What I Like About Living in Kansas
82Kansas is not what most people envision
I have lived the majority of my life in Kansas and I’ve been asked to describe what I like about living here. Kansas typically conjures bleak visions of endless farm land, but it is a far cry from the desolate images inspired by the opening scenes from the Wizard of Oz. It is in fact a very nice place to call home. I am both happy and proud to be a Kansas resident, and I’m particularly enamored of my hometown of Lawrence, situated on the banks of the Kansas River. Many people who visit Kansas or come to Lawrence to attend KU decide to stay and become a member of the community.
Famous people born and/or raised in Kansas include President Dwight Eisenhower, aviator Amelia Earhart, authors William Burroughs and Langston Hughes, artist John Steuart Curry, environmentalist Erin Brockovich, Russell Stover (of Russell Stover Candies), Chrysler Corporation founder William Chrysler, musicians Melissa Etheridge and Joe Walsh, and Survivor winner Danni Boatwright. Celebrities Ed Asner, Kirstie Alley, Hugh Beaumont, Annette Bening, Dennis Hopper, Vivian Vance, Dee Wallace-Stone, Don Johnson and Cassandra (Elvira) Peterson were all born in Kansas.
Lawrence is also home to the University of Kansas. KU has an enrollment of over 30,000 students and counts Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Bob Dole, Elmer McCollum (credited with the discovery of Vitamin A), Olympic athletes Billy Mills and Jim Ryun, basketball player Wilt Chamberlain and coaching legend Dean Smith, USA Today publisher David Hunke, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh (credited with they discovery of the planet Pluto), and actor Scott Bakula among its alumni. I graduated from KU with a degree in Fine Arts, as well.
There is a second university in Lawrence: Haskell Indian Nations University, the only university in the United States offering post-high school education specifically for federally recognized Native American Tribes in the United States. Haskell was founded in 1884 as a boarding school teaching agricultural skills to 15 students in grades one through five. Haskell began offering college level courses in 1927. The twelve buildings on its campus have been declared National Historic Landmarks.
Ten miles west of town sits the tiny town of Stull and its cemetery. There are many urban legends surrounding Stull Cemetery, and it has been called a “Gateway to Hell.” Rumor has it that Satan appears each Halloween at Stull Cemetery, and hundreds of onlookers have spent a strange night in hopes of verifying the legends. The CW television series Supernatural established Lawrence as the childhood home of Sam and Dean Winchester, and the series writers brought the brothers to Stull Cemetery for a conflict with Lucifer.
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Lawrence, Kansas in pictures
Historical significance
Lawrence is a town of historical significance and played a major role in the Civil War. A few miles south of Lawrence sits the Black Jack Battlefield, where John Brown led a free-state militia in an attack against pro-slavery forces led by Henry Pate in 1856. This was the first armed conflict over slavery and is considered by many to be the true beginning of the Civil War. Each summer a reenactment of this historic battle occurs in tribute to those who fought for the rights of freedom and dignity for all.
During the Civil War, Lawrence was a central gathering place for anti-slavery coalitions tasked with raiding Missouri towns along the Kansas-Missouri border. In the morning hours of August 21st, 1863 Lawrence fell victim to Quantrill’s Raiders and suffered one of the most gruesome attacks of the war. More than 200 men and boys were killed as William Quantrill and his men plundered and burned most of Lawrence’s buildings to the ground, including the historic Eldridge House Hotel. This horrific guerilla attack is remembered as Quantrill’s Raid and was depicted in several movies, including Ang Lee’s 1999 film “Ride with the Devil.”
Basketball at the University of Kansas was established by the game’s inventor, Dr. James Naismith. Allen Field House is located on Naismith Drive on the southern edge of the KU campus. KU’s basketball program is consistently ranked in the top ten nationally and is third in all-time college basketball victories with over 2000 wins.
Lawrence was the location and subject of a 1983 film about a nuclear war between the United States and the then-Soviet Union titled “The Day After.” This 2 ½ hour television movie starred Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg and John Lithgow and depicted the effects an atomic bomb strike on Kansas City would have on Lawrence and the surrounding area. It was considered so graphic that 1-800 hotlines were established with counselors standing by to calm viewers affected by the vivid depiction of death from radiation sickness.
