Location: Wichita
Top Things to do in Wichita
What to do and see in Wichita, Kansas (KS): The Best Free Things to do
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. 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.
3. 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
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Great Plains Nature Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
A Kansas wildlife habitat in the city. Bird watching. Paved hiking trails. Discovery programs. Indoor wildlife observatory. Connecting people with nature. The Great Plains Nature Center is a cooperative partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the City of Wichita Parks and Recreation Department. Together with the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center (a 501(c)(3) organization), GPNC provides nature experiences to the community. Visit us to check out the Koch Habitat Hall exhibits with your grandchildren. Stop in for quiet reflection in the Bob Gress Wildlife Observatory. Or, pick up a Kansas critter memento in the Owl's Nest Gift Shop.
Reviewed By 511paty - Wichita, United States
We had a great day hiking the trails (over 2 miles or shorter if desired) and visiting the gift shop. The fall foliage was beautiful and there were several deer and lots of birds. We enjoyed the paved paths and the labeling of many species of foliage. Just beautiful and serene.
7. Paramount Antique Mall
8. The Keeper of the Plains
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 829 reviews
The Keeper of the Plains stands at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers with hands raised in supplication to the Great Spirit. Renowned Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin donated the Keeper of the Plains to the citizens of Wichita on May 18, 1974.Since the sculpture's installation to commemorate the United States Bicentennial, it has become a symbol for the city of Wichita and a tribute to the local American Indian tribes. in 1974. A complete renovation of the sculpture and installation of the Keeper of the Plains Plaza now brings people out each evening to see the Keeper and the "Ring of Fire." The 44-foot Cor-Ten steel Keeper of the Plains statue is now 30 feet higher than before with its new pedestal,surrounded by a plaza which describes the Plains Indian way of life. The Keeper also serves as the focal point of an eight-year, $20 million restoration and river beautification project completed in May 2007. Pedestrians can access the area via two bow-and-arrow-inspired cable-stay bridges which span the Little and Big Arkansas rivers. Fire drums on boulders at the foot of the Keeper dramatically light the night. Plantings of sage, bottlebrush, medicinal herbs, prairie grasses, yuccas and cactus add to the sense of place and time. The area is free and open to the public year-round.
Reviewed By JonM2858 - Plano, United States
An amazing tribute to history of Native Americans. The Keeper of the Plains embodies the aspects of life for the Plains Indians on this sacred ground and The Ring of Fire is truly fascinating.
9. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By hd452016 - Tulsa, United States
We didn't have time to stop and go inside this Cathedral. The architecture from the outside is wonderful. We wish we had the time to go inside. It was constructed in 1857. At one time there were eleven bells in the tower, each one named after a Saint. The dome has been replaced a couple of times and covered in 23-carat gold leaf.
10. Wichita Public Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Emerson87724 - Saint Louis, United States
Wichita has just built a new, state-of-the-art library with ALL the technological bells and whistles. Lovely facility with room for public gatherings such as author talks. This library truly is a great addition of Wichita’s cultural scene.
