The very best thing about Topeka? You are a lot closer to Arthur Bryant's BBQ (Kansas City) than you were in the morning. I've been through the 'breadbasket' multiple times and directions and for me it's still just a place to get through.
At least when you are headed west into Colorado you can look at the mountains even though they are a LONG way.
That's the thing though, you really don't even seen the mountains until you are about a half hour away from Denver, so it's kind of a joke anyway :) We actually skirted around Kansas City, but we found a decent place to eat at in Topeka I plan on sharing in my post tomorrow.