See Something Unexpected in the Beautiful Kansas Flint Hills TWT, August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Kansas Flint Hills, Expect the Unexpected! When Danny and I got our first RV (Lost I), we took a trip where we basically each chose a direction and then went in a combination of those two. Danny chose east, and I chose south. So, we ended up at the very north-west edge of Kansas, staying in the small town of St. Francis. It was one of our favorite trips. No plans, we just explored the area, and in the process we grew to love Kansas. So, last year, when one of my cousins suggested we meet in Kansas we were all for it. This time, we ventured to the eastern side of the state. We stayed at Tuttle Creek State Park, just north of Manhattan, KS in the Kansas Flint Hills. Most people think of Kansas as flat and boring. I suppose if you don’t come from a farming background it’s hard to see beauty in miles of wheat or corn fields. Personally, I like looking at the wheat more than the corn. It has such a lovely golden hue to it and turns everything around it that same golden color. On top of the agricultural aspects, Kansas – particularly the eastern half has a lot to offer. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidental Library and Childhood Home, a great museum with lots of information about a son, soldier, president, and patriot. There are also attractions in Topeka and Kansas City, and several out of the way smaller spots that we will talk more about later. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve So, after traveling across the wheat fields of Kansas, we arrived in the Flint Hills. This area of Kansas holds the last of the native tallgrass prairie that once covered over 170 MILLION acres of the plains. Today, less than 4% of it remains and most of it is found in the Kansas Flint Hills. People can learn more at the little known Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve just south of Manhattan, KS. If you have ever wanted to live out your “Little House on the Prairie” fantasy, this is the preserve for you! The 11,000 acres of the preserve are split into two sections. One section consists of a herd of bison in their natural habitat on the prairie, and includes a hike that takes you through this habitat. The other section includes the old ranch buildings and a hike through the prairie to the old one-room schoolhouse. This section allows dogs to tag along. This is also where I fulfilled my “Little House on the Prairie” fantasy. It was so much fun to walk through acres of wildflowers, butterflies, bees, birds, creeks and of course, tallgrass. At the end of the hike, I arrived at the old one-room schoolhouse, which still included all the desks, tablets, chalkboards and other materials used by the students who were educated there. It was a really cool experience! We’re Off to See the Wizard! Who would have thought that the Flint Hills of Kansas would include the world’s largest collection of memorabilia from the “Wizard of Oz”?! The Oz Museum is found in the small town of Wamego, KS, right outside of Manhattan. The town itself is very “Wizard of Oz” themed with its own yellow brick road that you can follow and take selfies. Brightly painted “Toto” statues adorn storefronts and sidewalks, and there is even an Oz winery where you can sample various wines made in the area! The museum itself is filled with over 2,000 pieces of memorabilia from the “Wizard of Oz” movie and book. Set against the backdrop of the movie, which plays all day in the small theater attached to the museum, visitors can see costumes and props from the movie as well as learn behind-the-scenes stories about the filming. Memorabilia and copies of author Frank Baum’s other books, and other musicals set to the story are also on display. It was a hidden gem and a really cool experience for us who grew up watching the movie every year on tv. Other Kansas Flint Hills Gems I was really sad that somehow I lost a bunch of the footage that I took of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum. As a WWII buff, I have a deep respect for Ike and his planning of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He was truly a great leader who I wish more modern leaders emulated. Even though we didn’t have enough footage for a video, I highly recommend that you visit the library to learn more about this great man. We were excited to learn that there is a lot to do in the Topeka and Kansas City areas that we didn’t get to do. We will be back to explore the area more! For now, however, we will be moving on. We have several other states (and Canada!) to share with you, plus a new family member to introduce! Stay tuned for more of our adventures coming soon. To see more of our adventures, check out our other blogs, Travel-a-Long, Hike-a-Long, and Drive-a-long videos. If you are interested in learning some of the tricks we use to make our life easier on the road, check out our Tips and Tricks videos. Plus, our merch store will be coming soon. Until next time, happy traveling! Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Related Blogs Jess's Posts Boston TerriersEisenhower Presidental Library and MuseumFlint HillsOz MuseumRV Travel with DogsTallgrass Prairie National PreserveTraveling with TerriersWamego