News
We love to share positive stories about our five-star community!
Check out some of our favorites:
- Destination of the Year by Midwest Travel Network (2002)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2022)
- #1 Favorite U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- #1 Friendliest U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- Best Promotion of a Historic Place by TrueWest magazine (2022)
- #4 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2021)
- Best U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2021)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2020)
- Coolest Small Town in Kansas by Far and Wide (2020)
- Most Beautiful Small Town in Kansas by House Beautiful magazine (2020)
- #8 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2019)
- #1 True Western Town of the Year by TrueWest magazine (2018)
- Best Weekend Getaway by KANSAS! magazine (2018)
Keep checking back as we continue to populate this list!
5 Sweet Reasons to Stop at Russell Stover Chocolates in Abilene, Kansas
December 12, 2018
Made in the “Candy Kitchen” on site, Russell Stover Chocolates in Abilene, Kansas, offers more than boxes of chocolates. Here are five sweet reasons to stop in for a visit… Read more
Abilene's Victorian Inn: Abilene,KS
By Travel With Sara on December 11, 2018
The Victorian Inn in Abilene, Kansas offers a delightful B & B experience, unlike any other. Owners, Adrian and Jay, were recently awarded the Kansas Hotelier of the year award, and rightfully so...
Art in Abilene – Kansas Murals in America’s Heartland
By Everyday Wanderer on December 8, 2018
It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to murals, these large format, public art masterpieces can help share centuries of history in a very powerful way. Here’s a guide to...
Bucket List: Seelye Mansion Christmas Tour
By Travel With Sara on December 7, 2018
The Seelye Mansion Christmas Tour is an experience you need to place high on your bucket list. I had visited this beautiful mansion during the heat of summer and knew that I needed to plan a return...
See the USA: Visit Kansas, the Sunflower State
By Everyday Wanderer on November 28, 2018
If the word “Kansas” conjures up images of tallgrass prairies and herds of bison, fair enough. My home state certainly provides the stereotypical scenery that inspired its state song, Home on the...
5 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY OF ABILENE, KANSAS
By Olio in Iowa on November 19, 2018
For a town of less than 7,000 people, Abilene, Kansas has some seriously big local history. From a presidential library and museum to more than 40 sites on the National Register of Historic Places,...
9 Stops Everyone Must Make Along Kansas’s Fried Chicken Trail
By Only In Your State on October 15, 2018
Do you ever get a hankering for the crispy, juicy creation that is fried chicken? We’re back with a new and improved fried chicken trail that hits all the best places and a couple new restaurants on...
7 Little Known Museums In Kansas Where Admission Is Free
By Only In Your State on October 11, 2018
There are a lot of informational places around Kansas where you can truly learn about every era we’ve been through. Over the years, museums have popped up just about everywhere, each telling its own...
War and Peace – Eisenhower Presidential Library
By Our Changing Lives on August 29, 2018
Our trip to Abilene, Kansas would not be complete without a visit to the site that honors one of the most famous Kansans. The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Boyhood Home is a top destination for...
The Quick and The Dead – Old Abilene Town
By Our Changing Lives on August 8, 2018
There is something engrossing about seeing history come to life. At Old Abilene Town visitors have the chance to witness this happen each weekend during the summer. This place is family friendly and...
All Aboard The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad
By Our Changing Lives on July 25, 2018
Growing up neither of us had much opportunity to travel by train. The heyday of this mode of transportation had passed and most families navigated the countryside by automobile. Recently, we had the...
Ride The Rails Through The Kansas Countryside On The Historic Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
By Only In Your State on July 2, 2018
What could be more calming for a Kansan than enjoying a scenic ride through our beautiful state? One full of history, of course! The only way we could make it better is by traveling by train. There...
My Top 10 Recommendations for Summer Travel
By Travel With Sara on June 3, 2018
The summer travel season is upon us and I’m sharing my top 10 list of where I think you should go. I often hear people say that they can’t afford to travel or they don’t want to go somewhere...
The Truth about Wild Bill
By True West Magazine on May 24, 2018
Like most Old West icons, gunfighter “Wild Bill” Hickok is shrouded in myths. He likely started many of them. A teller of tall windies, he was quoted as saying, “I would be willing to take my oath...
The 50 Best Free Things To Do This Summer
By Country Living on May 14, 2018
These fun attractions, exhibits, and festivals will leave your wallet unscathed. Read more
The Most Underrated Vacation Spot in Your State
By MSN on May 8, 2018
Travel can get quite expensive and quite tiresome, particularly when you’re visiting a top destination that everyone else is rushing to get to. That’s why so many globetrotters are drawn to...
There’s Something Incredibly Charming About This Historic Kansas Town And You’ll Want To Experience It For Yourself
By Only In Your State on May 7, 2018
Travel season is upon us, and we’re always on the hunt for more places to explore whether you travel alone or with your family. More and more, we find ourselves exploring entire towns and cities in...
8 Magnificent Parks And Gardens In Kansas Where You Can Surround Yourself With Flowers
By Only In Your State on April 20, 2018
It’s amazing just how beautiful Kansas becomes in the spring. After all, many of our beauty comes from the state itself. There’s nothing as refreshing as surrounding yourself with flowers, and Kansas...
9 Country Restaurants In Kansas That Are So Worth The Trip
By Only In Your State on April 1, 2018
You’ll find that lifelong Kansans tend to enjoy homestyle food better than the faster alternatives. Nothing’s better than a plate full of gravy smothered chicken fried steak or even just a slice of...
Beyond the Valley: Abilene
By Kern Valley Sun on March 20, 2018
The planned part of our trip came to an end when we departed Branson, and from there on, we would make it up as we made our way home. Googling historical sites, I found the Dwight David Eisenhower...