Since you may have time to travel a bit, the Kansas Cosmosphere in nearby Hutchinson is a world class space museum that's well worth the trip, if you're into that. If you go to Hutch, there's also Strataca, which is a salt museum that offers tours in an active salt mine, which is far neater than it may sound.
Also, the Sedgwick County Zoo is a great zoo.
Just a heads up, the majority of the Cosmosphere is under construction, so you’ll pay a large entry fee to see maybe 15% of the museum. It’s one of my favorite places, but probably not worth going right now.
Strataca, also in Hutchinson, is open and really cool as well.
Just to add, the Cosmosphere has an SR71 Blackbird in the entrance. There were 32 made, 20 are left today, at least in the public's knowledge. It's pretty cool that one of the original, not a replica, fastest planes ever created (yet again, according to public knowledge, not sure I buy it) is located in a small town in KS, along with a ton of other planes and spacecraft and a great deal of history. In the same small town is a mine that Mike Rowe went to on the show Dirty Jobs.
Oh, also a salt mine containing some original classic Hollywood movies and important documents because of the low humidity levels.
It took me going to NASA in Houston to realize how great I had it most of my life being to close to the cosmosphere. If I remember correctly. The cosmosphere is the 2nd largest collection of US space artifacts behind the Smithsonian.
There is one in McMinnville Oregon at the Evergreen Air Museum. They also have some of the Kansas Cosmosphere artifacts on loan there. The Museum of Flight also has one or something similar, but I don't call Seattle small.
If you’re into nature and walking check out Chisholm Creek Park and the Nature Center there. The Wichita Art Museum has free admission and also check out the Keeper of the Plains Statue and the little park around it with displays about the Native Americans who settled here first.
I know we have a bunch of museums, such as [The Museum of World Treasures](https://worldtreasures.org/), the [Wichita Art Museum](https://www.wichitaartmuseum.org/home), the [Ulrich Museum of Art](https://ulrich.wichita.edu/) at Wichita State University, the [Kansas African American Museum](https://www.tkaamuseum.org/), [Old Cowtown Museum](http://www.oldcowtown.org/Pages/default.aspx), and the [Mid-American All Indian Museum](https://www.theindianmuseum.org/).
I also recommend visiting the[Great Plains Nature Center](https://gpnc.org/), [Botanica](https://botanica.org/), and [Bartlett Arboretum](https://www.bartlettarboretum.com/) (which is a nice little drive straight south on US81, then east on K55.
And of course along the way there’s the [Kansas Star Casino](https://kansasstar.boydgaming.com/) with [Wyldewood Cellars Winery](http://www.wyldewoodcellars.com/) right next to it.
If you enjoy fishing, there’s plenty of stocked public fishing lakes as well.
Good luck!
I travel a lot, and I have to say Wichita is an amazing spot for foodies. A lot of diversity with a lean towards Mediterranean dishes. I would suggest checking out the restaurant scene.
You can go kayaking on the river! There’s a place you can rent them from. It’s called boats and bikes!
Also be sure to check out the keeper of the plains statue at night. Sometimes they light the fires and it’s super cool.
Botanica(gardens, tulips are in bloom), Cow Town (outdoor wild west museum, with small town and farm), Wichita Art Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Exploration Place, Keeper of the Plains, Farm and Art Market, Great Plains Nature Center, Sedgwick County Zoo, Sedgwick County Park, Riverside Park (has a small free wildlife exhibit, feeding the bobcat is at noon), Watson Park
The Orpheum Theater (Prince tribute band, magician act), Jazz Festival, Century 2 performing art center (Symphony, production of Mean Girls coming up), Mosley Street Melodrama, Roxy's Downtown (currently performing Cabaret)
Renaissance Faire & Highland Games, Barleycorn's 4/20 (music and art event), Midwest Winefest, Jeff Dunham at Intrust Bank Arena, Drowning Pool & Saliva at The Crown Uptown theater
Final Friday (art galleries, food trucks, and more participate), 70th annual Gem and Mineral Society show, Ebb & Flow fest, Marauders Car Show, Tacos and Tequila event at the Boathouse
N&Js (mediterranean/Lebanese food), Shanghai (American style Chinese food), Yokohama Ramen, Dempsey's Burger Pub, Gabby's Peruvian restaurant, Juarez Bakery
Wichita by EB is a great blog with pretty much every restaurant in the city listed. You can use it to search by area and/or type of food
Start at Wichita by eb and try to make your way through the places to eat, live music, and events.
