Clinton Lake State Park gives Lawrence a proper outdoor escape just west of town. The reservoir, open shoreline, and prairie-edge trails make it a useful break from Massachusetts Street and the University of Kansas campus, especially in warm weather.
The park is best for travellers with a car and a little time. Come for hiking, birding, boating, or a picnic, and stay late enough for the broad Kansas light over the water. It is not an urban sight, but it is one of the better ways to feel the landscape around Lawrence.