The Day After was filmed on location in Lawrence
Pictures of Lawrence
Social and cultural opportunities abound
The University of Kansas offers a wide variety of cultural opportunities for Lawrence residents and students alike. The Natural History Museum at KU houses a panoramic display of North American plants and animals. This display is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. It also is home to Comanche, a Seventh Cavalry horse that was the only living creature to survive the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Spencer Museum of Art holds over 36,000 works of art in its permanent collection spanning the history of North American, European and East Asian art. The Lied Center is dedicated to performance art with live musical and theatrical productions. The Bob Dole Institute houses Dole’s congressional papers and promotes political and civic participation through lectures and exhibits. A tribute to World War II veterans includes a photograph of my father. It is also enjoyable to take in a KU football or basketball game in the fall and winter.
Lawrence supports the arts in a proactive way, and creative venues are a vital part of the community. Liberty Hall is a 142 year-old performing arts building featuring independent films and live musical acts. Iggy Pop, Devo, Aimee Mann, Michael Hedges, Alice Peacock, Sigur Ros and Spiritualized are among the performers who have graced the stage of Liberty Hall. In the 60’s, Ike and Tina Turner performed in what was then called the Red Dog Inn. The Jazzhaus and the Bottleneck are other venues featuring live music in Lawrence.
There are numerous shops and galleries offering opportunities for local and regional artists to display their work. Several galleries double as coffee shops and provide social interaction in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Painting, sculpture, pottery and crafts line the walls of these functional but unpretentious galleries.
The beauty and charm of Lawrence
Why I love Lawrence and Kansas
These are just some of the things that make Kansas and Lawrence in particular a special place to live. Why do I enjoy living here, though?
The weather is magnificent all year round, with extremes in all four seasons. Spring brings thunderstorms of great power; summer is hot during the day but comfortable at night; autumn offers crisp, cool weather and trees with brilliantly colored leaves; winter delivers frequent snow. Sunsets are often vivid and colorful, and it is spectacular to watch a huge, orange full moon rise over an open field.
Lawrence has both a small town and big city feel to it. You can travel from one side of town to the other in 20 minutes by car. The city hosts Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in the summer and Christmas parades in winter. It has a renowned downtown shopping district lined with locally owned shops, galleries and restaurants, just south of the Kansas River Bridge. Adjacent to Massachusetts Street is Old West Lawrence, with beautiful mansions dating back more than 125 years. Seventeen houses in this area are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Clinton Lake and Lone Star Lake are less than 30 minutes away from Lawrence and are popular destinations for sailing, fishing and camping. I live within walking distance of a hiking/bike trail leading to a secluded lake in a wooded area that serves as home to a wide array of wild life. Kids with fishing poles spend summer days on the docks, hoping to catch a few fish. It is peaceful and serene, and I spend a great deal of time at Mary’s Lake, relaxing and sorting out my thoughts and emotions.
There is a lifetime of memories associated with my time spent here: hours playing basketball in the parks against the best players in town, including many members of the KU basketball team; visiting quirky restaurants with names like “Bob’s: Our Place,” “Sister Kettle’s Café,” and “Border Bandido” with friends; spending holidays with family members in the modest house my parents built before I was born; weddings, family reunions and even funerals to remember those who have passed away.
So many good people born in Lawrence continue to live here, and it is not impossible to walk down the street and be greeted by someone I went to grade or high school with. The air is clean and the city is maintained well. Neighbors know each other and kids play together in their front yards. If you’re at home in the daytime, the mailman will stop and chat for a moment before continuing his rounds. Lawrence is truly a home.
This is Lawrence, Kansas…. Is anyone there?
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Mysterylady, thanks for reading. I hope I was clear that the folks I mentioned were all born or raised in Kansas but not necessarily Lawrence--although some were. Another list of folks attended KU here.
I do love Kansas and I'm quite proud of its historical significance. It really is a nice place to live. If you ever do make it to Kansas, you won't be disappointed.
Mike
hEY MIKE DO YOU GET MUCH SNOW OUT THERE?
I live in Buffalo NY if we get snow but it melts eventually- we don't get your heat though- I enjoyed my time in the flat part of Colorado and the gal who was there was from Kansas and she said it reminded her of Kansas. so- I might like kansas its atleast a red state that would be good too.
Tom, thanks for stopping by. We don't get blizzards the way you guys do in Buffalo, but Kansas can get 3-6 inches or more fairly regularly. We got 8 inches of snow the first day of spring this year, so you never know when you're going to get hit.
Kansas and Eastern Colorado are very much alike, so if you liked it there you would probably enjoy Kansas, also.
Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I've only driven through Kansas on our way to other places. You have really made me want to spend more time there discovering places like your beloved Lawrence. Your Chamber of Commerce should be proud of your article!
Peggy, thanks for reading. Hope you get a chance to stop and look around Kansas sometime--especially the northeastern corner. It is a nice place--not flat and barren. As for the Chamber, well--I wouldn't mind a gig with them if they wanted to offer me a position.
Anyway, thanks again for reading, I appreciate it. Have a great July 4th weekend.
Mike
that horse...how beautiful! good on him for surviving that bloody battle. we have a lake called Lake Mary that is mostly dry, but still very pretty. it is one of my favorite spots to visit, actually. i love your fall colors...we don't have that here, although in the Spring the blue palo verdes produce tons of brilliant yellow blossoms. that Stull Cemetery sounds wonderfully spooky. i must confess i knew nothing of Kansas, so thanks!
Hi Cosette! The horse is a terrific exhibit and you can see the cuts and scratches on his skin. It is a terrific museum.
I wrote a hub once about my own visit to Stull Cemetery--it is indeed an eerie place and there was even a spot of mystery to the evening.
And, of course Lawrence is beautiful in the fall. The walk to Mary's Lake is particularly nice.
Thanks for taking the time to read about Lawrence and Kansas!!!! Have a good July 4th holiday.
Mike
Miike- Thank you for the tour! I enjoyed it. I've only ever been to Kansas on hockey trips in the middle of winter. The trees are beautiful, and the University looks spectacular. Looks like I'll have to make some detours the next time I have a chance to go. Thanks, this was a nice trip! Kaie
Mike: I'm over flowing with the wealth of information and the beautiful way you brought Kansas to life with such style and details. I love the pictures of your old house, it kind of reminded me of the small farm house I grew up in. The pictures of the Kansas trees took my breath away...how beautiful. I almost want to live there. Mark was born in Kansas City MO. but spent much time in Kansas with his family while growing up. I'm sure he would enjoy this story. Another wonderful read from a super writer. Thanks Mike.
Kaie, thanks for reading. The University really is nice, with many building of diverse architectural styles. There is lots of greenspace on campus as well, and it is a wonderful place to see. And, of course, Lawrence in the fall is beautiful. Thanks again for reading and hopefully you will get a chance to see Lawrence someday.
Mike
Susan, thanks not only for the kind words but for suggesting the topic. You've lived in the Midwest and know how much there is to see and do in this often-overlooked part of the country. I'm glad you liked the picture of my folks' house from the 1950's. It looks very different now, but they still own the house.
Thanks again for suggesting the topic, and I hope you have a great July 4th.
Mike
Cool hub, there is a lot of culture in your town. The art museum sounds like it would be a cool place to visit with over 30k pieces available.
Mike what a wonderful tribute to your Lawrence, the picture of you in the foreground of a beautiful sunset is an amazing shot great photography for sure. The many names you mention who were born and raised in Kansas is an interesting listing of celebrities. Each town across your great country boasts of such status and Lawrence reads like a great place to have grown up in.
In my 18 wheeler days, I traversed your country from the west to the east coasts and saw many majestic beautiful little quaint towns like yours, they always left me with a peaceful warm fuzzy feeling as I drove through them.
I have been through Kansas and Nebraska so many times and have witnessed the beautiful but sometimes scary weather patterns and once had to pull my rig under an overpass and hide under the protection of the concrete to avoid a raging tornado, let me tell you that locomotion sound was very very loud and scary.
All in all I love Kansas and spent a few evenings in the Flyin J's and Pilot truck stops enjoying a nice summer evening. Thank you for the share it was a delight:0)
Who knew there was so much to Kansas. Very enjoyable visit, and one which makes me think I might take visit to Kansas one day. My dad currently has a house in Portageville, MO...I don't that's too awfully far from Kansas.
John, thanks for stopping by. KU's art gallery is an amazing place. At one point it was compared with Harvard and Yale for the quality of its acquisitions--not bad company to be in. I still visit it periodically--there is a lot of good works to see there.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate your stopping by.
Mike
Saddlerider, thanks for reading. The weather in Kansas can be quite formidable, I drove through a lightning storm in central Kansas once that I will not soon forget.
The truck stops are one of the things I love about traveling in the United States by car. The gas stations with the occasional shower, the CD rack, the road maps and the lottery tickets near the registers--they all bring a smile to my face. In Colorado there is a truck stop (maybe outside of Limon?) called Rip Griffin's, and I always tried to stop in during the middle of the night. At 3:00 AM the food is bad and the waitresses are all sitting in a booth hanging out with their boyfriends, but it just feels like the definitive midwestern truck stop.
