Location: Wichita
Top Things to do in Wichita
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Wichita, Kansas (KS)
Dorothy clicked her heels to return to Kansas, and you'll want to do the same after you've visited this one-time cattle town turned modern, booming city, where the spirit of the Old West lives on. To get a feel of the early pioneer days, visit the recreated village at the Old Cowtown Museum. For a slightly more eccentric experience, visit the Museum of Ancient Treasures, which has everything from a baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio to a shrunken head. The Indian Center Museum features works by Plains Indian artists. Wichita is an aircraft manufacturing center, and the Kansas Aviation Museum honors pioneers in the field, as well as housing model planes. Exploration Place gives kids more insights into aviation and other scientific wonders. For nature and wildlife, check out Botanica's lovely gardens or head over to the Sedgwick County Zoo, home to over 350 species of animals. Wichita stays up when the sun goes down: there's nightlife, culture, karaoke and cuisine for all tastes.
Restaurants in Wichita
1. Nifty Nut House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 900 reviews
Reviewed By jeffreyp744 - Wichita, United States
Love this place great variety nuts and candy every kind of candy candy we had as kids free samples of different candy nuts and such fun place to take kids
2. Music Theatre Wichita
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 37 reviews
3. Veterans' Memorial Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States
Veterans Memorial Park is located on one bank of the Arkansas River near the Keeper of the Plains monument. I came across this park while riding bike on the trail next to the river. Being on the bank of the river, the memorial is spread out linearly. But, all the war memorials have a nice connected walking path. I did not find any specific sign that indicated an entrance to the park. This is a nice place to remember all the servicemen who have sacrificed for the nation in the course of so many wars.
4. Central Standard Brewing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
Wichita’s premier brewery and taproom — Central Standard Brewing. Producing a wide range of styles including seasonal, Belgian, IPA, Barrel Aged, Sour and Wild/Brett Beers. With a variety of styles on tap and a relaxed atmosphere, CSB is a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a few drinks in a comfy retro chair or on the patio. Ask questions, get the tour — our brewers love to talk abou
5. Exploration Place
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
Delve into hundreds of interactive exhibits that stimulate the mind and teach about science, and that's only inside the main building. Outside there's a park where visitors can observe Kansas wildlife in a wetlands habitat and dig for archeological treasures inside a giant sandbox.
Reviewed By hd452016 - Tulsa, United States
Take the time to visit this interesting science center, especially for children in grades 3-12. The Center has several hands-on exhibits the focus on flight. You will also find displays on Kansas geography and medieval life housed in a three-story castle.
6. Botanica: The Wichita Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 722 reviews
Located in Sim Park, this gorgeous patch of cultivated flora offers themed gardens such as the Butterfly Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Rose and Wildflower Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden, plus special programs for children.
Reviewed By AIbin0 - Tarrant, United States
I was traveling from out of state on a whim and out of all the places I was hoping to see while in Wichita, The Botanical Gardens was at the top of my list. To be frank, I've never actually been to a Botanical Gardens before, but the one here is absolutely gorgeous. I'm no botanist, but there's a wide variety of flora all throughout the gardens in different sections. Beautiful fountains, a butterfly garden, gorgeous floral arrangements, memorial statues, quiet alcoves, lilly ponds, a koi pond, and much more await you here. After a long year of stress and anxiety, being away from everything for a few hours was therapeutic. I'd definitely recommend seeing it for yourself if you're in the area.
7. Starlite Drive-In
8. Old Cowtown Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
Be transported back in time at this unique, 23 acre open-air history museum that recreates Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas from 1865 to 1880. Museum staff dress in period costume and demonstrate everyday activities including, gardening, tending livestock and cooking. Historic Wichita Cowtown Inc. works with the City of Wichita to further the Museum and its mission. Established in 1950, Cowtown's unique programming chronicles Wichita's transformation from a frontier settlement to a cattle town to an agricultural and manufacturing area. The Museum has the distinction of being accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition achievable by a museum. Accreditation recognizes high standards in individual museums and ensures they continue to uphold public trust. Only 3 percent of the nation's estimated 34,144 museums are accredited.
Reviewed By luket257
If you're interested in history and how things were in the old west this is a very worthwhile stop. Old town is set up with stores and businesses the way they were back in the day and very informative. If you're lucky you might even get in on some movie shooting.
9. Arkansas River Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By jbjclass - Wichita, United States
This is a very peaceful and beautiful place to walk along the river. You can walk for a few miles, so you pass different parts of Wichita, like the Keeper of the Plains, Exploration Place, some fancy apartments and hotels, and on and on. It's very well maintained, and there's quite a bit of parking. It connects to other walking/biking trails, so we started keeping a map of everywhere we've walked, and it's fun to see how they go together. The Veterans' Memorial Park (right off the trail) is also very nice and worth visiting.
10. Sedgwick Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
Reviewed By Biff_Simp - Wilbraham, United States
The park is HUGE and surrounds a large lake a short distance. Reservations are first come, first served, but not to worry... we arrived on Labor Day Sunday at 7pm and got a choice spot under a tree with electric for $12 per night (less senior discount). Tent sites can be found on the water They have 3 beaches, a bait shop the size of a small supermarket, with fishing and RV supplies, a boat launch, shower houses and even a shooting range... and some of the best sunrises you’ll see.
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