Post #9 Escape Rooms

A fun way to spend some time with friends in Topeka is at a business that is less than 10 years old. Keynundrum, which opened in 2008, is an escape room adventure. If you are not familiar with escape rooms, they are interactive rooms that you must escape. Pretty simple, right?

This photo was taken from
the Keynundrum website

Wrong. Each room features a different set of hidden objects that serve as clues, these clues help participants to solve puzzles that ultimately will allow the group to escape. The goal is to escape the room as quickly as possible, however there is a maximum time of 60 minutes. If your group gets stuck you can ask for a hint, but they will add five minutes to your time for each hint that you receive.

Keynundrum does allow for reservations to be made. This is the best way to ensure that you and your friends can get a chance escape the room of your choosing. Keynundrum has five different escape rooms to try to breakout from. This provides the chance to go back multiple times if you cannot solve a certain room, or would like to take a crack at a different room.

The cost is only $20 per person if the group is larger than three people. 

Post #8 Get Involved

One of the best ways to spend time in Topeka is by volunteering or getting involved with the Topeka community. An easy way for college students to get involved is through Big Brothers Big Sisters. This is a program that matches the older volunteer with a younger participant who need a positive role model. A lot of the kids who are looking for a “Big” come from single parent households. The unstableness of their home life causes them to need a positive mentor. The ages of the kids varying from elementary school all the way up to high school. Some of the kids in the program have been on a wait list for a “Big” for over a year.

The process of becoming a “Big” is extensive, but not difficult. There is an application that must be filled out. After that there will be a series of interviews and a background check. If the potential big meets all the requirements, then they will receive a match.

There are two types of matches, community and site. The community based matches allow for the big to take the little out into the community to do activities. The duo is supposed to hangout at least one hour each week. This is not an overwhelming commitment by any means, however it is still meaningful for the “Little.” A site based match is one that centers around what the “Little” at school. The “Big” will go eat lunch, go to recess, and even help in the class room. There are opportunities for outside activities, but are not required for site based matches.

To become a “Big” you can contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shawnee county at (785) 234-5524 or visit their office in Topeka at 2300 SW 29^th St. Suite 200.

Post #7 Local Diners

Dining local is a great way to get to know a community. Supporting Mom and Pop shops not only benefits the family that owns the diner, but you can also find some delicious food. While eating at large food chains one can expect generic recipes of food, however at local diners the food is hand made with a secret recipe. Local diners are decorated with objects that reflect the owners and their personalities, giving the diner a more welcoming feel.

I went ate breakfast at a café in south Topeka called Banjo’s Café. I have been to the café a few times, always for breakfast. Each time that I leave I am ready to go into a food educed coma. Their potions are huge and their food is delicious. I think that the full order of biscuits and gravy is physically impossible to eat in one sitting!

The diner itself has colorful walls and uses wooden tables and chairs for the guests seating. The large windows in the front of the diner allows the natural light to pour in, illuminating the café with a friendly glow.

The meals are reasonably priced, however with the portion sizes, the prices are extremely favorable. My average bill is around $10!

Post #6 The Topeka Zoo

A great way to spend a sunny day is by visiting the Topeka Zoo! The zoo is right next to Gage Park, and is centrally located in Topeka. Although the Topeka Zoo is smaller in comparison to other area zoos, it still offers a great variety of animals and is an excellent way to have fun for a day. The zoo has lions, tigers, and bears that like to climb trees (OH MY)! Visitors can also find elephants, giraffes, and hippopotamus enclosures at the Topeka Zoo.

The zoo is not hard to navigate, which makes walking the path multiple times easy. Visitors can easily spend several hours at the zoo by taking multiple trips around to see all the animals more than once. Educational programs are put on to help inform the public about a certain animal. Often these programs are interactive and they give the public a unique opportunity to get a close-up experience with an education animal.

The cost of admission is $5.75, much less than other nearby zoos. For less than six dollars’ guests can enjoy a full day of fun. Having Gage Park so close to the zoo is an added benefit for the guests. They can spend time in the park and maybe even have a picnic before entering the zoo. This helps to avoid the sometimes-costly food provided at the zoo’s dining area.

Post #5 Bowling

Kansas weather. What more can you say? You can never be certain what mother nature has in store for Kansas. This last week for example, on Thursday the temperature was in the mid 60’s and overall the weather was nice. On Saturday, Topeka experienced snow that lasted for almost 4 hours and left the ground covered in a coat of white.

Not being able to depend on the weather is a constant struggle in Kansas, which is why it is a good idea to always have a backup plan. Like Blue says in the video, you never know when it is going to be hot in Topeka.

When the weather is being unreliable, bowling is a great option for indoor fun! Topeka features two bowling alleys, Gage Bowls and West Ridge Lanes. As a college student, I am partial to West Ridge Lanes because they offer $2 games of bowling on Tuesday nights. Finding a deal better than $2 per game is hard to do. You along with your friends can spend around two hours bowling for $4 per person!

I will admit, I am terrible at bowling. However, with practice anyone can see vast improvements in their game. A fun competition is to play a game or two and the person with the lowest score hast to pay for everyone else’s games. If you’re the loser, then it may not end up being a cheap night for you.

Blog Post #4 The Great Outdoors

Kansas is by no means place that adventurers or thrill seekers got to hike. However, for college students, Kansas has just enough to offer. Topeka offers a few options for those who want to hike trails or ride bikes through the forest, none better than the Governor’s Mansion. Weather permitting, the Governor’s Mansion is the best option for those wanting to take a stroll outdoors.

As the name indicates, the Governor’s Mansion is home to the Governor of Kansas. On the property there are hiking trails that stretch for miles. These trails cover a hilly terrain and are engulfed by thick underbrush and trees. There are several ponds can be found alongside of the trails. If you take the right path, you can even find yourself at the banks of the Kansas river.

I suggest hiking with a friend or two, otherwise the trails can be a little spooky. Another suggestion I would make regarding hiking, make sure to have plenty of time before it gets dark when you set out on your hike. Hiking around the woods at night is not a fun experience so make sure to plan ahead!

Other areas in Topeka that are worth exploring include Lake Shawnee and Lake Sherwood. Both include hiking trails, and serve as a great place to spend time outdoors. For a small fee, you can purchase a fishing license. The license will allow you to legally fish for one year anywhere in Kansas.

All of these public hiking trails and lakes are free to any and all that want to utilize them! For a college student looking for something to do on a sunny afternoon, the trails are an opportunity that cannot be beat.