If you’re looking for a great place to recharge your relationship, look no further than Wichita, Kansas. Book a Wichita vacation rental for a day, then head out of town for a little one-on-one time in a fun, new location. Whether your shared interests include the great outdoors, relaxing under the skilled hands of a masseuse, or exploring local art galleries, these Midwestern cities and towns offer something exciting for everyone — look forward to fine dining, wineries, and unique shopping opportunities. Check out this list of destinations to get you started with planning your romantic weekend getaway.
1. Branson, Missouri
For a great combination of exciting nightlife and quiet moments with your love, head to Branson for your romantic weekend retreat. Be sure to make reservations for one of the famous Branson shows, ranging from country to rock to incredible variety acts. You and your sweetie are sure to have a great time with a night on the town enjoying your favorite entertainment at beautiful venues, such as the Welk Resort, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, and Hamners’ Variety Theater. Enjoy dinner with a view before your show at Cantina Laredo or the Texas Land and Cattle Steak House, both of which offer seating overlooking Lake Taneycomo. Ensure you return home well relaxed by getting a couple’s massage at Spa Chateau during your weekend vacation. Select the Serenity Package for a relaxing side-by-side candlelit bath before your joint massage. Branson is only a little over four hours from Wichita by car, making it easy to get away for just a couple of nights to recharge.
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2. Lawrence, Kansas
If you’re wine lovers, consider a romantic getaway in Lawrence. This vacation destination brings you close to Kansas’s agricultural roots, and wineries provide a romantic setting for exploring those roots. Make dinner reservations at BlueJacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery, and ask for custom wine pairings to go with your menu selections. Then head to the gift shop for a bottle or two to take back to your vacation rental. Be sure to take a moment to admire the beautiful label art by Native American artist Brent Learned. The next afternoon head to Davenport Orchards & Winery for the vine-to-wine tour. Finish your exploration of some of Kansas’s finest wines in the tasting room at Crescent Moon Winery, sampling an assortment of vintages plus the gorgeous view of the countryside. Lawrence is around two hours from Wichita and offers plenty of other activities to round out your stay, including the Cider Gallery for fine art exhibits and Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area with informational displays about the area’s history.
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3. Nebraska City, Nebraska
For a delightful couple’s getaway less than four hours away from Wichita, book a vacation rental in Nebraska City. Stroll hand-in-hand through the historic downtown area, stepping into quaint boutiques, such as The Fort and The Keeping Room, for unique souvenirs, and browsing sprawling antique stores, such as Pieceful Dreams Company, Warehouse, and Finders Keepers Antique Mall, for spectacular finds. Choose the Pie Garden Cafe at Arbor Day Farm for a romantic lunch in a beautiful setting, and then pick up some special treats at the farm’s market for creating your own romantic dinner in your vacation rental’s kitchen. On the second day of your getaway, head to Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Arboretum to soak in the beauty of the 52-room mansion once owned by J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. From the Tiffany-glass skylight to the Victorian furnishings, the mansion takes you back in time and has plenty of quiet nooks to explore alongside your sweetie.
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4. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, located just a short two-hour drive from Wichita, is a great place for couple’s weekend away. Start your getaway with a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Country Club Plaza, a historical shopping mall featuring beautiful Spanish architecture and over 15 blocks of shops and eateries. Choose Gram & Dun for an upscale dinner or Plaza III Steakhouse for super-fresh Kansas city steak, and then settle in at Chaz on the Plaza for quality live musical entertainment and classic cocktails into the night. Sleep in the next morning, and enjoy the convenience of brunch at your vacation rental. Then spend your afternoon in the Crossroads Art District. With over 70 shops and galleries, you are sure to find plenty of things to enjoy together. Browse through Night Blooms Darkroom and Bookstore for romantic volumes of poetry, and challenge each other to a round of pinball or your favorite vintage arcade games at Up-Down Arcade Bar. For dinner, try The Reiger, with local foods presented in sophisticated dishes, and then head to Tom’s Town for vintage drinks from the 20s and 30s or relax at the Green Lady Lounge with quiet jazz and romantic conversation.
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5. Fort Scott, Kansas
For a great small-town feel with a rich sense of history, plan your trip for two to Fort Scott. Visit the Downtown Historic District for an hour or two of shopping together in unique boutiques, including Treasure Hunt Flea Market, the Country Cupboard, and Sunshine Boutique. Stop for lunch at Sharky’s Pub & Grub for seafood specials and craft brews. In warm seasons, bring along your bikes, pack a picnic lunch, and explore Gunn Park together, or for year-round opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature, head to The Lavender Patch Farm for fabulous views of the prairie and a large selection of local lavender-scented products. The Beaux Arts Center offers pesticide and chemical free wines plus a fantastic art gallery and more views of the expansive countryside. Save some time for touring the town’s namesake, Fort Scott, where living history exhibits portray life at a military fort in the 1840s. The drive from Wichita to Fort Scott takes less than three hours leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the sites and each other’s company.
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6. Omaha, Nebraska
Check out the extraordinary with a romantic weekend in Omaha. Head out Friday afternoon and enjoy the wide vistas of open prairie during the easy three and a half hour drive to your Omaha area vacation rental. Then enjoy a fabulous dinner of New American cuisine at the Boiler Room, or opt for a sophisticated Continental meal at Le Voltaire French Restaurant. Saturday provides you with many options depending on your interests. If you love shopping, head to the Old Market district for a romantic stroll on the historic brick sidewalk as well as fantastic bargain-hunting in restored warehouses full of boutiques. Animal lovers are sure to enjoy visiting Henry Doorly Zoo’s Desert Dome, a replica of the desert ecosystem that is kept at a balmy temperature year round and offers up close views of rare desert animals. If you share a love of history or art, check out the collections at the Durham Museum or the Joslyn Art Museum. In the evening, consider doing a self-guided brewery crawl, with stops at top craft breweries, such as Brickway Brewery & Distillery, Farnam House Brewing Company, and Thunderhead Brewing Taproom. Many of the area’s breweries also offer food and entertainment making this option the perfect traveling-supper for a pair of beer connoisseurs. Most of the city’s breweries are located in the Benson neighborhood making it easy to walk between stops on your crawl.
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7. Camdenton, Missouri
For a romantic getaway in the center of Missouri’s lake country, book a vacation rental in Camdenton. Surrounded by the Lake of the Ozarks, this region of Missouri offers lovers a luxurious romantic setting with plenty of activities to bring you closer together, all less than five hours away from Wichita. Make an appointment for a couple’s massage at Spa Shiki or The Spa at Old Kinderhook to help you relax and get you in the mood for fun. Then celebrate your love with a wine tasting session at Shawnee Bluff Winery or Seven Springs Winery. Head to Der Essen Platz for a fabulous German feast with homemade breads and delectable homemade desserts for dinner, or reserve a table on one of the many dinner cruises on Lake of the Ozarks, including the romantic candlelight cruises offered by Celebration Cruises or the sunset dinner cruises on the Tom Sawyer Paddlewheeler.
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