Curious minds who love learning about wildlife will appreciate the abundance of indoor nature centers in Kansas. Each one is unique, yet all offer visitors an affordable (sometimes free!) way to explore topics about regional ecosystems and animals year-round.
For families, nature centers are the go-to destinations for bringing kids, as many attractions include tactile exhibits designed for youth. You can scroll to the bottom of this post to learn about Kansas museums featuring exhibits and dioramas about nature.
I’ve visited all of the mentioned nature centers and wholeheartedly recommend them.
Indoor Nature Centers to Explore Year-Round in Kansas
Milford Lake Nature Center – Junction City
Open seven days a week, Milford Nature Center is a draw for its living animals and hands-on interactive exhibits. The indoor center has a main room with educational stations, retail gift shops, and several live animals inside aquariums. During repeated visits, I’ve found myself watching the bunnies and the prairie dogs at play.
In addition, winding hallways with dioramas showcase 300 fish, amphibians, and insects from the state’s marshes, prairies, and woodlands.
PRO TIP: Pack hiking shoes. If weather permits, take a nature walk along the Tallgrass Trail, a scenic 1.5-mile loop with views of a pond and natural prairie. Walkers gain access to an open-air pathway leading to learning stations.
Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center – Olathe
Don’t miss an opportunity to explore Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center in the Northeast corner of the state. Available to visitors seven days a week, with trails open daily from dawn to dusk, the center is a premiere destination for nature lovers.
The center’s hallway includes two enclosed classrooms, one housing an owl and the other a hawk. At the end of the hallways, a 500-gallon aquarium is filled with native stream fish. Visitors of all ages will appreciate an exploratory room devoted to learning about animal lifecycles.
PRO TIP: Sit and relax in the bird-watching room, a space with children’s books worthy of an afternoon read.
Kansas Wetlands Education Center – Great Bend
Kansas Wetlands Education Center is worth the short drive outside Great Bend to the Cheyenne Bottoms. Bring the entire family to enjoy walk-through exhibits highlighting the state’s ecosystems, which illustrate how they’ve evolved from the days of its earliest inhabitants to today. Kids will love the illuminated floor display.
Classrooms located in the rear of the building include dozens of aquariums housing snakes, insects, and waterfowl taxidermy.
PRO TIP: Bring binoculars if you plan on driving designated roads to view waterfowl on a good weather day in the Cheyenne Bottoms.
Dillon Nature Center – Hutchinson
The Dillon Nature Center welcomes nature enthusiasts seeking an outdoor escape via its 100 acres of walking paths and its indoor nature center. Open for self-guided tours seven days a week, indoor exhibits features tactile learning stations designed to engage youth.
If you’re inspired to shop the gift store, you’ll discover educational toys and merchandise ideal for outdoor adventurers.
Great Plains Nature Center – Wichita
Known for hosting educational events, the Great Plains Nature Center is an ideal place to explore on your own or with others any day of the year. I particularly enjoy standing in quiet observation of rehabilitated caged birds located near the welcome desk.
Koch Exhibit Hall includes 3,500 square feet of walk-thru displays with hands-on visual and auditory stations. Birdwatchers will appreciate the Bob Gress Wildlife Observatory for spotting native songbirds, deer, or turkey.
Don’t miss a chance to visit the Owl’s Nest gift shop before departing for home.
PRO TIP: If it’s a nice weather day, walk Chisholm Creek Park’s trails. Look for the Tunnel of Trees.
Bonus Nature Centers Worth Checking Out
I’ve visited all of the above nature centers, but there are a couple more I need to explore including Pratt Education Center and Southeast Kansas Nature Center. Each one is supported by the Department of Wildlife & Parks.
Kansas Museums Featuring Nature Exhibits
Kauffman Museum – Newton
Kauffman Museum sits just off of Interstate 135 across from Bethel College’s campus. While much of the museum is devoted to teaching about the town’s history and the Kansas Mennonite experience, a section of the museum includes animal taxidermy collected by the museum’s namesake.
The collection includes birds, wild animals, and Kansas native species. His collection of owls is particularly amazing, especially when in contrasted with big cats in close proximity.
Museum hours and admission fees
Sternberg Museum of Natural History – Hays
I can vouch first-hand that Sternberg Museum of Natural History is no ordinary attraction. The collections are impressive in size and quality focusing on evolutionary science emphasizing the Great Plains.
Fossils, rocks, minerals, dinosaur bones, and aquariums with snacks, frogs, and bugs make touring the museum an immersive experience for all ages. A native Kansan, I loved the artifacts found in the Sunflower State, including massive geodes and crystals.
PRO TIP: Animatronic dinosaurs and life-size taxidermy may frighten the museum’s youngest visitors, so prepare your self-guided tour accordingly.
Museum hours and admission fees
KU Natural History Museum – Lawrence
Situated on the University of Kansas campus, I’ve visited the KU Natural History Museum multiple times to view an array of exhibits focuses on planet, specifically the Great Plains. One of my favorite exhibits is the Bee Tree display behind glass and the reptiles section of the museum.
Ignite your curiosity on a self-guided tour of mammal skulls and taxidermy ranging from Arctic animals and the Rocky Mountains to the rain forest and the Kansas prairie.
Museum hours and admission fees
PRO TIP: Parking is available in a nearby public garage. It is a short walk to the museum.
Open year-round, Kansas nature centers offer visitors an opportunity to learn about native plants and animal species.
Is there a Kansas nature center that I left off this list that you’d recommend? Please leave your suggestion in the comments to add to my travel bucket list.
The contributions of Kansas Department of Wildlife, volunteers, and supporters make Maxwell Wildlife Refuge what it is today, one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography.
