Stay Kansas Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Kansas

Kansas is the original Free State, founded to express the principle of equality, and, later, the birthplace of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Kansas gave the world Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart — quintessential American heroes. Learn all about the Sunflower State by exploring the links in the left column. You can get a quick overview, or dig deep into the hearts and minds of Kansans by reading the many in-depth travel articles you will find. You will find out what makes Kansas a place where our wide-open spaces let people dream and make big things happen. Kansas is a West North Central state bordered by Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. The state is located in the center of the contiguous (that is, not including Hawaii and Alaska) United States. That's why one of its nicknames is "Midway USA." The American, Canadian, and Mexican Governments use Osbourne County as a reference, or starting, point in mapmaking because of its central location in North America.

Kansas City is chock full of museums celebrating everything from local history to contemporary art. The historic 18th and Vine district is home to the Kansas City Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, two important symbols of Kansas City culture from the early 1900s. The Jazz Museum houses a rather swanky nightclub, The Blue Room, which features local jazz artists. It also has in-depth exhibits on the history of jazz and famous musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker. The Negro League Baseball Museum covers the history of the league from Reconstruction through the 1960s, with a photo gallery, video talks and re-creations. Also in the 18th and Vine district is the Gem Theatre, a 500-seat performing arts center that specializes in jazz nights and children’s shows. Other museums worth mentioning in the Kansas City area are the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which currently holds more than 34,000 works of art from African, American Indian, Chinese and European cultures. There is also a modern and contemporary art section that features artwork from 1900 to the present, though a better place to see such works is probably the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, which has more than tripled its collection since its opening in 1994. There are also the Liberty Memorial Museum, dedicated to World War One, and the Airline History Museum, featuring various memorabilia from aviation history.

Kansas' "big sky," dramatic sunsets, and great variability in temperature and precipitation are all important aspects of the regional personality. Winter blizzards, violent windstorms, and heavy rains are common throughout the state, and the continental climate produces rapid temperature extremes. Generally the summers are quite warm, the winters are mild, and the humidity is on the moderate side. January is the coldest month, with average high temperatures near 31 degrees. July is the warmest month, with average high temperatures near 81 degrees. Much hotter summers and harsh, cold winters are not uncommon. Annual precipitation amounts range from 30 - 40 inches in the east, while drier conditions are common in the west. In Kansas you can enjoy four distinct seasons, each with its own unique qualities.

Wichita: If you want to be smack dab in the middle of the United States, venturing to Wichita will get you pretty close.

Overland Park: Overland Park is the second largest city in Kansas and a suburb of Kansas City. Located just south west the population runs about 200,000.

Lawrence: Lawrence, Kansas sits in midway between Kansas City, Kansas and Topeka and is a diverse and cozy college town.

Dodge City: Dodge City, founded in 1872, sprang from nearby Fort Dodge Henry’s Sitler’s sod house and at the edge of the fort’s territory.

Coffeyville: Coffeyville, KS was founded in 1869, and named for its founder Col. James Coffey. The Colonel opened a trading post along the Verdigris River, near the Indian Territory (Oklahoma).

Mid-America All-Indian Center – Wichita, Kansas: The Mid-America All-Indian Center - Wichita, Kansas Enter the world of the Native Tribes of the Plains Indians and learn not only about them but to respect their culture and the lives they lived prior to the coming of the white man.

National Orphan Train Complex – Concordia, KS: National Orphan Train Complex - Concordia, KS The history of the Orphan Train is an interesting attempt at trying to give children a home who was homeless at the time.

Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery – Olathe, Kansas: The Stone Pillar Vineyard and Winery Farm Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery is a small family owned and operated farm winery. In 1864 Fredrick Hoff purchased the farm, and was the pioneer in Johnson County for lager beer production.

Prairie Museum of Art and History – Colby, Kansas: Prairie Museum of Art and History - Colby, Kansas The museum is just off I-70 in Kansas and offers a wide array of the private collection of the Kuska collection.

Mid-America Air Museum – Liberal, Kansas: Mid-America Air Museum – Liberal, Kansas So you thought there wasn’t anything great to see or do in Liberal….right? Well just get in the car and get there because you are in for a wide variety of delightful things to do and see.

Cedar Bluff State Park – Ogallah, Kansas: Cedar Bluff State Park - Ogallah, Kansas this state park in Ogallah is has two separate areas to enjoy which combined equal 1,100 acres plus the fabulous Cedar Bluffw Wildlife area.

Kansas is served by two Interstate highways with one beltway, two spur routes, and three bypasses, with over a total of 874 miles (1,407 km) in all. The first section of Interstate in the nation was opened on I-70 just west of Topeka on November 14, 1956. I-70 is a major east/west route connecting to St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, in the east and Denver, Colorado, in the west. Cities along this route (from east to west) include Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Junction City, Salina, Hays, and Colby. I-35 is a major north/south route connecting to Des Moines, Iowa, in the north and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in the south. Cities along this route (from north to south) include Kansas City (and suburbs), Ottawa, Emporia, El Dorado, and Wichita.

The state's only major commercial airport is Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, located along US-54 on the western edge of the city. Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan offers daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, making it the second-largest commercial airport in the state. Most air travelers in northeastern Kansas fly out of Kansas City International Airport, located in Platte County, Missouri. For those in the far western part of the state, Denver International Airport is a popular option. Connecting flights are also available from smaller Kansas airports in Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, and Salina. Forbes Field in Topeka sustained commercial flights on Allegiant Air for short period of time until that service was terminated in 2007.