Gateway to the Flint Hills, Emporia is blessed with beauty, charged with activity, and steeped in history. Veteran's Day, a national salute to American soldiers past and present, originated here ? in a town proud of its patriotism. A myriad of museums exist featuring everything from astronomy and geology to natural history. The town boasts a total of 15 recreational facilities. The newest is the Jones Aquatic Center with its lazy river, slides and Olympic-sized lap pool. There's also an 18-hole municipal golf course and numerous ball fields.

The Flint Hills Region is 50 miles of wavy hills composed of flint and limestone, running the full length of Kansas from Nebraska to Oklahoma. It makes up the largest unbroken acreage of grass prairie on the North American continent, and are bespeckled with wildflowers. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a salute to the rolling hills and tall grasses that once dominated most of the nation's Heartland from Indiana to Kansas, more than 140 million acres. The Flint Hills Scenic Byway (K-177 Highway) is an exquisite ride through 47-miles filled with historic sites such as the Santa Fe Trail, Council Oak, and the Old Cowboy Jail to name a few.

Home to Kansas State University, Manhattan, "The Little Apple", is a blend of hills, prairie, and city. Its population has grown every decade since its inception in 1855. And today, it is home to 44,831 people. The town is blessed with countless retails stores and restaurants. Aggieville, which abuts the campus, is one of the oldest and most renown retail centers in America. The 1,200-acre Tuttle Creek State Park has a reservoir and 100 miles of wooded shoreline. Tuttle Creek has many amenities including an 18-hole golf course, nature and equestrian trails, a shooting range, swimming, boating, and fishing. Sailing, too.

Salina, seventh largest city in Kansas, has a population of 46,000. Sitting at the heart of the nation, it has one of the greatest wheat productions on earth. Theatre-goers revel in the splendor of The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts. There are 25 municipal parks in town covering over 600 acres of trees and flowers. Excellent equestrian facilities are provided by the E Bar Z Stables on North Ohio. Equestrian paths here run for 235 acres through scenic terrain and wildlife habitats. For a tranquil time on the beach, Lakeside Recreational Park serves up a heap of R&R with hiking in the woods, and swimming, boating or fishing on the lazy lake.

Topeka, fourth most populated city in Kansas, is the capital of Kansas. Once a major railroad hub, it now depends heavily on tourism for a strong economy. The city overflows with shops and restaurants offering customers a wide choice of products in a variety of retail settings. Casinos and night clubs keep excitement on tap and sleeps are easy to find, running the full scale of styles and prices. Topeka is an active town with numerous resources for fun and games. Swimming, tennis and softball are played amid the beautiful surroundings of Gage Park. Walking trails, a golf course and marina, tennis courts and ball fields are all found at the man-made 411-acre Lake Shawnee and surrounding parkland. Fishing, swimming, sailing and boating are also popular here.