Lawrence, KS Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

The mellow town of LAWRENCE lies on the Kansas River, roughly halfway between Kansas City and Topeka, around thirty miles from either. Tree-lined streets, a welcoming historic downtown and an aura of old-hippie artsiness make it an appealing destination, with a cultural energy owed in part to the University of Kansas (home of the Jayhawk, the mythical bird which is the emblem of its sports teams), and a long liberal and intellectual history. Founded by the New England Emigrant Aid Company in 1854, and a center of Free State activities, Lawrence was the site of a violent Civil War skirmish in 1863, when Missourian … more »