Unique Things to Do in Kansas: 8 That'll Win You Over

Don’t let anyone ever tell you Kansas is boring. Having been there myself, I can tell you there are countless unique things to do in Kansas. From murder mysteries in Wichita to cool rock formations in the northeast, this state has something for everyone. All you have to do is put on your walking shoes and get on over.

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Where To Stay in Salina, Kansas

Since this list jumps all over the place, let’s focus on a centrally located city, Salina. And in Salina, I’d recommend a night at Homewood Suites by Hilton Salina Downtown.

The staff here go the extra mile to make your stay as comfortable as possible. It has a delicious complimentary breakfast and an amazing restaurant when you’re too tired to scrounge for a place to eat.

It’s right in the middle of downtown Salina, perfect no matter where you want to go when you wake up refreshed in the morning.

A modern, five-story Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel building with a classic red-brick exterior and large grid windows, lit warmly as dusk settles in. Streetlamps and a clean, quiet brick-paved street frame the corner property, creating a welcoming and upscale atmosphere.

An indoor swimming pool with clear turquoise water is surrounded by dark tile flooring and modern decor, including yellow accent walls and sleek lounge seating. Large ceiling fans and windows provide ventilation and natural light, creating a clean and inviting atmosphere for relaxation or exercise.

A cozy coffee shop interior with a rustic-modern design featuring a wooden counter, glass pastry display, and shelves stocked with bottled drinks and snacks. Menu boards hang above the counter, and a sign on the brick wall reads "be good to each other," while seating areas with dark wood tables and chairs are arranged near large windows.

A modern hotel room with two neatly made queen beds, soft lighting, and neutral-toned decor, including a ceiling fan and large flat-screen TV on a dark wood dresser. An open doorway reveals a separate living area with a couch and framed artwork, providing a suite-style layout for added comfort and space.

A spacious outdoor patio under a transparent roof features round dining tables, cozy lounge seating, and string lights hanging overhead, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. In the background, a brick fireplace with decorative tilework adds a focal point to the open-air setting, ideal for evening gatherings.

PHOTO CREDITS: HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON SALINA DOWNTOWN VIA HOTELS.COM

PLANNING A TRIP TO KANSAS SOON?

Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more to kickstart your plans!

Popular Tours & Activities in Kansas:

Top Places to Stay in Kansas:

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Unique Things to Do in Kansas

Kansas has a reputation for being flat and, well, a little plain—but trust me, this state is full of surprises. There’s no shortage of unique things to do!

To make planning easier, I’ve included the map below so you can see exactly where each spot is and plot your own adventure across the Sunflower State.

Tour Salina’s Street Murals

If you plan on staying in Salina, it’d be a waste to not to hit up some street art. Now, obviously, you can walk through the city on a self-guided tour to see all of the amazing murals. But if you want to turn things up a notch, be sure to swing by in October for the Salina Street Art & Mural Festival, when the downtown area is turned into a veritable outdoor art gallery.

It typically only lasts for a few days, so you have to coordinate just right. However, if you love graffiti art, it’s 100% worth it.

A vibrant mural painted on a brick wall features large, detailed sunflowers in full bloom with a realistic yellow and brown bird perched on one of the blossoms. The bright blue background enhances the bold contrast of the yellow petals, creating a lively and inviting streetscape scene.

Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road at Oz Museum

While the buzz about Wicked has died down a bit, the love of Oz is ever-enduring. There’s no better evidence of that than the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas, a tribute to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and all its subsequent adaptations.

Opened in late 2021, this museum boasts one of the largest private collections of Oz memorabilia. It features over 2,000 artifacts, including costumes, props, and posters. Probably the coolest parts are the interactive bits, like the life-sized recreation of Dorothy’s house and a haunted forest walkthrough.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids aged 3-12. (Free for kids 2 and under.)

A life-sized scarecrow figure with a painted face, green shirt, and brown boots sits thoughtfully on a hay bale surrounded by pumpkins, black birds, and autumn decorations. Behind it, a colorful mural of rolling hills, cornfields, and cloudy skies creates a whimsical countryside backdrop.

PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Brockie, FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

Go Underground at Strataca

If you head over to Hutchinson, you’ll find Strataca, an active, underground salt museum where you can take a 90-second elevator ride 650 underground and explore the twisting caverns and mining galleries.

You can book tours, get a chance to collect salt rock souvenirs, and learn more about salt mining than you ever dreamed possible. You can even hop on the Dark Ride, a 40-minute guided tour on a tram. It’s like being at Disneyland… if Mickey were a bat instead of a mouse.

My claustrophobic friends out there will probably want to skip this, but it can be an amazing experience if you love cave adventures and exploration.

An old, rusted mining vehicle with missing parts and exposed mechanical components is displayed in a dimly lit underground cavern. The rough, stratified rock walls surrounding it highlight the vehicle’s historical use in subterranean environments.

