Welcome to Wichita, where affordability meets adventure! Nestled in the heart of Kansas, Wichita offers plenty of exciting and enriching experiences for families with young kids. From vibrant art galleries to serene nature escapes, this city has so much to offer. Whether you’re a local looking to rediscover your city or a visitor on a budget, keep reading to discover some of the best free things to do in Wichita with kids.
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Explore and create art in this family friendly museum. General admission is free for everyone, with optional tickets available for purchase on special exhibits. Check out the maker space, which has tons of art supplies and inspiration to encourage kids to get their imaginations flowing. When you’ve finished your art project, keep exploring the kids’ space: build a rainbow block tower, read a book in the read nook, or play a game of iSpy in the outdoor sculpture garden.
Don’t forget to take a trip through the art exhibit as well to see some of the amazing pieces on display. The glass bridge is a favorite for adults and kids of all ages.
Hike the trails, search for wildlife, feed the turtles and go on a virtual scavenger hunt at this fun nature center in the heart of Wichita. Start your adventure in the visitor’s center where you will find the Koch Habitat Hall. Exhibits include wildlife from prairies, wetlands, rivers and woodlands, tons of hands-on interactive fun, and a 2,200 gallon aquarium featuring native Kansas fish. Don’t miss the wildlife observatory at the back of Kock Hall, which overlooks the wetlands of Chisholm Creek park. Don’t miss out on some of their free children’s programs throughout the week, such as story time and creature crafts. Find the schedule here.
After you finish in the nature center, head outside to explore the nearly 3 miles of paved trails. Wander through prairies, wetlands, ponds and woodlands, and observe native plants and wildlife. Regular wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer, turkey, egrets, herons, hawks, muskrats, minks, and turtles. In the summer, you can grab a cup of turtle food before you hit the trails.
Make sure to download the Agents of Discovery App before you go. This augmented reality mobile game is a fun and interactive way to play hidden challenges, explore the trails, and learn about Kansas nature in a unique way.
Located in the Riverside park, check out this awesome little exhibit with over 25 species of animals. Every day at noon, you can watch the keepers as they feed the turkey vulture and other birds of prey, beaver, or bobcat. Or head into the amphibian exhibit to pet a bull snake or tarantula.
After you finish checking out the animals, head over to the awesome playground and splash pad for more fun. There are picnic tables if you want to bring lunch, and lots of large shade trees, which make this a great park during the summer heat.
Head to downtown Wichita and walk across the footbridge to check out the iconic Keeper of the Plains statue. This statue, which was built and gifted to the city of Wichita in 1974, stands where the big and little Arkansas river join together. Read about the history of the native Americans who settled this land, and take in the beautiful landscape and river.
Don’t miss the lighting of the ring of fire, which lasts for 15 minutes and starts at 7pm in the winter, and 9pm in the summer.
This hands-on discovery center, which features tons of STEM based learning, art and other fun, hands-on activities, is located in east Wichita within the PBS broadcasting building. Take a quick tour of the miniature broadcast museum before you start playing.
Create a masterpiece in the fully stocked art station, learn how electricity works or star in a video in front of the green screen to create your own tv show. There is a weather station to create your own forecast, a market store, and a quiet room for nursing moms. Plan to spend the morning here- it’s a great indoor space for your little ones! Be sure to check current hours here before you go; sometimes they close for field trips.
Whether you’re a local looking to rediscover your city or a visitor on a budget, Wichita has so much to offer. Discover the charm, culture, and natural beauty that make this Midwestern city a delightful destination for families to explore and adventure.
Which places do you want to visit with your family? Let me know in the comments!