From the rolling prairies and picturesque sunflower fields to dynamic cities like Wichita and Topeka, Kansas offers a blend of natural beauty and urban excitement. But, what is Kansas known for? Whether you’re considering renting a home in Kansas City, looking to settle into an apartment in Lawrence, or just planning a visit, you’ll soon find that this state has much more to offer than meets the eye. In this article, we’ll discuss what makes Kansas special and why so many proudly call it home. Let’s jump in.
1. The Wizard of Oz
Kansas is forever linked to “The Wizard of Oz,” the beloved story that takes place in the fictional town of Emerald City. The Oz Museum in Wamego showcases memorabilia and exhibits related to the book and the iconic 1939 film. Fans of the story can explore the museum’s collection, which includes original costumes, props, and rare artifacts. The connection to this classic tale adds a touch of magic to Kansas, making it a must-visit for any Oz enthusiast.
2. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City protects one of the last tallgrass prairie ecosystems in North America. The preserve offers miles of hiking trails, scenic vistas, and opportunities to see bison herds roaming the prairie. Additionally, you can go on guided tours and see educational exhibits to learn about the natural and cultural history of the prairie.
3. Kansas City-style ribs
Kansas is famous for its barbecue, particularly Kansas City-style ribs. These ribs are known for their slow-cooked, smoky flavor and are typically served with a tangy tomato-based sauce. Popular barbecue joints like Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que and Gates Bar-B-Q are celebrated for their mouth-watering ribs, brisket, and burnt ends. Locals and tourists alike savor the slow-cooked meats, often accompanied by classic sides like baked beans and coleslaw. This barbecue tradition has earned Kansas City a reputation as one of the best places for barbecue in the United States.
4. Boot Hill Museum
The Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City gives toy glimpse into the Wild West era, showcasing the town’s colorful history through exhibits, artifacts, and live reenactments. While here, you can tour historic buildings, watch gunfight shows, and learn about the lives of famous figures like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. The museum’s engaging displays and events capture the spirit of the Old West, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and those interested in the frontier lifestyle.
Fun facts Kansas is famous for
The geographic center: Kansas is home to the geographic center of the contiguous United States, located near the town of Lebanon.
The Breadbasket: Sometimes called the “Breadbasket of the World,” Kansas is one of the largest wheat-producing states in the U.S.
Helicopter history: William Purvis and Charles Wilson designed and built the world’s first patented helicopter in Goodland in 1909.
5. Tallgrass Film Festival
The Tallgrass Film Festival is a premier event that celebrates independent filmmaking. This five-day festival showcases a diverse selection of films from around the world, including documentaries, shorts, and feature films. Attendees can participate in Q&A sessions with filmmakers, attend workshops, and enjoy networking events.
6. Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison honors the legacy of the pioneering aviator who was born in this small Kansas town. The museum, housed in Earhart’s childhood home, offers a glimpse into her early life and her groundbreaking achievements in aviation. Popular exhibits include personal artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia that celebrate her adventurous spirit.
7. Monument Rocks
Monument Rocks, also known as the Chalk Pyramids, are stunning natural limestone formations in Gove County. These towering rock structures, some reaching up to 70 feet, are one of Kansas’ most impressive geological wonders. Visitors often explore the area, taking in the scenery and photographing the unique formations. Designated as a National Natural Landmark, Monument Rocks is a testament to the ancient inland sea that once covered the region.
8. Prairie Fire Festival
The Prairie Fire Festival is an annual event held in the Flint Hills area. The festival celebrates the region’s natural heritage and the role of fire in maintaining the prairie ecosystem. During the festival, you see educational exhibits, live music, and a spectacular evening burn where participants can witness the controlled burning of the prairie. This event highlights the ecological importance of fire and fosters a deeper appreciation for the unique Flint Hills landscape.
9. Strataca – Kansas Underground Salt Museum
The Strataca museum takes you on a fascinating journey into an active salt mine 650 feet below the Earth’s surface. Visitors can explore the underground chambers, learn about the mining process, and see exhibits like the Salt Safari Shuttle. Strataca provides a rare glimpse into Kansas’ salt mining industry, making it a unique attraction in the state.
