The Midwest doesn't get any more middle than Kansas. In fact, the exact middle of the continental U.S. is found there, and the state's geography has all the flatness you would expect from an area known as the Great Plains. Kansas can't claim an ocean or a mountain range, but it has a subtle beauty and a slower pace that we always enjoy. The state also offers its share of oddities fascinating geological features and outdoor activities. And besides its location in the middle of the country, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of U.S. history, too, resulting in a large number of sites that will help you better understand the course of westward expansion, the struggle over slavery and the wide-open expanses crossed during cattle drives.