Why go there:

Western Wyandotte County continues to provide a vast number of entertainment options right here in Kansas. You can catch a great outdoor concert, watch a marble being made, experience a day on the farm, take a trip back to the Renaissance, find a great bargain on discount clothes or catch a professional soccer game or NASCAR race. Get wet and wild at the Kansas City Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and Waterpark, home of the world’s tallest waterslide, or soar through the treetops at the only zipline park in the Kansas City area, Adventure Zip KC.

What’s New:

The Verruckt, the world’s tallest waterslide at 17 stories, remains almost literally this biggest thing in western Wyandotte County. The waterslide was so popular in its opening season last summer that Schlitterbahn developed a day-of reservation system to give guests a scheduled time to ride, with sign ups beginning when the park opens for the day. It’s first come, first served, and last year the demand was often greater than the number of available rides, so if you want the thrill of plunging 168 feet in a three-person raft, get there early.

Those who aren’t seeking quite as much thrill can still, of course, enjoy slides like the Banzai Pipeline, Cyclone and Black Knight, the Boogie Bahn surf ride, and the King Kaw Rapids River and Mighty Mo Chute ride.

A good place to start:

The Legends Outlets and surrounding area has 101 stores and restaurants, Cabelas and Nebraska Furniture Mart, JCPenneys and Kohls, three major sporting venues, the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, and five hotels.

In Bonner Springs, start with the infamous Moon Marble Co., 600 E. Front St., where you can see a marble made and explore the glass art and vintage toys. Then run to Downtown Bonner Springs to find vintage decor shopping like Flip KC, Garland Taylor Home, the Pink Zebra and This and That Antiques and Collectibles.

For music lovers, also in Bonner Springs just west of the Legends on State Avenue, Cricket Wireless Amphitheater has a busy schedule this summer, from country star Luke Bryan June 16 to Dave Matthews Band July 14 and Van Halen July 22.

Save The Date:

Adventure Zip KC zip line park, 12829 Loring Road just southwest of Bonner Springs, allows visitors to zip over 10 lines from as high as a 65-foot tower atop a 250-foot-tall hill overlooking the Kansas River. The park also hosts obstacle challenges. Register for the Wild Women Timber Challenge July 26 or the Extreme Timber Challenge Sept. 27 at kctimberchallenge.com.

Speaking of physical challenges, a new special event at the Kansas Speedway will be the Wipeout Run Aug. 29, a 5K with obstacles similar to those on the popular television show of the same name.

Things to Do With the Kids:

If the waterparks of Schlitterbahn and the Great Wolf Lodge aren’t enough, the Legends area has many more options for families with children, from the animatronic dinosaurs at the T-Rex Café to the arcade games at Dave & Busters. One less expensive option: T-Bones Baseball at CommunityAmerica Park offers single-game tickets from just $6.50. And even better, The Legends 14 Theaters will offer a free family movie from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday over the summer.

In Bonner Springs, the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame features the history of agricultural production and a recreated Farm Town, with family-friendly events like Tractor Daze and Touch-a-Truck on July 11. The Kansas City Renaissance Festival runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends beginning Sept. 5.

Did You Know:

Shopping The Legends Outlets is also a lesson in state history. The shopping center is sprinkled with more than 80 plaques, murals and other markers dedicated to famous Kansans. An audio walking tour is available from the Customer Service office, and a Scavenger Hunt can be printed from the Legends’ website.

How to Get There:

To get to the Legends area from Lawrence, head east on Interstate 70 to Interstate 435 North, taking the west exits for either State Avenue or Parallel Parkway.

To get to Bonner Springs, head east on I-70 and take the Kansas Hwy. 7 exit. Head north for Cricket Wireless Amphitheater, the RenFest or Ag Hall; head south for downtown Bonner Springs shopping, Moon Marble and Adventure Zip KC.