Wichita on the Arkansas River

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and is known as a foodie destination with over 1000 restaurants.

Keeper Of the Plains is a memorable tourist attraction. This is a 44-foot-tall steel sculpture that looks impressive at night. The statue stands on sacred land where the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers converge. There are benches and walkways on the plaza surrounding the sculpture. Take a visit to the Mid-American All-Indian Center with historical information about the statue and the area. Visiting in the evenings you can view an amazing Wichita sunset and the Ring of Fire that is set below the statue.

Botanica Wichita has gardens with over 150,000 tulips and daffodils. This is a community garden right in the heart of Wichita with over 30 sections.

Two of the most popular gardens are the Butterfly House with butterfly habitats and the Downing Children's Garden with large colorful statues among all the flowers, trees, and shrubs. During holiday time the gardens are decorated with one million lights.

The Sedgwick County Zoo is home to over 3,000 animals that are grouped in regions and laid out geographically all around the zoo. In the Africa region, you can visit the lowland gorillas and hippopotamus. In the North American region the grizzly bear and the penguins are always entertaining in the Cessan Penguin Cove. At feeding time at the Elephant exhibit, you can watch the zookeeper calling the elephants by name.

At the Museum of World Treasures, you can enjoy going on a scavenger hunt through history. The museum has a vast collection of artifacts and information about ancient civilizations and countries all around the globe. You can see natural history exhibits, exhibits on military history, and on world civilizations. The exhibits cover three floors with the fossilized bones from Ivan the T Rex being among the most popular. There are even Egyptian mummies.

The Arkansas River Bike Path offers visitors a great way to see Wichita as they walk or ride along the Arkansas River. This 10-mile paved trail follows the river and takes you past the All-Indian Center, Cowtown, and the Keeper of the Plains statue. You can download a trail map onto your phone.

Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center is a combination theater, concert hall, and expo center. You can catch a performance of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra or a show from the Music Theater of Wichita and even the Wichita Grand Opera featuring international opera stars.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is a place where you can enjoy wild animals such as lemurs, alligators, giraffes, and others. The park focuses on preservation and conservation. There are interactive experiences such as sunset tours and swimming with the penguins.

Old Cowtown Museum gives you an Old West adventure. You can walk the dirt roads in the replica of an 1870s village and get a sensory introduction to the time of frontier settlement. There are 54 historic buildings to explore and many artifacts from period tools to clothing, The replica town lets you see how life was in the early days of Wichita settlement. Among the highlights are the buffalo hunter trading area, interpreters in costume, a blacksmith, and cowboy gunfights in the streets.

Exploration Place is where you can learn about the history of cowboys, take a look at Kansas on a miniature scale, and learn from hands-on exhibits. The displays let you discover how things work in our homes and in our bodies. Other exhibits take a look at the American West and life in Kansas. You can also catch shows at the Dome Theater and Planetarium or see live science

Wichita Art Museum is the largest art museum in Kansas. It has one of the top collections of American art in the U.S. You can see sculptures, paintings, and glasswork.

In the surrounding Art Garden, you can delight in the flowering trees and plants and view 13 outdoor sculptures. To relax you can stop at The Muse Cafe, serving locally grown food.

Kansas Aviation Museum is housed in an Art-Deco-style building that was once the terminal of the Wichita Municipal Airport. You can see unique aircraft, get historical information and look into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. You can tour the control tower.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House is one of the last prairie houses designed by Wright. The Allen House is a blend of the outside with the inside through the use of the specific placement of windows. There is a lovely backyard garden with a fountain. Across the street, you'll find a small museum that gives information on the history of the home and Wright's work. You can get a guided tour of the inside of the house.

Great Plains Nature Center is the place where you can appreciate the wildlife and natural elements of the state of Kansas. You can stroll on the paved walking trails and do some bird watching. In the Koch Habitat Hall, you can learn about grass prairies, wetlands, and wildlife habitats all of which are important to the state. At the glass wildlife observatory, you can relax and watch nature outside in the wetlands at Chisholm Creek Park.

Old Town Wichita is a part of the city that has many shops, boutiques, restaurants, and an old-school kind of vibe. It shows the vintage side of the city. Among the highlights is the Arcade with famous retro games from the 1980s and 1990s. You can enjoy the Old Town Square with unique gift shops.