Why go there

Southern Leavenworth County is just down the road from attractions in Lawrence and Kansas City. But communities here have their own attractions and festivals that fit into any itinerary.

What to do there

• Holy-field Winery in Basehor is a popular spot. Taste its various wines or attend Friday events throughout the summer. The winery’s entertainment includes murder mystery dinner theater shows, Mayfest, summertime music series and Oktoberfest. On Sundays in mid-August and September, visitors are invited to help pick grapes. Reservations for picking crews must be made by July 1. • Myers Hotel in Tonganoxie. The hotel dates back to the late 1800s. Tour appointments can be made at the hotel, where ice cream will be offered in the summer. It also is across the street from Tonganoxie Water Park. • Annie’s Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie is a hot spot in downtown Tonganoxie as well and has weekend shows. • Historic downtown Tonganoxie. Check out the various shops in the downtown business district.

Must see

It’s summer in Kansas at its best and it’s the Leavenworth County Fair. Folks flock to the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie for delicious food, 4-H exhibits, the carnival and plenty of other attractions, including the fair parade through downtown Tonganoxie.

For the kids

Tonganoxie has Chieftain Park and a playground with a shelter house. Festivals in Tonganoxie and Basehor also have youth activities. And the Tonganoxie Water Park is a popular spot for summer fun.

Pocketbook friendly

The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society offers free admission to its campus of restored buildings at its historic site. It’s open 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays from April through October. For more information: tonganoxiehistoricalsociety.org.

Online/Twitter/Facebook

Tonganoxie Web site: tongie.org; Basehor Web site: cityofbasehor.org.

Save the dates

• Abdallah Shrine Rodeo, May 27-29 at Leavenworth County Fairgrounds in Tonganoxie. A car show and craft show will be part of festivities at the rodeo. • Basehor Dairy Days, June 5 in Basehor City Park on Leavenworth Road. The event features a flea market, food, live music, performances, games, crafts and a variety of different vendor booths. • Tonganoxie Days, June 11 and 12 throughout Tonganoxie. Setup for the Leavenworth County State Championship Barbecue Contest is June 11. Arts, crafts, barbecue contest, car and truck show, 10K/5K run and 5k walk, as well as a quilt show and miniature horse club fun show will be offered June 12. Musical entertainment can be heard throughout the day as well. • Fourth of July celebration in Basehor, July 4. Music, food and games precede a fireworks display in Basehor. • Leavenworth County Fair, Aug. 10-14 at Leavenworth County Fairgrounds.

Did you know?

Tonganoxie’s Myers Hotel is said to have inspired Kansas playwright William Inge’s “Bus Stop,” which was made into a movie starring Marilyn Monroe in 1956.

How to get there

Tonganoxie and Basehor are along U.S. Highway 24-40 and are accessible from Interstate-70/Kansas Turnpike from the south, and the State Avenue West exit from Interstate-435.

Also near

McLouth. The small Jefferson County community has a quirky landmark — a large rock in the middle of one of its roads: Granite Street. The Legends retail and entertainment district is a few miles to the east at I-435 and State Avenue.