Kansas is home to stunning daily sunsets and plenty of attractions to keep us busy all year long. However, Kansas isn’t known as the paradise it really is. These beautiful places hiding in plain sight are the perfect reason to get out there and make it an adventure day. They also happen to be 11 of the most beautiful places in Kansas. Bucket list, anyone?

1. Grinter Farms - Lawrence
24154 Stillwell Rd, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
Many of us have seen Grinter Farms, but most of us aren't willing to wait an hour or two just to get in. Every year, the giant field of our state flower attracts tourists from all over the world, and every year it's crowded to the point of insanity.
2. Flush Cathedral - St. George
8965 Flush Rd, St George, KS 66535, USA
google/Chris Eiel
This tiny church is a little hard to find, and Flush isn't really a town anymore. However, what lies inside is simply breathtaking. It's beautiful places like this that bring the beauty of the outside back in.
3. Museum at Prairiefire - Overland Park
5801 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66224, USA
Dave Thomas/Flickr
This museum's special glass was developed by NASA and changes color based on ambient light and the angle you're looking at it. Blues turn to purples, oranges to golds, and other color transitions that will make you want to stay all day until after sunset. It was modeled after the fires that overtake the prairie, burning the grasses to make way for new life.
4. Monument Rocks - Gove County
Gove County, KS, USA
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
Monument Rocks are our most famous remains of the inland sea that once ran over most of Kansas. These formations are made of fragile Niobrara Chalk, and the weather is slowly eroding them down every day until they're just dust.
5. Pillsbury Crossing and Deep Creek Waterfall - Manhattan
Pillsbury Crossing, KS 66502, USA
flickr/Vincent Parsons
This is our most beautiful and popular waterfall, and it's not hard to see why. The area is a great place to camp overnight, but most visitors prefer to stay only for a little while before moving on to other tourist attractions. Wouldn't this be such a relaxing place to read a book? Most definitely!

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6. Wakarusa (Baker) Wetlands - Lawrence
Lawrence, KS, USA
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
The wetlands around Lawrence give off the feeling that you're surrounded by life at every angle. This is also a hotspot for migrating shorebirds that use Kansas as a temporary home between the northern U.S. and Canada to the Gulf area. They migrate through here every spring and fall, so make sure it's the right season for them when planning your visit.
7. Elk Falls
Elk Falls, KS 67345, USA
google/Angie Marlett
Elk Falls is a tiny "living ghost town" with not much to do, but there's a gorgeous waterfall near an iron bridge. Well, that and their yearly outhouse design competition.
8. Wilson Lake
Wilson Lake, Kansas, USA
Doug Neidholdt/AllTrails
This reservoir nestled in a state park isn't your average Kansas landscape. The rock faces jutting up around the water make it feel like you've just stepped into the old west. It's been called the clearest lake in Kansas, which reflects the sunset beautifully every evening.
9. The Flint Hills
Flinthills Unified School District 492, KS, USA
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
The Flint Hills are always a source of Kansas' beauty, with the rolling hills and rock faces we know and love. You can spend a day walking through them or attend the Symphony in the Hills to further your experience.
10. Maxwell Wildlife Refuge - Canton
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, 2565 Pueblo Rd, Canton, KS 67428, USA
Kansastravel.com
This wildlife refuge is a great place to see natural bison and elk in their habitat where they're protected from poachers within a large fenced-in area. You can sit high up and take shots from above of the grounds that have been their home since 1859.
11. Prairie Lavender Farm - Bennington
Prairie Lavender Farm, 69 Alpine Ridge Ln, Bennington, KS 67422, USA
Prairie Lavender Farm Facebook
This amazing lavender farm is a stunning example of Kansas agriculture, and when the plants are in bloom, the purple sea is breathtaking.

Have you ever been to any of these beautiful places in Kansas? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

After visiting some of the most beautiful places in Kansas, you should definitely check out these amazing small-town style restaurants.

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beautiful places in kansas

Jennifer Young | June 30, 2022

What are three of the most beautiful places to visit in Kansas?

There are many beautiful places in Kansas. From parks and preserves, to lakes and wetlands, the options are endless whenever you're looking for a beautiful place to visit. Listed below are three beautiful places in Kansas that belong on everyone's bucket list?

1. Wilson Lake

Wilson Lake, which happens to be the main feature of Wilson State Park in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, covers more than 9,000 acres and is one of the largest lakes in the state. It's also one of Kansas' clearest lakes.

2. Cimarron National Grassland

Kansas' Cimarron National Grassland is nestled within the southwest region of the state and offers a lot of beautiful wildflowers and an amazing rock cliff. You'll love exploring this beautiful outdoor destination with the entire family.

3. Sand Hills State Park

Sand Hills State Park is located in Hutchinson, Kansas and is a great destination for nature enthusiasts of all ages. This scenic park, which covers a little more than 1,000 acres, offers several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails for anyone looking for adventure. Sand Hills State Park is also a great place to visit all year long, so keep that in mind as you're making vacation arrangements.

What's one of the most beautiful Kansas outdoor attractions that's worth a day trip?

Are you currently wanting to go on a day trip? If so, you're in luck! There are plenty of places in Kansas that are perfect for a day trip, including the Bartlett Arboretum, which was developed by Walter Bartlett in 1910. The Bartlett Arboretum is a beautiful 20-acre garden that's located in Belle Plaine, Kansas. This picturesque garden features several stunning trees, numerous flowers, and wonderful walking paths that visitors truly enjoy. Don't forget to add Kansas' Bartlett Arboretum to your bucket list!

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