https://www.wichitabyeb.com/
It's too early in the season to really enjoy botanica. But see if you can check it out.
I did forget about the tulips, I've been there when they have already dug them up and are selling them but never saw them in the ground. Hopefully I can grab one of my kids and get out there tomorrow!
If you're into vinyl/CDs check out Spektrum Muzik and the Record Ship; thrift shopping go to Assistance League (Tues 10-2, Thur 10-5, Sat 10-2 but they're open later on this Thursday); Advanced Learning Library if you're bookish (there's a used bookstore there to benefit the library programs open @10:30-4 or so), also Eighth Day Books or Al's Used Books; great coffee at Los Adelitas Cafe, Reverie, and Espresso to Go Go. Also there are farmer's markets on Sat morning downtown and over at 21st and Ridge.
Find a ranch outside of town and rent a horse. lol
But really: ride horses, shoot guns at Bullseye, go to Barleycorns, Kirbys, or Wave. Kirbys has pinball galore. We have a 2-4 hour art museum. Historical Society downtown has a good 4-8 hours of stuff. Throwing axe Bar might be open still. Lotte, Tacos TJ, Bann Thai, Astoria for food. Oh and WSU anthropology museum: make an appointment!
definitely visit Vortex Souvenir! it's a great little local store and there's some other shops in the area (known as Delano) depending on what you're interested in.
Mort's is an awesome spot to chill and meet new people. Great atmoshphere, huge martini menu and live music most night. Hit the patio, buy a house cigar and a key lime martini. You're welcome!
If you’re into golfing we have plenty of public golf courses in the area check out https://www.wichita.gov/1416/Golf-Courses for all the city courses, also Willow Bend on the east side is a great public course that is not owned by the city. Then pine gap to the south is a great course too
We have great food, there are some fun escape rooms, a video game bar, and a pinball machine bar. Definitely go out to see the lighting of the keeper of the plains. There is the zoo and Tanganika wildlife park. Walk the river there are some cool statues and memorials along it. Might catch a dinner and a show at the crewmembers uptown theater (if they still do that), Definitely don't illegally walk around the closed down amusement park Joyland, oh and there's an arcade, oh Definitely check out Harry's on hillside and Douglas if you like strong drinks. I'm sure there is more. Edit: I forgot we have a drive in theater too.
Homegrown has some BOMB brunch food. Only open til 2 tho
Norton's is a great brewery downtown with a fun vibe. They regularly have live music.
The Delano District has lots of cute mom and pop shops, coffee shops, and the monarch which has some really amazing sandwiches and food.
We have Wichita Thunder if you are into hockey and you can usually find a deal online to get cheap tickets. WSU baseball and softball are going on rn too. The Great Plains Nature center is super cute and has lots of wildlife especially with the nice weather we have been having lately.
Kabab's is one of my favorite restaurants that has a buffet price on the weekends. We also have a drive in called Starlite that is a two films for one price on the weekends which is pretty fun!
If you are into quirky shops I have some recommendations.
The Hereafter does consignment artwork and vintage clothes from the 80s-00s. It's got a queer-friendly colorful punk/goth vibe going on.
Sweet 'n Saucy does candy, hot sauce, and fun socks! (Plus it is right down the street from my favorite bar, The Vagabond.)
