A Complete Guide to Wichita Kansas

First and foremost… “Kansas. It’s not that bad.” as local t-shirt shops would say.

People are nice, “ope” is a term of apologetic sincerity, and watching sunsets over wheat fields is an experience like no other. Kansas is home to the world’s largest ball of twine and the center of the universe (technically the center of the 48 continental states – but I promise, it feels like the center of the universe), a city of two states with football and fútbol, basketball history, and a personal favorite – Wichita.

Wichita

Wichita has big city dreams immersed in small town culture. This quiet city is a hidden gem in the Wheat State with plenty of local shops and a surprisingly diverse food scene.

The Best Time to Visit Wichita

Spring and fall, like many destinations are the ideal time to visit to Wichita. Although the weather can be a bit unpredictable, spring time brings tulip blooms at Wichita’s botanical gardens and picturesque white and pink tree blossoms. Summer in Wichita is hot, muggy, and you’ll likely encounter rain. Fall is where it’s at in the heartland. Temps drop to light jacket weather and leaves turn vibrant fall colors. Winter is cold, humid, windy, and it is very unlikely you’ll experience a ‘white Christmas.’

Where to Stay in Wichita

If you have time to explore the city, we recommend finding an Airbnb or opting for some of the more “boutique” feeling hotels in downtown like the Drury Plaza or the Hotel at Oldtown. If Wichita is a quick overnight stop or you are more interested in family fun like Chicken N Pickle or Top Golf, the east side of town is your place – you’ll find plenty of chain accommodations.

What to do in “Doo-Dah”

Take a stroll, a free ride on the Q-Line, or a scoot, down Douglas. From the historic Delano district all the way to College Hill – Douglas is the central downtown road of Wichita – it is filled with murals, local eateries, a variety of bars, tattoo parlors, a park or two – and it gives you a good sense of the city.

Old Town – the life of the party. If you want to go out on the town, you’ll find the most vibrant nightlife in the heart of the city. Old industrial buildings have been converted to apartments, restaurants, local shops, and plenty of night clubs. You can expect cover fees just about everywhere you go. Even if you’re not into the bar scene, Old Town is a great place to explore.

From April – December, Old Town is also the place to be Saturday mornings for one of Wichita’s most popular farmer’s markets where you can find plenty unique art pop-ups, locally crafted goods, and farm to table tastes of Kansas. Cravory Cottage is an OT vendor you don’t want to miss. If farmer’s markets are your jam, you can also find the Kansas Grown Market on the west side of town.

Check out the Work Room, Spice Merchant, Lucinda’s, Vortex Souvenir, Watermark Books, GROW Plant Shop and Revolustia for funky local shop vibes filled with locally crafted art, décor, gag gifts and souvenirs.

Take a walk down to the river to Keeper of the Plains. Every night at 9:00 they light the “rings of fire” and it is a pretty neat scene. There’s an underground troll statue nearby; you might as well embark on that journey while you’re in the area.

Food and Booze

Grab a coffee. While there are plenty of local coffee stops, if a good atmosphere and delicious coffee is what you’re after, look no further than Coffee Daze. With modern, prime location, Insta-worthy décor and perfectly brewed lattes, it is a must stop for your morning caffeine needs. Pennant Coffee is another one on the list that you cannot miss. Whether you need a coffee, or cocktail, Pennant is the perfect space!

Live the low-key local life at the divey-est of dive bars. Harry’s, Whiskey Dicks, Vagabond, and Mort’s are just a few little digs to add to your bar hopping itinerary. And of course, there is Lava & Tonic; the premiere (and only) no coast tiki bar around.

Do the Wicked Brew Tour – even if it’s not the official one. If you visit Wichita in the summer, grab a Wicked Brew Tour passport and have all the local spots laid out for you, if you get 10 stamps, you get a t-shirt. If the official tour isn’t for you, you can’t leave Wichita without exploring a few brew stops.

Our favorites are Norton’s, Central Standard Brewing, Hopping Gnome, and, surprisingly, White Crow Cider. Norton’s is a Tuesday stop so you don’t miss their queso on Taco Tuesday. Hands down best queso in town.

Don’t forget the most important meal of the day! If you are looking for a hearty, hangover curing breakfast, you can’t go wrong at Livingston’s Café or The Beacon. If a boosie boozie breakfast is what you need, head to HomeGrown in Naftzger Park for mimosas and Instagram worthy avocado toast.

The food scene is diverse in ICT. You’ll find tastes from Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Africa, Japan, Germany, Mexico, France (head to Georges for your fine French dining needs) and the Middle East – all locally owned by families who have found themselves, one way or another, living in southeast Kansas, and all delicious.

Indulge in desert. Founded in Wichita is a rapidly expanding artisan chocolate company, Cocoa Dolce. The original downtown location offers an inside look to how their chocolate is made. Whether you want a scoop of gelato, a glass of wine, or a piece of chocolate infused with a shot of whiskey, you will not be disappointed. Bake Sale, Milkfloat and Frost are a few other stops that deserve local love.

The Great(ish) Outdoors

Wichita, really Kansas in general, is not the ideal place for the outdoor enthusiast. You won’t find any challenging hiking trails, picturesque bodies of water, or the views that will take your breath away. You will find a few nature trails, harvest fields to watch sunsets, and a few lakes here and there. If you’ve got a short time in Wichita, the Great Plains Nature Center will suffice for a nice outdoor stroll.

If the water is calling you, Wichita State University offers very affordable boat and SUP rentals to explore downtown via the Arkansas River. If you’ve got your own gear, Santa Fe Lake is also just a 35 minute drive to drop in and soak up the hot and humid Kansas sun.

Family Favorites

Head to Botanica for beautiful blooms – make sure to check their special event calendar to get the most out of your trip.

Hit up the Sedgwick County Zoo if you feel – it’s pretty neat. The holiday season transforms the zoo and Botanica into winter wonderlands – these are a must if you are visiting in November or December. Whatever season you visit, skip Cowtown. This seems obvious just by reading the name, however, many other “top things to do in Wichita” lists disagree.

You can get your sport fan fix on an affordable budget when you hit up Riverfront Stadium for a Wichita Wind Surge baseball game. There are a few other minor league teams in town like the Wichita Thunder, but the Wind Surge tend to be a town favorite with endless promotional nights and reasonable entry prices.