Flint Hills, KS ???
May 16th, 1999, 11:25 AM
#1
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Flint Hills, KS ???
Any advice about the best trip to see the flint hills in Kansas. What to see ? where to go ?
Thank you.
Bruno - www.pimico.fr/ab
Thank you.
Bruno - www.pimico.fr/ab
May 16th, 1999, 05:05 PM
#2
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I'm not sure which direction you'll be coming from, but the drive between Topeka and Manhattan is nice. In my opinion the KS Natural History Museum on the west side of Topeka is good. The flint hills also span farther south toward Wichita. That may not be much help. Do you have anything specific in mind? Which part of the state are you planning to visit?
May 17th, 1999, 04:59 AM
#3
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Thank's Amy,
I'm living in Kansas City and every body tols us do see the flint hill. but nobody is aible to tell us exactly what we can see and where. If it's just the road between Topeka and Manhattan we allready did it !! So we expect to see more but not sure of where to go. On a Map it looks like the Flint Hills are on the East of Wichita ?? Are Eureka and Howard the center of the Flint Hills ???
I'm living in Kansas City and every body tols us do see the flint hill. but nobody is aible to tell us exactly what we can see and where. If it's just the road between Topeka and Manhattan we allready did it !! So we expect to see more but not sure of where to go. On a Map it looks like the Flint Hills are on the East of Wichita ?? Are Eureka and Howard the center of the Flint Hills ???
May 17th, 1999, 02:22 PM
#4
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Bruno, the flint hills area that I know of is nearer to Witchita. Take I-35 S. from Kansas City. The towns surrounding the flint hills that would be of interest historically and perhaps otherwise are Strong City, Cottonwood Falls & Council Grove.
Don't know much on Strong City at this time except that the Z-Bar Ranch is 2 miles from there and has been recently named a national park, part of which is a tall grass prairie preserve. I don't know to what extent you can visit, but do some searches for Z-Bar Ranch for more info.
Cottonwood Falls has some beautiful historic Kansas limestone buildings - most notably the Chase County Courthouse & the Grand Central Hotel - an 1884 restored building which is now a 10 room hotel and restaurant which is supposed to be great (according to some friends who have been there.)
Council Grove was the only trading post on the Santa Fe Trail between Independence, MO & Santa Fe, NM while the Santa Fe trail was operating. The Hays House restaurant there is said to be the oldest continually operating restaurant W. of the Mississippi. There is a lot of interesting history in Council Grove.
I'm ashamed as a Kansan for many years that I've never explored these towns myself yet, but have researched them in anticipation of visiting the area myself soon and have learned from friends & family that they are worth visiting.
Don't know much on Strong City at this time except that the Z-Bar Ranch is 2 miles from there and has been recently named a national park, part of which is a tall grass prairie preserve. I don't know to what extent you can visit, but do some searches for Z-Bar Ranch for more info.
Cottonwood Falls has some beautiful historic Kansas limestone buildings - most notably the Chase County Courthouse & the Grand Central Hotel - an 1884 restored building which is now a 10 room hotel and restaurant which is supposed to be great (according to some friends who have been there.)
Council Grove was the only trading post on the Santa Fe Trail between Independence, MO & Santa Fe, NM while the Santa Fe trail was operating. The Hays House restaurant there is said to be the oldest continually operating restaurant W. of the Mississippi. There is a lot of interesting history in Council Grove.
I'm ashamed as a Kansan for many years that I've never explored these towns myself yet, but have researched them in anticipation of visiting the area myself soon and have learned from friends & family that they are worth visiting.
May 17th, 1999, 02:53 PM
#5
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I visited the Tallgrass Prairie national Preserve (AKA ZBar/Spring Hill Ranch) last June.
Available for inspection were an old barn, an old limestone Victorian era house, an icehouse and a nature trail.
I found it interesting for a half day excursion. Definitely get a tour from the rangers.
See this website for more info:
www.parktrust.org/zbar.html
Oh yeah, it was freakishly hot and humid, by the standards of this desert dweller.
Available for inspection were an old barn, an old limestone Victorian era house, an icehouse and a nature trail.
I found it interesting for a half day excursion. Definitely get a tour from the rangers.
See this website for more info:
www.parktrust.org/zbar.html
Oh yeah, it was freakishly hot and humid, by the standards of this desert dweller.
Oct 27th, 2000, 11:28 AM
#6
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"Freakish" is as good a word as any to describe Kanzas weather, but that's another story.
The towns and places mentioned are a good starting point to visit a state that has more to offer than the casual observer might ever imagine. Just about anything to do with the Great Plains Tribes, the expansionist movement and cowboys and gunfighters can be found in The Sunflower State.
The "front porch" of the Flint Hills is farther east than other postings indicate, starting basically in Emporia, birthplace of Wm. A. White, noted newspaper editor. It is also home to the NATIONAL TEACHER'S HALL OF FAME and to EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY, recently listed as one of the most desirable universities in the nation.
Wichita has several great museums as well as "cowtown", which is a complete "old west" community with working blacksmith shop and lots of other features.
Abiline has the Eisenhower Center and at least two really good old west museums.
The Hills themselves appear to be simply miles and miles of rolling grass land with the occasional little town nestled in. Not too exciting, on the surface, but full of beautiful flora and nice people. On one afternoon's drive in the area of Chase Co. (read William Least Heat Moon's massive "Prairy Erth") we saw quail, prairie chicken, pheasant, hawks, coyote's, wild turkey, rattlesnakes (dead on the road) white tailed deer and even an antelope along with thousands of head of grazing cattle. There are worse ways to spend a day.
The towns and places mentioned are a good starting point to visit a state that has more to offer than the casual observer might ever imagine. Just about anything to do with the Great Plains Tribes, the expansionist movement and cowboys and gunfighters can be found in The Sunflower State.
The "front porch" of the Flint Hills is farther east than other postings indicate, starting basically in Emporia, birthplace of Wm. A. White, noted newspaper editor. It is also home to the NATIONAL TEACHER'S HALL OF FAME and to EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY, recently listed as one of the most desirable universities in the nation.
Wichita has several great museums as well as "cowtown", which is a complete "old west" community with working blacksmith shop and lots of other features.
Abiline has the Eisenhower Center and at least two really good old west museums.
The Hills themselves appear to be simply miles and miles of rolling grass land with the occasional little town nestled in. Not too exciting, on the surface, but full of beautiful flora and nice people. On one afternoon's drive in the area of Chase Co. (read William Least Heat Moon's massive "Prairy Erth") we saw quail, prairie chicken, pheasant, hawks, coyote's, wild turkey, rattlesnakes (dead on the road) white tailed deer and even an antelope along with thousands of head of grazing cattle. There are worse ways to spend a day.