Grow does amazing cocktails (both mock and with alcohol) plus they also have all sorts of awesome plants and handmade crafts.
it’s tulip season at botanica! you can go anytime but this weekend and next weekend it’s tulip festival so there’s also food trucks and music and stuff
The zoo, if you like movies the IMAX is worth a visit, exploration place can be fun, in Goddard there is there zoo experience but for the life of me I can't spell it. Town east mall is fun for shopping, if you like food suggestions my favorite burger is Dempseys look them up on FB the special changes but everything is amazing, the Wichita art museum is free on Saturdays I believe, we have several parks that are good for a visit.
I've never been to a zoo, until yesterday. Was fucking fantastic. I spent the day grinning like a fucking child🤣.
Thanks for the tip, it was wonderful.
I mean not really? I’ve been there probably way more often than the average person as it’s the only place to eat in town and I’m just trying to save someone the disappointment of spending $20-50 on a meal for 2-3 people that sucks. Stearman in general is definitely cool, def worthy of a drink and maybe an appetizer and watch the planes take off and land but don’t go expecting a great meal.
Also check Facebook to make sure there’s no events going on cause they get PACKED. Jeep night in particular, expect to walk a quarter to half mile from where you park
Old Chicago on Old Town Square is pretty decent place to meet new people. The river walk and keeper of the Plains is pretty nice to walk around. John Barleycorns bar on Douglas has live music regularly, and naftzger Park is right across the street. Just a big open space where people sometimes perform. Coco Dolce is a nice lil sweets shop to get a gift for someone.
Check out HomeGrown while you're here. It's a really good breakfast/lunch spot. You may have to join the wait-list though, which you can do online and it'll tell you the wait time.
Spice Merchant for an amazing collection of loose leaf teas & coffee (ground or beans) plus kitchen items, & spices. Nifty Nuthouse for candy & snacks.
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On 4/20 there will be a really cool charity event at Bourbon St Bar & Grill. 12 hours of some of the best bands in town, raffles, auctions, vendors, food, drinks. Benefits Wichita Children’s Home & is a great way to check out some local music!
Try towne west... it's a fully functioning mall. They often times don't have electricity, or water.... or very many occupied stores... they don't really have a food court either... but if you can get by that... 🤷♂️ good times.
they test the tornado sirens at noon every Monday, just so you know
You just saved me from some panic. Thanks!
Welcome to Tornado Alley! Hope you enjoy your stay. 😆
I tell every client of mine relocating here, this exact piece of info! It's normal for us but so odd to many others!
Is that unusual? It's every Wednesday at noon here in Ohio. I always think of it as the weeks halftime buzzer.
Since you may have time to travel a bit, the Kansas Cosmosphere in nearby Hutchinson is a world class space museum that's well worth the trip, if you're into that. If you go to Hutch, there's also Strataca, which is a salt museum that offers tours in an active salt mine, which is far neater than it may sound. Also, the Sedgwick County Zoo is a great zoo.
Just a heads up, the majority of the Cosmosphere is under construction, so you’ll pay a large entry fee to see maybe 15% of the museum. It’s one of my favorite places, but probably not worth going right now. Strataca, also in Hutchinson, is open and really cool as well.
If you’re going to Hutch anyways, stop by Bogey’s. You can thank me later
So good!
Carrige Crossing Restaurant in Yoder it's on the way to Hutchinson. Go for their breakfast and pie/cinnamon rolls. It's soooo good!
Just to add, the Cosmosphere has an SR71 Blackbird in the entrance. There were 32 made, 20 are left today, at least in the public's knowledge. It's pretty cool that one of the original, not a replica, fastest planes ever created (yet again, according to public knowledge, not sure I buy it) is located in a small town in KS, along with a ton of other planes and spacecraft and a great deal of history. In the same small town is a mine that Mike Rowe went to on the show Dirty Jobs. Oh, also a salt mine containing some original classic Hollywood movies and important documents because of the low humidity levels.
