14 JULY 6 - JULY 12, 2005
TRAVEL
Kansas offers options for day and weekend travel on a tight budget
BY ERIN M. DROSTE
PHOTOS BY KERRI HENDERSON
edroste@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
If you need a weekend away from all the hard work you have put into your summer classes, Kansas has a lot to offer that won't break your bank account.
From camping and hiking to railroads and trolleys, there is something for all appetites close to Lawrence that can get you away from your textbooks.
Trevor Niedfeldt, STATravel advisor in the Kansas Union, said how much you spend on a weekend getaway depends on how far you want to go.
and getaway depends on how far you want to go. "You can get pretty far on $100," he said. "It just depends on if you are willing to sleep in the car."
Tracy Weiss, Texas, senior, and Tony Mayfield, both attempt to catch a fris while keeping cool. The two spent an afternoon with their friends at Bloomin Park along Clinton Lake. A day use pass is $1 per person at the self pay station
Gear
Whether you are camping, canoeing or just taking a hike,you are going to need some gear. The Outdoor Pursuits program, part of the University of Kansas Recreation Services,can help with that. Through the program students can rent all kinds of outdoor equipment.
You can rent backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, stoves and even canoes. Renting through Outdoor Pursuits you can get a two-person tent for $6 and for $4, a sleeping bag.
If renting equipment isn't your style, buying your gear isn't out of the question. But if you decide to buy, expect to pay a lot more for your weekend getaway.
At Wal-Mart, 9300 Iowa St., a two-person tent will set you back at least $18 and for a sleeping bag you'll need another $15, according to Walmart.com. At sporting goods retail stores, plan to spend even more. Backwoods, 916 Massachusetts St., charges about $125 for a two-person tent, and about $80 for a sleeping bag, said Sarah Jones, sales associate at Backwoods.
Shane Barber, Lindsborg junior and Outdoor Pursuits employee, said it is cost-efficient for a weekend trip to rent equipment instead of buying it.
Renting from Outdoor Pursuits can save you anywhere from $11 to $119 for your gear compared to Wal-Mart and Backwoods
sbee
gto