Top 10 Wichita Experiences

Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, is home to countless fun activities and many exciting attractions. Whether it's for the lone traveler or wholesome family fun - Wichita offers year-round things to do for every age, whim, and passion! The city's rich heritage, along with its modern amenities, makes it a top-notch destination for visitors and residents alike. Come experience Wichita, with all its fun, flavors and festivities!

~ Experience the Old Town Red-Brick District

The Old Town red-brick warehouse district in downtown Wichita undergoes a daily metamorphosis. The area full of day jobs and retail shops transforms into the centerpiece of our city's nightlife. The nightclubs offer a variety of music to please all souls - rock, jazz, country, blues and reggae - within easy walking distances. And it's an area where people want to live in loft apartments and condominiums. The American Planning Association calls Old Town one of the "Top 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2008."

~ The Spiritual "Keeper of the Plains" Experience 

The iconic "Keeper of the Plains" pays tribute to the Native Americans who made the area their home before the arrival of settlers. Located at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers, the Keeper Plaza incorporates the history of the Native Americans and embodies a "sacred hoop" and the 4 elements that make up life (earth, air, fire and water). Each of the five manufactured boulders in the river next to the plaza has a fire feature, and the grouping makes up the "Ring of Fire." It is quickly becoming one of the most photographed locations in Wichita.

~ The Cultural Arts Experience

Wichita's cultural attractions are nationally known and rival other metropolitan areas of its size. Music Theatre of Wichita is a springboard for Broadway-bound talent. Internationally renowned artists such as Placido Domingo have performed with the Wichita Grand Opera. The Wichita Symphony's repertoire ranges from Bach to the Beatles. Additionally, the Crown Uptown Theatre, Mosley Street Melodrama and Cabaret Old Town offer quality live theater featuring local and regionally known casts. Be it the roaring twenties or state-of-the-art futuristic sets, the Orpheum Theatre and Old Town Warren Theatre provide the best in visual experience. Independent local musicians and artists take their turn in the spotlight on a monthly basis with the First Friday music crawl and Final Friday art gallery crawl, which bring additional life to downtown Wichita.

~ Rendezvousing with Wichita's Wildlife

Talk a walk with wildlife in the middle of Wichita! The Sedgwick County Zoo's new Slawson Family Tiger Trek is a world-class tiger exhibit creating an immersion experience in the Asian countries where these big cats roam. The tiger exhibit joins the Cessna Penguin Cove and the Downing Gorilla Forest. Experience the native-Kansas plants and animals along a two-mile nature trail at the Great Plains Nature Center in northeast Wichita. The Center also features the 3,500-square-foot Koch Habitat Hall that tells the story of the Kansas prairie. Another option for wild animal lovers lies just west of Wichita. The Tanganyika Wildlife Park is open to the public after more than 20 years of quietly breeding and caring for rare and endangered animals. Walk among kangaroos, hand-feed the giraffes and ride atop a camel!

~ Embracing Nature and The Great Outdoors

If you need to stretch your legs and grab some fresh air, you've found the perfect spot! The city of Wichita's 117 parks and greenways cover 4,347 acres. Hikers will find 127 miles of trails. Or get your exercise at the city's 52 athletic fields, 11 swimming pools and 10 recreation centers. Stroll through a formal rose garden, watch butterflies or enjoy the graceful fountain in the Shakespearean Garden at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. Just a 35-minute drive east of Wichita, the Flint Hills of Kansas are the home to the largest remaining stand of the tallgrass prairie in North America. The hiking trails on the Z-Bar Ranch in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve offer a close look at the prairie's ecosystem.

~ Reliving History Through Museums & More

Whether you're a history buff or just want to toss an educational aspect into your family vacation, Wichita's 35 museums are just what you're looking for. Relive the city's early days at Old Cowtown Museum. Learn about Wichita's Native American heritage at the Mid-America All-Indian Center or enjoy contemporary art at the Wichita Art Museum. See hands-on science and national traveling exhibits at Exploration Place. Visit the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum to learn how Wichita grew into the state's largest city. The Kansas Aviation Museum chronicles the city's evolution into the "Air Capital of the World." The Museum of World Treasures features the third most complete T-rex skeleton in the world along with Egyptian mummies plus artifacts from European royalty, American presidents, and much more. The Kansas African American Museum tells the story of the local African-American experience and those who helped shape it.

~ Enjoying Sports in Wichita

Sports fans have plenty to cheer about in Wichita! Wichita State University has a history of excellence - winning the 1989 College World Series, a total of 16 men's and women's national bowling championships plus an appearance in the NCAA men's basketball "Final Four." Local baseball fans "Go Nuts!" for the Wichita Wingnuts and watch major league stars of tomorrow in the National Baseball Congress World Series. Hockey fans rabidly support the Wichita Thunder and the Wichita Wild supplies plenty of indoor football action. Visit The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission for year-round exciting sports events taking place right here in Wichita.

~ For the Culinary Connoisseurs

With more than 1,000 restaurants, you can take a culinary trip around the world and never leave Wichita! Grab a blue-plate special and handmade malt at the Old Mill Tasty Shop. Feast on Mediterranean cuisine at the Olive Tree Bistro or Uptown Bistro. Take your laptop and get some work done over a quality lunch at Caffe Moderne. Sink your teeth into the finest Midwestern steaks at the Scotch & Sirloin or Chester's Chophouse & Wine Bar. Whether you're hungry for fast food or fine dining, you'll find it in Wichita!

~ Shopping! Shopping!

If shopping is your bag, your next stop must be Wichita! There are shopping choices for all budgets and tastes - from the sophisticate to the flea market. Major shopping destinations include Towne East Square, Towne West Square, Bradley Fair and NewMarket Square housing national retailers along with locally owned shops. The Waterfront, Delano, and Old Town districts each offer a unique atmosphere with a combination of shops and restaurants. For a unique-yet-eclectic shopping experience, visit Clifton Square Village in the College Hill neighborhood.

~ The Ultimate Rest & Relaxation

Everyone deserves a little pampering - a little "me" time. Wichita fills the bill for men and women. CA Men's Fine Grooming at the Waterfront is not the barber shop your father took you to when you were a boy. The barber salon offers uncompromised service in a hip, masculine environment. Salon Knotty & Day Spa caters to men and women with a full-service salon and day spa caring for hair, skin and nails.