Wichita Attractions

Shop for Gifts and Home Decor at Bungalow 26 in Wichita

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Offering an eclectic collection of specialty goods for the bath, body, and home, Bungalow 26 promises a truly unique shopping experience. With a personal love for all things home goods, the owners of Bungalow 26 knew exactly what type of shop they wanted to open, and their name says it all.

Here, you'll find whimsical gifts, like handmade soaps, candles, accessories, artwork and more. You’ll find teas, chocolates, and a range of other goodies that you can’t find anywhere else. With a combination of high-end brands and local artisan products, there’s something for everyone, as the owners of Bungalow 26 believe that luxury goods should be accessible to everyone. Whether you’re shopping for gifts or browsing for yourself, you’ll be back time and time again to check out Bungalow 26’s rotating collection of goods.

Visit the website to learn more about this special local shopping location and to check out special events!

Bungalow 26
613 B West Douglas
Wichita, KS 67213
(316) 440-4846
www.bungalow26.com

Good Food Meets Great Reads at Watermark Books and Cafe

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Watermark Books and Cafe fosters a close-knit community of avid readers and coffee lovers, offering an inviting space to enjoy great food, great coffee, and a great book. The cafe offers fresh daily selections of scones, cakes, muffins, and pastries, as well as homemade soups like tomato bisque. Every dish here is made from scratch and inspired by Watermark’s "cookbook of the month," and their rotating menu will make it so that you never tire of their delicious offerings.

After you’ve eaten, join in on one of Watermark’s many book clubs. Visit the website to check out book clubs and best-sellers lists, and to preview the monthly food menu. You’ll also find other special events, like child story times and Camp Watermark, where you’ll learn how to draw your own comics.

Watermark Books and Cafe
4701 East Douglas
Wichita, Kansas 67218
(316) 682-1181
www.watermarkbooks.com

Explore 18 Acres of Flowers at Wichita’s Botanica Gardens

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Botanica Gardens in Wichita provides a magical outdoor space for local residents to spend an afternoon among nature. The gardens opened in 1987 with only four gardens and today boasts more than 30 themed gardens for guests to experience.

The gardens are open year-round and span 18 acres with more than 4,000 different species of plants. In the spring time, more than 50,000 tulips are in bloom, which is quite a sight to see. A children’s garden features a giant tree house, a water pump, and of course lots of plant life. During the holidays, guests can visit to see large, festive light displays dispersed throughout the grounds.

Admission into the gardens is free for members, $7 for adults, $5 for kids and free for children under 2. Group admission is available for larger groups, so call ahead if you plan to visit with more than 10 people.

Botanica Gardens
701 Amidon Street
Wichita, KS 67203
(316) 264-0448
www.botanica.org

Sit in the Engineer’s Seat at the Great Plains Transportation Museum

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If you’d like to know more about the tradition and history of railroading in the Great Plains area, check out the Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita. The museum allows guest to not only learn about the history of locomotives, but also to see and climb on actual steam and diesel trains used in the early 1900’s.

The museum is small so it won’t take long to walk through the exhibits, but for a rainy-day activity with kids, there’s a lot to be learned. Kids can climb through different locomotives and even sit in the engineer’s seat to get a feel for what it was like to drive these massive trains.

The museum is open every day except for Sundays from November through March. Admission to the museum is free for kids under 3, $4 for kids ages 4-12, and $7 for those 13 and older. If you’re attending with a group, call ahead to schedule a group tour.

Great Plains Transportation Museum
700 E Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 263-0944
www.gptm.us

Take a Journey through the Old West at Old Cowtown Museum

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It’s rare that a museum or exhibition can transport you to another time, but Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita does just that. The venue has what seems to be a preserved Western frontier town from the 1860’s on display with artifacts, replicas, and staff dressed in period costumes. Guests can walk through multiple businesses like an old-time barber shop, saloon, and more.

Throughout Old Cowtown, visitors can see more than 10,000 artifacts from textiles to furniture and tools. Visitors will learn all about the transformation of Wichita from a cattle town to what it is today.

Cowtown is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays throughout the regular season. In the winter months, the museum is closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission to the museum is $7.75 for adults, $6 for seniors and kids ages 12-17, and $5.50 for children ages 5-11. Kids under 4 can experience Old Cowtown for free.

Old Cowtown Museum
1865 W Museum Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67203
(316) 219-1871
www.oldcowtown.org/Pages/default.aspx

Enjoy Coffee, Croissants and Conversation at Mead’s Corner in Wichita

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Mead’s Corner is a fair-trade coffeehouse and café in Old Town Wichita. Aiming to provide the community with a classic go-to setting to study, hang out, and grab a bite, the low-key café has a rustic atmosphere with plenty of seating and a wide variety of menu options.

Hand-crafted espresso drinks and house favorites dominate the beverage menu, and new drink specials are available daily. Classic breakfast options, sandwiches, salads, and paninis are also available for eat-in or takeout dining, and their gelato is a crowd favorite.

The café regularly hosts events, like live music set, and is available to host meetings and other community gatherings. A bonus: Mead’s is open late: until 11 p.m. most days and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays!

