Kansas Travel Guide

Baxter Springs is a historic small city located in Cherokee County in the southeastern corner of Kansas, bordering Oklahoma and Missouri. The town takes its name from natural mineral springs that made it a popular health resort in the late nineteenth century. It is also an important stop along the legendary U.S. Route 66, often called the Mother Road, and retains nostalgic roadside gas stations, motels, and neon signs that capture the golden age of American road travel. Baxter Springs is also known as the site of the 1870 Baxter Springs Massacre, a significant event in Western frontier history. Today the town offers a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, ideal for road trip enthusiasts seeking the nostalgia of Route 66 and the authentic charm of small town America.

El Reno is a historic town in central Kansas on the famous Route 66, one of the best-preserved historic towns along this Mother Road. Founded in the late 19th century, the town flourished in the early 20th century with the opening of Route 66, serving as a supply stop for road travelers from Chicago to Los Angeles. Although Interstate 40 has replaced Route 66 as the main route, El Reno retains a nostalgic road trip atmosphere. The town's Route 66 Park preserves historic road remnants, and the annual El Reno Route 66 Festival in September is one of the largest Route 66 commemorative events in America, attracting thousands of road trip enthusiasts. The town also has the famous Sid Dillon Chevrolet dealership and Lake El Reno for fishing and picnicking.

Galena is a small city in Cherokee County in southeastern Kansas, characterized by its 19th century lead and zinc mining heritage and community culture. Located on the edge of the Ozark Plateau, the city is surrounded by rolling hills and extensive woodlands, preserving the quiet character of a mining town. In the late 1800s Galena was a prosperous mining community, and historic buildings and mining remnants can still be seen on the streets, with community parks and museums recording this mining history. The surrounding countryside is suitable for driving, fishing and outdoor exploration, offering a low-key destination to experience Midwestern small town life and mining history away from big cities.