Planning a road trip this summer? Historic Kansas town ranks as one of the best

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, road trippers looking to explore the country’s past have a top-ranked destination waiting about 90 miles north of Wichita. Abilene was recently named the fourth best historic small town in America by USA Today 10Best.

FULL STORY: One of America’s best historic small towns is in Kansas. Here’s why it’s special

Here are key takeaways:

• Abilene has made USA Today 10Best’s historic small towns list every year since 2019. An expert panel nominated towns with populations under 25,000 that offer “fun and affordable ways to dive into our nation’s past,” and readers voted on the final ranking.
• The town is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower, a five-star general and 34th U.S. president. Visitors can tour the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home.
• Other stops include vintage train rides at the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, tours of the historic Seelye Mansion, the oldest operational Parker Carousel and Old Abilene Town, which takes you to the Wild West era.
• The town is also home to the world’s largest belt buckle — more than 19 feet wide and 13 feet tall — which has been named one of the best roadside attractions in the U.S.
• Road trippers can also shop for antiques, wander Eisenhower Park & Rose Garden and book a stay at a home on the National Register of Historic Places. Abilene has a population of 6,552, according to the latest Census data.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.