Topeka is Kansas’s compact, affordable state capital with enough culture and green space to keep multi-week stays interesting — explore the Kansas State Capitol and Brown v. Board National Historic Site, catch family-friendly Gage Park and the Topeka Zoo, browse the Evel Knievel Museum or take riverfront and Lake Shawnee trails for running, biking and weekend relaxation.
For bigger-city options within easy reach, Lawrence (≈25–30 miles) offers a lively college-town dining and music scene, while Kansas City (≈60–65 miles) provides major airports, pro sports and big-city entertainment for weekend escapes.