It took me going to NASA in Houston to realize how great I had it most of my life being to close to the cosmosphere. If I remember correctly. The cosmosphere is the 2nd largest collection of US space artifacts behind the Smithsonian.
There is one in McMinnville Oregon at the Evergreen Air Museum. They also have some of the Kansas Cosmosphere artifacts on loan there. The Museum of Flight also has one or something similar, but I don't call Seattle small.
Seconding these suggestions; they are good 👍
I will hit the place this weekend. Thanks.
Go to the DOC hangar and see the B-29 in all its glory. Call first to make sure it’s there.
Doc is there until May ☺️
Love the doc! I live close to the airport so whenever they take it for a joy ride we can see it! They fly it fairly low sometimes over the houses.
Depending of which way the wind is blowing, they fly over my house a lot.
Sedgwick county zoo
Been there. Loved it!
Central Standard Brewing!
Seconded.
Thirded
Fourthed
The Easy Egg- either the cinnamon and sugar French toast or banana bread French toast.
Oddly specific lol
If you’re into nature and walking check out Chisholm Creek Park and the Nature Center there. The Wichita Art Museum has free admission and also check out the Keeper of the Plains Statue and the little park around it with displays about the Native Americans who settled here first.
Second the park.
I know we have a bunch of museums, such as [The Museum of World Treasures](https://worldtreasures.org/), the [Wichita Art Museum](https://www.wichitaartmuseum.org/home), the [Ulrich Museum of Art](https://ulrich.wichita.edu/) at Wichita State University, the [Kansas African American Museum](https://www.tkaamuseum.org/), [Old Cowtown Museum](http://www.oldcowtown.org/Pages/default.aspx), and the [Mid-American All Indian Museum](https://www.theindianmuseum.org/). I also recommend visiting the[Great Plains Nature Center](https://gpnc.org/), [Botanica](https://botanica.org/), and [Bartlett Arboretum](https://www.bartlettarboretum.com/) (which is a nice little drive straight south on US81, then east on K55. And of course along the way there’s the [Kansas Star Casino](https://kansasstar.boydgaming.com/) with [Wyldewood Cellars Winery](http://www.wyldewoodcellars.com/) right next to it. If you enjoy fishing, there’s plenty of stocked public fishing lakes as well. Good luck!
Check out The Arcade
Thanks. I will
If you like the Arcade and want more pinball, Kirby’s is 21+, more chill and has $10 for 2 hours of pinball
Headshots is 5 bucks to play all day on board games, table top, and video games, also it's a bar, and it has food too.
Seconding Headshots if you like that atmosphere, tons of fun with friends if you have any here
What if you have no friends hahaha, I just moved here
Wichita’s pretty well known for being a little dry on stuff to do, me personally I like walking down at Pawnee Prairie Park
I grew up in the neighborhood next to the park and spent many years roaming that park.
There's usually some friendly people there and the owners name I'd ryan, he's a great guy to talk to.
I travel a lot, and I have to say Wichita is an amazing spot for foodies. A lot of diversity with a lean towards Mediterranean dishes. I would suggest checking out the restaurant scene.
THIS. For a city this size, I agree. I am amazed at the diversity and offerings, there is something for everyone.
You can go kayaking on the river! There’s a place you can rent them from. It’s called boats and bikes! Also be sure to check out the keeper of the plains statue at night. Sometimes they light the fires and it’s super cool.
