Hopefully temperatures will be more manageable soon, and that means it’s time to take a weekend trip! Finding something to do on the weekends isn’t terribly hard in Kansas, but sometimes it’s hard on your wallet. Not everyone wants to spend money for a museum or a special tour, so why not find some free options? These free outdoor activities are sure to keep everyone delighted with the wonders Kansas has to offer. How many of these have you visited so far?
- Rock City - Minneapolis
Chris Murphy/Flickr These giant round rocks were left behind when a huge rock was worn away by the weather long ago. Now, there’s a bunch of climbing opportunities all over, but try not to get stuck between a rock and a hard place!
- Big Basin Prairie Preserve - Ashland
Franklin B Thompson/Flickr Aside from the gorgeous scenery, you can get a free shiver as you visit St. Jacob’s Well at Big Basin. Rumor says that it’s haunted by those who have drowned in it’s depths years ago.
- Konza Prairie - Manhattan
Vincent Parsons/Flickr The Konza Prairie is a great place to hike a few trails, especially if you love scenery like this. Every inch is filled with unique plants and wildlife that you might not find elsewhere, especially at home!
- Pillsbury Crossing - Manhattan
Vincent Parsons/Flickr These waterfalls are gorgeous any time it’s just rained, and if you’re lucky enough to have a good tent, there are places to camp nearby. What a great way to wake up, right?
- Ernie Miller Park - Olathe
Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center This park in Olathe has some stunning views despite being in a suburban area. There’s about 3 miles of foot trails, so plan to bring your walking shoes!
- Table Mound Trail - Elk City State Park
Granger Meador/Flickr This trail in Scott City State Park is one of my personal favorites. The whole park looks like it belongs in another state, and there’s a canopy covering many areas of the paths. In addition to canopies, there are also plenty of rock formations where they have fallen and created little windows for you to see through.
- Keeper of the Plains - Wichita
turcottes78/Flickr Nightly, the fires at the Keeper of the Plains come alive and warm those who watch nearby. It’s a great place to meet new people, or take someone special for a sunset walk through the riverside.
- Monument Rocks - Oakley
Patrick Emerson/Flickr These rocks are the last remenants (besides fossils) of a great inland sea that ran right through Kansas. Today, you can walk through the chalk formations and take lots of awesome, stunning pictures.
- Tallgrass Prairie Bus Tour - Strong City
Patrick Emerson/Flickr Did you know you can take a bus tour of this Kansas preserve? That makes this free outdoor adventure a lot more accessible, because some of us (like me) can’t always hike too far. There’s so much to see out there!
- Ivan Boyd Prairie Preserve - Wellsville
douglascountyks There’s little remaining evidence of the original trails taken across the prairie, but this preserve holds wagon ruts from just that. Along the Santa Fe trail, many a covered wagon traveled. Today, we get to see where they once traveled and marvel at just how long it would have taken to get just a few miles away.
- Mushroom Rock State Park - Brookville
Vincent Parsons/Flickr This funky rock comes with some great scenery and even greater adventure. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a giant mushroom rock?
- Quivira National Wildlife Refuge - Stafford
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr You can watch one of our most beautiful sunset locations as birds of all kinds and colors fly through the sky. What could be more magical than our natural beauty?
In addition to these natural beauties, check out some great places to grab a bite along the road!
Chris Murphy/Flickr
These giant round rocks were left behind when a huge rock was worn away by the weather long ago. Now, there’s a bunch of climbing opportunities all over, but try not to get stuck between a rock and a hard place!
Franklin B Thompson/Flickr
Aside from the gorgeous scenery, you can get a free shiver as you visit St. Jacob’s Well at Big Basin. Rumor says that it’s haunted by those who have drowned in it’s depths years ago.
Vincent Parsons/Flickr
The Konza Prairie is a great place to hike a few trails, especially if you love scenery like this. Every inch is filled with unique plants and wildlife that you might not find elsewhere, especially at home!
These waterfalls are gorgeous any time it’s just rained, and if you’re lucky enough to have a good tent, there are places to camp nearby. What a great way to wake up, right?
Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center
This park in Olathe has some stunning views despite being in a suburban area. There’s about 3 miles of foot trails, so plan to bring your walking shoes!
Granger Meador/Flickr
This trail in Scott City State Park is one of my personal favorites. The whole park looks like it belongs in another state, and there’s a canopy covering many areas of the paths. In addition to canopies, there are also plenty of rock formations where they have fallen and created little windows for you to see through.
turcottes78/Flickr
Nightly, the fires at the Keeper of the Plains come alive and warm those who watch nearby. It’s a great place to meet new people, or take someone special for a sunset walk through the riverside.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
These rocks are the last remenants (besides fossils) of a great inland sea that ran right through Kansas. Today, you can walk through the chalk formations and take lots of awesome, stunning pictures.
Did you know you can take a bus tour of this Kansas preserve? That makes this free outdoor adventure a lot more accessible, because some of us (like me) can’t always hike too far. There’s so much to see out there!
douglascountyks
There’s little remaining evidence of the original trails taken across the prairie, but this preserve holds wagon ruts from just that. Along the Santa Fe trail, many a covered wagon traveled. Today, we get to see where they once traveled and marvel at just how long it would have taken to get just a few miles away.
This funky rock comes with some great scenery and even greater adventure. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a giant mushroom rock?
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
You can watch one of our most beautiful sunset locations as birds of all kinds and colors fly through the sky. What could be more magical than our natural beauty?
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