BY CJ GIBSON<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know where that is,\u201d I told the driver of the van for the Student Recognition Program when he mentioned the Event Center.
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He put down his phone to stop plugging in the address. \u201cOh, are you from Great Bend?\u201d
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I said yes\u2014I\u2019d lived in Great Bend for most of my life\u2014but it felt off. I\u2019d answered that question for so many icebreakers since coming to college, but this was different; usually, it\u2019s just a pair of words, but that night, \u201cGreat Bend\u201d was a place\u2014a place I was intricately familiar with.
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I hadn\u2019t thought about the uniqueness of Great Bend much since I moved out and my parents moved away.
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Though I\u2019m normally incompetent when it comes to directions, I know the streets and landmarks better than most thanks to my years playing Pokemon Go. Being in the Great Bend raid group introduced me to all sorts of people in the community, and I\u2019d recommend finding something similar to anyone wanting to get to know a place.
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As I begin reflecting on some of the highlights of Great Bend, keep in mind that my experience is subjective. Every town has little places of joy if you know where to look, and mine are highly swayed by my own interests and experiences. But if I were to show you around, here are the places I\u2019d pick:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheyenne Bottoms<\/a> One of the most notable attractions of Great Bend isn\u2019t even within the city limits: its wetlands. Cheyenne Bottoms is the largest inland wetlands in the U.S. and provides a home for a range of natural Kansas wildlife\u2014a must-stop for bird-watchers<\/a>. Visitors can drop by the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to see some exhibits or explore the trails on their own. Veterans\u2019 Memorial Park On the west end of town, Great Bend has its most substantial park. Surrounding a lake, \u201cVets\u2019\u201d Park includes a playground, a fitness zone, a frisbee golf course, a dog park, and walking trails\u2014something for everyone! Brit Spaugh Zoo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Great Bend\u2019s zoo is free to the public and open every day but major holidays, so you have little excuse not to take a stroll and see the animals. As Barton County is home to a couple of big cat mascots\u2014Barton Community College as the Cougars and USD428 as the Panthers\u2014it should come as no surprise that the zoo is also fond of felines: it has a lion, a leopard, and a pair of cougars! But as with any zoo, the exhibits are not limited to one animal family\u2014stop in and see them all. Coffee: Great Bend Coffee Great Bend has a couple of local coffee shops that are worth a shot\u2014or three\u2014but Great Bend Coffee stands out because it doubles as a tasty lunch spot. In addition to typical caf\u00e9 pastries, Great Bend Coffee has a selection of sandwiches, wraps, and pizzas. I\u2019d recommend The Oh-My Pizza\u2014it\u2019s topped with garlic, jalape\u00f1os, and blue cheese! Sit-In: Mizumi Sushi & Steak<\/a> If you\u2019re craving some Japanese cuisine, Mizumi Sushi & Steak is the best place in town for sushi. With its relaxing atmosphere, it\u2019s a great place to laugh with friends as you bravely decide on a spicy roll. I\u2019d recommend the Kung Pao Tofu. Be warned, it\u2019s hot! Night-life: Applebee\u2019s Unlike most Applebee\u2019s, the Great Bend location hosts karaoke on Sunday nights.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nStores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n