‘100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die’ book mixes the quirky with the standards

Whether you’re a native, transplant or tourist in Kansas, you’re likely familiar with certain things that have garnered a reputation within and beyond the state, like the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas City barbecue, University of Kansas basketball, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

While those items all get a mention in the newly released book “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die,” readers will also discover some places that longtime writer and author Roxie Yonkey thinks will get a “who knew” response.

One of those places is the unusual Davis monument in a Hiawatha cemetery, an extravagant memorial that nearly exhausted the wealth of John Davis as he continued adding features to his wife’s grave in the 1930s. It includes 11 life-size Italian marble statues of John and Sarah, several stone urns, a marble canopy and a stone wall surrounding the memorial.

“It’s crazy. They’re all crammed in there,” said Yonkey, of the statues.

The Strataca museum, opened in 2007 in Hutchinson, is another unique place to visit in Kansas, Yonkey said. The museum was created in a salt mine that started operating in 1923. The salt mine also houses a secure, underground storage facility. It’s reportedly the only salt mine in the U.S. open to the public.

Another “who knew” item is the Elk Falls Outhouse Tour, an annual event that started in 1996 when the community — about a 90-minute drive southeast of Wichita — decided to capitalize on its many outhouses as a tourist attraction. The tour happens the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The challenge when writing a book like “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die” is deciding what to include and what not to include.

“You have to make choices and you have to live with it,” said Yonkey, a native Nebraskan who moved to Kansas 30 years ago for a newspaper job in Goodland. She ended up staying in the state when she married a colleague. She’s now the self-named chief exploring officer of the blog Roxie on the Road.

Vanessa Whiteside, another travel writer, agreed that narrowing a list of places to see and things to do can be hard.

Whiteside, from Wichita, is working on a similar book, “100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die,” expected to publish next year. The publisher of both books is Reedy Press, located in St. Louis, which produces books on local history, sports, food, nostalgia, travel and more, according to its website.

“It’s very difficult to limit it to 100,” said Whiteside, especially since potential readers may be both people who’ve lived in the area for years who are looking for “hidden gems” and people who have never visited who are planning a trip.

In reality, more than 100 places do get a mention in Yonkey’s book. While the book focuses on 100 items in five categories, several other places and activities are listed in the tips or other venues sections.

For example, the Kansas Aviation Museum is one of seven featured Wichita locations, but the B-29 Doc Hanger, Education and Visitors Center in Wichita, which houses a restored, flight-worthy World War II B -29 plane, is included as a tip on the page highlighting the museum.

The other six featured Wichita locations are Jenny Dawn Cellars and the Pizza Hut Museum on the Wichita State University campus in the food and drink section, the Keeper of the Plains and The Kansas African American Museum in the culture section, Old Town shops in the shopping and fashion section and WSU’s unique WuShock mascot in the sports and recreation category. A number of other Wichita locations are included in the venue and tip sections.

Several locations within an hour or two drive from Wichita are among the 100 items, as well as in the tips and venue sections.

To help readers plan a trip to some of the 100 recommended things to do, Yonkey’s book includes suggested itineraries and activities by the season.

Yonkey will sell and sign copies of the book at Jenny Dawn Cellars from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4.

“That was my winery of choice,” said Yonkey abut highlighting the Wichita business. “First of all, she has amazing wine plus her story is so amazing.”

The book is also available to purchase through Yonkey’s website, roxieontheroad.com.

‘100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die’ author book signing

Where: Jenny Dawn Cellars, 703 E. Douglas Ave., St. 180

When: 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4

Cost: Free event admission, books will be available to purchase for $19.95

More info: facebook.com/events/533832294310727