VETERANS FREEDOM SQUARE

INDEPENDENCE 

Located within Riverside Park, the plaza’s pavers honor Kansas veterans and their sacrifices. Eight granite tablets detail major U.S. military conflicts, starting with the American Revolution.
 

DALTON DEFENDERS AND COFFEYVILLE HISTORY MUSEUM

COFFEYVILLE

In 1892, the Dalton Gang attempted to rob two banks in Coffeyville, but the Dalton Defenders took action to protect the town. Learn about the aftermath of the local gun battle.
 

LOWELL MILKEN CENTER FOR UNSUNG HEROES

FORT SCOTT

Get inspired by the Unsung Heroes Project, which shares previously untold stories of wartime bravery, civil rights heroics and groundbreaking contributions to the global community.
 

MINE CREEK CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD STATE HISTORIC SITE

PLEASANTON

The largest Civil War battlefield in Kansas offers self-guided tours of the site where 2,500 Union troops defeated 7,000 Confederates from Missouri in 186

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY VETERANS MEMORIAL

PITTSBURG 

Take a moment for reflection along the tranquil path into the memorial amphitheater, then read names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, modeled after the monument in Washington, D.C.    

After caffeinating in Pittsburg, get your kicks along and near old Route 66 at family-friendly sites in Galena, Riverton, Baxter Springs and West Mineral. 

Perk up with the house special—that would be the coffee—at Root Coffeehouse and Creperie in Pittsburg. The cozy vibes and crepe menu (featuring The Gorilla, stuffed with Nutella, marshmallow cream and bananas) might tempt you to curl up in the downtown shop all morning, but resist the urge—it’s time to make your move to Cars on the Route along Route 66 in Galena. Four women lovingly restored the old Kan-O-Tex gas station that today serves as a tourist stop where visitors meet favorite characters from the movie Cars, including the real-life inspiration for Tow Mater. 

Keep cruising along Kansas’ 13-mile stretch of the Mother Road to Nelson’s Old Riverton Store, a mainstay that’s been a bustling stop for road-trippers since the 1920s. Shop for Route 66 souvenirs and grab a sandwich at the deli before heading west to the Rainbow Bridge in Baxter Springs. The structure arches over a marsh, and it’s still drivable. Originally built to connect area mining communities, it now makes for a serene detour from the main road. From there, take a quick turn off Route 66 and pop into Monarch Pharmacy and Soda Fountain. Don’t be surprised if you see locals picking up their prescriptions— this is still a working pharmacy. But the main attraction for visitors is the soda fountain serving scoops of handmade ice cream. 

After slurping down your sweet treat, round out a nostalgia-filled day with a self-guided tour of Big Brutus— the largest electric shovel in the world at 16 stories tall. This massive piece of mining equipment in West Mineral is both an awe-inspiring sight and a memorial to southeastern Kansas’ coal mining history. 

Jan Hedges’ journey to Fort Scott started with a love story. She moved to town in 2011 to marry Dick Hedges; the two had reconnected a year earlier after they were both widowed, and sparks flew. Retired from careers in education, they decided to parlay their love of reading and writing into a new venture, opening bookstore Hedgehog.INK! in 2018. Dick passed away in March 2022, but Jan continues to run the store and share her passion for Fort Scott. “There’s a lot of appreciation for the old buildings and the brick streets that add to the uniqueness of the town,” Hedges says. “People are working together to make the downtown not only survive but thrive.”

Hedgehog specializes in used books and sits down the road from some of Hedges’ go-to restaurants, like Crooner’s Lounge for fine dining—“my favorite is the seafood ravioli”—and Papa Don’s Pizza for a fresh slice. For unbeatable fall color, Hedges suggests a drive or walk through Gunn Park. “In the fall, people will go to all these places to see beautiful leaves, and we have them right here in Fort Scott.

HONEYBEE BRUNCHERIE

HUMBOLDT 

Bring your hive to this chic brunch spot accented with glowing honeycomb patterns. Buzz- worthy entrees include Saturday Morning Cartoons: Cap’n Crunch pancakes topped with Pop-Tarts pieces, fresh berries and other sweets.                

TOAST

PITTSBURG 

Don’t be fooled—this toast is nothing like the buttered slices you’re used to at home. Order from a flavorful spread of goodness-on-bread entrees like the Avocado Smoked Salmon Toast or House Lemon Ricotta Toast with Kansas fruit jams. 

RADIUS BREWING COMPANY

EMPORIA 

Emporia’s first brewery since Prohibition stars brick-oven pizzas and a diverse offering of craft brews. The tap list often includes a fruited gose, a dry-hopped pale ale and a robust porter. The Radius pizza with local ground beef is a perennial hit.

Embark on an unlikely safari from a former Kansas train depot. The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute displays the Johnsons’ collection of photography from the duo’s expeditions across Oceania, North Borneo, and Africa in the early 20th century. No disapproving docents here: Visitors are encouraged to take photos as they explore. 

Take a trip to all six fun-filled regions of Kansas in the 2024 Official Kansas Travel Guide.