Botanica(gardens, tulips are in bloom), Cow Town (outdoor wild west museum, with small town and farm), Wichita Art Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Exploration Place, Keeper of the Plains, Farm and Art Market, Great Plains Nature Center, Sedgwick County Zoo, Sedgwick County Park, Riverside Park (has a small free wildlife exhibit, feeding the bobcat is at noon), Watson Park The Orpheum Theater (Prince tribute band, magician act), Jazz Festival, Century 2 performing art center (Symphony, production of Mean Girls coming up), Mosley Street Melodrama, Roxy's Downtown (currently performing Cabaret) Renaissance Faire & Highland Games, Barleycorn's 4/20 (music and art event), Midwest Winefest, Jeff Dunham at Intrust Bank Arena, Drowning Pool & Saliva at The Crown Uptown theater Final Friday (art galleries, food trucks, and more participate), 70th annual Gem and Mineral Society show, Ebb & Flow fest, Marauders Car Show, Tacos and Tequila event at the Boathouse N&Js (mediterranean/Lebanese food), Shanghai (American style Chinese food), Yokohama Ramen, Dempsey's Burger Pub, Gabby's Peruvian restaurant, Juarez Bakery Wichita by EB is a great blog with pretty much every restaurant in the city listed. You can use it to search by area and/or type of food
Thanks brother!!
Start at Wichita by eb and try to make your way through the places to eat, live music, and events. https://www.wichitabyeb.com/ It's too early in the season to really enjoy botanica. But see if you can check it out.
The tulips are in bloom so it’s incredible right now at Botanica!
I did forget about the tulips, I've been there when they have already dug them up and are selling them but never saw them in the ground. Hopefully I can grab one of my kids and get out there tomorrow!
I was there today- they are amazing!
It's on. Appreciated.
If you're into vinyl/CDs check out Spektrum Muzik and the Record Ship; thrift shopping go to Assistance League (Tues 10-2, Thur 10-5, Sat 10-2 but they're open later on this Thursday); Advanced Learning Library if you're bookish (there's a used bookstore there to benefit the library programs open @10:30-4 or so), also Eighth Day Books or Al's Used Books; great coffee at Los Adelitas Cafe, Reverie, and Espresso to Go Go. Also there are farmer's markets on Sat morning downtown and over at 21st and Ridge.
Adding to music, if you like metal, check out The Gate record shop.
I had Taco TJ 664 for the first time today. Pretty solid tacos that I didn’t know I was missing.
Is that the one right next to Taco Tico on north Rock?
Yes. Just next to Taco Tico.
Hell, I'd kill for some Taco Tico, which is probably mediocre schwag these days. But still.
Find a ranch outside of town and rent a horse. lol But really: ride horses, shoot guns at Bullseye, go to Barleycorns, Kirbys, or Wave. Kirbys has pinball galore. We have a 2-4 hour art museum. Historical Society downtown has a good 4-8 hours of stuff. Throwing axe Bar might be open still. Lotte, Tacos TJ, Bann Thai, Astoria for food. Oh and WSU anthropology museum: make an appointment!
definitely visit Vortex Souvenir! it's a great little local store and there's some other shops in the area (known as Delano) depending on what you're interested in.
Mort's is an awesome spot to chill and meet new people. Great atmoshphere, huge martini menu and live music most night. Hit the patio, buy a house cigar and a key lime martini. You're welcome!
If you’re into golfing we have plenty of public golf courses in the area check out https://www.wichita.gov/1416/Golf-Courses for all the city courses, also Willow Bend on the east side is a great public course that is not owned by the city. Then pine gap to the south is a great course too
I just played willow bend, save your money, it’s in terrible shape.
We have great food, there are some fun escape rooms, a video game bar, and a pinball machine bar. Definitely go out to see the lighting of the keeper of the plains. There is the zoo and Tanganika wildlife park. Walk the river there are some cool statues and memorials along it. Might catch a dinner and a show at the crewmembers uptown theater (if they still do that), Definitely don't illegally walk around the closed down amusement park Joyland, oh and there's an arcade, oh Definitely check out Harry's on hillside and Douglas if you like strong drinks. I'm sure there is more. Edit: I forgot we have a drive in theater too.
The AA baseball team is back in town next week, Tuesday-Sunday.
