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Salina is a city of about 46,000 people in central Kansas, set where the Smoky Hill and Saline rivers meet and where Interstates 70 and 135 cross. Founded in 1858 as a trading post on the edge of the frontier, it grew with the railroads into a center for wheat milling and farm trade, and it remains the main hub for shopping and services in north-central Kansas.
Downtown Salina has been revitalized around Santa Fe Avenue, where the annual SculptureTour Salina fills the sidewalks with outdoor art. The restored Stiefel Theatre hosts concerts and touring shows, the Smoky Hill Museum tells the region's story, and the Salina Art Center shows contemporary work. Christ Cathedral and Sacred Heart Cathedral are two striking churches.
Just west of town, Rolling Hills Zoo is one of the best zoos in the state, and each June the Smoky Hill River Festival brings music and art to Oakdale Park. Mushroom Rock State Park, Kanopolis Lake and the Swedish town of Lindsborg are easy day trips.
A large zoo on rolling prairie west of Salina with animals from around the world, including big cats, rhinos, orangutans and giraffes, plus a wildlife museum with dioramas of animals in recreated habitats. A tram helps you cover the grounds. Allow three to four hours and visit early on hot summer days.
A free downtown museum in a former post office building that tells the story of Salina and the Smoky Hill River valley, from Native American history and frontier settlement to railroads, milling and everyday life. It has hands-on areas for children. Allow an hour and check the changing exhibits.
A contemporary art center downtown with changing exhibitions by regional and national artists, a hands-on discovery area for kids and family art programs. Its nearby Art Center Cinema shows independent and foreign films. Admission to the galleries is free, and openings are lively community events.
An outdoor sculpture exhibition that places dozens of works by artists from across the country along the sidewalks of downtown Santa Fe Avenue each year. Pick up a map or use the online guide and vote for your favorite piece. It is free and can be enjoyed at any hour on a stroll through downtown.
A restored 1931 movie palace on Santa Fe Avenue with an ornate auditorium, now hosting touring concerts, comedy, the Salina Symphony and community shows. Tickets are often reasonably priced for big-name acts. Arrive early to look around the lobby and grab dinner downtown beforehand.
A four-day summer festival held each June in Oakdale Park, with live music on several stages, a juried fine art fair, food vendors and children's activities. It is the biggest event of the year in Salina. Buy a festival button in advance for a discount, and bring sun protection and water.
A shady park on a bend of the Smoky Hill River near downtown, with a bandshell, picnic shelters, a playground and walking paths under old trees. It hosts the River Festival in June and other community events. It is a pleasant spot for a picnic, and the downtown restaurants are a short walk away.
A city park on the northeast side of Salina with a small lake, wooded trails, a prairie area and a nature center offering programs about local plants and wildlife. It is a quiet place for bird watching and an easy walk with children. Check the city schedule for nature center open hours.
An Episcopal cathedral built in the early 1900s of local stone in English Gothic style, with a square tower, carved woodwork and fine stained glass windows. It is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit outside service times.
The Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Salina, a striking mid-20th-century building with clean modern lines, a tall bell tower and bright stained glass. It is an active parish with regular services. Visitors are welcome to look inside at quiet times; dress respectfully and avoid service hours.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Smuckola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: KSGlen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Kansas Post Card Co., Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
