Lawrence, KS has a little something to offer for everyone. Its uniqueness and eccentricity make it a destination spot for both the young and the young at heart. Lawrence has been rated top college town not once but twice; once in 2010 and again in 2011, according to a June 2011 University press release.
So, for those out-of-towners, here are seven things to do during your visit in Lawrence.
Watch a basketball game in Allen Fieldhouse
1. It’s pretty historical. Not just the building itself (it’s the largest basketball arena according to kuathletics.com), but the feeling you get when you are immersed in a basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. The excitement and camaraderie is a feeling unexplainable with words. You just have to experience it for yourself. And while you are there, check out the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, a museum in Allen Fieldhouse about the Kansas athletics’ history and most importantly its tradition.
Take a stroll down Mass street
2. Mass Street, short for Massachusetts, is located in downtown Lawrence, “the heart of the city.” Mass Street offers diverse dining options as well as retail stores and bars sprinkled in-between. It even has its own Fuzzy’s Tacos.
“It’s an excellent mix of retail to restaurants,” said Cathy Hamilton, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc.
Downtown Lawrence is eclectic and vibrant with its locally owned shops and full of people from sun-up to sun-down. You wouldn’t believe how many people can fit on Mass street at once, until you witness it after winning a national championship game.
Free State Brewery
3. Voted by students as the number one beer selection in Lawrence, the Free State Brewing Co., was the first legal brewing company in Kansas when it opened in 1989. They have four beers, Ad Astra Ale, Copperhead Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout, and Wheat State Golden, that they have bottled and made available in liquor stores around Kansas and Missouri. Along with their brewery, Free State is a full-service restaurant.
Watch live music on Mass
4. Just about every night of the week, you can check out a live music show. Mass Street is home to places such as the Granada, the Jackpot and the Bottleneck that feature local bands and musicians. Sometimes you don’t even have to enter a building to find local music, street performers are periodically scattered along Mass Street.
Liberty Hall
5. Liberty Hall was also voted by students as one of the top live music venues in Lawrence. Although Liberty Hall is a local venue, located at 644 Massachusetts St., it has featured many successful musicians, and has been around since 1912. It’s not only a live music venue, but also offers movie showings. And not just the new releases, but a wide variety of movie genres.
Spencer Museum of Art
6. About 36,000 pieces of art collected from around the word can be found in the Spencer Museum of Art, located on KU’s campus. And the best part is that it’s completely free. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Click here for hours and current exhibition information.
Museum of Natural History
7. Another museum to check out on KU’s campus is the Museum of Natural History. Admission is free; however, they ask for a small contribution from visitors. About 50,000 visitors each year walk through four floors of exhibits that are named Toothy mosasaurus, Great Plains, Bugtown and Explore Evolution. The Museum of Natural History is also open Tuesday through Sunday. Click here for hours and exhibit information.
