Sampler Foundation hosts pop-up in Elkhart

A Big Kansas Road Trip Pop-Up event May 3 in Elkhart invites visitors to explore far southwest Kansas, home of the Cimarron National Grasslands and 23 miles of the Santa Fe Trail. 

Exploration options include taking in the expansive views at Point of Rocks in Morton County, a landmark along the Santa Fe Trail, and visiting the Tri-State marker where Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado come together. The event is organized by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. For lodging and more opportunities to explore, visit bigkansasroadtrip.com. 

A Big Kansas Road Trip Pop-Up event May 3 in Elkhart invites visitors to explore far southwest Kansas, home of the Cimarron National Grasslands and 23 miles of the Santa Fe Trail
A Big Kansas Road Trip Pop-Up event May 3 in Elkhart invites visitors to explore far southwest Kansas, home of the Cimarron National Grasslands and 23 miles of the Santa Fe Trail

Plan a visit to Little House 

The Little House on the Prairie Museum is open March 14-21 for spring break and then starts regular hours for the season on April 5. A celebration of Carrie Ingalls’ birthday is planned for Aug. 2. The site southwest of Independence is on ground where the Ingalls family lived from 1869-1871 and where daughter Carrie was born. The site includes a replica of their cabin as well as a one-room school and post office from the era. Check their Facebook page for updates. 

The Little House on the Prairie Museum is open March 14-21 for spring break and then starts regular hours for the season on April 5
The Little House on the Prairie Museum is open March 14-21 for spring break and then starts regular hours for the season on April 5



 

Territorial Capital decks the halls

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, the Territorial Capital Museum in Lecompton goes all out, displaying more than 200 trees adorned with vintage ornaments on all three floors of its historic limestone building.  

Early Kansas pioneers had to be creative since trees on the prairie were scarce: Displays include trees made from tumbleweeds, driftwood, horse shoes, barbed wire and goose feathers.

The holiday display can be viewed Wednesday-Sunday from  Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 each year. For more information, go to lecomptonkansas.com

2024 Big Kansas Road Trip Leads to North-Central Kansas

The sixth annual Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) takes place May 2-5 in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties plus the community of Lucas in Russell County.

The goal of the Kansas Sampler Foundation annual event is to provide first-hand experiences in rural communities for the general public, according to Marci Penner, co-director of the foundation.

Dozens of attractions and merchants open their doors and plan activities during the four-day event. Visitors choose their own pace and which of the a la carte options to include.

Itineraries can be planned by visiting bigkansasroadtrip.com or perusing the BKRT color print guide. Options include grassroots art, military history, missile silos, geologic gems, petroglyphs, lakes, post rock structures, hiking trails, museums, a microbrewery, made-from-scratch restaurants, unique shopping, and even a drive-in movie theater.

For more information go to bigkansasroadtrip.com or call 620-960-0552.