Between Topeka And Kansas City Is A Vibrant Midwest College City With A Walkable Downtown

Even when they're located far from major cities, college towns have a tendency to draw people in with their energy. Take Athens, for instance. This eclectic Georgia gem with art and outdoor thrills is nearly two hours away from the nearest big city, yet hosts regular theatrical productions and has a stellar, well-known music scene. Or how about Gainesville? This quintessential Florida college town full of state parks and museums has a thriving art scene despite being surrounded by small towns and natural areas and not much else. And then there's Lawrence, Kansas, a college town that's home to two universities and a walkable downtown with plenty to explore.

Situated about 40 minutes west of Kansas City and 30 minutes east of Topeka, Lawrence is easily accessible from Interstate 70. Still, if you don't know how special this place is, you just might miss it. This city of around 97,000 residents is certainly worth checking out, especially for the young or young-at-heart. The median age here is just 29 years old, not surprising given the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University are both located here. More importantly, though, Lawrence has a vibrant downtown area for all to enjoy, with plenty of one-of-a-kind shops and eateries, as well as a solid arts and culture scene.

Stretching along Massachusetts Street from Sixth Street south to South Park, downtown Lawrence is easy to explore on foot. Here you'll find art galleries, bars, shops, and restaurants of all kinds. As far as art goes, the Lawrence Percolator is a nonprofit art collective that curates exhibitions and hosts community workshops and cultural events. Prairie Hills Gallery exhibits works by local and regional artists while also offering painting classes and open studio time. A couple of blocks east, you'll also find the Lawrence Arts Center, a multidisciplinary center complete with a school of dance, school of theater and music, youth and adult visual arts programs, and more.

There's also plenty of shopping to do in downtown Lawrence. Daisy Lee Vintage is the spot to look for your next leather jacket, pair of boots, or other vintage finds. There are also plenty of gift shops to choose from, including Striped Cow, which has everything from ceramics and candles to stuffies for the little ones. Bookworms will love The Dusty Bookshelf, a used bookstore that hosts community events like craft nights and book clubs. Wonder Fair is another one-of-a-kind spot, a stationery and art supply store that accepts submissions from artists hoping to sell stickers, patches, art prints, comics, magnets, and more.

If you start feeling peckish, there is a ton to eat and drink in this area. Pick up a po'boy or gumbo from Terrebonne, nosh on Korean japchae or bibimbap at Cafe The Mani, or try a kafta kabob sandwich and baklava at Lebanese Flower Cafe. Feel like a drink? Head into Free State Brewing for a John Brown Ale, named after the famed abolitionist who fought against slavery in Kansas. Or if wine is more your style, indulge in some wine samples at the Crescent Moon Winery's downtown Lawrence tasting room for $12 per person.

Beyond downtown, there's still plenty to see and do. The KU Natural History Museum is home to interactive displays, fossils, and even something called a living Paleo Garden. The Spencer Museum of Art features a collection of art from around the world, with galleries spread across two floors. The Wilcox Classical Museum focuses on ancient Greek and Roman artifacts, as well as plaster casts of renowned sculptures. The Haskell Cultural Center and Museum, meanwhile, features permanent and rotating exhibitions that tell the story of how a government boarding school eventually became the Haskell Indian Nations University as it exists today.

Lawrence also has plenty of other attractions, including live music venues. Back downtown, you can catch a show at The Bottleneck, an intimate venue that regularly hosts performances of all kinds. Nearby Liberty Hall is another historic venue that hosts touring musicians like Kurt Vile and Yung Gravy and other live events. It also has a cinema on-site, with screenings generally running  Thursdays through Sundays. The Lied Center of Kansas, located on the KU Campus, is one of the area's larger performance venues, featuring a wide range of events like musicals, touring artists, and KU School of Music performances.

Getting to Lawrence is fairly easy, either by flying into Kansas City International Airport (MCI), located just under an hour northeast, and then driving into town, or taking Amtrak's Southwest Chief to the station in Lawrence. Being a college town, Lawrence also has a range of accommodations to suit different budgets, from rooms at the Days Inn by Wyndham KU Lawrence for about $80 and up per night, to the Hampton Inn Lawrence, which has rooms starting at $150 per night. For something more upscale, you can also check out The Oread Lawrence, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel near the KU campus, with rooms starting in the $270s. After visiting Lawrence, consider exploring another one of America's best college towns, located in the foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.