Even though Topeka is a small town, there are plenty of places to go for free, educational fun! Here is a list of our favorites ï Š

Mulvane Art Lab – Located at Washburn University, this is a must-see in Topeka if you have kids ages 2-18! The Art Lab is located in the basement of the Mulvane Art Museum. Our kids’ favorites are the floor-to-ceiling window/dry-erase wall, the drawing stations, and the mosaic wall. The Art Lab staff are very friendly and helpful and always have great project ideas to get your creativity flowing. Best of all, it’s totally free!

Shawnee Lake – Our kids love visiting Shawnee Lake to feed the ducks. There are a few different places in Topeka to feed ducks, but this one has a variety of different types of ducks and geese and they are mostly very friendly and well-behaved.

Topeka Capital Building – Our older children love the trips to the Capital Building. Tours are offered free of charge and do not need to be scheduled in advance. The whole building has really beautiful architecture and mosaics and there are lots of opportunities to learn.

brown vs. Board of Education – Our teenage daughter loves this museum! Brown v Board celebrates the changes in our country that have allowed for integration and educational freedom for all. This trip is best for the tween/teen group as there is a lot of reading involved.

Topeka Shawnee County Public Library – We go to the library at least once a week. Surprisingly, there is much more to it than just books. The children’s area has a playhouse, Lego table, felt board and many other great toys/games. We borrow movies, video games, audiobooks, and of course books! The library also offers a wide range of classes and groups, from board games to bookworms and even jugglers and musicians.

Kansas Museum of History – This is one of the most overlooked places for a free tour in Topeka. While the actual exhibit portion of the museum does cost, there are plenty of things to do that don’t cost! On the museum grounds there is a great walking path. In summer the grass grows so tall on the sides that you can imagine you are back in the days of the pioneers. There is also a play area for the little ones and a picnic area for lunch. Right inside the museum is a huge cowboy costume station that has a train that you can play on. The room next to the costume station is a play area with stations focusing on farm life, pioneers, Indians and much more.

There are so many fun and free things to do in Topeka, it just takes a little time and imagination to find some of them. Stay local and have fun!