I am 100% serious when I say that my trip to south-central Kansas blew me away. I always enjoy a media trip because I love learning. However, I did not expect to walk away from my experience in Kansas hyping it up to absolutely everyone I met.

Folks would say, "How was your Kansas trip?" with a smirk, and I'd answer, "Actually, pretty freaking amazing." I was 100% serious when I say that my trip to south-central Kansas blew me away.

This blog post highlights the absolute best things to do when visiting Kansas.

Visit Tanganyika Wildlife Park

A visit to the Tanganyika Wildlife Park was the highlight of my time in Kansas. It is so nice. I highly suggest booking the sloth and penguin encounters. They handle everything extremely professionally, so no animal is required to interact with you if they don't want to. However, the sloths and penguins were feeling particularly friendly the day I went, so I got to give them some pets!

The park is open from mid-March through October, with varying hours depending on the day and month. They have a full calendar available on their website.

Go Underground at the Strataca Salt Mine

Descending into the depths of the Earth at the Strataca Salt Mine is a not-so-typical adventure that's a must-do in Kansas. This subterranean wonder will make you feel like the star of your own movie as you explore the labyrinth of galleries in an actual operating salt mine.

The Hollywood connection runs deep here — the mine houses a fascinating collection of movie costumes and props in the Underground Vaults & Storage. Imagine standing where iconic pieces from cinematic history are preserved, some 650 feet below the Kansas prairie.

The reason? The conditions in the salt mine are ideal for artifact preservation. Crazy, right?

See the Real Apollo 13 at the Cosmosphere

I had no idea the real Apollo 13 was in Kansas. The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is home to the Odyssey spacecraft, one of only three remaining flown manned spacecraft from the Apollo program.

The Cosmosphere is also home to the largest collection of Russian space relics outside of Moscow as well as a German V-1 and V-2 rocket. The former was the first long-range guided ballistic missile used in combat, and the latter was the first man-made object to reach outer space.

Beyond the historic spacecraft and artifacts, the Cosmosphere has a number of interactive exhibits that make learning about space travel fun for all ages. It's definitely worth a visit for any science or history lover.

Go on a Bison Safari at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Fun fact about me is that I love American Bison. Maybe it's growing up visiting the Black Hills, but don't tempt with a good time. So, imagine my surprise when I learned about the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton, Kansas.

This 2,800-acre refuge is home to a herd of around 200 bison that roam freely across the prairie. Visitors can take a guided tour on an open-air bus through the refuge to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Or, book a private SUV tour (which is what we did).

But the bison aren't the only wildlife you'll see at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. Keep an eye out for elk, deer, prairie dogs, and over 300 species of birds that call this refuge home. It's a must-visit for any nature lover or animal enthusiast.