'''Lawrence''' [http://www.visitlawrence.com/] is a city in Kansas, USA that is situated along I-70, 35 miles west of Kansas City, and home to the University of Kansas. Lawrence provides a mix of academics, bohemia, and small-town Kansas kitsch.
Get in
By car
'''Interstate 70'''. On the north edge of town.
'''State Highway 10'''. Access from southwest metropolitan Kansas City on the south edge of town.
'''US 24''' and '''US 40'''. East-west access from Topeka and Kansas City (24 immediately north of town and 40 through the center of town).
'''US 59'''. North-south access from Ottawa and Atchison through the center of town.
By train
'''Amtrak'''. Provides daily service via the Southwest Chief [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Horizontal_Route_Page&c=am2Route&cid=1081442673827&ssid=132] route. The westbound train (from Chicago bound for Los Angeles) stops at 12:32AM and the Eastbound train (from LA to Chicago) stops at 5:49AM.
By Plane
'''Kansas City International Airport''' (MCI) 46 miles east-northeast. The closest airport to Lawrence with commercial airlines operating, and a major Southwest hub. Service also available on major airlines to large domestic hubs (Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Memphis, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Cincinatti, Cleveland, New York, Houston)
'''Lawrence Municipal Airport''' (LWC) A small airfiled, no scheduled service, only corporate and private jets.
Get around
Lawrence has a fairly good and inexpensive bus system, known as the T. The fare is only $1.00 and will get you one transfer or you can pay $2.75 for a day pass.
The city is also bike-friendly and has had a good reputation among the biking community.
The central part of the city, consisting of the downtown, the KU campus, and the student-filled neighborhoods in between is easily walkable. The Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center offers brochures[http://www.visitlawrence.com/lawrence_itours/] for self-guided walking tours in the city. Outside of the central part of the city, cars are king. Cabs are cheap, though uncommon.
See
There's an interesting '''rock mural''' on North Side of the river which was created by local artist Stan Herd. It is visible from the Massachusetts Street Bridge.
The '''University of Kansas''' campus[http://www.ku.edu/] is simply beautiful, walk around and enjoy a picnic next to Potter's Lake.
See a film, theatre production, live concert, art show, wedding or any number of other things at the multifunctional '''Liberty Hall'''[http://www.libertyhall.net/], on the corner of 7th and Massachusetts. (Serves Free State Beer on tap, including during films)
Do
'''KU Men's Basketball''', [http://kuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/kan-m-baskbl-body.html]. If you haven't seen the Jayhawks play in the heart of basketball season, you're missing out on one of the best events in the area, even if you're not a huge basketball fan. People from all over Kansas come to Allen Fieldhouse to cheer on this nationally acclaimed team that has been to countless Final Fours and Sweet Sixteens in its long history. Make sure you buy tickets well in advance, since they sell out fast. It should be noted that during ''any'' Kansas Men's basketball game, home or away, Massachusetts Street will be alive with people.
'''Historic driving tour'''[http://www.kansastravel.org/quantrillslawrenceraid.] visits many of the sites involved Quantrill's Raid (The Lawrence Massacre) in 1863. You can also see many of these sites on the Quantrill's Raid '''self-guided walking tour'''[http://www.visitlawrence.com/m/files/SGT-Quantrill.pdf] prepared by the Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau.
'''Clinton Lake''' is located just outside of town and provides opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, and camping. [http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/clinton/clinton_home.htm]
'''The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival'''[http://www.wakarusafestival.com] features alternative and other genres of music from national and local acts and is held at Clinton Lake every year. The next occurrence will be June 4-7, 2009. Tickets range from $129 to $469. E-mail: info@wakarusa.com
Buy
Massachusetts Street is the downtown shopping district. One can find anything from incense burners to sporting goods. Allergy sufferers, take note: several local merchants (The Dusty Bookshelf, Love Garden Sounds, and Sunflower Outdoor) have resident cats.
Learn
'''University of Kansas'''. Home of the Spencer Museum of Art [http://www.kansastravel.org/spencermuseumofart.htm], the Museum of Natural History (Dyche Hall [http://www.kansastravel.org/kansasnaturalhistory.htm], including the Panorama of North American Mammals), the Dole Insititue of Politics [http://www.kansastravel.org/doleinstitute.htm] and the Museum of Anthropology (Spooner Hall).
Eat
In addition to those listed here, there is an excellent (and exhaustive) list of places to eat/drink at [http://www.lawrence.com Lawrence.com], complete with reviews.
'''Pizza Shuttle''', 785-842-1212 - Dirt cheap, open late. Everybody's top choice for post-bar dining.
