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About Wichita, KS

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and is known as the “Air Capital of the World”. The city is home to the highest concentration of skilled aerospace manufacturing employees in the United States.

Wichita was first inhabited by the Wichita Indians in 1863. It became a trading post, and then a destination for cattle drives, earning the nickname “Cowtown”.

Today, Wichita is an active cultural and entertainment hub with restaurants, retail shops, museums, and parks. It offers good value for money and has developed a reputation for being a strong location for small businesses.

When to Visit Wichita, KS

Wichita is located in south-central Kansas. Temperatures and humidity can vary. Wind levels are typically considered moderate. I visited Wichita in May 2022, and the weather was quite pleasant - at times, a little hot, but overall enjoyable.

The hottest months to visit are July and August, followed by June. The coldest month to visit is January.

June and May are the busiest months to visit, followed by July. If you’re looking for the least busy month to visit, travel to Wichita in November - this will likely be your least expensive and least crowded time to visit. (That being said, I didn’t find Wichita to ever be overly crowded during my visit in May.)

Fall is considered the ideal time to visit for more mild temperatures and less rainfall. Though May and June are the rainiest months of the year, I did not experience any rainfall during my weekend in Wichita.

How to Get to Wichita, KS

Wichita is centrally located within the United States, and it has options to fly in, drive in, bus in, or train in.

Fly to Wichita, KS

The nearest airport in Wichita is the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower airport (ICT), located 6.2 miles from the city center. It’s conveniently located just 10 minutes from Old Town. Had I come to Wichita from my hometown in DFW, I would have gone this route and flown into ICT.

Bus to Wichita, KS

According to Wanderu, Wichita is accessible by bus from 60 other cities between 2 bus lines - Jefferson and Amtrak.

There’s a non-stop bus that travels between Kansas City and Wichita, leaving from Kansas City. It departs once every day and takes around 4 hours.

To get to Kansas City, our group took a private car transfer from Kansas City to Wichita. It was a pleasant ride without any delays or issues.

Train to Wichita, KS

There are limited train routes to Wichita. Amtrak runs 2 routes into Wichita at an average cost of of $167.35 (Wanderu).

Where to Stay in Wichita, KS

Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview

For my visit to Wichita, I stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, a 3-star hotel with beautiful views of the Arkansas River banks. It’s a historic hotel, originally known as the Broadview Hotel, which opened in 1922.

If you stay here, request a river facing room on the top floor if possible. The rooms on the top floor have higher ceilings that make the room feel more expansive.

Like other Drury hotels, hot breakfast and 5:30 Kickback® happy hour are offered complimentary daily.

Ambassador Hotel Wichita

The Ambassador Hotel is a 4-star hotel located near Drury in downtown Wichita. It’s part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. This hotel has contemporary, stylish decor with an Italian steakhouse restaurant and a speakeasy-style bar in the basement, Dockum.

The Ambassador Hotel is also in a historic building that dates back to 1926. It was originally home to the Union National Bank and Dockum Drug Store.

*Ambassador Hotel Wichita. Photo courtesy of* *Booking.com*.

custom travel planning - the jet set blonde - brittany ryan

custom travel planning with brittany

What to do in Wichita, KS

Wichita offers a nice blend of activities, ranging from historic landmarks to contemporary museums. This round-up of what to do in Wichita, KS covers a little bit of everything, whether you’re a history buff, cultural enthusiast, or modern-day explorer.

Visit the Keeper of the Plains Plaza and Ring of Fire.

Probably the most iconic image of Wichita is the Keeper of the Plains statue and its surrounding Ring of Fire. The Keeper is a 44-foot tall steel sculpture representing a Native American figure. It stands on sacred ground, at the point where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join.

The sculpture was created by Wichitan and Native American artist Blackbear Bosin (1921 - 1980). The sculpture debuted in 1974 to celebrate the United States Bi-centennial.

The best time to visit this monument is when the Ring of Fire burns. It burns for 15 minutes daily at 9 P.M. in the spring and summer and at 7:00 P.M. in the fall and winter. (If there are high winds, rain, or other bad weather, the fire pots will not be turned on.) When the Ring of Fire is turned on, you can also hear Native American chanting being played.

