Getting their kicks on Route 66

By Carla Marie Rupp and Jason Rupp

Kansas sits in the centre of the United States and is well known for its sunsets, and vast agricultural fields. It became North America’s 34th state in 1861 and this year Kansas takes part in celebrating America’s 250th birthday.Its capital is Topeka and Wichita stands as its largest city. However, Carla and Jason Rupp’s travels through Kansas reveal a state far richer and more diverse than many travelers would expect, full of charming towns, unexpected landscapes, and historic treasures.

Route 66, often called the Mother Road, stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, connecting small towns, big cities, and diverse landscapes across eight states. The Kansas stretch of Route 66, though short, is packed with Mother Road charm. The “gateway” visitor center sits in a historic gas station that now serves as the first stop for travelers entering the state. Small towns hold delightful surprises. Chanute houses the Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum, featuring photographs and stories from Kansas explorers who documented African wildlife, and Frontenac preserves immigrant mining heritage at the Heritage Hall Museum.

Baxter Springs welcomes visitors with a large historical mural and a helpful visitor center and in Galena, travelers photograph Luigi’s Pit Stop and visit Cars on the Route, a restored Kan-O-Tex service station featuring vehicles that inspired characters from the Cars movie. Antique cars abound along this stretch of Route 66. From these urban centers to rural crossroads, Kansas invites travelers to explore its roads, museums, parks, main streets, and communities.

Known as “The Wheat State,” agriculture is deeply woven into the identity of Kansas. The state exports wheat worldwide and grain elevators stand like sentinels in nearly every town. Jason’s grandfather was a wheat farmer north of Wichita, and the Rupps still return to Kansas often, filming barbershop videos for the Jason Rupp YouTube channel in places like Moundridge, McPherson, Newton, Hutchinson, and Wichita. Jason’s favorite “nostalgic” barber experience was at Tom’s Barbershop in Newton, where his grandfather once took him as a child.

Kansas played a key role in the Civil War era and is rich in Native American heritage too which is celebrated at museums and historical centers across the state. In Wichita, travelers can enjoy Exploration Place, the Wichita Art Museum, Botanica gardens, Cowtown, and the Sedgwick County Zoo. Wichita is an excellent starting point for a road trip, offering diverse restaurants, live music, breweries, theaters, and a convenient airport.

Kansas also protects wildlife like the iconic bison.with bison preserves such as the Maxwell Game Preserve near Canton and the Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area near Garden City. Seeing these magnificent animals roaming the prairie recalls earlier eras in Kansas history.

Across Kansas there are scenic dirt roads from which to enjoy vast ever-changing skies. Along paved roads visitors can find friendly small-town diners, art spaces, and music venues. Wichita offers live bluegrass music at Central Standard Brewing on Tuesdays, the Shamrock bar features rock and blues, the Cowboy Inn has country music and Moundridge’s Hub hosts weekend bands with handmade pizza.

There are also powerful, modern stories in cities like Greensburg which after a devastating tornado, was rebuilt with resilience and innovation. Its museum recounts the dramatic event through photos, and visitors can descend a winding stairway to view the historic Big Well, and learn how and why it was constructed

Route 66 symbolizes freedom, road trips, and the promise of the American West. Families, migrants, and adventurers traveled its length seeking opportunity and adventure and Route 66 lives on through preserved sections, classic diners, neon signs, and roadside attractions that celebrate the enduring spirit of travel. Today it inspires artists, musicians, writers,historians and photographers worldwide, and Kansas is proud to be a part of this.

The state of Kansas welcomes travelers with open arms, affordable prices, and endless opportunities for adventure. Whether exploring the Mother Road, local main streets, byways, or frontier trails, visitors discover that Kansas is a state full of stories waiting to be experienced, and prices are less than in the more populated USA states. Visit Travel Kansas at www.travelks.com for unique destinations or contact us for more tips.

Jason Rupp and Carla Marie Rupp are freelance travel journalists, with the emails of [email protected] and [email protected].

Route 66 photos by Jason Rupp