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3 Great Road Trips From Salina, Kansas

3 Great Road Trips From Salina, Kansas
Hit the road from Salina, Kansas and you can find something interesting any direction you take. There are boundless adventures found in America's heartland, and the central location of Salina provides the perfect starting point for any of them. From closest to furthest, here are three great road trips starting in Salina.

Abilene, Kansas

Brimming with history and culture, Abilene might seem like a town to pass through but there is so much to see and do. Home to 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abilene hosts the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home. It's not only a tribute to the only 5-star General to become President but it is also an astonishing collection of 70,000 artifacts. The museum features exhibits on Eisenhower's childhood in Kansas, his military career, The Great War, and a special 150-year anniversary exhibit of The Chisholm Trail. The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad is another adventure you have to experience while visiting Abilene. With trips running from May to October, this two-hour narrated train ride takes you on a 10-mile tour of the Smoky River Hill Valley. Choose from a roundtrip passenger ride, Historic Home and Barn Tour, the Old Abilene Town tour, and much more. Train times vary depending on destination, and tickets can be booked online.

Hutchinson, Kansas

Just over an hour south on I-135 from Salina is the adventurous city of Hutchinson, or "Hutch" as the locals call it. Head 650 feet underground to the Strataca Salt Mine. One of the largest salt mines in the world, it is still being mined today. A variety of tours are available, including the Safari Shuttle. This tour takes visitors deep into the tunnels of the mine, undisturbed since the 1950s and preserved just as the last miners of the time left them. Once you've been underground, you can then reach for the stars at the Cosmosphere Space Museum. Experience the digital theater, planetarium, live shows, and the Hall of Space Museum, which showcases some of the earliest rocketry known to man. The Cosmosphere is open seven days a week and is an out-of-this world experience for everyone.

Dodge City, Kansas

The three-hour trip to Dodge City is worth every mile. See the legends come to life when you visit Dodge City, and experience the old west like you never imagined. The easiest way to see it all is on the Historic Trolley Tour, which takes visitors on a one-hour narrated journey to Fort Dodge, where it all started; the Mueller-Schmidt House; the cattle stockyards; and much more. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Information Center. A trip to Dodge City isn't complete without visiting the Boot Hill Museum and famous Front Street. See gunfighter reenactments, visit the saloon for a sarsparilla, or stroll through the working general store. A memorable road trip from Salina, Kansas is just a few miles away. Not only will your final destination be worth the drive but also getting there will be just as adventurous. There is so much to see and do on your next road trip, so hit the road and explore all that Kansas has to offer.
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Best Places for a Fall Hike in Salina

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Fall is a great time of year to go hiking. The weather is cool, there aren't as many bugs as in the summer, and there is beautiful foliage to look at. The Salina, Kansas, area has many places to hike with trails for all experience levels. Here are some of the best places for a fall hike in Salina. more Salina Levee Trail The Salina Levee Trail is a 4.8-mile trail that makes its way along the flood control levee on the west bank of the Smoky Hill River. You can park at the Bill Burke Sports Complex or Oxbow Park on McAdams Road. There is also access to the trail from the Salina Soccer Complex on East Magnolia Road. This trail provides views of the river, and it connects to several local parks along the way. You can also view part of downtown Salina. If you want to shorten your hike and just walk a portion of the trail, start at Bill Burke and hike to Magnolia for 2.25 miles. Alternatively, you can start at East Magnolia Road and head over to East Schilling Road for a quick 1-mile hike. Marquette Pioneer Trail Marquette, Kansas, is not far from Salina and is home to the Marquette Pioneer Trail. This trail features asphalt millings and runs along an old railroad corridor for 2.8 miles. It also connects to the Wolverine Loop nature trail which loops around a local sports complex, which you can take if you want to expand your hike. To get started, park at the sports complex on Harold Street. This is an easy hike or walk with mostly flat surfaces and crushed stone, making it accessible for almost any fitness level. Lakewood Park Trails The Lakewood Park trails offer a variety of hiking experiences. The trails work their way around an old sandpit and feature woodlands, some prairies, and even water features with an ag-line surface that is solid and simple to walk on. You are sure to see several different types of animals including white-tailed deer, fox squirrels, and even some raccoons. This area has 3.5 miles of trails designed for a relaxing stroll or a more vigorous hike. Indian Rock Park You can also head to Indian Rock Park which is just a short distance from the Lakewood Park trails. If you park at the south end of the hill, there is a kiosk where you can get a trail map with information about the 100 different species of flowers in the park. Hike up the hill and take the loop trail that brings you to the river overlook for some beautiful views of the Smoky Hill river gorge. The trails at Indian Rock Park are well-marked right on the ground to help guide you along, and there are restrooms at the park for your convenience. These are a few of the best places for a fall hike in and around the Salina area. Whether you want to spend the day out on the trail or just make it a quick one, there is something for everyone.