If your family loves sports, food, and the feel of a college town, we highly recommend a day trip to Lawrence, KS! Here are some of our favorite things to do with kids.
Visit the KU Campus
The gardens, architecture, and buildings: KU does not disappoint. Stroll around the campus and go on a sculpture hunt. The kids will enjoy the displays of Jayhawk statues & you’ll get all your steps in for the day.
Be sure to check out the campus Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Learn about plants, animals, fossils and more. Parking can be a bit confusing, so check out this map before you get there.
KU Athletics
Booth Family Hall of Athletics at Allen Fieldhouse
Downtown: Massachusetts Street
A line up of shops, restaurants, art galleries and parks decorate Mass Street in Lawrence! Be sure to make a stop at Sylas & Maddy’s, a sweet shop with homemade ice cream, sundaes, and shakes!
From here, it’s a quick walk to The Toy Store (3 levels of toys to browse!), Espuresso Café (a cat café where you can play with rescues while sipping a latte), and fun shops like Brits, Lucky Dog Pet Bakery & Grocery, and Love of Character.
Parks & Playgrounds
Lawrence has several playgrounds for kids needing to burn off energy!
Where to Eat
It’s hard to narrow down our favorite spots to eat in Lawrence! But here are a few:
Free State Brewing – Grab a brew & enjoy the patio! Delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Merchants Pub & Plate – Incredible dishes with locally-sourced ingredients. Lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetrian options.
Bill Mill – If you’re looking for classic kid fare like pizza nd burgers, this is the place!
The Mad Greek – For Greek & Italian, this spot is a favorite with the locals.
Events and Festivals
Grinter’s Sunflower Farm
Clinton Lake State Park
Nature Preserves