I visited on my first night in Wichita, and it set a beautiful tone for the days to come in the city, as I was able to learn about the historic significance of the Native American culture in this Kansas destination.
As you explore Wichita, be on the lookout for smaller replicas dotted all around the city. They are known as the Keepers on Parade. They are 10 feet tall fiberglass replicas, painted and adorned by local artists. No one Keeper is the same!

Learn about Wichita’s Native American history and culture at the Mid-America All-Indian Museum.

If you want to learn even more about Native American culture and about Blackbear Bosin, visit the Mid-America All-Indian Museum. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

This museum is small but houses work from American Indian artists from around the country. A large portion of the museum is dedicated to art from Blackbear Bosin. It’s the largest public collection of work by the artist. It’s amazing to observe how this particular artist’s skill and style evolved over the years, from more rudimentary comic book sketches to massive vibrant murals.

The museum is host to several important Native American gatherings today, including the Trail of Tears Memorial, Back to School Powwow, and the Indian Art Market.

Explore 18 acres of gardenscaping at Botanica Wichita.

Botanica Wichita is home to over 30 themed gardens and exhibits, featuring over 4,000 species of plants both native and new to the region.

At the time of my visit, there was an inspiring temporary exhibit set up throughout the gardens called Washed Ashore. It featured 14 large-scale sea life sculptures made entirely from trash that washed up in the sea. It graphically shows the tragedy of plastic pollution while bringing awareness to their mission of creating art to save the sea.

It was hard to pick a favorite because they’re all so beautiful, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Margie Button Memorial Fountain and Garden. The border of the garden was filled with flourishing Peonies and Daylilies. There are up to 85 different Peony varieties blooming from late April through early June. Hardy Hibiscus also grow west of the fountain near the gazebo.

Though it’s for kids, I also enjoyed a quick ride on their 40-foot tall carousel! It was designed 70+ years ago and served as a popular attraction at the Joyland amusement park. The park closed in 2004, but Botanica Wichita salvaged the historic carousel, replicating much of the original 1949 machine as they restored it. Artist Marlene Irvin repainted all of the original 36 horses - every one is unique.

The Unicorn Topiary just outside the carousel was magical. If you look closely, you can spot a cute little mouse shining up the unicorn’s horn.

Spot colorful murals in the Douglas Design District.

There are over 100 murals within the Douglas Design District. Since 2015, local artists have had the opportunity to create their own murals during Avenue Art Days.

Though I didn’t come close to seeing them all, my favorite mural was the “Mini Maker Madness” mural on the side of The Workroom as well as the floral “We’ve Got the Joy” mural.

To take a self-guided tour of all the murals, download the Avenue Art Days Mural Map app (it’s free).

Pet stingrays at the Sedgwick County Zoo

I don’t typically recommend zoos due to the fact that they are usually overcrowded with families and kids (also the ethical questions that arise), however I did enjoy a visit to the Sedgwick County Zoo. It’s home to 3,000 animals of nearly 400 species grouped by geographic location.

The zoo supports field conservation programs and is a not-for-profit organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium, be sure to look out for the AZA logo to ensure that you’re supporting a facility that provides excellent care for animals.

At the time of my visit, Stingray Cove had just recently opened as the zoo’s newest interactive attraction. I have never pet stingrays before, and it was a really fun experience. I was surprised by how smooth they were. I thought it may be scary, but all you had to do was stick you hand in the water (after cleaning them) and wait. Then the stingrays would come up to you hand to glide underneath you!

The other species that I enjoyed visiting was the red panda. I first discovered the red panda while in China, and became enthralled by them. I love their reddish color and their sweet faces. Prior to my visit to China, I had no idea they existed. They’re like an adorable blend of a panda and a raccoon. It’s in a scientific family of its own - not a raccoon, nor a bear. So when I heard this vulnerable species was at the Sedgwick County Zoo, I was thrilled to see them again.

Tour the indoor exhibits and outdoor sculpture garden at the Wichita Art Museum.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Wichita Art Museum - more than I thought I would. The museum is one of the largest art museums in Kansas and houses 7,000 pieces of contemporary and historical art.

I had a wonderful first impression of the museum as I walked in since you’re greeted with a beautiful Dale Chihuly blown glass art display above your head. (I adore Chihuly art!)

Then as you look to your right, there’s a giant suspended white abstract sculpture (“Living History” by Beth Lipman) that’s just breathtaking. It’s a perfect compliment to the large colorful Chihuly “Confetti Chandelier” on the second floor.

