Tallgrass prairies once covered much of the Midwest, but only a fraction of this vital - now endangered - habitat remains today. Hike scenic trails through sweeping landscapes to discover one of the continent’s rarest ecosystems. Part of the Lawrence Historic District, these compact and pedestrian-friendly blocks are crammed with independent cafés, brewpubs, and noteworthy 19th-century architecture. Massachusetts Street is the most happening thoroughfare through downtown Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas and one of the most handsome city centers in the state.

The clusters of spires, buttes, and ancient sedimentary formations look like otherworldly fortresses and ancient sculptures made of chalk. Rising as high as 70 feet (21 m), these stone outcroppings stand dramatically against the surrounding shortgrass prairies. When you spot the Monument Rocks on the horizon, you’ll immediately see why this site was designated as the first of Kansas’ national natural landmarks. Kansas is the kind of place you get to know best horseback riding on a ranch, driving the backroads, staying in cabins, and hanging out with the locals in brewpubs and dive bars. And the state’s largest city, Wichita, ranks among the cultural hubs of the Midwest, where blocks of stylish warehouses and loads of culinary ambition fill neighborhoods like Old Town. Jazz and barbecue masters put Kansas City - a metro area split between Missouri and Kansas - on the national stage. Destinations like Dodge City bring the state’s history to life in open-air museums and Old West-themed downtowns. Along rural highways, road-trippers pull over for oddities like the world’s largest ball of twine and a giant replica of a famous sunflower painting.

But the Sunflower State reveals its personality in the unexpected details.

At first glance, its scenery might seem unchanging: The Great Plains appear to roll on forever here in the heartland, where grassy prairies and golden fields of grain define the landscape in almost every direction. Dotted with historic cow towns and laced with open highways, Kansas is known for its sprawling farms and Americana culture.

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