Sunset over Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Logan County, Kansas.
In part one of our road trip series, we explore a place that combines beautiful landscapes, folk art and a whole lot of personality: central Kansas.
While it may not be first in mind when you think of a road trip destination, the key to a good Kansas adventure is to get off the beaten track and by track, we mean I-70. The straight shot west makes the whole state seem like an endless track of asphalt and billboards, but that’s hardly the case.
Travel by state routes and back roads to get closer to the scenery. By moving at a slightly slower pace, you can better appreciate the changing environment on your journey.
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Land-locked Kansas is not where you might expect to see a squadron of pelicans or a fling of sandpipers.
But a couple of times a year, we become home to thousands of migratory birds making the long journey north or south. And when that happens, there’s no better place for bird watching than the salt marshes at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
Credit Lu Anne Stephens / KMUW
It’s the spring migration and local birds are joined by thousands of fellow travelers coming from all points south. About 350 species pass through North America each year, and more than 340 of them will spend some time in Quivira.
Where to find Kansas prettiest birds this spring Sarah Spicer, The Wichita Eagle
May 4 Birdwatching has become more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, often helping people cope during lockdown, as it became a safer, social distancing activity. Here are the birds coming in and around Wichita and the eight most popular places to watch them.
Chisholm Creek Park
Walking and biking the trails around Wichita parks can be great ways to find unique birds around Wichita, according to Bob Gress, the former director of the Great Plains Nature Center. Every little park scattered around Wichita is going to have something in it, Gress said, but this northeast park at the Great Plains Nature Center, near 29th and Woodlawn, offers wetlands, woodlands and grasslands, therefore making it an excellent place for several colorful and unique species.