Drive 217.3 miles • 4 hours, 32 minutes

The Old West lives on in Kansas, a land where pony express riders, cattle herders and cargo-laden stagecoaches traversed the landscape to fuel America’s growth. Walk in the footsteps of America’s pioneers at these stops.

1. Hollenberg

Starting Point • History, Quirky

At historic Hollenberg Station, immerse yourself in pioneer life and the relive the heady days of westward expansion at the Pony Express station. Established in 1858 on the Oregon-California Trail by Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg, it was at Hollenberg (now a National Landmark) that Pony Express couriers and thousands of pioneers made a stop. The Visitor Center and Historic Station building feature a series of exhibits that include a large mural of the Oregon-California trail and evocative rooms adorned with period furnishings, garb (which you can try on for size), and artifacts including photographs, documents, a station wagon, and mochilas (mail pouches).

2. Konza

80.8 miles, 1 hour, 45 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation

At the Konza Prairie Biological Station, you can experience the quintessential Great Plains landscape: a stunning tapestry of prairie grasses fluttering beneath a halo of big blue sky. A preserve for the (rapidly disappearing) native Tallgrass prairie, over six miles of hiking trails (moderate) introduce visitors to some of Konza’s extravagant array of flora (more than 600 species), including grasses that typically grow three or more feet tall. Along with several dozen species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds find sanctuary within Konza.

3. Council Grove

37.2 miles, 49 minutes • History

For a tiny town hovering well below the tourist radar, Council Grove packs quite a punch. There’s a delightful historic downtown boasting an eye-popping array of 19th-century buildings, evocative historical landmarks and myriad recreational activities on Council Gove Lake and Reservoir. At the Post Office Oak and Museum, you can see the remains the beloved 300-year-old bur oak tree, which served as the unofficial post office for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail from 1825-1847; the tree died in 1990, just the stump remains.

4. Wichita

99.2 miles, 1 hour, 58 minutes • Entertainment, Food, History, Nature, Outdoor Recreation, Quirky, Shopping, Sports

Wichita’s transformation from a humble cow town on the Chisholm Trail to a cultural crossroads finds expression in a superb inventory of cultural attractions. Aviation geeks shouldn’t pass up the Kansas Aviation Museum, which displays with pride more than 40 aircraft built by the state’s famous manufacturers. The Wichita Art Museum showcases a superb collection of American art, while the Mid-America All-Indian Center & Museum pays homage to the state’s Native American culture and cuisine with a series of interactive exhibitions and artifacts.