Dodge City, KS

An upscale-casual grill at the Boot Hill Casino plating steaks, sandwiches and comfort favorites, widely rated one of the town's best values. It is the reliable sit-down dinner with a step up in setting. Hearty and dependable.

A homestyle restaurant and ice-cream parlor inside the Boot Hill Museum, serving hearty American plates and hand-dipped ice cream in an Old West setting. It is the easy, themed lunch stop right where the gunfights happen. Wholesome and fun.

Western Kansas's first craft brewery, pairing hand-crafted beers with blistered brick-oven pizzas in a lively taproom. It is the modern counterpoint to the Old West theme, where locals gather over a pint and a pie. Casual, fun and genuinely good.

A family Mexican restaurant turning out generous, authentic plates and margaritas, a local favorite in a town with deep Mexican roots. It is the dependable, casual spot for Mexican food and a drink. Friendly and filling.

A second strong Mexican kitchen in town, casual and authentic, reflecting Dodge City's large and lively Mexican community. It is the everyday spot for tacos, enchiladas and a quick, satisfying meal. Genuine and generous.

A small-batch distillery built on the site of the original Boot Hill, with a handsome tasting room and a from-scratch bistro using local grain. It pairs craft spirits with a thoughtful kitchen, a polished surprise in a frontier town. Equal parts drink and dinner.

A large, leafy city park with shaded paths, a lagoon and a small free zoo, the everyday green space for a walk or a family afternoon. It is the convenient in-town option, flat and easy. A welcome patch of shade on the open plains.

A restored wetland and lagoon on the edge of town with paths and overlooks, good for an easy walk and birdwatching along the Arkansas River bottom. It is the quiet natural counterpoint to the Old West bustle. Flat, calm and uncrowded.

A paved path threading the city, a flat, easy route linking parks and neighborhoods for walkers, runners and cyclists. It is the convenient option for a stretch without leaving town. Gentle and accessible.

The state's casino on the edge of Dodge City, dressed in Old West elegance with hundreds of gaming machines, dining and live entertainment. It is the town's main after-dark draw and event venue. The modern counterpoint to the frontier theme downtown.

A small wax museum near Boot Hill putting visitors face to face with the legends of the frontier, from Wyatt Earp to Sitting Bull and Jesse James. It is a charmingly old-school stop that leans into the town's lawmen-and-outlaws lore. Quick, quirky and fun with kids.

A community arts center in a historic Carnegie library building, showing rotating exhibitions of regional artists across its galleries. It is a quiet dose of culture amid the Old West theme and a good rainy-hour stop. The historic building is a draw in itself.

The city's modern arena hosting concerts, hockey, rodeo and big events, the main venue for live entertainment in southwest Kansas. It is where the region gathers for a touring act or a game. Check what is on for an evening out.

A re-creation of 1870s Front Street on the original Boot Hill site, with a saloon, general store, period buildings and daily gunfight reenactments that bring the wildest cow town in the West back to life. It is unabashed Old West theater and the centerpiece of any Dodge City visit. Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson territory, played for all it is worth.

Genuine wagon ruts of the old Santa Fe Trail, still scored into the prairie just west of town a century and a half after the wagons rolled through. Standing at the swales, you can trace the route that built Dodge City. A quiet, powerful contrast to the staged Old West downtown.

A self-guided downtown trail of bronze markers and statues honoring the real and fictional figures of Dodge City's heyday, from Wyatt Earp to the cast of Gunsmoke. It threads the historic streets with plaques telling the stories behind the legends. A free, easy way to read the town's outsized past on foot.