The largest American cities obtain so much press, but many cool small cities fly under the radar. I have given myself a mission to discover some of these little jewels, such as my hometown of Providence. After meeting Visit Wichita and learning all the fun things to do in Wichita, Kansas, I knew that I had to plan a visit.
I quickly learned that Wichita is not only the largest city in Kansas, is also large on local pride. You will find Wichita flags that cross the city and many wall paintings painted on the walls of the city center. They may not agree on which sports team encourages (ksu or ku), but they unite behind the city’s flag.
Accompanying this pride of the city is the same warm hospitality in the Midwest that I found at my stop in Lindsborg. All those I met were friendly and helpful, being proud of what they are doing, barista from the Hotel Café to Gentleman who has shared the history of Wichita to Cowtown for 50 years.
Wichita’s cool factor can also be found in the street art scene which takes place in the designer district of Douglas, bars and fun cafes with outdoor patios in the old town, festivals like Riverfest (the largest kansas festival) and the Riverwalk in the city center of Wichita.
Things to do at Wichita KS
If you are like me and you like to explore the booming cities of America, put Wichita on your list. A long weekend is just enough time to taste the city. Start with these fun things to do in Wichita. Wichita would also be an excellent extension for an Oklahoma road trip to Oklahoma City and Chickasaw.
See the Plains Guardian
Located on the Arkansas river, the Plains goalkeeper is An altered 44 -foot altered steel sculpture given to Wichita by the Amerindian artist Blackbear Bosin in 1974. This Native American figure is at the top of a 30 -foot pedestal overlooking the city. Each night, the fires are lit around its base, making it one of the “essential” tourist attractions in Wichita. You can walk along the Riverwalk path to get a magnificent view of the goalkeeper, or start with a visit to the Center entirely in America in America.
Explore the old town
In the heart of Wichita, you will find the old town. It is a collection of streets lined with bricks and warehouses of converted bricks which date back to the late 1800s. This region is home to more than 100 companies and is the hot spot of restaurants, stores, clubs, theaters, galleries and museums. You will find the producer markets on weekends and fun restaurants like Sieve,, River City Brewing CompanyAnd Public.
In addition, nearby in the city center, you have fun places like Gallery alley which presents part of the public art of Wichita.
Find wall paintings in the Douglas Design District
Douglas Design District, which extends for a few kilometers along Douglas avenue, is the extensive district of the city. He is best known for his street art and he makes a fun place to go to a wall treasure hunt. You can download the Avenue Art Day Mural AppWhich is a great way to determine the wall paintings you want to see and where to find them. This region also houses fun stores, such as The work roomThe best place to find products centered on Wichita featuring the city’s flag, local art and craft accessories. If you are looking for lunch, stop in Tanya’s popular soup For soups, sandwiches and salads. Or bring a friend to brunch to AnchorAnd share chicken and cookie debris.
Go Shop in Delano
Delano’s district is located on the west bank of the Arkansas river at the end of the Chisholm path. This area was established for the first time during the days of the Chisholm trail checks as a place so that the cowboys are unleashed after months on the Texas path. Then there were a lot of salons, game houses and brothels.
Today, Delano is a flourishing district of shopping and catering. Stop Hatman Jack’s,, A Among the few full -service hats remaining in the country and the place to adapt in the perfect hat. When you are hungry, jump in one of the many restaurants like The monarch.
Visit the Old Cowtown Museum
If you want to know more about Wichita’s story and where he has obtained his nickname “Cowtown”, head to the Old Cowtown Museum. It may be one of the most important and most elaborate living history museums that I visited outside Williamsburg. You can live Wichita as in 1865.
You will find replicas and original buildings, simple property of property with fantasy “city” houses and to all the companies that accompany a city of livestock in Midwest. This includes a printing press, Black Smith (always a favorite), a church, a barn, a train and much more. If you visit children, plan to spend at least half a day here.
Take a walk through Botanica Wichita
I have visited a number of botanical gardens and some are better than others. However, I have never seen a children’s garden is as well as the one Botanica Wichita. You start walking on the yellow brick road, under a rainbow. After all, it’s Kansas! There is both an agricultural area that encourages Tykes to become gardeners, as well as an enchanted garden with a hut in trees. Serious kindness for the little ones!
Visit the Wichita Art Museum
THE Wichita Art Museum Shelters a complete collection of American art, including two pieces by Chihuly (one of which you can walk!) These works reflect the cultural heritage of the great plains, as well as the art of all of America. In addition to the collection of 8,000 museum pieces, families love the show. This interactive gallery offers activities to do / take activities, which are linked to current exhibitions. In addition, the museum is free for everyone on Saturday!
Explore the Museum of Treasures of the World
THE Museum of treasures of the world is Wichita’s response to the Smithsonian. There is a bit of everything, which means something for everyone. You can start at prehistoric times and go to modern war. Make sure you ask the reception one of the treasure hunts they created for various age groups. Children will also appreciate playing time in Ivan’s playhouse, named after the T-Rex, the third largest in the world.
Feed the giraffes at Tanganyika Wildlife Park
If you like zoos, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park is a must for families who love animals. There are so many animals to see in an easy -to -explore setting. And, if you are ready to make follies, there are ways to interact with animals, including the diet of giraffes, lemurs, lorikeets (watch, they bite!), And even a baby rhino. It is one of the most interactive zoos in the country and the park is credited with ZAA and human certified.
Where to stay in Wichita
Note: This message contains affiliation links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I can receive a small commission at no cost for you.
If you are looking for a practical and downtown location, you cannot be mistaken with the Hyatt Regency Wichita. I was hosted here but I was impressed by the size of the room, the service and certainly food. The on -site restaurant, Harvesting kitchen focuses on seasonal ingredients, fresh and cultivated locally.
The location just on the river made it a perfect place to enjoy RiverBut also to explore the city center and take advantage of the Riverwalk to the Plains goalkeeper.
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Note: My stay was organized by Visit Wichita and Travel Kansas. All opinions are mine.
Tamara Gruber is the founder and publisher of We3Travel. Former director of marketing and travel advisor, Tamara is a award -winning and expert travel writer recognized in family trips. Tamara is a member of Satw, Natja, Ifwtwa and Adventure Travel Trade Association, and headquarters to the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimeTofly.com and the co-host of the Mavens Travel Podcast Podcast.
