The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival resides on the outskirts of Lawrence, Kansas. In fact, it is likely travelers will drive through Lawrence to reach the festival, catching a glimpse of a growing city with quintessential small-town architecture and charm, tree-lined streets and lively neighborhoods.

Yet, Lawrence is anything but a small town, since it is home to some 82,000 permanent residents and more than 26,000 college students. Kansas University is the town’s anchor, bringing together diverse cultures from around the globe – while spreading Jawhawk fans worldwide.

A walk along downtown Massachusetts Street (our “Main Street”) will reveal shopping in a district known for preserving its turn-of-the century charm while welcoming local businesses, like Creation Station and Wild Territory, as well as large chain retailers, like Urban Outfitters and The Gap. The downtown strip also includes fine-art galleries, jewelers, toy stores, an independent movie theater, public parks with excellent play areas for children, a public pool, bars with live music, and many restaurants with tastes from around the world.

At the north end of Massachusetts Street, travelers can cross the bridge that spans the Kansas (or Kaw) River, and walk, jog, or ride bikes along a riverside trail. The preserved Union Pacific Depot, which houses the Lawrence Visitor’s Center, is also just on the other side of the bridge, which provides tourists with pamphlets outlining self-guided tours of the city, revealing its pioneering history. For example, travelers can plan to take an afternoon to follow a historical account of William Quantrill’s bloody early morning raid on Lawrence in August 1863 – a trip into the important role Lawrence played in the anti-slavery movement.

There are many other attractions in the Lawrence area. Check out www.lawrence.com/newcomersguide, or www.visitlawrence.com for more information about the city.