Living in Topeka has so many advantages. A great city to raise a family, affordable living, theatre, great restaurants, walking trails, parks, schools, night life, and close to many different cities that can add to your adventures.
Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, Manhattan and all the other small surrounding cities add to the quality of life you can have in Topeka!
When someone says, support local, that doesn't mean you have to stay in your city. It means that when you travel, try to find the local tastes and flare.
(FF) = Family Friendly Dining
Dover, KS
Appox 20 minutes
Dining
Lawrence, KS
Appox 25 minutes
Attractions:
Dining:
Lecompton, KS
Approx 30 minutes
Wamego, KS
Approx 45 minutes
Attractions:
Bonner Springs, KS
Manhattan
Attractions
Dining
http://www.asi.k-state.edu/about/services-and-sales/call-hall-dairy-bar.html
Atchison, KS
Appox 60 minutes
Emporia, KS
Appox 60 minutes
https://visitemporia.com/
Kansas City, KS Area
Approx 60 minutes
Lenexa
Olathe, KS
Overland Park
Shawnee, KS
Leawood, KS
Ottawa, KS
Approx 60 minutes
Fort Riley, KS
Leavenworth, KS
Abilene KS
Appox 80 minute drive
Attractions:
Eisenhower Presidental Museum & Library
https://eisenhower.archives.gov/index.html
Pricing:
FREE Active Military w/ID & Age 5 and under
Adult $12
Senior (62 & Over), Military (Retired/Disabled), and Student w/ID $9
Ages 6 to 15 $3
Open Daily - Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Don't let this attraction fool you. If you enjoy reading, it could take you 4 or 5 hours. There is a 24 minute movie, then a 15 minute tour of his childhood house, self tour of the museum and a quick look at the library.
Heritage Center of Dickinson County
http://www.heritagecenterdk.com/
Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad
Greyhound Hall of Fame
http://greyhoundhalloffame.com/
Dining
For dinner or lunch
Brookville Hotel Family Style Chicken dinner
http://www.brookvillehotel.com/
785-263-2244
Closed on Monday
Tuesday 5pm to 8pm (May-Oct)
Wed, Thurs, Fri 5pm to 8pm
Saturday 11:30 am to 8pm
Sunday 11:30 am to 7pm
Menu includes
Relishes, Sweet-Sour Cole-Slaw, Cottage Cheese (Refillable)
One-half Skillet of Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes w/ Cream Gravy, Cream-Style Corn, Biscuits with butter and preserves, and ice cream for dessert.
$17.25/person
You will want to make a reservation. This experience is not your typical one. You will sit down and they just start bringing out food. You can get as much of the sides as you can eat. This is a great place to just eat, celebrate with family and or friends or a romantic dinner.
Olpie, KS (Close to Emporia)
Appox 90 minutes
Dining
El Dorado, KS
Approx 1 3/4 Hours
Fort Scott
Approx 2 hours
Attractions:
Chanute, KS
Lindsborg, KS
Salina, KS
Appox 2 hours
Attractions:
McPherson, KS
Pittsburg, Kansas
Attractions:
Dining:
Concordia, KS
Wichita, KS
Appox 2 1/2 hours
Attractions:
Dining:
Strouds
Concordia, KS
Approx 2 1/4 hour drive
Great Bend, KS
Approx 2 2/3 Hours
Venture out of Kansas
Independence, MO
1 1/2 Hours
Kansas City, MO
60 minutes
More than a day
Baxter Spring
Approx 3 Hours
Galena, KS
Approx 3 hours
Hutchinson, KS
Appox 3 1/2 Hours
Pratt, KS
Approx 3 1/2 Hours
Hillsboro, KS
Approx 3 1/2 Hours
Hays, KS
Appox 4 hours
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Fort Hays
https://www.kshs.org/index.php?url=fort_hays
Boot Hill Cemetery
http://www.visithays.com/191/Boot-Hill-Cemetery
Ellis County Historical Society Musuem
http://www.visithays.com/209/Ellis-County-Historical-Society-Museum
Oakley, KS
Approx 4 Hours
Greensburg, KS
Wallace, KS
Approx 4 3/4 hours
Larned, KS
Approx 4 3/4 Hours
Goodland, KS
Approx 5 Hours
High Plains Museum
Dodge City, KS
Appox 5 1/2 Hours
Colby, KS
Appox 5 1/2 Hours
Liberal, KS
Approx 5 1/2 hour drive