Amazing food and little known history in Southeast Kansas
I knew there were six fried chicken restaurants in Southeast Kansas before I showed up. I’d done the research: I watched the Food Wars episode, a bunch of YouTube videos rating them – I even made a map to plot out our route. The plan was simple: eat at six chicken spots in two days. If it doesn’t sound like an easy task, I’m here to tell you it, in fact, was not.
We’ve now visited this region twice with our kids, once for a full weekend getaway and again as a day trip, and both trips have made me appreciate this corner of Kansas even more.
You can climb inside one of the largest machines you’ve ever seen, hunt for quirky Route 66 attractions, cuddle adoptable cats in a bookstore, ride a surprisingly speedy little roller coaster, hike beside a lake, and eat some genuinely great food.
Pittsburg’s 150th anniversary festivities will include celebrating our community’s Little Balkans heritage. From September 3 through September 6, the City of Pittsburg and the Celebrate Pittsburg (Pitt150) Committee, along with community organizations and Camptown Event Center, will host Little Balkans Weekend to share a weekend full of stories, culture, games and entertainment.
In the latest episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Historic Jefferson Highway” Podcast, host Lisa D. Smith sat down with Explore Crawford County to map out a truly legendary slice of American road-trip history.
From deep coal mining roots to the bustling preservation efforts happening today, this episode is the perfect road map for your next adventure as the region heads toward America 250 and gears up for the highly anticipated Route 66 Centennial!
Saturday was a beautiful day for a leisurely bike ride in the countryside as more than 200 cyclists gathered on McKay Street in Frontenac for the third annual Coal Miners’ Gravel, a series of four bicycle rides of different lengths throughout the southeast Kansas coal country.
When people think of Kansas, they often overlook its deep history and rich cultural roots. However, Southeast Kansas can pleasantly surprise you. From coal mining towns to Route 66 stops, this area is filled with stories you might not expect. I recently explored Pittsburg and nearby communities, and what stood out was how history is still very much alive in many of the places you can visit today.
For over 140 years, the small town of Frontenac, Kansas had almost everything its 3,000 residents needed – except a public library. All that changed when the city administrator got an unexpected phone call in 2019.
Southeast Kansas has a way of surprising you and this corner of the state turned out to be one of the most fun weekend getaways we’ve had. There’s real history here, genuinely good food, and some weird and wonderful attractions.
This isn’t just a ride—it’s a tribute to the land, the legacy and the cycling community. Held each May, the ride debuted in 2023 with just 65 cyclists. By 2024, word had spread like wildfire, drawing 218 riders from as far away as Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, and of course, the cycling mecca of Bentonville, Arkansas.
At least four nights a week, area bars and restaurants invite community members to test their knowledge. This popular activity has drawn a large crowd of regulars and die-hard trivia buffs who fill seats at Drop the H, Pickled Pete’s, Opie’s, and Chatters.
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