PHOTO CREDIT: JKetchersid, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Abandoned Missile Silo Tour

For even more underground thrills to add to your list of unique things to do in Kansas, book a tour at the Atlas Ad Astra Missile Silo in Wilson, Kansas. This decommissioned site offers a firsthand glimpse into Cold War history. You know, all that behind-the-scenes stuff where the US was preparing for nuclear war. (Reminded me a little bit of the DMZ bordering North and South Korea.)

The base is mostly underground and includes a launch control center, a tunnel with multiple blast doors, and the missile silo itself. And let me tell you, the silo is huge. Of course, since it used to house a real live intercontinental ballistic missile, it kind of has to be.

Close-up of a heavily weathered and rusted metal latch on a door, with peeling layers of orange and turquoise paint revealing textures beneath. The door edge is framed by a clean, contrasting strip of light blue wall, emphasizing the aged, gritty surface of the latch area.

Haunted Houses Abound in Atchison

An old military base is spooky enough, but you can turn that up with a visit to Atchison, a legit ghost town. This single town has dozens of haunted houses, and every fall, hosts Haunted Atchison tours that give the run-down on each building’s ghoulish past. You can book a spot on the town’s trolley tour for relatively cheap ($12 per person) between September and December.

Personally, though, the Shocktail Party is a little more my speed. With this, you get two cocktails plus a two-and-a-half hour tour through Atchison’s best haunted houses.

A grand, multi-story Victorian-style brick house with ornate architectural details, arched porchways, and a steeply pitched roof, set against a vibrant blue sky. A sign reading “Private Home” is posted at the front steps, which are flanked by stone columns and lush green landscaping.

Murder Mystery Dinner in Wichita

While we’re still in the horror/mystery genre, why not a murder mystery dinner? Come on, I know you’ve seen a bunch of these in TV shows. This is your chance to try one in real life. And since this particular tour in Wichita includes hidden cast members among the crowd, it guarantees it’ll be one of the most fun, unique things you’ll do in Kansas.

A crime scene setup with a white chalk outline of a body on a dark floor, surrounded by four yellow evidence markers. Items include a knife near marker 1, a crumpled piece of paper by marker 2, a smartphone near marker 3, and another dark object by marker 4, all under dramatic lighting for a staged forensic display.

PHOTO CREDIT: DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Gawk at the Monument Rocks in Oakley, KS

While seeing some rocks out in nature may not be the first thing you think of for unique things to do in Kansas, trust me. This is one of a kind. Formed around 80 million years ago, back when the middle of the US was basically all sea, these geological formations are made of limestone and filled with tiny fossils.

The rocks’ shapes are really one of a kind—and the best part is, there’s no admission to go see it. It does have one of those “take only pictures, leave only footprints” mantras, though, so don’t go there hankering after fossils. (They already put the best ones in a museum somewhere, anyway.)

A jagged rock formation stands tall in a flat, open landscape as the sun sets directly behind it, casting a golden glow and long shadows across the ground. The sky fades from deep purple to orange, creating a dramatic contrast with the red and brown tones of the surrounding plains.

Lucas Might Have the Most Unique Things to Do in Kansas

Finally, let’s finish up with one of my favorite places in Kansas: Lucas. This place is overflowing with weird, wacky, and amazing alternative art. You can find everything from eccentric outdoor sculptures in the Garden of Eden to (slightly creepy) art made up entirely of recycled materials in the Garden of Isis. For some non-gardens, you can check out the Grassroots Art Center and the Bowl Plaza.

And that’s not even all. Lucas also happens to be home to the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, and also the World’s Largest Travel Plate. (See? I wasn’t kidding when I said this town has a bunch of unique things to check out!)

A large, cartoonish face sculpture with exaggerated features—freckles, red eyebrows, and a wide open mouth—frames a display case set inside the mouth, giving the illusion that the viewer is looking into the character’s throat. The display includes miniature dioramas and signage labeled “World’s Largest Things,” with informational plaques and artwork panels on either side.

Had Your Fill of Hidden Gems in Kansas?

Kansas isn’t just drive-through country—it’s road trips with missile silos, haunted trolley tours, salt mines, and more Oz memorabilia than you knew existed.

If you’re hungry for even stranger stops, check out my guide to 4 weird towns in Kansas, or build out a full Kansas road trip itinerary to connect the dots between all these offbeat adventures. Rock nerds (and selfie-seekers) will want to detour to the Badlands of Kansas for epic geologic formations, while foodies can balance the spooks and salt with the best restaurants in Wichita and even more awesome things to do in Wichita.

Bottom line? Kansas is weird, wild, and way more fun than your uncle’s “flat state” jokes—so gas up and go prove him wrong.