If I had 2 Days to Spend Around Wichita, Here’s What I Would Do…
Traveling the midwest can be a great experience. When I traveled to Wichita, Kansas with my family, I was pleasantly surprised with the experiences we did and the places we ate at. If you are looking for some suggestions for your next trip here are some of my ideas…
Day 1: Wichita
Activity: Old Cowtown Museum
On most days, the Old Cowtown Museum opens at 10am and is a great place to visit if you want to see a little bit of the history of the town of Wichita. The museum has moved historic houses and buildings to create a replica town from the 1800s. THIS ARTICLE goes into more details about the museum. Check it out before you go.
Lunch: Nuway Burgers
Nuway dates back to the 1930s! This little shop gives you old time diner feels and has a unique dish, a loose beef burger. While these loose beef burgers taste like a regular hamburger, it is a different experience eating one of these Nuways. Another thing they are known for is their root beer served in a glass mug. While this is not a gourmet shop, it was neat to eat at a restaurant with such a long history in Wichita. See their menu HERE.
Activity: Botanica Wichita
If you love nature, Botanica Wichita is a good place to visit. At this botanical garden, you can walk the various paths and see plants, flowers and sculptures. They also have a nice children’s garden with climbing structures and small play areas. Learn more about the botanical gardens HERE. And if you want to learn more about the children’s garden specifically, you can read THIS ARTICLE on my sister site for more details. (Link coming soon)
Dinner: Eat at Delano BBQ Co.
On my trip to Wichita, Delano BBQ Co. was a last minute add on when one of our dinner plans didn’t work out. Let me just say, I was not disappointed. While I love BBQ, you never know if it will be good in other places or cities. I tried the shredded brisket with some sides and it was very good. I would definitely go back here. HERE is a look at their menu.
Day 2: Strong City and Wichita
Activity: Head to Tall Grass National Prairie Preserve
While not in Wichita, if you enjoy visiting national parks, I recommend taking the north east drive up to the Tall Grass National Prairie Preserve. I had such a good time visiting this national preserve as it was so different from any I had been to before. While the preserve itself is open 24 hours a day, the visitor center does have open hours starting at 8:30am or 9:00am depending on the time of the year. I would recommend starting your visit at the visitors center to grab a map and get any tips and tricks from the park ranger. From there you can plan your day and which hikes you want to take. To learn more about this national park you can read THIS ARTICLE to help you plan. Oh, and did I mention this is a great place to see bison! (Link coming soon)
Lunch: Eat at Jacalito
If you choose to go to the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and find yourself in the area around lunch or dinner, there are not many options to eat at due to it being a small town. Thankfully one of the options is Jacalito. Jacalito is an American Mexican restaurant and has a lot of different options on their menu. My family and I ate here when we were in the area. I ate tacos and while they were good my family really enjoyed the fajitas they purchased. I would recommend this restaurant as a great option to eat at. See their Facebook page HERE.
Activity: Head back to Wichita and see the Keeper of the Plains
If you still have time in the evening, another Wichita must see is the Keeper of the Plains statue and bridge. The Keeper of the Plains statue stands where the Little Arkansas and Big Arkansas join into the Arkansas River. You can walk across two different bridges that meet in the middle at the statue. If you stay till dusk you can also see the ring of fire. At the base of the statue, there are five fire pits that are manually lit each night that weather and other circumstances permit. During Daylight savings time the ring of fire starts at 9pm and during Standard time it begins at 7pm. Check HERE for the correct times for when you are going.
Dinner: Eat at Pumphouse
When I visited Wichita just recently, I was looking for a restaurant that was casual or sit down and wasn’t too expensive. I came across the restaurant Pumphouse. I thought this would be a good option because it had a lot of different items on the menu. When we visited, I ordered make your own pasta. I thought the pasta tasted good. Besides the pasta, some of my family ordered pizza. The pizza was delicious. One thing I liked about the menu (CHECK IT OUT HERE) was that there were unique ingredients in common foods. For example we tried a black bean dip that included a raspberry puree. If I were you I would definitely give this restaurant a try.
If you find yourself in the Wichita area, I hope this two day itinerary gives you some great ideas to add to your trip. – Pepper and Passports
If you find yourself near Missouri, check out all the fun things I suggest HERE.
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Hi! My name is Mandy and I love to travel! On this website I share my thoughts, tips and tricks with you about the fun places I travel around the USA. I also share my experiences from the cruises I go on (because who doesn’t love a good cruise). If you are traveling to a specific state or going on a cruise, you can select that state from the drop down menu at the top of the page. Use these articles to help plan out your vacation and get first hand experiences of the places you want to visit. I hope what you find here will help make your trips easier as you explore the world of travel!
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