Lawrence is a cool place, but every college student needs to get away from time to time.

So where can you go when your travel ambitions outweigh the meager contents of your wallet?

Two words: Think Kansas.

That’s right, the Sunflower State has it goin’ on. There are a bevy of quirky landmarks and funky festivals to be visited outside of Lawrence.

So get off your duff, grab a friend or two and take a break from the worries of academic life: You deserve a sight-seeing siesta.

Kansas awaits.

For the love of concrete

The Garden of Eden, located in Lucas, is just plain weird. If Tim Burton harbored a crush on concrete, this folk-art paradise might be the result. In any case, it’s cool. Civil War veteran and Lucas resident S.P. Dinsmoor started sculpting the garden in the early 1900’s and kept going for more than twenty years. His concrete creations, which include more than 100 statues, express his political and personal views. And hey, if you’re looking for even more of the unexpected, check this out: Dinsmoor’s body — he died in 1932 — rests in a glass-encased concrete coffin on the garden grounds. (Source: “Kansas Curiosities” by Pam Grout and John Blumb, Lawrence resident and Garden of Eden co-owner)

Distance: approximately 199 miles

Info: (785)525-6395 or www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com; tours are available year-round for $4.50

Lincoln lives on

Three men Pose as Abraham Lincoln during Lincoln Days in Lincoln. The small town, about 176 miles from Lawrence, celebrates all things related to our nation's 16th president.

The small town of Lincoln celebrates all things related to our nation’s 16th president. The town, in fact, was named by a childhood friend of Lincoln’s who helped settle the friendly burg. And every February, the place goes stovepipe-hat crazy. The anniversary of Honest Abe’s birthday features a Lincoln look-alike competition and a recitation of the Gettysburg Address. (Source: “Kansas Curiosities” by Lawrence author Pam Grout)

Distance: approximately 176 miles

Info: (785)524-5133

Geology rocks!

A few miles southwest of Minneapolis, a geological freak show of sorts can be found. Rock City, a national landmark that includes 200 huge rocks in a relatively small area, is a surprise in the otherwise unassuming terrain. The sandstone concretions, known for their unusual shapes, were photographed as early as the 1870’s. You’ll see Turtle Rock, Bathtub Rock, Doughnut Rock and other appropriately-named formations while you’re there. Admission is $3 for adults. (Source: “Kansas Curiosities” by Pam Grout and Myrt Wallace, Rock City, Inc., board member)

Distance: approximately 159 miles

A tourist is dwarfed by a mammoth boulder at Rock City in Minneapolis, Kan.

Info: (785)392-2092 or to schedule a guided tour, call Joe Perry at (785) 392-2577

Beware of the black squirrel

Marysville is a nice little river town with an intriguing motto: “The Black Squirrel City.” That’s right, hundreds of the inky creatures call Marysville home. The squirrels’ origin is something of a mystery, but the most oft-cited explanation, Grout reports, is that a local “hooligan” released a cage of the squirrels from a carnival of gypsies who camped in City Park in the 1920s. Whatever the cause, however, residents in Marysville consider the critters to be good luck. Every October the town celebrates Black Squirrel Night, where chocolate doughnuts called “black squirrels” are served. (Source: “Kansas Curiosities” by Pam Grout)

Distance: approximately 134 miles

Do I have spinach in my teeth?

Even if you detest this legendary vegetable, watching the world’s largest spinach salad get tossed is kind of fun. And every year on the first Saturday after Labor Day, the Lenexa Historical Society does just that. The massive salad — which includes 150 pounds of fresh spinach — is mixed with pitchforks in a plastic swimming pool. Yum. The Spinach Festival also includes an array of silly contests and activities. (Source: “Kansas Curiosities” by Pam Grout)

Distance: approximately 41 miles

Info: (913)541-8592

Info: (800)752-3965