Family Activities Between Kansas & Oklahoma

Southeast Kansas

• The Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum and houses displays of pictures and artifacts from the town's exciting history as it relates to the Civil War, to the "Cowtown" period where it was known as the wildest town on the frontier and to the roles it played as a mineral spa and mining center. Driving tours starting at the center also highlight the Civil War and Cowtown periods, as well as the town's legendary "Whiz Kids" baseball team where Mickey Mantle got his start. If your family would rather spend time with outlaws than in-laws, the Baxter Springs museum also has a driving tour where you'll visit the hangouts of such notorious characters as Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and the James brothers or you could head on down the road to Coffeyville to visit the Dalton Defenders Museum. Here you can view exhibits telling the story of the 1892 raid made on Coffeyville's banks by the Dalton Gang, and how the townspeople took up arms to defend themselves and their money. Exhibits include a recreation of the town as it looked at the time, as well as some of the actual weapons used in the raid.

Northeast/North Central Oklahoma

• In Bartlesville, you can visit a 3,700 acre wildlife preserve, Woolaroc, that is home to more than 30 different species of native and exotic birds and animals including buffalo, elk, ostriches and llamas. Woolaroc's museum displays Western and Native American art and artifacts and a comprehensive collection of Colt firearms, while the Lodge allows visitors to peek into the 1920's home of the oilman who founded the Phillips Petroleum Company. Kids can visit baby animals at the Animal Barn, play on the children's playground and enjoy a tasty buffalo burger or buffalo chili at the snack bar. At Kaw Lake, located near Kaw City, families can go boating or fishing on the 38 mile long lake, or hike, bike or go horseback riding along its many trails. 268 family campsites are available along the lake, and many of these come equipped with electric hookups and water.

Southwest Kansas

• If "The Wizard of Oz" is one of your family's favorite movies, don't miss a visit to Dorothy's House in Liberal. This replica of Dorothy Gale's family farmhouse is located on the grounds of the Seward County Historical Museum, and is part of a larger display called "The Land of OZ" which features animated witches, Munchkins, talking trees and other characters from the movie. If you prefer flying airplanes to flying monkeys, Liberal is also home to the Mid-America Air Museum, fifth-largest aviation museum in the country and the largest in Kansas. It houses more than 105 historically significant aircraft, and particular attention is given to the role Liberal itself played in aviation history both as home to a major Beech Aircraft manufacturing plant and as a World War II B-24 Liberator pilot training base.

Northwest Oklahoma

• Beaver Dunes Park, located in the panhandle city of Beaver, has 300 acres of sand hills popular with dune buggy riders. It also offers a two-acre lake stocked with largemouth bass, perch and channel cat for families who enjoy fishing together, as well as a playground, hiking trails and two campgrounds with sites for both tent and RV camping. Guymon, also in the panhandle, has the 17-acre Sunset Lake which is stocked for fishing with with catfish and trout. The lake is bordered by Thompson Park, which offers such amenities as a disc golf course, paddleboats, two merry-go-rounds and, in summer, a miniature train that runs around the lake.