Star Wars® Exhibit, Keeper of the Plains Unique to Wichita

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Cecilia Harris

May the Force be with you while exploring Star Wars®: Where Science Meets Imagination at Exploration Place in Wichita. Peer into the future through this blockbuster exhibit focusing on the Star Wars film series that became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. Fans will enjoy artifacts from all six films while those interested in the science behind the fantasy technologies and how it relates to today’s world also will have plenty to see and do. You don’t want to miss this national traveling exhibit from May 25 to Sept. 3 because once it leaves Wichita, it will be displayed in cities so far, far away they might as well be in another galaxy. Continue reading →

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Passing on the Crappie Tradition

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Elizabeth Peterson

One of the best times of the year for fishing in Kansas is in the spring, right in the middle of the crappie spawning season. As the weather starts warming up and the fields start to turn green, the crappie start moving closer to shore making fishing on Kansas lakes a dream come true. Continue reading →

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Fire and the Flint Hills: Manhattan’s new Discovery Center

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Karen Ridder

I remember the first time I saw the Flint Hills on fire. I was driving up the turnpike on a mid-spring night. Suddenly as I crested a hill, I was met with snakes of red covering the endless valley. It was a breathtaking moment, as amazing as seeing the mountains or ocean for the first time. This product of the dance between man and nature produces a sight that never leaves your memory.

That was my first “experience” with one of the truly great wonders of our state, and the type of encounter the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan tries to replicate for its visitors.

Continue reading →

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Biker Breakfasts Fuel Cyclists at Marquette Rally

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Cecilia Harris

When hundreds of bikers ride into Marquette on the morning of May 19, townspeople will be ready to serve up plenty of pancakes, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. Biker breakfasts feed hungry motorcycle enthusiasts who arrive early for the Thunder on the Smoky, a Kansas Motorcycle Museum bike rally that draws 5,000 people. Continue reading →

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Wildflower Tours, a great way to experience Natural Kansas

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Karen Ridder

As Mother’s Day approaches, instead of giving your mom some flowers, plan to experience them together on one of the state’s many wildflower tours.

The Barber County Wildflower Tour on the Saturday before Mother’s Day is a perfect example. It lets you encounter native wildflowers and have the chance to see a beautiful part of the state in a unique way. Continue reading →

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Catching a glimpse at the Kansas Birding Festival

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Katy Ibsen

I’ve never been birding in Kansas but it’s safe to say I’d be selling my experience as a Kansan short if I didn’t.

Our state can be one of the most opportunistic places to see rare species of birds due to their migration patterns. Which brings us to the upcoming Kansas Birding Festival (April 27-29). The festival began in 2004 and continues every other year opposite the Wings ‘N Wetlands festival held at Cheyenne Bottoms in Great Bend. Continue reading →

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The Cowtown Experience: Wichita’s past explored

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Karen Ridder

Old Cowtown Museum sits in the middle of the state’s largest thoroughly modern city, but gives you the chance to walk back in time through a slice of our historic small-town beginnings.

The re-creation of 1870s Wichita along the banks of the Arkansas River is a collection of 26 historic structures which have been re-located to the 17 acre park. It is very family friendly, easily accessible and gives a surprisingly isolated feeling in the middle of the city. Continue reading →

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Kelley Hunt Creates Music of Kansas

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Patsy Terrell

Kansas musician Kelley Hunt has earned the respect of critics and fans across North America and Europe with her music steeped in blues, roots and gospel traditions. She has graced the stage at premier American and International music festivals but Kansas is where her heart is.

That made her the perfect choice to create the music for a new set of commercials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, promoting the Sunflower State as a vacation destination.

What was your first reaction when you were approached about this project?

I was intrigued by the idea from the start, to represent the state in a positive way. I thought this could be a great opportunity to do something fun for my home state. Continue reading →

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10 Reasons to Attend the William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Cecilia Harris

An internationally renowned theatre festival occurs yearly right here in Kansas in honor of our state’s very own Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winning playwright, William Inge. Inge’s work included Picnic, Bus Stop, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and Splendor in the Grass. The William Inge Theatre Festival in his hometown of Independence is a four day celebration of some of the most prestigious playwrights and theatre artists in this country and the world, and is well worth the minimal fees charged for the events. Here are 10 reasons to attend some or all of the 31st Festival’s activities tomorrow through Saturday (April 18-21) at the William Inge Center for the Arts on the campus of Independence Community College: Continue reading →

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Spring Turkey Hunting

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Elizabeth Peterson

Spring turkey season is one of the most anticipated hunting seasons of the year. The landscape is turning green again and the toms (male turkeys) are strutting their stuff.  After a long, cold winter it is a sure sign that spring has arrived and summer is right around the corner. While the sound of a gobble is highly recognizable to most everyone, it is also one of those sounds that can immediately quicken the heartbeat of any turkey hunter. Continue reading →

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