There’s also an outdoor sculpture garden on property, including a Henry Moore piece. Another popular piece found in this museum is the Kansas Cornfield by John Steuart Curry - a powerful image of the Midwest.

The Wichita Art Museum is free to the public every first Friday of the month.

Pick up some Wichita “flag swag” at Cleveland Corner.

Cleveland Corner is THE place to get your local Wichita souvenirs. Wichita locals love their city flag and sport it everywhere from t-shirts, to pillows, to artwork.

Cleveland Corner first started with The Workroom. This location served as an interior design hub which has expanded into a one-stop shop for home furnishings, fine art and accessories, and one-of-a-kind Wichita-centric gifts. I was absolutely obsessed with all the products in their store - I wanted to bring the whole store home with me, and if I was a local, I’d be in this shop every weekend.

Owner Janelle King met with us and explained her intent for the Wichita community. She wanted to create an environment that offers inspiration, education, and good vibes. (I can attest to the fact that the store really does have good vibes!) Not only did she start featuring products made by 100+ Wichita area artists, but she launched The Garage concept.

The Garage at Cleveland Corner is a retail incubator project that helps small businesses get off the ground in a low risk, supportive space that fosters learning, growth, and mentorship. When we visited, the Grow Giesen Plant Shop was closing up to launch their own space in the Summer of 2022. Soon, there will be a new start-up retailer occupying The Garage to get their start.

The third awesome place in Cleveland Corner is Viola’s Pantry. It’s a small Italian market serving made-from-scratch sauces, fresh pasta, take-n-bakes, and homemade cheese. They also offer cooking classes for the community.

This area was one of my favorite stops during my time in Wichita - it’s a must-visit!

(If you want more recommendations like this, another really cute area to visit is Clifton Square - it’s a charming Victorian-inspired neighborhood with shops and restaurants.)

Get a custom-fitted hat at Hatman Jack’s in the historic Delano District.

Hatman Jack’s is one of the longest-running small businesses in Wichita, founded in 1976. They specialize in customized hats tailored to perfection. They are the 3rd largest hat store in the nation. Founder Jack Kellogg does custom fittings and has over 4 decades of experience.

If you’re in the shopping mood, stop a few stores down at Bungalow 26 - a very cute retail shop featuring handmade home goods, healthy products, and beauty products.

If you have extra time, explore Delano District a little more - it’s one of Wichita’s oldest neighborhoods. The streets used to be filled with cowboys, cattle, horses, and wagons. For information on historical landmarks in Delano, visit their History page.

Spend a morning strolling through downtown Wichita.

Start your day at HomeGrown Wichita - an excellent breakfast/lunch spot serving cage-free eggs, homemade pop tarts (the brown sugar cinnamon was amazing!), fresh-squeezed orange juice, and more. They source locally wherever possible and promote a philosophy of cultivating kindness. (They have one other location in Kansas City.)

Next, cross the street and wander down Gallery Alley in downtown Wichita - a small alley with intersensory art experiences. It features 5 sculptures created by local artists, including a giant spider, a sound sculpture, and some colorful cats.

After stopping through this colorful nook, peruse the Shops at Gallery Alley and grab an espresso at Espresso To Go Go (they have a disco ball inside)!

Experience farm-to-table cheese tastings at Elderslie Farm.

Just north of Wichita sits Elderslie Farm - a small-batch artisan-made cheese creamery and restaurant. The Creamery uses traditional methods to produce fine cheeses with goat and Faye Farms Ayrshire cow milk. Their goats and cows are fed grass and leguminous hays on pasture.

The Farm started as a blackberry and vegetable growing operation (as well as a sawmill/woodworks station). Today, there’s the Creamery, blackberry picking, an outdoor cafe, and farm-to-table dinners served at their restaurant.

The restaurant on property serves a prix fixe dinner menu that changes seasonally and highlights their handcrafted cheeses. Reservations are required.

*Elderslie Farm. Photo courtesy of kansasfarmfoodconnection.org.*

Closing Thoughts About What to do in Wichita, KS

If you want a quintessential Kansas travel experience, Wichita is the spot to visit. Wichita may appear to an outsider as a sleepy Midwestern town, but it’s actually a very active, community-oriented destination. They have interesting historical museums, outdoor attractions, and good food - all at an affordable price. So what are you waiting for?!