10. Cosmosphere
The Cosmosphere is a world-renowned space museum and science center. The center is known for holding one of the largest collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts. Key exhibits include the Apollo 13 command module, the Liberty Bell 7 Mercury capsule, and an impressive array of rockets and space suits. With the interactive displays, planetarium shows, and educational programs, the Cosmosphere is an exciting destination for visitors of all ages.
11. The Kansas State Fair
The Kansas State Fair is a beloved event showing the best of the state’s agriculture, crafts, and entertainment. This 10-day event draws thousands of visitors who come to enjoy the carnival rides, livestock shows, and live music performances. Also, the fair features various competitions, from baking contests to tractor pulls. Feeling hungry? The Kansas State Fair is the perfect place to indulge in classic fair foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs.
Jenna is a Midwest native who enjoys writing about home improvement projects and local insights. When she’s not working, you can find her cooking, crocheting, or backpacking with her fiancé.
Update 6/14/24: This offer is now available via public link. The public version gets 70k directly and does not need the authorized-user card added. (ht dealdad)
The Offer
No direct link to offer, available via referral. Find & share your referrals in this linked post.
Sign up for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard and receive a signup bonus of 60,000 AAdvantage miles after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days and pay the $99 annual fee and an additional 10,000 points after you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first 90 days
Card Details
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee of $99 is not waived the first year
First checked bag free, for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions on eligible bags when traveling on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
Group 5 boarding, for the primary cardmember on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
25% inflight savings on food, beverages, and headsets on American Airlines-operated flights
Earn 2x miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases
Earn 1x points on all other purchases
Our Verdict
Not as good as the 75,000 point bonus. The upside is this is available via referral so if you can refer a friend/family member and effectively split the referral miles then this offer is actually better. You can see how being added as an AU affects your credit by reading this post. We will add this to the best credit card bonuses, but keep in mind if you’re not using a referral from somebody you know it’s probably better to wait for the 75k bonus to return. This is also the best offer on a card with no minimum spend. Read through these things you should know about Barclays credit cards before asking any basic questions in the comments.
Planning air travel can be often stressful, time-consuming and expensive without throwing in complications like baggage fees and the different ways airlines treat carry-on bags and personal items.
But if you don’t want to be surprised by excess fees at the airport, you’ll need to know the differences between the two. Is a backpack a personal item? How big can my rolling bag be to still be considered a carry-on? You’ll also want to know what the airline allows with your fare.
To make it more confusing, some budget airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines and even United Airlines (when you purchase its lowest fare option) don’t allow a free carry-on, just a free personal item. So it’s important to know what’s a carry-on bag versus personal item. We’ll break it all down here.
What’s a carry-on bag?
A carry-on is the larger of the two bags you may be permitted to bring into the plane cabin.
While exact size restrictions vary slightly among airlines, generally, a carry-on bag measures around 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches.
That often includes large backpacks, duffel bags and rolling carry-ons (but it’s wise to measure your bag and compare it with your airline’s size restrictions). Be sure to include the wheels and handles in your measurement.
A carry-on must fit in the overhead bin (it can be a tight squeeze on some smaller aircraft for larger roller bags) but not necessarily under the seat in front of you.
What is allowed in a carry-on?
Just remember that if you’re bringing only a carry-on or personal item and not checking a bag, everything you pack must be Transportation Security Administration (TSA) compliant.
That means no knives or other sharp objects, firearms or other weapons, or liquids (which include creams and pastes) over 3.4 ounces.
If you forget and pack these items, TSA will remove them from your bag and you’ll have to abandon them or step out of line to mail them home.
What counts as a personal item?
A personal item tends to be a smaller bag that typically fits under the seat in front of you. That means most wheeled luggage is out. What often counts as a personal item is a large purse, laptop bag, tote bag, small pet carrier and other similarly sized items.
Again, check with the airline you’re flying with for size restrictions so you don’t get pulled aside in the boarding line and made to pay for a carry-on because your bag is too big. Restrictions vary, but as a general rule, you’ll probably want to keep your bag at or under 9 inches by 10 inches by 17 inches.
