This is another really cool, off the beaten path, stop that I'm so happy we made! This place was…read morehonestly perfect since it was so small. My husband has bad knees and didn't want to walk all over creation (his words LOL). It's not very hard to find. You go down a dirt road for about two miles and the park seems to just suddenly appear! There are a few covered picnic tables, a sign explaining what you're looking at, a few trails, and a "bathroom." The good thing about this place is you get to see some awesomely neat rock formations and you don't have to walk very far. There are multiple examples right by the parking "lot". There was no one else there when we went so it wasn't crowded. And the rocks really do look like mushrooms (at least some of them do!) But beware the "bathroom". No water. No sink. No plumbing. It's literally a whole covered by a glorified bucket & seat. I really did enjoy getting to see these rocks so if it's not too far out of your way...take a little side trip!

So, I'd keep your expectations in check when visiting Mushroom Rock State Park. It's a tiny park --…read morethe smallest state park in Kansas at just 5 acres! But you get to see some interesting rocks. Some of these rocks really do look like mushrooms. We explored the park for a bit, but we were done after about 15 minutes. There's a short, easy trail on one side of the parking lot that takes you down to some sick rocks (that people have carved into and written things on, which I think looks cool but you might not). On the other side of the parking lot is a little area with more mushroom rocks; some of these are short enough to climb on, so kids might like these. There's a restroom here, but it's basically a port-a-potty hole in the ground, so if you can hold it, I'd suggest doing so.

Lots of playgrounds, splash pad, pavilions, pond, parking! Great spot! Kids loved it.read more

Nice park, great for BBQ or outdoor party or just to relax and watch the ducksread more

This is a very clean little park in the middle of agricultural country, somewhere outside of Salina…read moreKansas, but definitely not close enough to Dodge city for the drive we still had ahead of us when we stopped here. For a nominal fee, visitors can stretch their here, and regard some unique geological features that date back to the Cretaceous period when this whole area was a vast inland sea. The large sandstone spheres that remain here are unique and interesting, covering about a 4-5 acre area. We had a little lunch here and pressed on to our destination. As an old earth science teacher, I nerd out on stuff like this; my kids enjoyed running around the room-sized boulders, my youngest insisting they were fake. Oh well, at least we made the stop and didn't get 1800 miles away wondering what we missed-- incidentally, this is the secret to an awesome road trip. Should we stop? The answer should always be "Yes."

A small park in the middle of fields about 20 miles from the interstate or Salina. I'm not sure I…read morewould recommend anyone taking the trip off the interstate, but if you are in Salina for any reason it's worth an hour of your time. Dozens of spherical rocks that are up to 12' tall are scattered about for viewing, climbing or pondering. The price is right at $3 and has a small gift shop. Another weird geological formation and roadside attraction.

Nice splash pad for the kids. Such a great oasis on a hot summer day! The light spray from the wind…read morefelt great for the parents as well. There are benches (with shade, if timed right) around it and a pavilion nearby to take a break from the summer sun. Spent a sweet time with dear friends and would definitely go back.

Wow! Visiting Coronado Heights was one of the highlights of my trip to south central Kansas. Kansas…read moreisn't known for its elevation, but this is one place in the area where you can feel like you're up high. In reality, it's just a hill, sitting in front of a plain, asking you to love it. But it's a pretty neat hill, Coronado Heights is. And on the top of the hill is a castle! Yes, there's a real castle here, which you can explore. It's believed that Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his soldiers used this area as a lookout point because it sits about 300 feet above the prairie. All kinds of historical items have been found in this area that back up this idea, including bits of chain mail and Spanish coins. I visited around sunset, which is a beautiful time to visit. There are a few picnic areas that you can use, with fire pits, grills and tables. The people I was with had the foresight to bring some marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, so we made some s'mores and enjoyed them in the twilight near the castle. It was a beautiful time. One thing to note: The restrooms are primitive (aka port-a-potties).

This place is advertised as the "best view in kansas", i wouldn't say that, but It's a good view!…read moreWe really wanted to see the history behind this place but there were limited signs. You gotta look it up yourself. With that being said, this is a great place to visit. There are cool structures, lots of tables for picnics, and a bathroom. The castle has stairs you can walk up which allows you to look over the edge. In the fall this would be beautiful!!

For small town this city is awesome and things to do too, I came here to see Kansas, I check this…read moretown out on the web first, what I found was awesome, parks and places to eat or do, I'm a old Chicago member and found one in town, I stayed at laQuinta motel north of town which is dog friendly, around it was McDonald's gas station Starbucks middle of town chuck's bar is very busy close at 2am, Stiefel theatre and cross the street is awesome Martinellis little Italy restaurant and old Chicago, bike skye brewery and cozy inn, south part of town is chix fil target Walmart coffee house, and other places too, city of Salina park,east of town is cool park that my dog and I check out, we saw running around in a pack, this family place that you play frisbee golf, I saw family playing together, st patrick day crawl was awesome to see, check out my pix of my visit, a must to visit and do a concert and you will not be disappointed in your trip

My grandkids and I just love this place people are so nice and they take such good care of the…read moreplace.

If you're new to Hutchinson, put this on your must-see list. Serenity, beauty, and humble closeness…read moreto nature. The grove (across the lake from the buildings) is romantic and a perfect picnic date spot. The trails are private and shaded, the grounds are well maintained. Diverse and interesting flower beds make for butterflies galore. One of my fave places ever.

Great city with plenty of everything. The art and sculptures downtown are fantastic to explore. The…read moreStiefel Theatre is an excellent venue with fantastic acoustics. Martinelli's across the street is a classical Italian restaurant with excellent service. The trampoline park is great fun for the kids. Numerous city parks with fun equipment. Sam's Club and Aldi's are usually on my list when we make a trip to Salina.

Good park for kids. Splash pad, Skate park for big kids, play set, nice swings! Beer cans and some…read moreHomeless too.