There is a lot to see and experience in the Midwest, and I'm glad you found something of value here during your cross-country journeys.
Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your comments a great deal.
Mike
Springboard, you should definitely make the trip sometime. Portageville is on the far edge of Missouri from Kansas, but it is still only about 4-5 hours away--a nice little trip. I think you would like what you found here.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you make it into the Sunflower State someday!
Mike
It's Lovely Mike. I'm getting the feeling it's one of those nice places where everyone knows everyone. Stunning at night and you are spoilt for choice with Lakes. What about the shopping centres for the ladies? lol Hope you got some nice ones.
I doubt you'd ever want to move from Kansas. It lives in you. Thanks for sharing such a nice, warm Hub.
Ps. I hope you got to meet at least half of those famous people who were born/raised in Kansas.
Best Wishes. :)
Elena, thanks for reading. We actually have a wonderful downtown shopping area that is lined with a few retail chain stores and many privately owned establishments. If we can't find what we need in Lawrence, we are an hour away from Kansas City, which has tremendous shopping areas including the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri--a very special place.
The only thing that would get me to move from Kansas would likely be an opportunity to live in the mountains, and I haven't given that serious consideration for fear the snow and cold in the mountains would be too harsh. I really do love Kansas, and it is a great place to call home.
I've met some of the famous folks on the list, but there are more to go. Thanks again for reading.
Mike
Mike~
I loved your hub of your hometown in Kansas! Kansas has a special place in my heart. My mother was born and raised in Berkley, Kansas. I spent many special summers there for family reunions. My mom was the 2nd youngest of 9 children, so you can imagine how large those reunions were!
I also lived in Kansas. I lived in Wichita when I was in the 3rd & 4th grade. We lived in a beautiful 2 story farmhouse with that wrap around porch. It sat on a block that housed only the church and our house. A lot of room. We had horses, but they were stabled on the other side of the Arkansas River. One day we had our horses at the house, and I was on one horse that was particular independent. My dad's attention wandered for a moment while I was on the horse and the horse took off with me on it, the reins flopping around his neck where I couldn't reach. The horse decided he wanted to go home...to the stable, which was across the river. So off he ran...not along the streets, but straight for the river, which was running full.
My mother said later that she looked out the window and just about had a heart attack as she saw her baby on a runaway horse, headed straight for traffic and the overflowing river beyond.
I just clung to the saddle horn and tried not to fall off. We raced across the street, cars screeching to a halt and sliding around us and raced down a side street that headed straight for the river. My Dad had jumped in his truck but was too far behind to do any good.
Luckily, one man in a car that had screeched to a halt as we bolted out into the street had put his car into gear and had taken a road that would intercept us.
As we reached the intersection prior to the river the man raced up in his car and jumped out and started talking to my horse, waving his arms slowly and speaking in a soft voice. My horse went from panic to prancing to finally letting the man grab his dangling reins and petting him into calmness, where he quickly swung me off the saddle and told me to sit down on the curb.
By this time my Dad was screeching around the corner, his eyes wide and white with panic. We were only one street away from the river, where I would've taken a swim with my horse on his bid to get back to his stable in a river that was full and powerful.
My Dad is not a demonstrative man, but that day I was clutched to him so tight that I got an imprint of his belt buckle on my skin. And the good samaritan that saved me just about became kin with my Dad's gratitude.
We also lived in Dodge City where many stories abound, but I won't go on about it here, I've already ranted on a bit much...sorry. One thing though...we had blizzards in Dodge City, so much that one winter the snow was all the way up to our roof by the time the storm had stopped!
Ah...Kansas...even though these stories sound a little harsh, I remember them more as adventures!
Cheers:)
Hi Voice! Thanks so very much for your comments. I loved the story about you on the horse--where else but Kansas could something like this happen? And yes, there is more snow in Central and Western Kansas than there is in Eastern Kansas. How often has Interstate 70 been closed due to snow? It can be pretty intense. Kansans are great drivers, though--they are used to all kinds of driving extremes. We've had so much rain there were flood watches and warnings throughout the day, with more rain to come tomorrow.
Thanks again for sharing this terrific story! One question: are you now afraid of horses, or were you able to shrug this offbecause you were so young?
One last thanks for stopping by! Take care.
Mike
No, no fear of horses.
