Kansas Rustling Wings, Teeming Wildlife: Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway 7 Days/6 Nights
“There are 650 species bird species in the United States, 417 in Kansas and 320 at Cheyenne Bottoms.” Local Great Bend naturalist For all of us who envision the Kansas prairie as a dry grass landscape built on sandhills, the fresh and salt water marshes in the central part of the state present a fresh perspective. They’ve been called a bird-watchers paradise. Acres of radiant water serve as a temporary home for clouds of birds as they make their annual migrations, north to south and east to west. Together, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, the two anchors of the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway, form the central interchange for birds migrating across North America. More than half of the population of northward-migrating shorebirds make a stopover at Cheyenne Bottoms on their journey. Quivira attracts birds common to both the east and west coasts. At 41,000 acres and slightly over 22,000 acres, they are two of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world. Both are included in a treaty formalizing “wetlands of international importance.” Yet, this trip is more than just for the birds. You can also enjoy wildlife, prairie dogs, hiking trails and some very interesting historical locations.
Itinerary Day One: Kansas City Day Two: Topeka Day Three: Topeka to Great Bend to Byway Day Four: Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway/Great Bend Day Five: Post Rock Scenic Byway to Wichita Day Six: Wichita to Kansas City Day Seven: Leave Kansas City
Trip Highlights Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway: Short central Kansas byway anchored by Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira. Cheyenne Bottoms: 41,000 acres of wetlands teeming with birds and wildlife. Get a great view of the whole from the Cheyenne Bottoms Scenic Overlook. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge: Walk Birdhouse Boulevard and the Migrant’s Mile for the best bird sighting views. Kansas Wetlands Interpretive/Educational Center: Walk on the boardwalk to get into the midst of the marsh and hike the Cheyenne Bottoms Bird Trail. Central Kansas Raptor Rehab Education Facility: Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, care and release of injured raptors. Post Rock Scenic Byway: 18 mile route named for the native limestone rocks used for fenceposts in the area. Offers additional wildlife watching at Wilson Lake. Great Bend: Old West town located on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Larned National Historic Site: Restoration of the 1860s sandstone fort that was one of the most important in the west. Maxwell Wildlife Refuge: Central Kansas bison sanctuary. Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site: Recreated late 1800s Kansas pioneer village with a schoolhouse, mansion, livery stable, physicians office, dental office and more. Kansas Museum of History: Learn about colorful characters and everyday folks from the Kansas past. See 329a fully stocked covered wagon. Kansas State Capitol: Enjoy a 296 step capitol building tour where murals and sculpture tell the story of Kansas history. Binkley Gardens: Private woodland garden featuring thousands of tulips, daffodils and flowering trees. Charles Curtis House: Home of President Hoover’s Vice President. First Presbyterian Church: Breathtaking Tiffany windows. Downtown Farmers Market: Fresh products in downtown Topeka. Lake Shawnee Recreational Area: 1,100 acre lake with hiking trails and gardens. Mulvane Art Museum: The oldest accredited art museum west of the Mississippi River. Potwin Place: Great Victorian homes along brick streets deliver a very pleasant neighborhood. Reinisch Rose Garden: 6,500 plants and more than 400 varieties of roses. Rees Fruit Farm: Pick your own from more than 14 different crops. The Ritchie Houses: Home of the founders of Topeka and Kansas. Combat Air Museum: Military aircraft museum with 32 aircraft. Old Cowtown Museum: 17 acre open air museum with 35 exhibits depicting life between 1865 and 1880. Indian Center Museum: Showcasing the heritage of many North American Indian tribes. Charles M. Russell Heritage of the West Gallery: 26 original paintings, water colors, drawings and bronzes by the frontier’s most famous artist. A Prairie Garden: Part of Botanica, the Wichita Gardens. North American Prairie Exhibit: Stroll along the unique skywalk for a birds eye view of the prairie’s most famous animals. Chisholm Trail Exhibit: Wichita trailblazer whose trail made it possible to drive cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas. Prices starting at: $329. Per person, double occupancy, including all hotel taxes and breakfast using Best Western accommodations. Package rates may vary by season and day of the week. No attractions or activities included. Other accommodations choices and customization available. Call toll-free 877-485-8747 to book.