Not Such a Plain Vacation: Travel in the Great Plains States
Though you might think of the Great Plains just as a big, flat section of land known primarily for grain growing and oil wells, there is actually a lot of cool stuff to see in the middle of our fabulous country. If you find yourself passing through or headed here on vacation this summer, be sure to check out my top five favorite places to see in the Plains states.
Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas: Though you might not think of the beach when you think of the Great Plains, you really should keep an open mind and visit this awesome national park. Made up of over 60 miles of protected coastline, this is an awesome place to check out the local wildlife. Several bird species make this park their home, and, because of the coastal plains area, you can see everything here from coyotes to sea turtles. For more information on this great destination, visit http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm.
Fort Robinson State Park, Omaha, Nebraska: With over 22,000 acres, this state park gives visitors a chance to relive some of the magic of the Wild West. This is the place where Chief Crazy Horse was fatally shot. You can see herds of buffalo and longhorn sheep here along with sandstone bluffs and awesome forests. There are all kinds of activities for families, too, from campfires to horseback riding to cookouts. This is a pretty cool place for younger kids since there is so much to do, and you’ll soak up a little history while you’re there. For more information on what you can do and see while you are there, check out http://www.stateparks.com/fort_robinson.html.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City, Kansas: This [More]
