Looking for sights along I-70

Hi, I am helping a friend move from California to Maryland and will be driving a 26ft truck with a car hauler. But, I was wanting to know if anyone knew of any good places along I-70 to stop for some outdoor activity or historic places. Since I am in a big truck, there arent many places I can go but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks.

Looking for sights along I-70

Hi, a couple of ideas:

1. Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, Kansas. Good on WWII history. There are some other touristy-things in Abilene -- Old Abilene town, the Eisenhower library, etc.

2. Kansas State Historical museum...it%26#39;s right on the edge of I70 on the west side of Topeka. Nice, small museum...very good place to take a break on your way through.

3. You could also take a bit of a bypass and drive through Ft. Riley, near Junction City. There are a few modest historical sites along the way.

4. Also, a new dinosaur museum (lots of fossils) near Hays, Kansas.

As for outdoor activities -- there are numerous reservoirs spread across Kansas, none too far off I70. Wilson, Milford, Tuttle Creek, Clinton...all would offer walking, fishing, mountain bike riding.

Looking for sights along I-70

We live in KC and just spent a weekend %26#39;exploring%26#39; Kansas. The Rolling Hills Zoo just west of Salina is an excellent zoo, small but very high quality, if you are into zoos. They also have a museum of stuffed animals that is the largest I have seen anywhere, they said the collection was bought from an individual in CA. The other poster mentioned it, but the Sternberg museum in Hays was also impressive. It has fossils, but also a large collection of memorabilia from the %26#39;wild west%26#39; days of KS, and a collection of art prints focused on moths. Both had large parking lots that would accomodate a big truck.

I just noticed you were talking about all of 1-70 not just Kansas. Just so you can plan, ,Western KS and Eastern Colorado have very little, in terms of amenities, sights or even gas stations. We drive from KC to Colorado to ski every year and we usually just drive straight through the night. But if you are hungry, or want a break, Hays is the last major stop until Denver. There are several scenic points you can stop off in the Rocky mountains. Golden has a very nice railroad museum and you can take free tours of the Coors plant in Golden as well. There is not much on the scenic or historic side from KC to St Loius, but there are a lot of exits, restaurants, towns, along the way. In KC there is a visitor information center right off of 70 at the stadium drive exit, right in front of Arrowhead and Royals stadiums. They would have suggestions. There is lots to see and do in KC, but not right off the highway, more driving around is involved.

There are a couple of drive by photo ops in the Western part of the State. Van Gogh Sunflower Easel project on Business Loop Goodland, Exit 17. Buffalo Bill Statue off I-70 at US 83 in Oakley. If you were in car, I%26#39;d recommend Castle Rock, a Natural Landmark (Inland Ice Age Ocean Rock formation - Kansas Badlands) south of Quinter, Exit 107). Eat Buffalo steaks and fresh pies and bread at the Q-Inn at the Exit. Pete Felten%26#39;s stone sculpture studio is another site in Hays, off Downtown. A soujourn to Lucas, north of Wilson Exit features the Garden of Eden and Grassroots Art Center offers Kansas culture at some of its weirdest. Old Czeck town of Wilson has restored limestone hotel, opera house, etc. which were featured in Paper Moon (Tatum O%26#39;Neil%26#39;s childhood AA movie). Wilson Lake is the area. You also play with Greyhounds at their Dog Hall of Hame in Abilene and play with the Atomic Cannon overlooking Fort Riley, Exit 300. There is also a Grandma Hoerners apple sauce plant off I-70, near Alma. A new Wizard of Oz Museum is located off I-70 in Wamego. Council Grove, again off I-70 makes for a nice soujourn (historic hotel, riverwalk, restaurant in business since 1857, Indian Mission, town and federal lake, etc).

stay away from sternberg it hasn%26#39;t had a decent display since the dinosaur sue was here. the rolling hills zoo is great near salina and it has plenty of room for your truck.

Ellsworth, Kansas, an old cowtown is only about seven miles south of I-70 and has lots of Old West history.

A fun stop is Drovers Mercantile in Ellsworth. Talk with Cowboy, Jim Gray or his sidekick Kassie, about the frontier history of the area and the historic cattle drives. The store has lots of real cowboy stuff. Ellsworth%26#39;s downtown also has other interesting stores for antiques, home decor, cowboy hats, and there%26#39;s a B%26amp;B in a Victorian mansion, the Ira E. Lloyd House.

Not far from Ellsworth is the Mushroom Rocks (state park) where you can see a dramatic geologic phenomenon made of sandstone.

The area of Kansas calls itself Post Rock Country, for all the stone fence posts (made of quarried limestone) that can be seen outlining the pastures.

The lasr.net website has a lot of recreation and outdoor information. The Kansas section of I-70 has quite a few interesting sites of historic and natural interest.

There are quite a few places off of I-70 where you can still see the wagon wheel ruts of the Sante Fe and Oregon trails. I believe Council Grove is one of the best places (near Manhattan, KS, in the mid-part of the state.) Let me know if you want more info and I can track something down for you. If so, please email me directlyat jarush@fdic.gov

Don%26#39;t miss the Midland Hotel in Wilson, just off I-70 between Russell and Salina. 105 years old, renovated, and outstanding. Also very clean and moderate pricing, and lots of parking for that that truck!

Stucky, interesting because I%26#39;ve heard others mention this hotel... can you comment on the food - menu and quality? Rumor had it that they there was an outstanding pastry chef there at one time. The rooms are supposed to be top-shelf as well. Good suggestion.

Not too far off I-70 is the Garden of Eden in Lucas.. There are some interesting rock formations that can be found near and north of Salina called Mushroom Rock State Park and Rock City in Minneapolis. More information can be found at http://kansas.adastra23.com

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