19 Midwest destinations to travel with your family in 2019

Want to make 2019 the year of travel and need a little inspiration? Look no further than this list of 19 undiscovered destinations to visit in 2019. These hidden gems offer plenty of family fun, good eats and great places to stay.  

Keep Abilene Beautiful

Click image to listen

The song Abilene was written about Abilene, Kansas and released in 1963. While written about the "other" Abilene - Abilene, Texas - we agree with country music singer,  Carlton Anderson  and let's "Keep Abilene Beautiful". 

According to Anderson, the song is about finding your way back to where you belong. We invite everyone to come back to Abilene to live, work or visit.
Economic Impact of Tourism

Visitor spending in Dickinson County is up 8.4%. According to recent data from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 2017 visitor spending accounted for $21.88 million compared to $20.03 million in 2015. Visitor spending includes lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreation and transportation.

2019 Community Opportunities Conversation

Thursday, January 31
 
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
 
Abilene High School Auditorium, 1300 N Cedar St
 
 
I would like to invite your organization, board members, event planning committees, volunteers and members to attend a 2019 Community Opportunities Conversation to discuss three things: 

1. Making the most of tourism spending in and around our community.

2. Being the first to hear about the Eisenhower Presidential Museum's official celebration plans for their grand re-opening this year.

3. Finding out how you might be able to access up to $100,000 in annual City Commission funding for community events and attractions.
 
Make sure you bring your smartphone and be prepared for your input to help make a lasting impact on Abilene's future. We are so fortunate to have many diverse tourist attractions, community organizations and events. And this year will be an exciting time as we celebrate the City's 150th anniversary of incorporation, 25th anniversary of Great Plains Theatre, the 100th anniversary of the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad's Steam Engine #3415, and the grand re-opening of the renovated Eisenhower Presidential Museum. 

We have to work together to maintain and build on our success. I hope you will plan to attend and help our effort.

Austin Gilley, City Manager

Abilene's Victorian Inn Specials

Treat your Valentine to one of Chef Adrian's special dinners while you are staying at Abilene's Victorian Inn February 12-17. Reserve now, limited seating.
 
We will also be taking reservations for lunch from 11-2pm for small groups Wed -Fri through the month of February. Please call to reserve.


Abilene Flag Project
 
Thank you to everyone for supporting this special project!













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Flag sponsors as of 1/23/2019

24/7 Travel Stores
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Abilene Auto Parts Inc.
Abilene Haircuts, Russell & Wanda Pitney
Abilene Machine Inc.
Abilene Printing & Office Products Co., Inc.
Abilene Rent-All & Sales
American Family Insurance
AuBurn Pharmacy 
Bert & Wetta Sales Inc
Bill & Nanc Scholl
Black & Company Realtors
Bob Burns- State Farm Insurance Agent 
Breakfast Optimist Club
Brian's Plumbing Inc
Brown Memorial Foundation
Bruce & Denise Youtsey
Casey & Jane Foltz
Central Kansas Free Fair
Chuck & Ann Brussow
Copeland Insurance
Dan & Dana Eye
Dan & Marilyn Holt
Danner Funeral Home
Dennis & Teresa Weishaar
Don's Tire & Supply Inc
Dickinson County Heritage Center
Eisenhower Foundation
Emilies Bauernhof
Everett's Inc.
Faith Lutheran Church
First Bank Kansas
George & Carol McCormic 
Geske Interiors
Great Plains Federal Credit Union
Greyhound Hall of Fame
Harold & Sue Courtois
Hettenbach & Langdon CPAs
Holm Automotive Center
Jessica Weissenbach
Jim & Pattie Mayhew
John & April Barker
John & Judy Anguiano
Kay Quinn
Kenton & Stephanie Clark
KJIL - Mark Hinca
Kohler Family (Jason & Kim)
Dr. Lawrence Cooper
Larry & Tina Rankin
Linder Electric Inc.
M & M Tire & Auto
M & R Grill
Marcus Rothchild
Martin Becker Carlson Funeral
Martin Schneider in Memory of Jack Schneider
Memorial Health System 
Mildred Hanson
OCCK, Inc.
Patterson Healthcare Pharmacy
Peterson Monuments & Designs, Inc.
Pinnacle Bank
Pottberg, Gassman & Hoffman
Rawhide Portable Corral
RHV / Ken & Ann Manning
Rick & Marcia Williamson
Rivendell Bookstore/Picture This Plus
Rob & Dawn Hammatt
Robson Oil Co Inc
Rod & Tracey Kuecker
Russell Stover Chocolates
Smart Insurance
Solomon State Bank
Sonic Drive In
Stan Foltz 
Steve & Glenda Schmidt in memory of Lowell K. Schmidt, WWII Veteran
The Teck Shop
Tim & Kathy Horan
Tom & Janet Whitehair
Tony & Sarah Geiger
Twila Jackson
UMB Bank
Wendell & Nancy Gugler
West's Plaza Country Mart
William & Phyllis Peterson
Throwback Thursday - Abilene is ready for Ike's centennial
 
The Salina Journal
September 13, 1989
5 Star Reviews - M&R Grill
 
2019 Calendar of Events

2019 marks 150 years since the City of Abilene's official incorporation. Community events make Abilene not only a great place to live, but also a great place to visit. Make plans now to visit Abilene, Kansas and enjoy these great events! 

