It’s no secret, before this trip, the only things which sprung to mind at the thought of these neighbouring states, were endless farms with corn fields and windmills, giant tornadoes and maybe Dorothy clicking her heels together, repeating ‘there’s no place like home’! Well, let me tell you, those were misconceptions and they’ve been well and truly been blown out of the water!
Instead, during my Great Plains Adventure, I discovered rich history, real-life modern-day Cowboys and Indians, amazing hospitality, welcoming cattle ranches, mouth-watering food, trendy microbreweries, vibrant forward-planning cities and an excellent live music scene.
Both states are investing heavily in their city’s futures; the infrastructure, the redevelopment of former industrial areas, new public and green spaces, new Olympic level sports facilities, visitor centres and public transport networks – all of which, is great news for visitors. To give an example of this, Oklahoma City has recently introduced public use electric scooters; a scheme very similar to our very own ‘Boris Bikes’ in London. What a cool idea! The state even pays you if you take them home to charge them! In addition, I heard from the locals how Oklahoma City seems to be opening new roads almost daily as well as testing a new street car; a hop-on-hop-off tram service, due to be up and running soon.
For a quick glimpse of the real Kansas and Oklahoma, search the hashtags #theresnoplacelikeks and #visitokc on Instagram. They’re both warm, welcoming and incredibly beautiful states. I travelled during ‘the fall’ and was lucky enough to witness the changing of the leaves as well as all the houses decorated up for Halloween. These states really do have so much to offer. There are activities and attractions to suit all tastes. Sadly, to date, they haven’t traditionally been holiday destination on the radar of us Brits. But, it’s time to change that!! If you’ve been to New York, spent out in Vegas and done Disney to death, how about exploring the real America? Or as the locals affectionately refer to it, ‘The Big Middle’. These are far from overly commercial or ‘touristy’ areas! These are USA’s Heartland States and they really do epitomise America’s heart and soul. Modern day cowboys still tend their cattle and at the same time, the spirit of The Old West still hangs in the air!
If you’re looking to explore stunningly scenic wide-open landscapes contrasted with modern urban cities, this certainly is a trip you must take. Of course, let’s not forget, there’s also more than 400 miles of the iconic Mother Road; the original Route 66, sitting within these two states, ready to explore.
In Kansas, you can enjoy a stay on a working ranch, follow the Santa Fe Trail carved out by gold panners, fur trappers and settlers and visit Dodge City, once known as the ‘Wickedest Little City in the West’.
In Oklahoma, watch cowboys in action at rodeos and livestock auctions, explore one of the State Parks, and join a powwow held by one of the 39 Native American tribes headquartered there!
Farm-to-fork food is big business across both states, as is a diverse music scene and the many world-class museums and art galleries. I also discovered there’s a large amount of Art Deco architecture dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.
If you’re looking to explore stunningly scenic wide-open landscapes contrasted with modern urban cities, this certainly is a trip you must take. Of course, let’s not forget, there’s also more than 400 miles of the iconic Mother Road; the original Route 66, sitting within these two states, ready to explore.