Is a backpack a personal item?
Whether a backpack counts as a personal item or a carry-on depends on the backpack. A typical backpack, like the kind and size a child might carry to school or you might take on a short hike, often counts as a personal item.
Larger backpacks, however, like the type you would take on a multiday hiking or camping trip or to backpack around Europe, are usually too big. If the backpack is between about 12 inches and 19 inches, it may still count as a carry-on (especially if it’s soft-sided and can compress to fit), but anything bigger will likely have to be checked.
Remember, personal items have to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.
Are carry-on bags and personal items free?
Whether carry-on and personal items are free or cost extra depends on the airline. The domestic airlines below allow free carry-ons and free personal items.
Alaska Airlines: You can bring a carry-on and personal item for free on Alaska flights.
American Airlines: Everyone gets a free carry-on and personal item on American flights.
Delta Air Lines: On Delta flights, carry-on and personal items are free for all passengers.
Hawaiian Airlines: Passengers get one free carry-on and free one personal item on Hawaiian flights.
Southwest Airlines: Not only does Southwest allow two free checked bags for every passenger, but you also get a free carry-on and a personal item.
United Airlines: One carry-on bag and one personal item are free on most United flights except with basic economy fares. You’ll get only a personal item for free on most flights booked with the airline’s lowest fare class.
These domestic airlines allow only a free personal item, usually with the option to pay extra for a carry-on or other checked luggage.
Breeze Airways: Carry-on bags cost extra (or can be purchased with a bundle during booking), but one personal item is free.
Spirit Airlines: One personal item per passenger is free on Spirit flights.
United Airlines: Those who book the least expensive United fare, basic economy, get a free personal item, not a carry-on (except on some international routes).
Credit cards with free carry-on bags
Cardmembers must spend $15,000 on the card, after which they get a free bundle upgrade on a one-way flight, which could mean a free carry-on. It’s not a particularly valuable benefit based on required spending, though.
Airline cards with baggage fee perks
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
United℠ Explorer Card
on Chase’s website
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
JetBlue Plus Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95.
Checked bag benefit
First checked bag free for you and up to eight others on your reservation. Terms apply.
First checked bag free for you and a companion traveling on your reservation.
First checked bag free for you and up to four others traveling on your reservation.
First checked bag free for you and up to three others traveling on your reservation.
First checked bag free for you and up to six others traveling on your reservation.
Learn more
Personal item vs. carry-on recapped
When deciding between packing a personal item or carry-on (or even figuring out which is which), find out what your airline allows for free, the exact size restrictions and what you’ll have to pay for if you require more than a small personal item.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.
Feel free to share your referral link for the Barclays Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard 75,000 points offer. The public offer expired a couple of weeks ago, but reader Nick points out that the offer is still available via referral link.
Do not add any words to the comment, just the referral link itself
Do not thread comments
We’ve heard this offer is slated to around via referral link through 1/31/24. This thread will likely be closed in the coming days to avoid overload and abuse.
Barclays is not currently accepting applications for the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®. According to communication received by AwardWallet this card will have applications paused indefinitely as they explore further enhancements.
Sign up for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard and receive a signup bonus of 60,000 AAdvantage miles after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days and pay the $99 annual fee and an additional 15,000 points after you add an authorized user and make a purchase within the first 90 days
Card Details
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee of $99 is not waived the first year
First checked bag free, for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions on eligible bags when traveling on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
Group 5 boarding, for the primary cardmember on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines
25% inflight savings on food, beverages, and headsets on American Airlines-operated flights
Earn 2x miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases
Earn 1x points on all other purchases
Our Verdict
Recently this was 70,000 points without the authorized user portion. This is a better offer if you can do the AU bonus, you can see how being added as an AU affects your credit by reading this post. This is probably the best offer on a card with no minimum spend. If you need AA miles in the short term this is a great offer and we will add it to the best credit card bonuses. Read through these things you should know about Barclaycard credit cards before asking any basic questions in the comments.