A double-decker hoist sends visitors 650 feet below the surface to delve into salt-mining history at Strataca. On tram, train and self-guided tours, navigate the network of tunnels to see remnants of the 1950s mine, historical gallery displays and Hollywood props that are kept here for preservation.

I finally scratched another iconic Kansas attraction off my bucket list: Strataca. Despite growing up less than 50 miles from Hutchinson in the like-sized city of Salina, I only managed to check out the annual State Fair and the Cosmosphere Museum.

Boy, did we make the right call! Visiting in

An open field under brilliant blue Kansas skies. A meandering creek. Rock wall fences. The weathered barn still standing against the wind. The old farmstead, gone silent for now. What stories could they tell us? What have they seen on these 80 acres as generations of families have come and gone

Kansas intriguingly calls out to the curious, to the wide-eyed wanderers, to the dreamers, to the storytellers, and we are among them. Are you?

Beckoned south, as if tapped on the shoulder by a wistful child, we packed our bags and set off for a Kansas road trip via the I-70. Of course, we had no

The only thing better than exploring the delightfully unexpected landscapes of Northwest Kansas is connecting with the people who surround them.

Monument Rocks & Castle Rock, Little Jerusalem State Park, and Battle Canyon are all remote places with limited services, lodging, and food options.