Mead’s Corner
430 East Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 201-1900
www.meadscorner.com

Enjoy Dinner and a Show at the Warren Oldtown Theatre Grille

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The Warren Oldtown Theatre Grill combines dinner and entertainment under one roof with its unique dine-in movie theatre right in the heart of downtown Wichita. With seven theatres offering a full menu of lunch and dinner options, movie-goers are guaranteed a uniquely convenient experience.

Patrons hit a button to summon the wait staff and order snacks and meals straight from their seat. Don't miss the garlic Alfredo pasta, the Buffalo chicken sandwich, or the hearty super nachos. There is also a full cocktail bar serving daily drink specials and classic movie theatre fare, like popcorn and candy.

Those looking for luxury can opt to view a film in the Director’s Suite (as long as they are 21 or older), which has oversized reclining arm chairs and a private bathroom. If you’re saving your pennies, there is a $5 ticket special every Wednesday!

Warren Oldtown Theatre Grille
353 N Mead Street
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 691-9700
www.warrenoldtown.com/about.asp

Wichita Art Museum: American Art at its Finest

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The Wichita Art Museum has been part of the city's landscape since 1935, and in the intervening years it has amassed quite a collection of American art. In fact, it now houses more than 8,000 permanent pieces with a special focus on works evoking the Great Plains. They were all gifted to the museum by private donors, making the large collection even more impressive. And you can actually access them all online, too, if you don't have time to visit.

But you will miss out on the visiting exhibits that come to the museum one a regular basis. Recent displays have included a state-centric compendium of photos, No Mountains in the Way, 40 Years Later: Kansas Documentary Photography, as well as Scenery, Story, Spirit: American Painting and Sculpture from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. So regardless of where your artistic tastes lie, you'll be able to find something intriguing at the Wichita Art Museum.

Wichita Art Museum
1400 W. Museum Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67203
(316) 268-4921
wichitaartmuseum.org
www.yelp.com/biz/wichita-art-museum-wichita

Flow and Strengthen at Satya Moon Yoga

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At Satya Moon Yoga, everyone is welcome to practice in the way they feel called—regardless of their background as an athlete (or not). If you are a beginner, check out the Yoga Foundations class first. It moves at a slow pace and helps students master the basics of yoga, including the specific poses, alignment, and the way breath factors into both.

For a challenge, opt for a Hot Vinyasa Flow class. In a room heated to about 100 degrees, practitioners flow through a rigorous series of movements that create even more heat within the body. Yet the fast-paced class culminates in a sense of inner peace, as do all the different types of yoga classes at Satya Moon Yoga. You can also opt for a Pilates and Barre class, yoga sculpt with resistance bands incorporated, or restorative yoga, which is more meditative than challenging.

Satya Moon Yoga
8336 E. 21st Street N.
Wichita, KS 67206
(316) 440-4666
satyamoonyoga.com
www.yelp.com/biz/satya-moon-yoga-wichita

The Alley Indoor Entertainment: Fun for All in One Place

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There's really no better place for family fun in Wichita than The Alley Indoor Entertainment, at least if you like to bowl. After all, the establishment is primarily a bowling alley (hence the name). In fact, it's such a popular spot that you could have trouble snagging a lane during peak hours. Even if you do, though, you won't be left without any entertainment. That's because bowling is just part of the equation at The Alley.

It also plays host to a glowing laser tag arena where your kids can burn off calories without even realizing it while they dart around corners and sprint after opponents. The Alley hosts a go-kart racetrack, as well, if your little ones are speed demons. There's a big arcade, too, and if all else fails you can always keep your kids happy with pizza. At The Back Alley sports grill, pizza is always being served and the game is always playing on the projection screen and HDTVs.

The Alley Indoor Entertainment
11413 E. 13th Street
Wichita, KS 67206
(316) 448-8583
www.thealleyonline.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-alley-indoor-entertainment-wichita

Kansas Aviation Museum: See Aircraft That Originated Nearby

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If you asked someone what they know about the history of airplanes, they'd probably blurt out something about the Wright brothers and Kitty Hawk, NC. But the people behind the Kansas Aviation Museum know that their home state was right on the heels of North Carolina. Within five years of the Wrights' maiden voyage, Kansans had started launching their own aircraft—and had a successful flight within seven.

At the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, you can learn all about these early airplanes and see many real-life examples of the crafts that came next. One such example is the 1927 swallow, a black aircraft with sunshine-yellow wings that actually crash-landed in 1929. Museum volunteers restored it to its former glory, though, so that you could get a glimpse up close. There are also more modern planes, such as the Boeing 737-200. This aircraft soared through the skies from 1977 until the early 2000s, working as both a private and public jet.

Kansas Aviation Museum
3350 South George Washington Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67210
(316) 683-9242
kansasaviationmuseum.org
www.yelp.com/biz/kansas-aviation-museum-wichita

Sedgwick County Zoo: The Australian Outback By Way of Wichita

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The Sedgwick County Zoo may be smaller than those in many larger cities, but with its diverse selection of animals and its beautiful, lush greenery, it remains one of Wichita's most-loved attractions. Wide walking paths wind their way through areas separated by region and species, including the Far East, the rainforest, and the Australian Outback.

