Topeka Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Topeka, Kansas - KS, USA)



When it comes to outdoor attractions in Topeka, they are certainly very seasonal. Tourists will find that the hot, sunny Kansas summers are perfect for walking, cycling, picnicking in local parks and general sightseeing, although the winter weather is constantly icy and frosty. When the snow arrives, it is not unheard of for locals to ski down Clarion Hill and other areas, with youngsters bringing their sleds.

Topeka Zoo enjoys healthy annual visitor numbers, which now regularly top 150,000 people. These spacious zoological gardens began life in the early 1930s and have grown to feature many attractions, besides more than 300 animals. There are playgrounds for children, miniature train rides, a swimming pool and also a large lake for fishing.

Summer tourists often choose to cool down at the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center, where water slides provide fun, whatever your age. And after your dinner, you may like to catch a show or concert at the Civic Theater and Academy, the Helen Hocker Theater or perhaps the Topeka Performing Arts Center.


Topeka Zoo

Address: 635 Southwest Gage Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66606, USA
Tel: +1 785 368 9180
Themed exhibits at Topeka Zoo (formerly the Topeka Zoological Park) provide spacious naturally landscaped enclosures for the inhabitants. These include Animals and Man (elephants, giraffes and hippos), Black Bear Woods (bears, hawks and golden eagles), Discovering Apes (gorillas and orangutans), Jungle Cats (leopards and tigers), Kansas Carnivores (mountain lions and otters), Lion's Pride (lions and gazelles), the Tropical Rainforest (flamingos, parrots and sloths) and the Waterbird Lagoon (swans and other wildfowl). There is also a Children's Zoo area, which is filled with friendly domestic animals.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available to seniors and children, children two years old and under are free

Lake Shawnee

Address: 3137 Southeast 29th Street, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66605, USA
Tel: +1 785 267 1156
Lake Shawnee is situated on the southeasterly outskirts of the city and offers a large assortment of related recreational attractions and activities. This man-made lake was created between 1935 and 1939, and upon its opening, more than 5,000 anglers came along to join in the celebrations. Nowadays, in excess of one million visitors come each every single year, enjoying the swimming beach, play areas, golf course and sports facilities, such as tennis and volleyball courts. There is also a lakeside camping site, suitable for RVs and tents, along with a marina where you can hire pedalos, canoes and kayaks, or try your hand at water skiing. Close by you will find the Bettis Family Sports Complex, with its multiple baseball diamonds and football field. On the western shoreline, the Ted Ensley Gardens add a splash of colour all through the year and cover roughly 8 hectares / 20 acres.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 23:00
Admission: free

Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center

Address: Southwest Westlake Court, Gage Park, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66606, USA
Tel: +1 785 271 5300
Located within the grounds of Gage Park, on the western side of downtown Topeka, the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center boasts a large 120,000 gallon, 50-meter / 164-foot open-air swimming pool, complete with diving board. There are also shallow areas for younger children, fun water slides and inflatables. Of note, the pool and party room can both be reserved in advance for your exclusive use. Swimming lessons, water safety classes and aqua Zumba workouts regularly take place, while each August, a day is set aside for 'Paws in the Pool', where dogs are permitted to come along for a swim and a splash.
Open hours: late May to October, daily - 12:00 to 20:00 (pool may close during periods of heavy rain and thunder)
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, children two years old and under are free, children under ten years old need to be accompanied by an adult

Bowling

On a rainy day or a special occasion, families will find that a tenpin bowling alley is the perfect attraction for everyone. Gage Bowl resides on the western side of the city, in between the neighborhoods of Ellenwand and Westboro, where it dates from the beginning of the 1960s and today features 22 lanes, adult and youth leagues, a pool room and video games galore.

Another popular alley stands alongside the West Ridge Mall and boasts 32 lanes and fun party nights of 'Cosmic' bowling, with lasers, disco lights, dry ice, pumping loud music and lanes that glow in the dark.


Heartland Park

Address: 7530 Southwest Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66619, USA
Tel: +1 785 862 4781
This exciting motorsports facility is to be found on the southern side of the city. It opened in 1989 and is some 2.5 miles / 4 km in length, with several different configurations being available. Past events have included the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, drag racing courtesy of the National Hot Rod Association, and regular dirt track racing at the Super 8 Saturday Showdown. Each June, the Pedal to the Metal event is a particular highlight and combines drag racing with food stalls, live music, fun games and a racing car simulator.
Open hours: hours vary
Admission: charge

Theaters and Entertainment

There are a number of live entertainment options in this city, offering something to do of an evening. The Civic Theater stands close to Gage Park and regularly stages plays, musicals and comedy gigs, which often draw on local Kansas talent.

Nearby and in the park itself, the community run Helen Hocker Theater also plays host to various dramatic productions, which in the past have included Shrek the Musical, Rapunzel - a Very Hairy Fairy Tale, and Noah's Ark, as well as themed children's camps.

At the downtown Topeka Performing Arts Center, you can expect dance recitals, dramas, tribute acts, ballets and concerts, which between them draw over 60,000 people each year.


Kansas Expocentre / Landon Arena

Address: 1 Expocentre Drive, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66612, USA
Tel: +1 785 235 1986
The climate-controlled Kansas Expocentre is known to many as the Landon Arena and is a multi-purpose venue capable of seating audiences of up to 10,000 people. Many large concerts have been staged here since its opening in the spring of 1987, attracting famous groups and singers such as Aerosmith, Cher, My Chemical Romance and Bob Dylan, amongst others. The Expocentre is also used to host several sizeable sporting events over the course of the year and is currently called home by both the Kansas Koyotes (professional indoor football) and the Topeka RoadRunners (ice hockey). Conferences, trade shows, touring musicals on ice, circuses, Disney themed shows, exhibitions and even dog shows are all known to take place here on a regular basis.
Open hours: hours vary according to event
Admission: charge, discounts available for children









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Topeka, USA - Tourist Attractions - Last updated 7/9/2019 - gprofile - Google+

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