The true definition of America’s Heartland, a few hours of drive through Kansas provides excellent views of corn country.
Facebook: Kansas TourismAs I move forward with my column, I will choose the states I write about from a random selection, and the first Midwestern state I will cover is Kansas. Kansas is naturally thought of as a state filled with cornfields and in the heart of the Tornado Alley. Though that is true, Kansas offers some excellent cornfield scenery when taking the time to drive through the state, which is exactly what I did. My family was driving home from Texas in 2012, and we decided to drive through Kansas. We trekked through a good chunk of the state via interstates 35 and 70, from Wichita to Topeka to Kansas City. Here are my takeaways from that drive:
Appreciation for Cornfield Scenery
I know driving through miles of cornfields can become repetitive and boring, but in Kansas, driving through endless cornfields made me realize how important the state can be for providing agriculture to other states. The interstate had its share of small climbs, and at the top there was a nice overlook of wheat-colored fields for miles. I honestly thought this was the best cornfield scenery in the country, though Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Indiana might have something to say about it.
The Towns in Kansas Are Bigger Than You Think
When thinking about Kansas towns, there may be a common perception of a small town located in the middle of cornfields. However, the state also has bigger cities such as Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City. Though I did not venture into these cities, it was evident through driving around the areas that these towns had many amenities that any other large town would offer, such as ample dining and lodging options, malls, and a downtown district. The culture in these towns is worth exploring. I even stopped in the town of Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas. The town is large, and provides a great atmosphere for a college experience, not to mention the ultra-successful Jayhawks basketball program. I’m glad I decided to take the drive through the Heartland of the country, because my thoughts about this state were originally based on common assumptions rather than the truth.
