While some area residents and residents of more glamorous states turn a disdainful eye on the treasures of central Kansas, two native German travel writers found what was awesome about this part of wheat country-and Cheyenne Bottoms.
“Traveling tramps” is a blog written by the Germans who recently passed through Barton County and described with a fresh perspective their time in the  wetlands.
“We had a wonderful experience,” said Margit Brinke and Peter Kranzle from Augsburg, Germany, wrote in an email. “Wetlands? Marsh/swamp/bayous? Salt and fresh water at the same time? In the center of America’s Heartlands, in Kansas? Who would expect that? Well, we got a chance this time to explore the wetlands region of Kansas more extensively.”
They were also pleased with the help they got “identifying birds for us by the director of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, which is a recommendable first stop in the park with great exhibitions,” the two wrote.
Beginning the month with tours of New Orleans, they made their way through north through Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma until they arrived in Stafford.
“Stafford, Hudson, Hoisington, Great Bend, Ellinwood, Pawney Rock (sic)– what do these names have in common?” they continued. “We didn’t know before, but all are towns in the heart of Kansas, to be precise, in the wetlands and they all have something unique to offer.”
“First thing was a stop at another unique place: Heartland Farm in Pawney Rock,” Brinke and Kranzle blogged. “Operated by a couple of Dominican Sisters, the order is headquartered in a huge convent building in Great Bend, this conglomeration of different rustic buildings in the middle of nowhere, offers some special experience.
“The sisters living here, rent out rooms in a guesthouse, offer massages, keep alpacas and produce wool, operate a pottery workshop, a music tower, a garden and a greenhouse, there are trails and friendly dogs and much more to forget any troubles, to calm down and relax. A peaceful and quiet retreat.”
The next stop was Cheyenne Bottoms. “We drove the loop through the park with large pools of freshwater and packed with different birds – a magnificent drive!” they wrote.
“On to the Wolf Hotel, a recently opened historic hotel, where the young, enthusiastic owner did an amazing job in renovating the building,” the writer’s said. “It’s still work-in-progress and he’s currently adding a mystery theater and a bar. Guests are already welcome to stay in beautifully decorated rooms.
“Besides the phenomenon of the tunnels themselves, it would be interesting to know more about the German heritage in this part of Kansas.
“There was much more we experienced on our fabulous tour along the Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway and for sure this route is well worth being explored: unique nature, history and simply down-to-earth rural Kansas combined in one place,” said the Brinke and Kranzle.