near Sulphur I believe. The rv park there is really nice... great sites. And the Chickasaw Cultural Center was worth the trip. It's not Kansas, but it would be on the way...
How about Big Brutus?
Dan's link is invalid for some reason. Perhaps this is what he was attempting to draw attention to for the benefit of others.
Big Brutus
Edit by moderator: New link? Terry
Sorry about that...the html code I inserted was correct, the forum was adding code to the link. I've made a change and it should work now. Dan
-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Sunday 18th of March 2012 08:42:03 AM
To answer Terry and Jo's question. We will be in OKC mid April then head on north. Project looks to be near Lincoln, NE but we are open to any area for those 4 weeks. Really thinking about heading towards Dodge City area.
Well, if you stop over in OKC, get in touch with us and I just might buy you some Braum's ice cream somewhere. There's a store within 3/4 mile of us.
I'll do some more research on Kansas to give you an idea of places to stay. If you like places like state parks to stay in (have no idea how long you would be in OK), I would recommend Red Rock Canyon State Park near Hinton, OK. Look in the archives of my blog for April of 2011 for some postings about the park.
Terry
Phyllis and Leonard,
You are probably thinking of Lucky Star Casino. It is located up on a hill roughly 10 miles or so north of El Reno. And, yeah.....free would be better, but maybe not as pretty.
I'll send you my e-mail and phone number via private message. Then you can contact me directly if you should need something.
Terry
We are in & out of KCK often, so have been looking for a nice RVP, but haven't found one yet. There is a new RVP being built at the race track behind Cabelas on I-70 & I-435 on the west side of KCK.
Chanute, KS has the Nu-Way factory + a nice selection of hi-quality used fifth-wheels that were traded in on new Nu.Wa RVs. If you are shopping, or thinking about a different fifth-wheel anytime soon, it is worth a visit. They are all very reasonably priced and you can see their current inventory on their website too. There is a city RVP park in town near the factory.
Fort Scott, KS is also a nice historic town worth a visit.
On the south side of Kansas, is the Amazon DC in Coffeyville. 2 RVP in that town too.
It's not an exciting adverture, but if you're in the area of Lenanon, KS you could visit the Geographical Center of the US. At least you can say you have the T-shirt. There isn't any parking for an RV, but it's located away from any normal traffic so just park along the road and then make the block when you're finished.
And if you're just looking for the T-shirt, there is what is advertised as the World's Largest Ball of Twine display in Cawker City. It's a small town so you probably be able to park along the curb without a problem.