It is actually a part of the Cimarron Heritage Center! There are a couple of things outside that are worth a photo op. The museum is free! When you walk in it is like you are walking into a living room. We were the only ones there so the lady working had to go turn on all of the lights for us. They do have some weird hours so make sure to check online! It is a very old building and set up. The artifacts are hung on corkboard in sections like an antique store but it still is worth a stop! There are also some fun things for kids to do!
The Painted Desert visitor center has a lot to do! There are two gift shops, an informative movie theater, learning center and honestly more but we didn't get a chance to see it. They have a few walkways as well so it is a nice chance to get a feel for the area before starting.
This was a great place for hiking especially for families with small kids. We got there an hour before sunset and it was gorgeous. The trails really let you enjoy the desert atmosphere. There is a nice building with restrooms right at the gateway trailhead. It has some amazing views and boardwalk trials as well as dirt. I will say that you need to leave right at closing time because the gates are automatic.
Beautiful drive! There are only a few overlooks and you have to pay to park anywhere. There is a tag kiosk at each campsite and hiking trail parking lots and I think it was $5 for the day. We ended up just driving through because it was December and there was surprisingly a lot of people. It was also difficult to drive around in the urban areas like Sedona because of roundabouts and parking. We were definitely content to just drive through. I can see how it would get crowded during the busy season. We drove up to the cross on the hill and there was no where to park and people were just stopping in the middle of the road and getting out to take a picture which caused a lot of chaos. We enjoyed ourselves way more once we got out of Sedona and was heading north. Even with all of that it is a gorgeous area and if you have better patience than me then you will have a great time.
Start at the visitor center! They have great views, nice little walkthrough of artifacts and information, the rangers are helpful as always and a nice restroom before exploring. There is a little trail right there by the center. It is short and doesn't show you the big lava beds but it is convenient and has some really pretty outlooks. All the other trails looked like you had to drive to them. We were tight on time and it was December so it was cold so we didn't get a chance to check it all out. You can see the lava beds from the road but not the best part. We will be returning and the rangers recommended coming in the spring. According to the other reviews GPS sucks around there but there is a lot of signs right off the highway.
The actual historical plaques, wagon ruts and views were awesome. However, there was trash EVERYWHERE! It kind of took away from the beauty of it. Also, half the benches were broken so it definatly needs some maintenance. There was no bathroom or trashcan(probably why there was so much trash). Despite the complaints, it was worth the stop for the historical value. You can truly picture Wagons crossing.
Great stop! It was surprising how big and amazing it was since it is FREE! It has 3 unique trails with plaques all along them identifying wildlife and plants. The nature center itself was bigger than expected. It was also packed FULL of interactive exhibits. Kids and adults could spend a couple of hours here. There is also some animals in the nature center such as rescued birds, snakes, lizards, and turtles. Also, make sure you grab dome free turtle food before heading to the trails and feed the turtles in the pond right by the center.
When I had asked people if the price was worth it every single person said that it was worth that and more. Once I went I completely understood why. The place was HUGE! The exhibits were unique and very well taken care of. Good for all ages and it is stroller and wheelchair friendly. There are two sections. Always start with the aquarium first and I would recommend being there when they open. We spent about 3 hours going through the aquarium section at the pace of a 2 year old. It is all on a one way path so do not feel like you will miss anything. Once you get through the aquarium we had lunch at the cafe right by where you buy your ticket. It is reasonable and they have good kid options. Then we entered the actual Bass Pro shop to get to the Wonders of Wildlife part. They did such a good job with their exhibits and the history there is impressive. We spent probably 2 hours walking through that. After all that walking we then shopped for a couple of hours in the actual store. Again, it is totally worth it and we will defiantly be going again.
Awesome pool and hot tub. Very clean. Located in a great area and about 15 minutes from Wichita!
The staff was so friendly and informative. The house and barn are a must see! Make sure you see all of the levels. Lots of stairs but so worth it! From the website it looks like you could drive through the park to see the Buffalo but only the Buffalo tours can drive that route. So if you want to see Buffalo you need to jump on a tour. Also, you can drive to the old schoolhouse instead of hiking just go further down the road past the visitor center entrance. That is actually where we saw the Buffalo was at the gate by the school house. We walked the Southwind trail from the visitor center to the school house. It was a nice trail that goes over a creek and was not long. It took us about an hour with a toddler to walk to the schoolhouse and back.