Topeka Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital of the state of Kansas, United States; county seat of Shawnee County
About Topeka
Topeka, located in Shawnee County, serves as the capital of Kansas. It lies on rich sandy loam river bottomland where Native Americans lived for many years using the excellent fords on the Kansas (Kaw) River. Among the first permanent settlers were three French-Canadian (Pappan) brothers. They married three Kanza (Kansas) Native American sisters and established a ferry over the river in 1842. A grandson from one of the marriages was Charles Curtis, the only Vice-President of the United States to be of Native American descent. (Charles Curtis served with President Herbert C. Hoover from 1929 to 1933.) In the 1800s, Topeka served as a gateway west for pioneers traveling on theOregon Trailor by railroad. Topeka is home to the highly acclaimed Kansas Museum of History where you'll step back in
Top Attractions in Topeka
Explore the best things to see and do in Topeka:
- ★Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
- ★Combat Air Museum
- ★Gage Park
- ★Great Overland Station
- ★Heartland Motorsports Park
- ★Helen Hocker Theater
- ★Kansas Expo Centre
- ★Kansas Historical Society and Museum
Where to Eat in Topeka
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Annie's Place
- 🍴Blind Tiger
- 🍴Bobo's Drive In
- 🍴Globe Indian Cuisine
- 🍴Juli's Coffee and Bistro
- 🍴Kiku Japanese Steak House
Where to Stay in Topeka
- 🏨Courtyard Topeka
- 🏨Fairfield Inn Topeka
- 🏨Hotel Topeka At City Center
- 🏨Hyatt Place
- 🏨Ramada Topeka Downtown Hotel and Convention Center
- 🏨Residence Inn Topeka
Topeka Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: