Hub & Spoke Suggestions

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The Chisholm Trail Experience:
Chisholm Trail was one of the most widely used routes of the great cattle drives bringing the Texas longhorns up to the railheads in Kansas. Relive the past, while enjoying modern comforts, as you travel through the unique and fascinating Kansas cattle towns.

• Caldwell - one of the most notorious towns on the Chisholm Trail. Sites include: the Cherokee Strip Center, Border Queen Museum and dramatic "Ghost Rider" silhouettes on the trail south of town.
• Wichita - Jesse Chisholm’s trading post was located here at the confluence of the Arkansas River and the Little Arkansas River. Visit Shepler’s, the world’s largest western store, the ten sites on the Western Heritage Tour, and Diamond W Chuckwagon Supper, an evening of authentic food and cowboy music.
• Newton/North Newton - from 1871-1874 known as "bloody and lawless-the wickedest city in the west.” Visit their fine restaurants, historic buildings, museums, and outstanding antique shops. The Kaufman Museum houses evidence of the Chisholm Trail.
• Goessel - founded along the Chisholm Trail by German Mennonite Immigrants. The Mennonite Heritage Museum interprets the settlement of the immigrants who changed the prairie to wheat fields.
• Abilene - This was the end of the trail, boasting dance halls, gaming rooms, and 32 licensed saloons. Learn about Abilene’s colorful past at the Dickinson County Historical Museum and Old Abilene.

Arkansas City, Kansas:
Visit the Denton Art Center, Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, and Chaplin Nature Center in this town on the edge of the Flint Hills. Arkansas City boasts a historical downtown shopping area, with plenty of public sculptures and murals for visitors to see. Scripture Hill, a large stone message built in 1897, can be seen from the US 77 bypass.

El Dorado, Kansas:
Visit where the first oil well was drilled in Kansas, Stapleton #1, and trace the collection of over 1,000 works of original art and antiques at the Coutts Memorial Museum of Art. Here you will find works by Renoir, Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. See the changes the oil industry brought to this community at the Kansas Oil Museum and Hall of Fame. Stay for fine dining, antique shops and unique craft and gift stores. Be sure to visit El Dorado Lake and State Park, where you can rent a cabin to view a breathtaking sunset over the Lake.

Hillsboro, Kansas:
At the Heritage Park Visitor's Center, watch the film, "They Live in Hope" to get a glimpse of the 1870's Dutch/German immigration to the Hillsboro area. Stroll over to the Pioneer Adobe House Museum and the Friesen Mill to see how wind power grinds grain.

Kechi, Kansas:
Be sure to visit nearby Kechi which is located on the northern edge of Wichita and is "The Official Antique Capital of Kansas.” Visit Karg Art Glass & Gallery (free glass blowing demonstrations), Turkey Creek Weaving Studio (free demonstration on 8 different looms), Kechi Playhouse (seasonal).

Hutchinson, Kansas:
The most comprehensive collection of international space artifacts in the world is on exhibit at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, just 45 minutes northwest of Wichita. Featuring flown artifacts from the U.S. and Soviet space programs, the Cosmosphere is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute. Get the hole story at the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, the only museum of its kind in the western hemisphere. Go 650 feet below the Kansas prairie to learn the importance of salt through topics as diverse as geology, history, health, science, film preservation and politics.

Lindsborg, Kansas:
This is a community with a rich Swedish cultural heritage. Visit the following attractions and events: Chess for Peace, Bethany College, Coronado Heights & Spanish Castle, Old Mill Museum & Heritage Square, Swedish Pavilion from 1904 World's Fair, Midsummer's Day Festival, Stenfors Mansion, Messiah Festival of Music and Art, Old Mill Museum & Heritage Square, Millfest, McPherson County Old Mill Museum, and numerous art galleries and studios open by appointment.

McPherson, Kansas:
Visit the McPherson Museum at the Historic Vaniman Mansion, Maxwell Wildlife Refuge (Canton), McPherson Opera House (currently being restored), Belli Bros. Model Railroad Layout, McPherson College Auto Restoration Program and the McPherson Valley Wetlands. A favorite event, the Scottish Festival is held in September.

Newton, Kansas:
The swales from over a million head of cattle are visible in Trails Park at the Kauffman Museum, where you can also learn more about the migration of the Mennonites to this area. Visit the Warkentin House Museum and the Harvey County historical Museum to learn more about the introduction of winter wheat to the region, as well as the railroad and cowboy history. Discover Kansas artists and their works at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery.

Yoder, Kansas:
Take a step back in time and experience the heritage of the simple life in the nearby community of Yoder. Just 30 minutes west of Wichita, a restaurant which serve made-fromscratch meals and offers group pricing, an old-time hardware store, Howard Miller clocks and the area’s only Thomas Kinkade gallery, an up-scale home décor store, a candle-maker, a kitchen and gourmet food shop, Prairie Peddler, quilts and collectibles, a fabric store and handmade crafts. A step-on guide service is available. Large groups welcome!

Winfield, Kansas:
Tour the lovely array of Victorian homes, with a step on guide and include a walk through of the Iron Gate Inn. Annual events include: the Walnut Valley Festival, Kanza Days, Cherokee Strip Regional Car Show and Swap Meet, and seasonal "Isle of Lights" Christmas Light Display.