Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Tallgrass prairie once covered 400,000 square miles of North America; less than five percent survives, mostly here in the Kansas Flint Hills. The preserve protects this rare sea of grass, an 1881 limestone ranch headquarters, and a bison herd reintroduced in 2009 that now roams the backcountry pastures.

Spot bison, ride the summer bus tour, and tour the limestone ranch buildings; young kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge. For a challenge, hike deep into the Windmill Pasture on the preserve's 40 miles of trails, sharing the range with the herd.