Keeping warm with a lap blanket, we listened to volunteer tour guide, Les, inform us about native grasses and wildlife.
The looks on the kids’ faces was precious as each one became captivated by the narrative.
Parents snapped photos and chatted amongst themselves between bites of cupcakes and cookies. Afterward, Santa gifted a holiday-themed goodie bag to each child.
My take-home gift? I purchased postcards featuring photography taken by volunteers. Elk stood statuesque at sunset. Bison graze on prairie grasses under illuminated Kansas clouds.
I couldn’t resist taking my photo with Santa, who was eager to meet me. Perhaps I was the only adult who snapped a photo with the jolly ol’ guy? I felt like a kid again hoping for his approval and excited to tell him my Christmas wish.
You can also 
When visiting Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, consider exploring nearby towns to grab a meal and see the sites.
The residents have always treated me kindly. Their welcoming spirit is genuine. I’m one of the town’s biggest fans for its progressiveness, focus on the arts, and plethora of entertainment options.
LODGING
I had the pleasure of staying in the 
The new hotel features Hilton’s expected amenities and then some. The beautifully decorated hotel is designed in a modern style with references to the region from the lobby’s opulent, gas-powered fireplace to the private library with the finest furnishings.
Guests also have access to complimentary free nearby parking, a hot breakfast, free WiFi, evening socials Monday-Wednesday. The impressive evening socials give guests a chance to unwind with an alcoholic beverage and a light dinner – and it’s all included in your stay.
The fitness room was the largest I’d ever seen in a hotel and it featured top-of-the-line exercise equipment. For swimmers looking to do laps, the pool is definitely large enough. Lounge chairs also make it an ideal place to sit back and close your eyes in relaxation. The facilities were clean and spacious. 
Homewood Suites by Hilton has thought of EVERYTHING. For travelers who have an extended stay, they’ve provided a laundry room for guests to use, a delightful discovery. Imagine arriving home with a suitcase of clean clothes!
And it gets better! Upon check-in, you’ll be asked what kind of complimentary coupon you would like to use at the hotel’s Starbucks cafe. Buy One, Get One specialty coffee beverages? Don’t mind if I do. Homewood Suites by Hilton rolls out the red carpet. After getting settled into your room, you’ll want to extend your stay. I highly recommend 
The 90-minute dramedy, set in 1912, told the story of scientist Marie Curie who spent two months at her friend Hertha Ayrton’s seaside home recovering from the emotional scars from public scrutiny. The two-person cast performed in a black box theatre where the audience sat only feet from them. It was a moving experience.
I love a museum that tells a story well. Did you know that Salina was once the third-largest producer of flour in the world? The newest exhibit, “
Eventually, the town became a crossroads for industry that included the railroad, Schilling Air Force Base (closed in 1966), technology companies, trucking, and healthcare.
The museum includes an abundance of hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. From examining parts of a buffalo to building a city and starting a tornado to playing with old-fashioned toys, Smoky Hill Museum is an entertaining experience. Make sure to walk upstairs to 
Before you exit the museum, purchase Kansas-made products and keepsakes in the gift shop. They have a wide selection of travel guides and non-fiction books about Kansas.
There is no charge to visit the Smoky Hill Museum. They are closed on Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays. Plan your visit 
Opened as the Fox-Watson Theatre in 1931, it was the idea of a wealthy grocer and banker in Salina. W.W. Watson, with help from others, opened the doors to the movie palace considered “one of the most beautiful in Kansas.” (Source: Stiefel Theatre). It was later renamed after Milton Stiefel who was a major contributor to its renovation.
Fast forward decades later after a major renovation in 2003. The theatre’s state-of-the-art sound system, backstage accommodations, and stunning interior make it a must-stop venue for performers.
Later, I met up with the executive director of the 
If you also appreciate listening to orchestral music or perhaps have always wanted to hear it, you can purchase tickets to one or all of the six concerts performed each year. The holiday show is so well attended that it was expanded to two days.
My first priority when touring Rolling Hills Zoo was to visit the giraffe exhibit. I approached the area slowly as to not startle them. To my surprise, Zuri, Billie, and the youngest, Korey, were as interested in me as I was in them. Korey, who was born in December 2020, is 10 feet tall and growing. The other giraffes are 11 years old.
I visited the zoo in the early afternoon hours when most of the animals were napping, including a bear in a hammock. However, a tiger rose from his slumber to yawn in acknowledgment of passersby. Capybaras and flamingos explored. Barnyard animals greeted children.
The zoo has an 
A visit to Rolling Hills Zoo should be at the top of your list of things to do when in Salina. To experience the upcoming events, view gate admission prices and the zoo’s hours, visit the 
BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
Known for carrying antiques, market finds, and locally-made jewelry, 
In search of new clothes to add to your closet? 
I came home with a pair of earrings from 
Also a place for families, the youngest visitors will appreciate the children’s book section and inviting gumball machine. I recommend asking about the specialty coffee of the month. Proceeds from my purchase of a Bee Kind Latté went to a local non-profit. You’ll find it difficult to leave without buying a book, t-shirt, or Kansas-themed gift.
DAGNEY’S ICE CREAM
MARTINELLI’S LITTLE ITALY
Leave room for homemade tiramisu or creme brûlée. Ask for the drink and dessert menus before ordering your meal to plan ahead. The family-style portions are HUGE. A quarter-size pasta dish is prepared with a half-pound of pasta. The spaghetti comes with a one-pound meatball. You’ll need a to-go box.
DAIMARU STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR
Daimaru is popular with locals. The sushi chefs never stood still. I watched as they prepared enormous sushi platters. Artfully designed, the sushi tasted as good as it looked.