My dad made me get up on the same horse the next day. He led the horse around with me on it until my fear passed. He then told me that fear was only as strong as you let it be and then gave me the reins. I rode that horse for an hour to prove to myself fear wasn't going to get the better of me. My mom was pissed! I don't think she talked to my dad for a week.
However another fear I had in Kansas was tornados...are you in that famous tornado alley area? I remember watching them go across the plain, but never coming close enough to worry us. Although we once had to go down into the dreaded cellar! Hated that cellar...many daddy long legs and I couldn't seem to get over that fear of spiders!
Hi, Voice! I think your father did the right thing, even if it made your mother upset. You showed some determination as well, riding the horse until the fear faded.
Yes, there are certainly tornadoes in this part of Kansas. When I was a kid, there was an F5 tornado in Topeka, and everyone took cover even in Lawrence, 25 miles away. The last tornado in Lawrence was about five years ago, although we had a microburst a few years back--I had never experienced that before and it was weird.
I have dreams about tornadoes periodically, and even the dreams are a weird experience. I could never be a tornado chaser, although I think my father could have been; he loved to watch storms and when we were young, he always wanted to go for drives when a storm approached. I don't share that sense of adventure--I would rather wait till it passes.
Thanks for stopping back, Voice. Hope you have a great day.
Mike
I've never been to Kansas, read a lot of great books about Kansas. You paint a beautiful picture of Kansas and now have it on my list of places to go... :)
Katiem, thanks for your kind words. I love Kansas and would recommend it to anyone visiting. I hope you get the chance to see it someday, especially in the fall. Thanks again.
Mike
Kansas sounds and looks like a wonderful place. It is really important to like where you live, many years I didn't...well the climate anyway, and although I have about 6 weeks in summer where I am now I stay under an A/C, and about 4 weeks in winter may or may not be great, the rest of the year is wonderful. That's not bad. Polly
Polly, thanks for reading. I gotta admit that I like it here--including the weather. The diverse weather conditions is part of what I like about Kansas, but I will confess that if it gets too hot or too cold, I will stay indoors.
Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Mike
This is awesome Mike, Another glimpse of who you are and the place -- is just a good place, what more to ask, it is exactly a good place -- academe, culture, socialization and that lakes are very near, the Marys lake looks tranquil -- very good place to just sit down and gather your thoughts plus it is very near your place. The downtown is a good place to go for socialization.
Most of all it is a historical place. I didn't know all those people are from your place.
Thanks for sharing a part of the place you live. I can understand why you like it, it is exactly a place one would like to live, a balanced place.
And the house you grow up, well, I would not even think of moving if I am there, Maita
Maita, thank you for reading and understanding how special Kansas and Lawrence is for me. It would be very difficult for me to leave and live somewhere else.
If I did move, I would have to live in the mountains. When I had more money than I do now, I used to frequently take vacations in Colorado and sometimes head toward Wyoming or Montana. I miss those days and I miss the mountains, but I would hate to deal with all the snow in the winter.
Thanks again, I appreciate your comments a great deal.
Mike
I'd love to see Kansas! I don't think I'd like to live there, though, due to the twisters. Of course, we get our share in GA, too, but most of ours aren't as violent. It's too far from the ocean, too! lol
Thumbs up, my friend!
Habee, thanks for stopping by. You're right about the tornadoes--they can get kinda mean here, and I don't blame you for not wanting to mess with that. And, you're right--Kansas is about as far from the ocean as you can possibly get in the United States! I've never been to Georgia, but I made it to Florida once. Got a mean sunburn on the beach, but I loved my time there.
Thanks again for stopping by.
Mike
What a nice hub about Kansas. I have never been in Kansas but you make it sound very nice. I have always pictured it as you mentioned with lots of farmland and like the opening to the wizard of oz. You did a great job in describing and showing us your hometown. I found the cemetary story very intriguing. Cheers.
Ladyjane, Stull Cemetery is indeed an intriguing place. I wrote an article about my experiences there, and most recently it was the site of a battle between Satan and the Winchester brothers in the hit series Supernatural.
There are a lot of farms in Kansas, there is no doubt. It isn't the whole picture, however. Some view Lawrence as an oasis in an otherwise dreary state, but I see much more to enjoy about Kansas than that.
Thanks for reading, and for your kind words as well.
