Wichita, Kansas: More Exciting Than You Ever Dreamed

When most people think of Wichita, Kansas, the image that comes to mind is hardly exciting. Many people think corn, cows, and being in the middle of nowhere. When we moved from Fort Collins, CO to Wichita, the most frequent question we got was...why? Why would we give up the beauty and excitement of Colorado for Wichita? And honestly, I could not have told you when we moved here, other than my husband got a job and no matter where you live, you need money to do it.

Now that we have been here over a year, we have discovered Wichita's biggest secret. It does not suck! There are actually things to do here! And while it is still hardly a hotbed of exciting entertainment, it does have some respectable things to see and do, even on a budget. Below are a few of our favorite places to take our guests and spend lazy weekend afternoons.

The Museum of World Treasures:

This place is huge. You could easily spend all day here and not get through all the exhibits. It has the largest, most diverse collection of random items I ever seen. It truly does have something for everybody- 10 real dinosaur skeletons, assorted military memorabilia from several wars, royal jewels, items from many of the American presidents, including the signature of every single US president to date, mummies, a sports item collection, a children's area...no matter what you find interesting, this place probably has something on display. It costs a little over 8 dollars for an adult admission, but there are sometimes coupons available online. A simple google.com search will let you know if any are available when you plan to visit.

The Sedgwick County Zoo

The zoo is a great place for family friendly fun! The zoo is big enough to spend the day, but not so huge that you will not be able to see everything. My favorite feature of the zoo is the rainforest house, which houses many exotic birds and rainforest animals and plants. It is beautiful and relaxing to be there. The zoo is also about to feature a penguin exhibit, due to be open in June 2007!

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens

Many beautiful plants thrive in the humid air of southern Kansas. Botanica features many of the gorgeous area plants. It is surprisingly large, and would be a lovely place to take a picnic lunch. The gardens are organized by theme, and include a butterfly house, a rose garden, and woodland area. Spend your day strolling among the flowers! Also a gorgeous place to hold a formal event, such as a wedding.

Old Town

For those who prefer the nightlife, Old Town is just what you're looking for. Many exciting bars of various themes are in a close area, so there is something for everybody. The Brickyard, an outdoor bar in an old brickyard, is a favorite for those who like to dance under the stars. Flashbacks is an exciting dance club with different theme nights, from Adult Prom to '80's night. The Pump House, Emerson Biggens, and Finns are also fun places to visit. During the day, Old Town features quaint shops to browse through. Saturdays there is a farmer's market in the square- sure to please everybody!

Start planning your trip to Wichita today!