There are wild tigers and elephants housed in areas that mimic their natural habitats, as well as leopards, lions, and other big cats on the prowl. Sheep and camels roam about the plains, while monkeys swing from the trees and make the little ones giggle with their animated play. You’ll even find a large selection of reptiles, including iguanas and lizards.

The zoo is designed to make exploration easy for people of all ages, and it is designed to be very accessible for all. With affordable prices and a tasty food court, you can easily spend the whole day at the zoo!

Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 W Zoo Blvd
Wichita, KS 67212
(316) 660-9453
www.scz.org

The Donut Whole: There’s Nothing Square About It

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If you’re a fan of sweet, glazed confections, you’ll certainly want to check out Wichita’s The Donut Whole. This combination coffee house, doughnut shop, and art gallery is located in the hip Douglas Design District, and it features a brick facade with a life-sized chicken statue on the roof that you can’t miss.

These doughnuts are made fresh each morning using only local ingredients, so you can feel really good about how they’re made. You’ll find premium coffees and espresso beverages at the shop’s coffee bar, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the shop for those who want to catch up on emails over coffee and doughnuts.

If you don’t have time to venture inside, The Donut Whole even offers a convenient drive-through window that is open 24 hours a day.

The Donut Whole
1720 E Douglas Ave
Wichita, KS 67214
(316) 262-3700
www.thedonutwhole.com

Watermark Books and Cafe: Food for the Body and Mind

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There’s nothing cozier than curling up with a book and a warm bowl of soup, and at Wichita’s Watermark Books and Cafe, you can do just that. Founded in 1977, this independent bookstore goes beyond the binding. Aside from selling books, Watermark hosts classes, book clubs, and author events. If you’re looking for a rare or unusual book, you can also check out the sister store, Watermark West, which is located in the shop’s original building.

Watermark Books added the cafe in 1996, when it moved to its current location. On any given day, the pastry selection may include pistachio muffins, French toast scones, and Chai tea muffins. The made-from-scratch soups change daily, as well, with such flavors as tomato bisque and roasted vegetable chili. There are also dessert options like lime white chocolate cupcakes and whiskey peach upside down cake. The cafe opens at 7 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, one hour before the book store opens for the day.

Watermark Books and Cafe
4701 East Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67218
(316) 682-1181
www.watermarkbooks.com
www.yelp.com/biz/watermark-books-and-cafe-wichita

Museum of World Treasures: A Step Back in Time

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One step into the Museum of World Treasures takes you out of present day Wichita and into ancient civilizations and the battlefields of World War I. A number of exhibits reside inside the multi-level museum, including an extensive military history exhibit. Meet Ivan, the Tyrannosaurus rex, come face to face with Buddha, or gaze at mummies from ancient Egypt.

Guided group tours help visitors meander through the museum, and seasonal speaking events educate guests on various topics related to science, history, and the arts. The museum offers a number of other educational events, including coffee with the curator, an informal lecture with coffee on the last Thursday of every month.

Admission to the museum is less than $10 with children three and under admitted for free. The museum is open daily until 5 p.m.

Museum of World Treasures
835 East 1st Street
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 263-1311
www.worldtreasures.org
www.yelp.com/biz/museum-of-world-treasures-wichita

Sedgwick County Zoo: The World’s Animals in One Place

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The Sedgwick County Zoo has been the place for exploration and education in Wichita since 1971. Much has changed over the past few decades with the addition of a reptile building, chimpanzee habitat, and jungle among others. Much of the zoo is sectioned off by continent and features more than 3,000 animals including grizzly bears, elephants, and tiger cubs. You can get up close to the giraffes at the giraffe feeding station or walk across a suspended bridge while gazing at colorful macaws.

You can find more fun during one of the zoo’s signature events, which include an Easter Eggstravaganza and Father’s Day car show. Kids can continue their education during summer classes offered weekdays at the Cargill Learning Center. The zoo also offers birthday party packages and serves as an unforgettable wedding venue.

Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 Zoo Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67212
(316) 660-9453
www.scz.org
www.yelp.com/biz/sedgwick-county-zoo-wichita

Bungalow 26: Unique Products for Home and Body

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Walk into any eclectic home in Wichita and you may find something purchased at Bungalow 26. Located in the Delano District, this shop specializes in home decor while also offering custom floral and interior design consultations. The shop also stocks luxe body products, like lip balm, egg white facial soap, and soy body lotion from various product lines, including a natural, in-house brand. Bungalow 26 doesn’t just take care of the skin; it also dresses the body with purses and handcrafted jewelry from the in-store jewelry boutique, Pretty Reckless.

Inside the shop, a diverse array of products is showcased on old dressers, ladders, coffee tables—even old kitchen chairs. The decor gives off a chic rustic feel with a vintage typewriter, exposed brick, and chandeliers dangling from wooden rafters. Strands of holiday lights wrap around branches, and light pours in through the shop’s storefront window, often decorated with items for sale.

Bungalow 26
613b West Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67213
(316) 440-4846
www.bungalow26.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bungalow-26-wichita