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Sunflower Summer Program Pet-Friendly Explorations
Tails of Adventure with Your Whole Family:
Calling all Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø families! Are you ready to make the most of your summer by discovering the unique and exciting attractions our beautiful state has to offer? Look no further than the Sunflower Summer Program—an exciting opportunity designed to encourage exploration, fun, and a love for all things Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø.
The Sunflower Summer Program is all about bringing families together to explore and enjoy Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø' diverse tourism attractions. If you have school-aged children, this program is tailor-made for you. It offers affordable access to a wide range of destinations across the state, making it easier than ever to plan exciting family outings without breaking the bank!
One of the best parts of the Sunflower Summer Program is that some locations welcome your entire family, including your furry friends! Yes, you heard that right—many of these spots are pet-friendly, ensuring that every member of the family can join in on the fun. Imagine exploring historic sites, local attractions, and picturesque parks with your entire family, including your furry companions. Whether you have a dog that loves to hike or a cat that enjoys road trips, Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø has something special in store for everyone.
Here are just a few highlights of participating businesses that embrace the whole family, paws and all:
Combat Air Museum – Topeka
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Combat Air Museum in Topeka is proud to be part of Sunflower Summer yet again! Discover our impressive collection of 47 military aircraft spanning from World War I to the present, along with static displays of missiles, rockets, and aircraft engines. Situated on an active airfield, visitors often witness Air Force fighter aircraft and Army helicopter operations.
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens – Overland Park
One of the perfect places to escape the hustle and bustle of Overland Park is the 300-acre Arboretum, featuring a variety of natural ecosystems like Dry Oak Savanna and Riparian Woodland. Wander nine miles of scenic trails through gardens including the Monet Garden, Children’s Discovery Garden, Train Garden, and International Sculpture Garden for a truly unforgettable retreat.
Elk City State Park - Independence
Enjoy some of the best hiking trails, like the Table Mound Hiking Trail or the Green Thumb Nature Trail. The park also boasts multiple trails for cyclists and mountain bikers. Find dozens of primitive campsites and full-service RV hookups for the night. Outdoor lovers will appreciate the abundance of wildlife and fish in the nearby reservoir. Don't forget to check out the nearby Little House on the Prairie Museum, just a few miles away from the State Park!
Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum – Chanute
Explore the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, showcasing world-class exhibits of stunning photography and cinematic works. Discover artifacts from African, Oceanic, and Bornean cultures that enhance the visual history captured by the Johnsons, who pioneered the ethos of "take only photos, leave only footprints." Immerse yourself in the stories of remote peoples, places, and wildernesses preserved through their extraordinary films and collections.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park – Oakley
This geological wonder boasts stunning rock formations and unique landscapes. This natural gem offers visitors a chance to explore towering chalk rock formations, scenic trails, and captivating vistas, showcasing the rugged beauty of the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø prairie. With its breathtaking scenery and diverse ecological features, Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park provides an awe-inspiring experience for nature enthusiasts and hikers alike, inviting exploration and appreciation of its extraordinary geological formations.
Cedar Bluff State Park - Reservoir and Wildlife Area – Ellis
Cedar Bluff State Park stands as a breathtaking haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Cedar Bluff Reservoir, this park offers a myriad of recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, hiking trails, and camping sites. With its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and ample opportunities for outdoor adventure, Cedar Bluff State Park invites visitors to embrace the tranquility and splendor of the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø outdoors.
M.T. Liggett Art Environment – Mullinville
M.T. Liggett was a peculiar Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø native with a knack for expressing himself through art. Liggett become one of Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø’ most unique, self-taught grassroots artists with a collection totaling over 600 pieces of work. Stop by and marvel at these kinetic art displays and learn about the man who started it all!
Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Barbed Wire Museum – La Crosse
Explore the intriguing history of barbed wire at the museum, featuring over 2,400 varieties of barbed wire and 500 fence construction tools. Learn how this invention influenced 19th-century Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø settlement and discover its military applications from World Wars to modern conflicts.
World's Largest Ball of Twine – Cawker City
Perhaps one of the most iconic attractions in the state is the World's Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City. Now weighing an astonishing 17,000 pounds (up from 5,000 when it was first made), this quirky roadside attraction remains one of the top destinations for visitors in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø.
Home on the Range Cabin – Athol
Experience the essence of "Home on the Range" in Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø today. Drive through the rolling prairie and amber fields of grain, stopping in welcoming small towns that embody the famed Midwestern hospitality celebrated in the song. You can end your journey at the exact place where an American classic was born… The Home on the Range Cabin. Capture the spirit of Dr. Brewster Higley's Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø with blue skies and endless prairie vistas.
Stockade Museum & Carry Nation Home – Medicine Lodge
The Stockade Museum & Carry Nation Home in Medicine Lodge, KS, offers a fascinating experience by providing insight into the Old West with its historical stockade and showcasing the home of Carry Nation. Visitors can explore the museum's exhibits, including artifacts from the frontier era, and learn about Carry Nation's activism against alcohol during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery – Lindsborg
Explore the world-renowned art collections at the gallery, featuring the largest and most extensive display of Birger Sandzén's work globally. Discover paintings, prints, drawings, and watercolors by Sandzén, along with pieces by other notable artists. The gallery also showcases an impressive range of prints from European and American regionalist printmakers, along with diverse Asian art.
Now that your maps are out and the whole family is excited to explore, you might find yourself wondering: How do you join the Sunflower Summer Program? It's easy!
If you're a Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø family with school-aged children, you're eligible to participate. Simply download the Sunflower Summer App to claim your tickets to the participating venues. Plan your visits and redeem your tickets at your preferred venues. Remember, each venue can be visited once per user during the 2025 season, so make sure to explore as many places as possible with your family.
This summer, let the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Sunflower Summer Program be your guide to adventure, exploration, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're traveling with kids, pets, or both, embrace the spirit of discovery and fall in love with our state all over again.
For more information and to start planning your summer adventures, visit SunflowerSummer.org.
Author
Kelsey Wendling
Kelsey Wendling previously worked for Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø as the division's Agritourism Manager from 2021-2025. She currently owns the Cattle & Clover Floral Shop in Lyndon, KS. During her time as the Agritourism Manager, Kelsey wrote numerous blogs and travel itineraries about the state's beloved Agritourism destinations. Kelsey is a native Kansan who has lived all over the state, from Hays to Osage City and many places in between. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University and her Master’s degree from Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø State University.
Kelsey is passionate about the agriculture industry and lives for visiting agritourism operations throughout the state, having visited with producers and experienced the unique and diverse ways producers are using agriculture to bring joy and kinship to rural communities all over the state! Kelsey is an avid animal lover, especially of the cow and cat varieties, and is always looking for an opportunity to pet the next one. When not at work or spending time on the farm, her favorite pastime is hitting up Hobby Lobby and local antique stores and convincing herself she does, in fact, have room for one more decoration!
