Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky

The Ark Encounter has a theme park feel- think Epcot. There is definitely an education focus, but the creators of the Ark Encounter have also tried to create a fun/kid friendly environment. The most striking aspect of the Ark Encounter is the size of the ark. It’s huge! The Ark Encounter has enough activities for adults and kids to do that it will most likely take a full day to do everything.

Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas

The Cosmosphere is a place to learn about all things space through all different types of experiences. The first time I visited the Cosmosphere I just went down to see the exhibits and did not do any of the “extras”. The second time I went I did all the “extras” and I was there at the same time as a school group who was there on a field trip, so I got to see how students responded to different parts of the museum. To do everything that the cosmosphere has to offer, it would definitely take a full day.

Lindsborg, Kansas was settled by Swedish immigrants. The downtown area has dala horses decorated in themes that represent the business they are in front of. The dala horse is a toy horse that was commonly made in Sweden. The dala horse gained popularity when it represented Sweden at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Dala Horses

The badlands in Kansas are fascinating, because they are so different then the rest of the landscape around Kansas. The badlands in Kansas were once at the bottom of a shallow sea called the Western Interior Seaway. Rains and flowing rivers carved deep canyons in the deposits that were once the sea floor. Clam and oyster shells can even be found on the ground. (The Nature Conservancy). About 20 minutes from the badlands, Monument Rock has many of the same characteristics of the Little Jerusalem Badlands and Monument Rock has a great picture taking opportunity where people can stand in a rock archway.