'''Pyramid Pizza''', 701 W 9th Street, (785)842-3232. Great Pizza. Open Late. City-wide Delivery. Everyday Walk-In Special
'''Buffalo Bob's Smokehouse''', 719 Massachusetts, ''785'' 841-6400. Barbecue joint locally known for its large portions.
'''The Casbah Market'''[http://thecasbahmarket.com/], 803 Massachusetts, ''785'' 842-1085. Grocery store specializing in natural and vegetarian/vegan foods. Also has a cafe and juice bar.
'''India Palace''', 124 E. 10th St., ''785'' 331-4300. Authentic Indian food. Lunch buffet every day.
'''Jade Garden''', 1410 Kasold Drive, ''785'' 843-8650. Chinese and Vietnamese food. Delivery available for orders over $10.
'''Jade Mongolian Barbecue''', 1511 W. 23rd St., ''785'' 865-JADE. Build your own entree and watch the chef stir fry it. Chinese buffet available too.
'''JB Stout's Sports Bar and Grill''', 721 Wakarusa Drive, ''785'' 843-0704. Steaks, sandwiches and other bar food. Great place to watch a game or play pool.
'''Kokoro''' 601 Kasold Drive, ''785'' 838-4134. Japanese grill and sushi.
'''Marisco's''' Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, ''785'' 312-9057. Somewhat upscale, features seafood dishes and an extensive tequila selection.
'''Pachamama's''', 800 New Hampshire, ''785'' 841-0990. Fine dining, new menu every month. [http://www.pachamamas.com]
'''Rudy's Pizzeria''', 704 Massachusetts, ''785'' 749-0055. Unassuming location with the best pizza in town. Free delivery.
'''Sylas and Maddy's''', 1014 Massachusetts, ''785'' 832-8323. Best ice cream in town.
'''Teller's''', 746 Massachusetts, ''785'' 843-4111. Great date restaurant with American and Italian food. [http://www.tellerslawrence.com]
'''Tortas Jalisco''', 534 Frontier, ''785'' 865-1515. Authentic Mexican food.
'''Thai Siam''' 601 S. Kasold Drive, ''785'' 331-2525. Thai and Chinese food in what used to be a Subway (really).
'''Yello Sub''' 1814 W. 23rd St., Phone: ''785'' 843-6000. Locally owned sandwich shop with a number of vegetarian options. Delivery available.
'''Zen Zero''', 811 Massachusetts, ''785'' 832-0001. Thai, Nepalese, and Japanese noodle shop. Prices are low, and the atmosphere is casual. [http://www.zen-zero.com]
A.B's Crepes and Coffee. 7 West 9th Street (Between Weavers and Wheat Fields). rom any part of town go to 9th and Massachusetts, then head west towards 9th and Iowa (up the hill). A.B's is on your left between Massachusetts and Vermont.. 785) 856-0650. ours change weekly. 5-$10. A.B's is a cool little crepes and coffee shop. The owner is SUPER friendly...he loves to talk. The only problem is that the hours are non-consistent, so you have to check the white board every week.
Recommended Items: The Jason.</eat>
Drink
Lawrence has a varied nightlife with a number of opportunities to see live music. For a calendar of upcoming shows, visit [http://www.lawrence.com Lawrence.com]
'''The Bottleneck''', 737 New Hampshire, ''785'' 841-LIVE, [http://www.bottlenecklive.com/]. 6pm-2am. Live music venue featuring a range of local and national rock music.
'''Free State Brewing Company''', 636 Massachusetts, ''785'' 843-4555, [http://www.freestatebrewing.com/]. This microbrewery and eatery claims to be the 'First Legal Brewery in Kansas'. Monday nights offer $1.50 pints of tasty microbrew.
'''Fatso's''', 1016 Massachusetts, ''785'' 865-4055. A place to have a beer and enjoy some live music most nights of the week. Wednesday nights are the busiest here and usually have the best drink specials.
'''Louise's''', 1009 Mass, 785-843-9032. One of the few Lawrence bars frequented by both locals and students, featuring pool tables, foosball, and a double-decker heated outdoor smoking deck.
Sleep
Halcyon House Bed & Breakfast. 000 Ohio Street. oll free: 888-441-0314 / Local: 785-841-0314. ttp://www.thehalcyonhouse.com/. 55-$149. A lovely bed and breakfast with rooms to suit all budgets. Within walking distance to the city center (and all the shopping and eateries on Massachusetts St.) and the University of Kansas. Delicious homemade breakfast that will give you a good start to the day. Helpful tourist information is provided by the owners upon request.
The Eldridge Hotel. 01 Massachusetts St.. 85-749-5011. 120-$145. Email: info@eldridgehotel.com. The Eldridge Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places - as one of the buildings that Quantrill burned during his raid of the city in 1863. It was renovated in the spring of 2005. Room rates climb higher the weekend of KU graduation.
Get out