Mike
Mike I asked you the question about Kansas months ago and I was sure I left a comment here after reading your answer. If I missed it bad on me. This was one amazing trip to the midwest from your view point Mike. I have been through Kansas but never spent any time there..now I feel like going back and taking some pictures. Thanks for the warm, down to earth, friendly face you put on the State of Kansas. Great story Mike.
Susan, thanks for stopping by and I hope you are doing well. I appreciated your suggesting the topic because it helped me realize how special Kansas and Lawrence in particular really is. Some time I hope you do get the chance to come back and take some photos--it really is a great place.
Thanks again for reading, and I need to come by and see what's new that you've written lately, as well. Stop by any time!!!
Mike
Excellent hub! As a native Kansan and KU grad I really enjoyed it. Rock Chalk!
Julie, thanks for reading! It is always nice to meet a fellow Jayhawk. It is a nice place to live, isn't it?
Take care.
Mike
I'm having difficulty adjusting to the Sunflower State(Georgia always on my mind), so it's nice to see some of the history. Thanks.
Hi, Wendy, I hope Kansas becomes more agreeable to you in the future. It really is a nice place to live or visit. Take care.
Mike
Mike,
My husband just received our orders to move to Ft. Riley. I was a little anxious and apprehensive about what to expect, but reading your post has settled a lot of those worries. Coming from Washington state, I was worried about losing the beautiful scenery for flat surroundings, but from what you have described-it is nothing of the sort! I must admit, I'm even a little excited to make our home in Kansas for however long that may be! Thanks so much!
Meaghan, I hope you find yourself enjoying Kansas. Kansas has considerable charm and great beauty, and I am proud to call it home. I hope you will be equally proud for as long as your time in Kansas remains. Take care.
Mike
This is a terrible article. Why do you even address kansas as a whole. You should have just started by saying this is only about Lawrence. The weather is also very far from magnificent, its super hot and super cold and good luck guessing which it will be. There is nothing about Kansas City and the amazing improvements that are being done to the city. This article should be called " Did you know there is only 1 city in Kansas?" because that's what its about.
DY, sorry you didn't like my article about Lawrence and Kansas. From the tone of your comments, it sounds as if you are familiar with the area. Perhaps you live or work in Kansas City, based upon your comment about amazing improvements? Yes, it was primarily about Lawrence, which is where I live--hence the title, "What I Like About Living in Kansas". An article titled "What I Like About Kansas" might have met your expectations more precisely, but Lawrence is in fact where I live, and it is a good part of why I like living here in Kansas.
I would say that I also love the smaller towns that dot Kansas, including Ottawa, Garnett, Eudora, Coffeyville, Hays, Abilene and others. I have on occasion made the trip to Hutchinson to visit their state fair. I am a fan of the Kansas State Wildcats and have visited Manhattan on several occasions. I love the cultural opportunities afforded me by the proximity of my hometown to Kansas City and Topeka. Art galleries, a variety of performing art venues and Kansas City professional sports are all nearby and easy to visit. I love traveling down Interstate 70, seeing miles of road in front of you. There is a diner in Ellis just off I-70 that has wonderful Fried Chicken.
Super hot and super cold is exactly how I define the magnificence of Kansas weather. There is an enjoyment in experiencing all four seasons, not 8 months of cold weather or hot weather. The seasons are real and vibrant. Your comments suggest you are more partial to a more moderate climate and, you're correct--you won't find it here.
I am a fan of Kansas, but I live in Lawrence. I'm sorry my article didn't meet your expectations. I still appreciate your stopping by and reading.
Mike
Wow!!! This article is wonderful. We are currently in Hawaii but looks like we might be stationed in Kansas soon. I am extremely nervous but this article gave me some hope. Is Lawerence near topeka? Anyways thanks so much for this amazing article. Exactly what I needed to hear.
Kayla, thanks for reading. Kansas might seem a letdown if you are currently living in Hawaii, but there is still much to enjoy here. Topeka is approximately 25 miles from Lawrence, so it is an easy drive on Interstate 70 to get from one to the other. If you find yourself in Kansas, I think you will enjoy it.
Mike
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mysterylady 89 22 months ago
Mike, you have made me want to visit Lawrence. I had no idea how many famous people came from there or what a role it played in the Civil War or that it had a university for Native Americans. You have educated me! I can see why you love living there.
My only memory of Kansas, except for "The Wizard of Oz," of course, was a wonderful buffet of seafood and steak I splurged on while attending an English teachers' conference. Come to think of it, that might have been in Kansas City, Missouri. Maybe I've never been to Kansas after all!
Thanks for a great hub!