Nestled at the crossroads of I-35 and I-70 is a little slice of heaven that I like to call my hometown. Salina, Kansas is where my family and beloved Dalmatian, Betsey Johnson, live. It’s also the place where I made every happy memory I can conjure up.

Salina is bigger town with population just over 50,000 residents, so it has a few city amenities while maintaining it’s “down home Kansas” identity.

So should you find yourself 76 miles north of the ICT, here are five stops you have to make in the SLN:

[eat] – Grab a shake at Bogey’s diner. Themed with movie memorabilia and located just off the Kansas Wesleyan campus, I went to Bogey’s every day during my sophomore year of high school. There are over one hundred possible milkshake flavor combinations to choose from, plus a traditional burger menu if you’re hungry for more.

[watch] - Salina mirrors Wichita as a community where the arts are celebrated. While you’re in town, make sure you check the listings for the Salina Community Theatre, the Stiefel Theatre (John Legend was there earlier this year) or the Art Cinema. All three venues are located near the historic downtown Santa Fe Street, which hosts a plethora of local shops and great nightlife.

[do] - If you find yourself in town during the second weekend of June, buying a ticket to the Smoky Hill River Festival is a must. It is my absolute favorite time of the year. Oakdale Park gets all dolled up and I walk around stuffing my face with traditional festival food while listening to a variety of musical stylings and other performers.

[go] - During the warmer months, spend a day at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure. There are a ton of interactive activities to keep the kids occupied and the facilities rival any big-city zoo. You can feed the giraffes, crawl into the pop-up display and get up close and personal with the spotted leopards or watch the keepers feed the lions.

[see] - At the Smoky Hill Bison Farm, you can take a tour through a herd of grass-fed, happy-go-lucky bison, eat a bison burger, and buy more bison-themed souvenirs than you thought existed. There is something so prairie-ish Kansan about hanging out with bison. Some of my favorite childhood memories took place at Smoky Hill.

So yes, it is possible to be bored in Salina… if you’re anti-social with a fear of natural light. Seriously, though, Salina is a go, do, and see type of town. It’s full of good people, decent shopping, and a nice assortment of restaurants to eat out at. It has a mall and a 10-screen Dickinson movie theater. Salina is also home to a happening high school sports scene and a well-supported philanthropic focus as well. I may a bit biased, but I give it two thumbs up.

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