Wamego - The Actual OZ of Kansas
When you think of any pop culture related to Kansas, it's pretty obvious that the first thing that'll come to your mind is The Wizard of Oz. This classic movie from 1939 has been a phenomenon for a little under a century now. But did you know that there is a small town in Kansas with a strip of places themed after the film??
I have to admit that I never knew this area existed until doing some research on places to check out in this midwestern state. Whether you're driving through or want to spend the day, here's a few great spots in the ultra-charming town of Wamego!
First, stop for lunch at Toto's Tacoz.
Did you ever think that you'd find a Mexican restaurant completely themed after the Wizard of Oz? I doubt it... But in Wamego, it's a real thing!
Specifically MexiCal, Toto's Tacoz has really great food. And even better, each menu item is named after something from the famous film! And when I say the entire place follows this theme, I mean it! Instagrammable murals on the walls, a cardboard cutout of Dorothy, and even a table of different sauces, their flavors inspired by each character from the movie.
Not only is this place fun, but the food is outstanding! I went classic with the Toto's Taco, a customizable option that I had loaded with ground beef, chipotle sour cream and cheese, and was so big that I could hardly finish one!
Next, escape Kansas inside the Oz Museum.
Now it's time to experience the real Oz of Wamego - Or at least, the closest we can get to it! Even though it's small, the Oz Museum is packed with so much to see. Just when I thought that I knew everything there was about the movie, there ended up being a lot that I learned afterward!
You'll find a massive collection of merchandise, life-sized figures, and a theater in the back playing the film. It's enjoyable for all ages, and comes at the cheap price of $9 a ticket. As a bonus, if you loved any of the spinoffs or the musical Wicked, they've got that covered, too!
Taste test the local wines at Oz Winery.
The best way to unwind after a day at Oz would be sipping your way through different wines themed after the film's beloved characters. What's even better is that your first two samples are free! If you'd like to do a full tasting, it's only about $8.
They've got dries, sweets and semi-sweets - with fun names like Squished Witch and Fraidy Cat! Not to mention all kinds of fun gifts in their shop.
End your day following the Yellow Brick Road.
In a small but quaint alleyway, you'll find the infamous yellow brick road that you can follow. On that path leads you through different murals, art pieces and a colorful statue of Toto. It's the perfect way to wrap up your time in Oz!
I hear a lot of people (who have never even been to Kansas) assume that there's nothing to do there. Well, hopefully this post can prove them wrong! Sure, this midwestern state may not be the most extravagant, but it sure does ooze charm in some places.
When I was planning on how I was going to cross off my 32nd state, it all boiled down to finding something 'Kansas-like' to do while there. And how else to do that than with the Wizard of Oz?
