Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins in Belton, Missouri, is a beautiful agritourism attraction where you can shop the beautiful nursery and pick apples in the late summer and veggies and pumpkins in the fall. Also in Belton, visitors love riding aboard the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad, an excursion train offering a 5-mile, 45-minute round trip ride aboard a 1920s-era passenger coach, open-air excursion car or 1950s diesel locomotive through Old Towne Belton on weekends. Throughout the summer, you can also select from theme rides including hot dog, ice cream and holiday specials. Enjoy lunch at one of the local cafes or restaurants in the historic district.
Enjoy fresh-made cider at Louisburg Cider Mill in the Kansas countryside. Visitors watch as cider is pressed and cider donuts are made. Cedar Cove in Louisburg is an animal refuge for endangered or rescued big cats including leopards, cougars, wolves, bobcats, a white tiger, black leopards and caracals. On Saturdays through October, visit Powell Observatory for a public stargazing session through one of the largest telescopes in the region. Every spring Miami County, Kansas, hosts a farm tour (May 11-12, 2024). Visitors are invited to tour 14 local farms and agricultural sites. Explore a pecan farm, bison ranch, alpaca farm, Hereford farm, goat farms, wineries and more.
The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a 300-acre botanical garden offering a beautiful outdoor oasis in the southern part of Johnson County, Kansas. Explore the Children’s Garden’s whimsical trains, the grounds’ wooded paths and the beloved Monet Garden. This is one of the region’s most scenic and relaxing attractions. Enjoy special events including “Stems: A Garden Soiree” on June 22, “Terra Luna” on select September weekends and the annual Luminary Walk throughout the holidays. The gardens are always affordable, but admission is free on the first Tuesday of the month.