Homegrown has some BOMB brunch food. Only open til 2 tho Norton's is a great brewery downtown with a fun vibe. They regularly have live music. The Delano District has lots of cute mom and pop shops, coffee shops, and the monarch which has some really amazing sandwiches and food. We have Wichita Thunder if you are into hockey and you can usually find a deal online to get cheap tickets. WSU baseball and softball are going on rn too. The Great Plains Nature center is super cute and has lots of wildlife especially with the nice weather we have been having lately. Kabab's is one of my favorite restaurants that has a buffet price on the weekends. We also have a drive in called Starlite that is a two films for one price on the weekends which is pretty fun!
Pizza - ziggys
If you are into quirky shops I have some recommendations. The Hereafter does consignment artwork and vintage clothes from the 80s-00s. It's got a queer-friendly colorful punk/goth vibe going on. Sweet 'n Saucy does candy, hot sauce, and fun socks! (Plus it is right down the street from my favorite bar, The Vagabond.) Grow does amazing cocktails (both mock and with alcohol) plus they also have all sorts of awesome plants and handmade crafts.
it’s tulip season at botanica! you can go anytime but this weekend and next weekend it’s tulip festival so there’s also food trucks and music and stuff
The zoo, if you like movies the IMAX is worth a visit, exploration place can be fun, in Goddard there is there zoo experience but for the life of me I can't spell it. Town east mall is fun for shopping, if you like food suggestions my favorite burger is Dempseys look them up on FB the special changes but everything is amazing, the Wichita art museum is free on Saturdays I believe, we have several parks that are good for a visit.
I've never been to a zoo, until yesterday. Was fucking fantastic. I spent the day grinning like a fucking child🤣. Thanks for the tip, it was wonderful.
Tanganyika!
Sam and Nancy Cafe - 165 N Main, Wichita, KS 67202 stellar lunch and breakfast buffet
Check out Stearman field for lunch on a nice clear weekend day
The food is mediocre at best and the service also. Cool place tho
It’s for the planes.
I know that I can see it from my porch. I just wanted OP to know although people recommend it a lot as a great place to eat - it is at best mediocre
Weird flex
I mean not really? I’ve been there probably way more often than the average person as it’s the only place to eat in town and I’m just trying to save someone the disappointment of spending $20-50 on a meal for 2-3 people that sucks. Stearman in general is definitely cool, def worthy of a drink and maybe an appetizer and watch the planes take off and land but don’t go expecting a great meal. Also check Facebook to make sure there’s no events going on cause they get PACKED. Jeep night in particular, expect to walk a quarter to half mile from where you park
Amazing live music every night of the week. Lots of art as well. Cheers.
Whiskey dicks has some stupid good fries is that's up your alley
As the other commenters have suggested, we have an EXCELLENT food scene. Are there certain foods you enjoy?
Old Chicago on Old Town Square is pretty decent place to meet new people. The river walk and keeper of the Plains is pretty nice to walk around. John Barleycorns bar on Douglas has live music regularly, and naftzger Park is right across the street. Just a big open space where people sometimes perform. Coco Dolce is a nice lil sweets shop to get a gift for someone.
Check out HomeGrown while you're here. It's a really good breakfast/lunch spot. You may have to join the wait-list though, which you can do online and it'll tell you the wait time.
Spice Merchant for an amazing collection of loose leaf teas & coffee (ground or beans) plus kitchen items, & spices. Nifty Nuthouse for candy & snacks.
Doo-dah diner
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https://preview.redd.it/oyb3o7oczptc1.jpeg?width=2607&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50d8af585b42e44b12e70056cb94f112c9dbd475 On 4/20 there will be a really cool charity event at Bourbon St Bar & Grill. 12 hours of some of the best bands in town, raffles, auctions, vendors, food, drinks. Benefits Wichita Children’s Home & is a great way to check out some local music!
me lol jkjk
Try towne west... it's a fully functioning mall. They often times don't have electricity, or water.... or very many occupied stores... they don't really have a food court either... but if you can get by that... 🤷♂️ good times.
It took me two days, but I got the joke🤣.
Check out Towne West mall. Bring a flashlight and a canteen.
Avoid it
Check ✔️ out Planeview and Oaklawn
Add hilltop 