Longing for a taste of the historic Old West? Find that and more in Dodge City, Kansas, where the combination of history and great food makes for a wild Western getaway. Start your tour at Boot Hill Museum, at the very site of Boot Hill Cemetery. If you’re wondering why the phrase “Boot Hill,” the term is a reference to the final resting place of gunslingers who died with their feet still firmly inside their boots.

Open year-round, the museum is a combination of interactive displays and live activities such as staged gunfights. Original buildings making up the museum complex include an old Catholic church, Santa Fe Railway depot, 1880 carriage and blacksmith shop, 1879 cattleman’s home and a one-room schoolhouse dating back to 1915. The museum also houses more than 60,000 artifacts — among them, photographs, historic documents and objects including hundreds of original guns making up the Guns That Won the West exhibit.

You can pick up a Dodge City Walking Tour map from the visitor’s information center at 400 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., before setting off to immerse yourself in the city’s rich history. One section of the route has been designated the Trail of Fame and includes numerous markers and medallions commemorating the city’s famous (and infamous) residents, along with film and television stars who lent their talents to recreating Dodge City’s colorful past.

Later, spend an evening taking in a performance at Depot Theater. Located in the historic Santa Fe Depot and the Harvey Hotel, this red brick building covers nearly two blocks and was originally El Vaquero Harvey House and Depot. It was constructed in 1898 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The theater itself is located at 101 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd. Upcoming shows include Rumors (March 31–April 16), and Chicago (June 9–25).

Looking ahead, April 22 has been set as the date for the annual Gunsmoke Sessions, a live music showcase turning the spotlight on the state’s deep pool of musical talent. During the lineup of concerts and shows, visitors can enjoy plenty in the way of games and delicious local fare served up at food trucks.