TOPEKA,Kansas – โคForget the Dorothy clichรฉs.โ Kansas is quietly revealing a wealth of โคoff-the-beaten-path experiences, offering travelers unspoiled landscapesโ andโ unique adventures far from typicalโ tourist โthrongs.โ From subterranean tours to miniature state parks showcasing geological wonders,theโ Sunflower State is proving it has much more to offerโค thanโ rolling โwheat fields.
These lesser-known destinations areโ gaining traction as travelers increasingly seek โauthentic, crowd-free experiences. A desire for unique exploration,coupled โwith โa growing awareness of Kansas’ diverse geography,is โdriving interest โin these “undiscovered โขgems.” Here are five experiences to add to your โคKansas itinerary:
1. The โคHistoric Wolf Hotel & Underground Tunnel Tours, fort โScott
Stepโ back in time withโ a stayโค at the Historic Wolf Hotelโ in Fort Scott, where reservations can be madeโ online โฃat https://www.historicwolfhotel.com/book-online. โ Beyond โthe hotel, explore the city’s hidden history with Underground โคTunnel Tours. The tours cost $15 for those 11 and olderโฃ and $7.50 for children ages 5 to 10, as detailed on https://www.travelks.com/event/underground-tunnel-tours/40302/.
2.Arikaree Breaks, Cheyenne county
Defying the state’s flatlandโ stereotype, the Arikaree Breaks in northwest Kansas offer rugged canyons โand rolling hills formed byโฃ ancient erosion.โค Located in northern Cheyenne County, this “badlands” areaโ is described by www.touristsecrets.com as “like the Grand Canyon of Kansas, with deep ravines.” onlyinyourstate.com notes the Breaks extend 36 miles long and between two and threeโ milesโ wide, offering โ”seemingly endless” views.
3. โขMushroom Rock State Park,โค Ellsworth County
Northwest of Marquette, โMushroomโ Rock โคstate Park showcases unusual Dakota sandstone concretions. The 5-acre park, Kansas’ smallest, features โrocks “up to 27 feet in diameter, deposited 100 million years ago and since exposed by the relentless forces โขof erosion,” according to the 8 Wonders of โKansasโ Geography website.Atlasobscura.com describes the formations as appearing to “arise out of nowhere.”
4. Castle rock, Gove County
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5. Monumentโ Rocks, Gove County
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