Six-Stop Tour: Olathe, KS

Enjoy history, adventure, and family-fun in Olathe.

• Step Back in Time

  Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm is one of the best living history museums in the area. Visitors are invited to learn about the 1860s working farm with horses, chickens, sheep and other livestock. Experience living history with hands-on activities, including stagecoach rides, tours of the Mahaffie home, cooking demonstrations, blacksmith demonstrations, exhibits at the Heritage Center and Agricultural Heritage Livestock Barn. 

• Go Bowling

  Mission Bowl 'N Olathe is a favorite hangout spot for locals. This family-friendly bowling alley offers bumper bowling, cosmic bowling and open sessions for families. The Corner Pin Grill serves a tasty menu of chicken strips, pizzas, burgers, appetizers, salads, wraps and more. Mission Bowl is also a great spot to host your child’s next birthday party.

• Go for a Hike

  The Ernie Miller Nature Center is a 113-acre park southwest of K-7 Highway. The park offers miles of paved and rugged nature trails featuring both prairie and wooded areas, as well as ponds and creeks. The center offers special programs throughout the year, including Animal Tales story times with special themes for each season and Little Critter’s Day Out programs with presentations for little ones. 

• Roy Harryman

  Sunset at the Lake

  Take a walk at Kill Creek Park where you can enjoy a spectacular view from the 58-foot-tall Russell and Helen Means Observation Tower. An elevator carries visitors to the top for great views of the Kansas landscape. In addition to the observation tower, the 880-acre park offers trails across streams and lakes and through prairie and wooded forests.

• Downtown Olathe

  Downtown Olathe is home to many great local shops and restaurants. Favorite places to eat in the area include the Sunflower Café, Park Street Pastry and Olathe’s Downtown Diner. In addition to local businesses, the downtown district also features public outdoor art. This city’s public art collection is eclectic, ranging from modern pieces to art that tells the story of Olathe’s history. Learn more: gis.OlatheKS.org/maps/sculpture/.

• Climb Indoors

  RoKC Olathe opened this year. Adventurers have a blast bouldering and rock climbing on walls up to 50 feet tall! The facility offers introductory classes and walk-in programs with a variety of styles for every skill level and interest. For bouldering and training enthusiasts, the facility offers hydraulic Kilter and Tension boards, Moonboard, campus board, hangboards and system boards.