Kansas Camping
Kansas is one of six new states for us in our 2021 summer trip. We spent three days in Topeka, early in our trip, and two days in Abilene on our way towards home. It is a beautiful state and the people we encountered were very warm and friendly.
Topeka
Our three nights in Topeka was over the Fourth of July weekend. Everything about our stay was great except it was quite hot. Temperatures reached 88- 90 degree highs while we were there. We had no shade except for our awning, so it was a lifesaver!
Deer Creek Valley Campground
Deer Creek Valley, near Topeka, is a wonderful campground and such a bargain! With an AARP discount, it was only $40 a night. The sites have full hookups and concrete pads. Also, the bathhouse and laundry were nice. The only downside was the absence of shade.
There is also a very large dog park, which has become important to us since we began traveling with a puppy. It was great because it gave her a great place to run and an opportunity to play with a cute little dog.
We spent the 4th of July afternoon at the pool, so we’re able to get a reprieve from the heat. We met a very nice lady, Linda, who is a strong animal lover. She really connected with our puppy, Sophie.
The fireworks nearby were abundant and loud, but our puppy did not seem too bothered by them.
Truman Library and Museum
I really wanted to visit the Truman Library last year when we visited Missouri and were just a few miles away. But, it was closed for renovations and also likely closed because of Covid. I wasn’t sure it would be open while we were in Topeka, but discovered it was opening July 2nd while we were on our trip. It was so worth the hour-drive to Independence, Missouri. We left our puppy with a Rover sitter for the first time and it was a very good experience.
Topeka Sight Seeing
Topeka is the capital of Kansas and has a beautiful capital building. We would have loved to tour the inside, but it was the weekend and the building was closed.
So, we just checked out the local sites. For example, we saw a monument for Harry W. Colmery, a Topekan who was the author of the GI Bill. The GI Bill provides a magnitude of benefits to service members and veterans.
Topeka is also home to the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
We were unable to enter the Visitor Center located in Moore Elementary School because it was also closed for the weekend.
Kansas Food
We had some incredible meals while in Kansas. Lonnie Qs BBQ was very memorable for excellent barbecue, but also because of the kindness of its owner in serving us after closing and providing such generous portions. Lonnie’s is right outside Deer Creek Valley Campground and is a must have if you’re in the area.
We also stumbled upon a very popular downtown breakfast spot, The Pancake House. It was packed, but the wait was minimal. I loved my breakfast, but my husband was not fond of his spinach omelet.
Abilene
Abilene is a small town with links to some very famous and accomplished people. It was also important in the history of the old west.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 35th president, grew up in Abilene. His Presidential Library is there along with his family home. He was an extraordinary president and I was eager to learn more about him.
We included Abilene in our trip primarily to visit the library. It was open when our trip began, but closed a couple of weeks before we arrived because of an increase of Covid cases. We did, however, walk the grounds and take some photos.
The family home normally allows tours, but it was closed as well. I would have loved to taken one of them.
A Successful Seller of Elixers
I was astounded to learn the history of the Seelye Mansion. The man who built the 25-room house in 1905 made his money selling an elixir which was mostly alcohol and ether. Evidently, he was an extraordinary salesman. The Georgian style home cost $55 thousand in 1905 and the furnishings cost more than the house. It was beautiful with all original furnishings.
The home hosted many famous people including Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, John Phillip Sousa, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Bob Dole. Unfortunately, Abilene’s most famous son, Dwight Eisenhower, was never a guest in the home.
The bowling alley in the basement was quite interesting. It came from the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and is now one of only four in the world. Someone offered the owner of the mansion $1 million for it. I was amazed that they allowed tour members to bowl on it. I did three gutter balls.
Abilene’s Famous Marshal
The legendary Wild Bill Hickok became marshal in Abilene in 1871. We saw several images of him throughout the city. The town certainly embraces him and his colorful past.
Old Town Abilene
Abilene was significant in the old west because it was the end of the Chisholm Trail, which was used to drive cattle north. An estimated 10 million longhorns were taken to Abilene’s Railhead between 1867 and 1871.
Several buildings from Abilene’s frontier times are preserved in Old Town. Gunfighters and saloon hall dancers perform on weekends. So, we hung out with some of the performers in the saloon for awhile with our puppy.
Covered Wagon Campground
We certainly welcomed the shade and cooler temperatures that Covered Wagon Campground offered. It was a very pleasant two nights there. The pool also provided some relief from the summer heat.
In Conclusion
Kansas was a great time for us. Look for posts regarding other states we have visited on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.
Happy Camping!
