The Vibe: There Really Is No Place Like Kansas
If you’re like almost everybody else around the country, one of the first things you think of when
Kansas is mentioned is “The Wizard Of Oz”. And while Kansas is immensely proud of its relationship with arguably the best story of all time, it’s about time Kansas got props for everything else it’s good at.
It’s easy to dismiss Kansas as just some flat, flyover state, but anyone who has ever lived here knows the truth: Kansas is the heartland, both literally and figuratively. It’s the geographical center of the country as well as a state filled with salt-of-the-earth people and farmlands that feed the country. You’ll find everything from rural communities and small towns to big cities and suburbs.
Kansas isn’t just Dorothy’s home, it’s also the setting for “Little House on the Prairie”. Flint Hills is the land that gave the world President Eisenhower. You can walk the same ground as Wyatt Earp did in the Western High Plains or learn about the state’s aviation history and hometown hero Amelia Earhart.
From the salt mines of Strataca to hometown of Superman, Kansas was built by pioneers and continues to reinvent itself while still managing to stay true to its heart, proving that Dorothy was right: There really is no place like home. Especially when that home is Kansas.
Local Flavor: Wichita Never Falls
For nearly 45 years now, no singular event has brought Kansas together in quite the same way as the Wichita River Festival. As the biggest city in the state,
Wichita is already a hub for everything that is going on in Kansas. But the Wichita River Fest is one of the most highly-anticipated events in the city and across the state all year long.
This nine-day party features over 60 events that bring Kansans out from every corner of the state to enjoy the 100 hours of concerts and live music entertainment including 40 bands, awesome fireworks displays, sporting events, vendors, tons of great things to eat including anything and everything deep fried, cultural events, fun for kids and families, a parade, and much more.
Cuisine: Kansas City Barbeque Is Boss
The two Kansas Cities have been trying to top each other as being the better Kansas City for… well, as long as there was two Kansas Cities. But there’s a reason why
Kansas City, MO tends to be much more vocal in the pursuit of bragging than
Kansas City, KS is and that’s because the folks in KCK are too busy stuffing their faces with all that amazing barbeque they have to waste time talking.
Slow cooked and smoked to perfection, the molasses based barbeque of Kansas City tops everywhere else, actually. Just ask anyone. Of course, you might want to wait until they’re done eating. And that might take a while.
Nightlife: If You Can’t Find Fun, You’re Not Looking
It should come as no surprise that you’re not going to find the bright lights and nonstop nightlife of
Las Vegas in Kansas anytime soon. But there are still plenty of ways to have fun around The Sunflower State after the sun goes down if you know where to look.
Head to the bigger cities like Wichita and Kansas City where you’ll find a plethora of live music venues, awesome restaurants, trendy bars and dives, clubs, and theaters, not to mention a variety of outdoor festivals in the warmer months, to get your weekend off on the right foot. Even places like Overland Park make for a great night out when you’re dining on the swanky rooftop bars overlooking the lights of the city.
Safety & Crime: Do Your Research And You’ll Always Feel Safe In Kansas
Knowing the best places to be and the areas that are best to avoid is key to determining how safe of an experience you have anywhere and Kansas is no different. The good news is that there are plenty of safe places to choose from across The Sunflower State.
Places like Mission Woods, Westwood Hills, Eastborough,
Mission Hills,
Leawood,
Prairie Village,
Fairway, and
Roeland Park all have incredibly safe crime rates, some even 70 percent lower than the Kansas average. Even in the bigger cities where crime is more of an issue, there are plenty of neighborhoods where you’ll feel safe.
Weather: Spring, Summer, Winter, And Fall, Kansas Has It All
As with any respective state of natural beauty, Kansas is a state where you’ll meet all four seasons. Spring and fall both mark mild climates with enjoyable weather where you can enjoy the best of everything Kansas has to offer.
Summers are hot with temperatures across the state that hover in the low 90s but usually feel hotter thanks to the humidity. And winters are cold and snowy, but not overly bad. January highs average in the 50s and the average snowfall can vary with most of the state seeing around 10-15 inches of snowfall annually. Expect more if you live in Western Kansas, though, where places like Colby can get slammed with as much as 30 inches of snow each year.
Commute: Kansas Makes Getting To Work Easy
If you have any hopes of ditching your car and walking to work every day, you can count the high majority of Kansas out. The state is very typically Midwestern, which means that areas are usually sprawling and require a car to get around. Only two percent of the state walks to work and under .5 percent take public transit. The good news is that the commute time won’t asm uch out of you as it will most other places.
The average commute time for Kansas overall is a cool 18.9 minutes each way, which falls well under the national average of 25 minutes.
Cost Of Living: Kansas’ Price Tag Gives You Something To Smile About
You can put your financial worries to ease in Kansas. Not only is the cost of living affordable here, but you get a much bigger bang for your buck.
Based on information received from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, TheCheatSheet.com compiled a list of the most affordable states in the country and Kansas came in low at No. 6. Against a national index of 100, Kansas’ cost of living index is 89, which is 11 points lower than the national average. Housing is incredibly cheap here, too, coming in 24 percent cheaper than the national average.
Kansas Is Those Amber Waves Of Grain You Sing About
We know that Kansas doesn’t have one of the sea to shining seas. And it definitely doesn’t have the purple mountains majesty. But what Kansas does have is the amber waves of grain.
Kansas is one of the most productive agricultural states in the country, with farms around every corner. The biggest crops includes wheat, corn, sorghum, and soybeans. Travel around any of the many local farmer’s markets across the state and don’t be afraid to get your produce from a truck on the side of the road. It really doesn’t get any fresher than that.
Kansas Has The World’s Best Waterpark
If you’ve ever been to a waterpark, you might assume you’ve been to them all. But if you’ve ever been to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, you know that you’ve never been to a waterpark until then.
You have to take 264 stairs to get to the top of their famous water slide. Called the Verruckt, which is the German word for “insane,” this massive slide holds the record for the world’s tallest and takes riders down the drop at 70 miles per hour, proving once again that Kansas isn’t always what meets the eye.
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