5 Reasons to Make a Family Trip to Kansas

It’s not all about Dorothy and Toto; Kansas has a lot more to offer travelers of all ages, from Wild West history and space-age science to wonders of nature … and, of course, the Oz Museum, in Dorothy’s hometown. Here’s why you should take your family to Kansas.

Cosmosphere, Hutchingson

Live demonstrations of rockets, daily shows at the Planetarium and hands-on experience for all ages bring visitors at the Cosmosphere into the world of space exploration. Older kids will be engrossed by Dr. Goodard’s Lab, while younger ones will experiment with gravity and enjoy other hands-on activities in CosmoKids.

Boot Hill, Dodge City

Your kids won’t want to “get out of Dodge” once they visit Boot Hill, especially if you’re there during one of the twice-daily reenactments of the street shootout, which takes place in the summer — at high noon (of course) and 6:30 p.m. Visit the schoolhouse, the general store and the Dodge City Jail; see a real covered wagon; and recall the days of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson in the “Queen of the Cowtowns.”

Sedgewick County Zoo, Wichita

Take the tram around the Sedgewick County Zoo for a narrated tour, then go back on foot to spend more time with the kids’ favorites. With more than 3,000 animals, kids will see elephants, giraffes (which they can feed for an extra fee), rhinos, penguins, lions, gorillas, chimpanzees and dozens more, living in settings duplicating their natural habitats in Africa, North America, Asia and South America.

Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan

Exhibits and activities at the Flint Hills Discovery Center highlight both natural sciences and culture, along with history and conservation of the surrounding prairies. A highlight is the Immersive Experience Theater, exploring Flint Hills through sight, sound and innovative effects. The indoor Prairie Playscape is designed to encourage young children to explore the prairie plants and animals.

OZ Museum, Wamego

Kids won’t let you leave Kansas without a stop in Dorothy’s hometown and a visit to the OZ Museum, where more than 2,000 artifacts relate to the story and characters of the film The Wizard of Oz and the Broadway musical Wicked. Kids can pose with the Tin Woodman or Cowardly Lion, walk through the Haunted Forest and see the real ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the film. Be sure to walk the Yellow Brick Road through Wamego’s downtown to see the colorful Oz murals.