Having been stationed there myself and done a Change of Command in February it can be bitterly cold and windy at that time of year.
From KC to Riley you have Ft Leavenworth and old Historical Post and still in use, Topeka has a nice Railrod museum, Manhatten is home for the Kansas Jayhawks Univ of Kansas, Riley has a great museum as well as several old military quarters on main post that are huanted, 1Lt George S Patton lived there, Captatin George Marshall, Lt Col George Custer, enjoy things in the area but the best part is the grandchild.
You might want to go here http://www.riley.army.mil/ to see some of the things in the area http://www.riley.army.mil/AreaInfo/ and on the post
My Son-in-law is an NCO, and he's been assigned a platoon of spanking-new soldiers fresh out of Basic. I told a military co-worker, who opined "He has my sympathies". :-)
Nope, Manhattan (a fairly nice conservative town) is the home of the K-State Wildcats. Lawrence (a blue blot in the red state of Kansas) is the home of the Jayhawks--but it's far enough from Ft. Riley as to be of no consequence.