questionmotives

Traveling for three days to Wichita on business, but since I've never been there before, just thought I'd spend some time sightseeing in a new city.

Anyone have any recommendations as to where to eat, what to see/do, etc.?

Many thanks!

Pumpy

I truly pity you. However, if you have a car and few hours try driving to the space museum in Hutchison, KS. It is very impressive (no-joke).

mizscarlett

Exploration Place is an excellent science museum. There is a terrific zoo--Sedgwick County Zoo. Botanica is a really nice botanical garden. Wichita Art Museum. If you like Old West History, there is COwtown, which is a replica of old Wichita. Many of the buildings are actual buildings from that time period (1870's) that have been moved to the grounds. The Kansas Cosmosphere is in Hutchinson (about 45 minutes from Wichita) and is an excellent space museum. Those are a few ideas to start you off with. What are your interests? I could maybe point you in some other directions.

Restaurants are a bit harder to recommend. We have lots of chain restaurants--not nearly enough good local eateries. What kind of food do you like? Where will you be staying?

Jocelyn_P

Howdy fellow Borg member,

I grew up in this area. True, there is not much to see or do, but the friends I've brought back home from California have been fascinated by the simple way of life in the farmland. One way to get a taste of it is to visit Yoder, a true Amish community just south of Hutchinson. It's not really set up for tourists, but there's a great breakfast place there, although the name escapes me. It's a great place to hang out and people watch. I can find out the name and exact location if you'd like.

In Wichita, instead of eating at chain restaurants, I'd find a local bbq place and have a good beef brisket.

When will you be there? Springtime is beautiful in the prairie. Have a good time and say hi to my Grandma and Grandpa!

Keith

Two echo the comments about the Cosmosphere, if you have any interest in space or aviation, you sould not miss it!

It has the world's second largest U.S. space artifact collection and the largest collection of Russian space artifacts found outside of Moscow.

Keith

questionmotives

Wow, thanks for all of the great ideas! I'm interested in everything that was suggested, thanks.

Should be there within the next two or three weeks, not sure where I'm staying yet. Wherever the company decides.

As far as food, this probably doesn't make it any easier, esp. in a place like Kansas, but I don't eat red meat or dairy of any kind. Basically just chicken, fish, salads and veggies. Boring, huh? lol

Thanks fellow Borg members. BTW, the board seems blissfully free of a certain Nutjob lately. Are mid-terms at hand? hehe

mizscarlett

Here are some links to web pages for some of the places I mentioned in my earlier post:
www.botanica.org
www.exploration.org
www.old-cowtown.org
www.wichitaartmuseum.org

I also forgot to mention a new museum that I have yet to make it to: The Museum of World Treasures. www.worldtreasures.org

All of these are near the downtown area.

Links for the zoo: www.scz.org
Cosmosphere www.cosmo.org

I honestly don't know what to tell you about restaurants, without knowing the general area you will be staying. There are several Japanese restaurants. I have eaten at Kobe and Sumo, both on the east side of town. There is also Piccadilly Grill, which has east and west locations. There is Imbisse Grille in the Old Town area, as well as several new places that I have not tried. Check back on this post when you have a better idea of when you will be in Wichita and what area of the city you will be staying in. I will try to help as much as I can. Hope you enjoy your stay here.

mona

Hi -- I agree with the recommendations for Exploration Place, the Wichita Art Museum, and the Museum of World Treasures, and the Zoo. We have been to each of these at least twice. The World Treasures museum is a collection of everything from dinosaur skeletons to ancient coins to presidential autographs. Enjoy our town!

adisim

Depending on how much free time you'll have and what you'd like to do, you might want to drive east to Lawrence. It is a really nice university town. I don't have specific recommendations but I enjoyed just wandering around the town, into shops, sitting in a cafe. I'm sure that many people have specific recommendations, if you are interested. There are also some beautiful areas on the prairie west of the city that should have some hiking, nature walks etc. Again though, no specific recommendations.

Keith

Lawrence is in the same state, but it is a long ways away for part of a 3 day visit to Wichita.

Keith

reneeinva

I was born and raised in Wichita! Everyone's suggestions are great. We were just there in January, and I have to echo the food issues...lots of chains...but good chains!

Have a good time. You are not going to the black hole of the universe, I assure you.

mizscarlett

Hi. Just wondering if you have made your business trip to Wichita yet. If so, how was it? And did you discover any dining gems? Sorry I wasn't much help there.