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Six-Stop Tour: Olathe, KS

Explorations in History, Heritage and Nature

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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. As the only working stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail, this historic site has a rich story to tell. You can visit the site throughout the year, but one of the best times to visit is the day after Thanksgiving. Families are invited to 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, and shopping in the gift shop. Mahaffie.org

Go for a Hike

The Ernie Miller Nature Center in Olathe is a 113-acre park south 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. This is a favorite place for family photos—just in time for holiday cards. The nature center is home to indoor exhibits with live turtles, snakes, amphibians and birds. 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 hands-on nature presentations for little ones. ErnieMiller.com

Sunset at the Lake

Take a walk at Kill Creek Park (11670 Homestead Ln., Olathe), one of Johnson County’s newest parks, where you can enjoy sunset at the lake. One of the most spectacular sites at the park is the 58-foot-tall Russell and Helen Means Observation Tower, which just opened to the public this year. 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. You can enjoy fishing as well as biking, hiking and exploring mountain bike and equestrian trails at this park.  JCPRD.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Kill-Creek-Park-28

Feast on Barbecue

Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que (11950 S. Strang Line Rd., Olathe, 913.782.6858) is one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in Kansas City. Started in the 1990s, the eatery has won the hearts of local families and celebs alike. Paul Rudd, a KC native and Hollywood star, is such a big fan of the Z-Man, Joe’s signature sandwich, he brought sandwiches to Jimmy Kimmel for his appearance on the late-night talk show to enjoy during his on-air interview. The penultimate barbecue sandwich has a faithful following of loyal fans across the metro, and it always goes best with a side of Joe’s signature seasoned fries. JoesKC.com

Explore Downtown

Downtown Olathe is home to many great local shops and restaurants. The Junque Drawer is “a modern day general store” housed in a three-story restored 1920s home. They sell jewelry, purses, accessories, gourmet food items, home decor, wall art, handmade items and more.  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 a Boulder … Indoors

RoKC Olathe (654 N. Central St., Olathe, 913.318.3600) 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 for beginners and experts alike, 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 systems boards. ClimbKC.com

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