Why go there

Lawrence, home of Kansas University and the 2008 NCAA championship men’s basketball team, offers visitors an eclectic mix of arts, dining and attractions. A mid-sized city with a population of about 90,000, Lawrence has plenty to do without the hassles of a big city and is filled with a rich history of the abolitionist movement of the 1800s. The hub of entertainment in Lawrence is its historic downtown, just off the banks of the Kansas River. In just a handful of blocks on Massachusetts Street, downtown visitors have an array of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

What to do there

In addition to KU’s historic campus on the hill, Lawrence is known for featuring local music and arts downtown. Music lovers can choose from a variety of venues, such as historic Liberty Hall or the Replay Lounge, on a nightly basis and all within short walking distance. The downtown area also features numerous local dining options, everything from burgers to a wide variety of ethnic food. Free entertainment includes outdoor music and the Downtown Film Festival in the summer. Also watch for the Busker Fest, featuring carnival-style performers, in August. Lawrence also has several museums, including Watkins Community Museum of History downtown, as well as the Natural History Museum and Spencer Museum of Art, both on the KU campus.

Must see

Allen Fieldhouse is home to the KU Jayhawk basketball teams. Named after former coach Phog Allen, the fieldhouse offers a unique game time experience for basketball fans, as fans participate in numerous KU-only game rituals.

For the kids

Clinton Lake is a good family destination, featuring boating, swimming, picnic and sporting areas. For more water fun, check out the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center, with pools and water slides conveniently located downtown.

Pocketbook friendly

A local favorite during the summer, the Lawrence Farmers’ Market features an assortment of home-grown and organic meats, vegetables and fruits and other items. Lawrence Farmers’ Market hours are 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturdays at Eighth and New Hampshire streets, and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays near 10th and Vermont streets and Thursdays at a new location, on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. Market days generally run from mid-April through the end of October.

Online/Twitter/Facebook

For more information on visiting Lawrence, visit www.lawrencechamber.com. For more on KU, visit www.ku.edu.

Save the dates

Art Tougeau, a local tradition every summer, is a parade featuring wheeled art creations from local and national artists. This year’s wheeled art will travel downtown May 21. Also check out Lawrence’s annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale, held each July. This is the sale’s 40th year. Shoppers start at dawn and shop all day in a festive atmosphere with street performers and vendors.

Did you know?

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, became KU’s first basketball coach in 1898.

How to get there

Lawrence is about 45 minutes from the Kansas City airport, and features an Amtrak stop near downtown. The city is directly off Interstate 70 in northeast Kansas.

Also near

Lawrence is about 45 minutes by car from Kansas City, Mo., and about two hours east of the Flint Hills.