As the largest city in Kansas, Wichita has a formidable mix of history, nature, and western culture. Over the years, the city has experienced a recent wave of modernization, with distinctive landmarks, contemporary museums, and community revitalization. Downtown Wichita has emerged from an old western sales outlet to a vivacious city. With over thirty three museums, twenty two attractions, eight looking districts, 22 theaters, and festivals throughout the year, there are invariably lots of things to do. The town is additionally gaining notoriety as a foodie destination. Over 1,000 restaurants are within the city, together with a boom of artistic farm-to-table options. The central location of Wichita within the state makes it a straightforward place to reach by driving or flying, and downtown is barely ten minutes from the airport.
One amongst the foremost exciting and unforgettable holidaymaker attractions in Wichita is the Keeper of the Plains, a 44-foot-tall steel sculpture that’s most spectacular at night. The statue stands on sacred land, wherever the large and small Arkansas Rivers converge. The plaza that surrounds the sculpture has benches and walkways for pedestrians. If you visit throughout the day, take time to envision the Mid-America All-Indian Center that has historical info on the realm and therefore the statue. The foremost spectacular time to go to is within the evenings, when you have the beautiful backdrop of the Wichita sunset and the “Ring of Fire” that’s set below the Keeper of the Plains statue.
Spring and summer are well-liked times to visit Botanica Wichita, when over 150,000 tulips and daffodils color the gardens. This community garden in the heart of Wichita has more than thirty sections to explore. 2 of the most popular gardens are the Butterfly House, that showcases butterfly habitats, and the Downing Children’ Garden, that has large, colorful statues among the flowers, trees, and shrubs that interact children. Throughout the holidays, Botanica Wichita is embellished with a million lights throughout the eighteen acres of gardens.
The Sedgwick County zoo is one amongst the highest things to do in Wichita. It is home to over 3,000 animals. Exploring the zoo is easy, as the animals are grouped together in regions that are set out geographically on the grounds. The exhibits allow you to get the most effective read of even-toed ungulate and lowland gorillas within the Africa region, a grizzly bear in the North America area, and therefore the always-entertaining penguins within the Cessna sphenisci form seabird Cove. If you happen to catch a zookeeper in the elephant exhibit during your visit, stick around and watch the elephants respond by name during feeding time.
You’ll be able to continue a scavenger hunt through history at the unique museum of World Treasures. It’s a massive collection of artifacts and knowledge from ancient civilizations and countries round the world. Besides explanation exhibits, the museum features sections on military history and world civilizations. There are 3 floors that desire a container as you see fossilized bones from Ivan the T. Rex (one of the most popular exhibits within the museum), religious art from Asia, a quest into royal dynasties, and Egyptian mummies. It is price finding out the event calendar to envision if a chance to have coffee with a curator coincides with your visit.
The Arkansas River Bike Path is a scenic way to see downtown Wichita as you stroll or bike on the Arkansas River. The 10-mile, paved, multi-use path follows the river and takes you past the All-American Indian Center, Cowtown, and therefore the Keeper of the Plains statue. You’ll be able to download a trail map from the Wichita Parks and Recreation Department onto your phone for easy navigation and to find parking. This can be one amongst over a hundred twenty five greenways and twenty six miles of motorcycle trails throughout the town if you wish to spend time outdoors throughout your stay.
You’ll be able to relish Wichita’ rich cultural scene with a theater or symphony performance at the Century II performing arts and Convention Center. The theater, concert hall, and collection center always has something on the calendar, from concerts to plays. Soak up a performance of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra or fancy the native talent throughout a show from the Music Theater of Wichita. For a very special experience, catch a performance by the Wichita Grand Opera, which frequently features international opera stars.
At the Old Cowtown Museum, you’ll be able to take a step into the Wild West. When you step on the dirt roads within the duplicate 1870s village, you get a sensory introduction into the time of frontier settlement. Whereas you explore the fifty four historic replica buildings, you’ll see artifacts from amount tools to clothing. The replica city provides you an understanding of the method of life within the period of Wichita settlement. A number of the highlights of Cowtown embody the buffalo hunter trading area, clothed interpreters, a blacksmith, and cowboy gunfights in the street that take place most days.
Dive into the history of the cowboy, observe Kansas on a miniature scale, or place your mind to work making an invention come to life at the Exploration Place. The science and discovery center has active exhibits that explore the main points of how things work in our homes and in our bodies, however it additionally has distinctive exhibits that inspect the American west and life in Kansas. Make sure to set up time for one amongst the showings within the Dome Theater and Planetarium or soak up one of the live science shows.