Take the Abilene Event Challenge - how many can you attend? Snap a photo and tag us in your Facebook posts @VisitAbilene.


EVENT

WHEN

LOCATION
LEARN MORE
Kansas Day Celebration
Saturday, January 26 @ 2-5 pm
Dickinson County Heritage Center
Website
Plain Great Players Cabaret Saturday, January 26 @ 6 pm Great Plains Theatre
  Website
30th Annual Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show
 February 11-24
 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Moulin Rouge: A Party In Paris
GPT FUN-Raiser kicks off our 25th Anniversary Season in style!

Saturday, February 23 @ 6 pm Great Plains Theatre
Les Misérables performed by PGP
Thursday, February 28 @ 7 pm
Friday, March 1 @7 pm
Saturday, March 2 @7 pm
Sunday, March 3 @ 2 pm
Great Plains Theatre
KS Gift & Craft Show Sunday, March 31 @ 1pm Sterl Hall
Eisenhower Marathon
Saturday, April 6 @ 7 am
St. Andrews Parish Hall
Easter Bunny Train Saturday, April 13 @ 1 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
National Greyhound Association Spring Nationals April 15-20 National Greyhound Association
Reitz & Rust Vintage Market
Saturday, April 27 @ 10 am
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Arts & Ales Saturday, April 27 Downtown Abilene
Abilene Aviation Association Fly-In  Saturday, May 4 Abilene Municipal Airport
National Travel & Tourism Week May 5-11 Abilene
Antique Fest Saturday, May 11 Downtown Abilene
Mother's Day Tea Saturday, May 11 Eisenhower Presidential Library
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, May 25 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides Saturday, May 25 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, May 26 @ 2 pm
Monday, May 27 @ 10 am & 2 pm		 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Symphony at Sunset
Saturday, June 1
Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
75th anniversary of D-Day Thursday, June 6 Eisenhower Presidential Museum
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse) Saturday, July 6 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, June 8 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Pirates of Penzance June 14-23 Great Plains Theatre
Heart of America Greyhound Gathering June 20-22 Sterl Hall
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, June 22 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Disaster! July 12-21 Great Plains Theatre
Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration July 4 Eisenhower Park
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Thursday, July 4 @10 am & 2 pm
Friday, July 5 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Saturday, July 6 @10 am & 2 pm		 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo
Wednesday, July 31 - Saturday, August 3
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Central Kansas Free Fair
Wednesday, July 31 - Monday, August 5
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
 August 2-18 Great Plains Theatre
National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo August 2-3 Shockey & Landes Building
Vintage Base Ball Game August 3 Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, August 31 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Chisholm Trail Days Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1 Old Abilene Town
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Saturday, August 31 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, September 1 @ 2 pm
Monday, September 2 @ 10 am & 2 pm		 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Hitching Post Restaurant)
 Saturday, September 14 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, September 28 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Heritage Days Saturday, October 5 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Saturday, October 5 @ 10 am - 3 pm (hourly departures)

 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Sunday, October 6 @ 2 pm (last steam run of the year)
 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, October 12 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Empires Fall October 18-27 Great Plains Theatre
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, October 26 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Tombstone Talks Saturday, October 26 Abilene Cemetery
Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun November 29 - December 15 Great Plains Theatre
Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea Saturday, December 7 Abilene's Victorian Inn
Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8		 Varies each year
Night of Christmas Magic Saturday, December 7 Downtown Abilene
Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to  [email protected].

ATTRACTION UPDATES

Dinner Trains
 
All aboard! The 2019  Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad  dinner train schedule is now available. Book now to reserve your preferred time, train and meal

Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
 
Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is closed. Check archives.gov for details.
Kansas Day Celebration

Join the Dickinson County Historical Society in a Kansas Day Celebration Saturday, January 26th from 2-5 p.m.

Activities include:
  • Scavenger hunt with prizes
  • Refreshments - cooking from the 1860s era complete with recipes
  • Joe Basso sharing traditions and customs that people brought with them as they traveled from across the ocean to the east coast before eventually settling in Kansas.
  • Games from the 1860s
  • Photo booth with period costumes
  • Music by Peggy Meuli
Admission: $5 (Includes copy of the Kansas History Journal featuring Joseph McCoy and the Chisholm Trail).

Note: The museum will be closed Saturdays and Sundays during January and February, except for the Kansas Day celebration, which will be held on January 26, 2019, 2:00-5:00 pm at the museum. 
Great Plains Theatre - Moulin Rouge: A Party in Paris
 
Moulin Rouge: A Party In Paris
GPT FUN-Raiser kicks off our 25th Anniversary Season in style!

February 23rd at 6:00pm
Join us for an evening of food, fun, and frolicking!

There will be cabaret style music, games, tastings, entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a silent and live auction, prizes and more!

Advance reservations are just $25 or $35 at the door, and are only available to those 21 years of age and older. 
About us
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau  is the marketing arm of the City of Abilene and provides services to tourists and groups convening in Abilene.
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