Why go there

The western Kansas city along Interstate 70 is known for its German heritage, its history as a frontier town and for being home to Fort Hays State University.

What to do there

Historic Fort Hays is open every day except Mondays. The Center for Ethnic Studies is at the Forsyth Library at Fort Hays State University. Historic Chestnut Street District features shopping and self-guided tours.

Must see

Fort Hays State’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History has a collection of Pteranodon material and a large collection of Cretaceous fossils. The former metroplex dome at the museum also features a Cretaceous diorama and other exhibits.

For the kids

The Hays Parks Department maintains a buffalo herd at Frontier Park, directly across from Fort Hays.

Pocketbook friendly

The Kansas Postcard Collection is at Robbins Center at Fort Hays State. It’s open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s free. The collection is a result of 25 years of competition open to all Kansas artists.

Save this date

The Wild West Festival is July 4 weekend annually at Municipal Park and features a fireworks display, concerts, carnival, craft booths, a fishing tournament, parade and other events. The Fort Hays State Oktoberfest and Homecoming Weekend is an annual celebration that will be Oct. 1-2.

Online/Twitter/Facebook

chestnutstreetdistrict.com; haysusa.com Twitter: twitter.com/cityofhays.

Did you know?

The original Boot Hill cemetery was located in Hays, not in Dodge City.

How to get there

Hays is on Interstate 70 about 270 miles west of Kansas City, Mo., and 161 miles east of the Colorado border. It is east of Cedar Bluff in Trego County and west of Wilson State Park in Russell County.