Disclosure: Finney County Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsored this post. However, all opinions and photographs are my own.

Garden City is a Kansas town that deserves attention for a long list of fun things to do, so much so that you’ll likely need to stay overnight or for the weekend.

From unforgettable immersive experiences to a melting pot of cultures evident in its dining scene, Garden City should be at the top of every Kansas traveler’s bucket list. As the largest city in Finney County, you’ll never run out of interesting places to explore.

I had a blast taking in Garden City’s attractions and getting to know fellow Kansans.

UNWIND AT LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS

The older, restored homes in Garden City are so visually appealing that many people choose to take the historic homes tour, which is offered every other year by the Finney County Historical Society and the Finney County Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Built in 1909, Sunnyland Bed and Breakfast‘s Victorian architecture transports overnight guests back in history while offering modern-day comforts.

SUNNYLAND BED AND BREAKFAST

Sunnyland Bed and Breakfast (501 N. 5th Street #5633) is a highly-rated vacation rental with Victorian charm providing guests a complimentary breakfast.

Upon arrival, I walked the downstairs parlor and adjacent dining room, admiring the owner’s meticulous restoration of turn-of-the-century woodwork.

A gorgeous tiled fireplace is an anchor in the sitting room amongst period furnishings.

The dining room’s tablescape was beautifully set with an artful arrangement of seasonal plates, flatware, and decorations. The owner prides herself on updating the table decorations often.

Original stained glass windows drew my eye to an ascending staircase, where private guest rooms awaited – each one named after a Bible verse. My queen bedroom, including a twin bed and private bathroom, was painted lavender and decorated with Victorian decorative touches, including handkerchiefs and florals.

After a restful night’s sleep, I joined other guests in the dining room for breakfast. The meal started with juice and coffee before a Monte Cristo-style croissant breakfast sandwich served with homemade jam was served.

Overall, my overnight stay at Sunnyland Bed and Breakfast was a delightful experience and one I’d recommend to travelers who seek unique accommodations and personable service. I enjoyed getting to know the owners, who live on-site, and socializing with other guests during the meal.

PRO TIP: You can choose to have your meal delivered to your room for an extra fee.

Reserve your stay at Sunnyland Bed and Breakfast.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES YOU WON’T FORGET

THE PAINT PLACE

Give yourself permission to be creative at The Paint Place (209 N. 7th Street), which offers people a chance to cut loose and have fun inside The Splatter Room. My group created individual masterpieces, splattering washable paint under black lights while listening to high-energy music.

Dressed in protective gear, we laughed as splattered paint was flicked with careless abandon – unlike any paint studio experience I had yet. The session took about 30 minutes, and afterward, I left with a cute gift for my five-year-old niece.

The family-owned paint studio also offers walk-in and reservable paint-from-a-design sessions like Boozy Art Club Paint Night. The large rooms are ideal for hosting kids’ birthdays, double date nights, or gal pal parties. Artists can bring their own snacks and drinks, including wine and beer.

PRO TIP: View upcoming events at the studio, including additional happenings in partnership with Hidden Trail Brewing.

LEE RICHARDSON ZOO

Free to explore, Lee Richardson Zoo (312 E. Finnup Drive) is one of the best small zoos I’ve explored in the state. As I embarked on an early-morning self-guided tour, I heard wild animals calling one another and a lion’s roar got my attention.

The size of the zoo and its variety of wildlife exceeds one’s expectations. While you can drive-thru the zoo for a fee, I recommend walking the grounds to each exhibit stopping to rest at designated benches when the mood strikes.

If you arrive during the animals’ breakfast feeding time, you’ll see an endangered black rhino, a main wolf, and an Amur Leopard actively moving about the enclosures. A Sarus Crane’s loud calls competed for my attention while a mal Addax African Lion roared his morning welcome atop a rock.

Sensory-accessible zoo areas are marked on a map, identifying loud and quiet places.

For me, the most enjoyable part of visiting a zoo is watching the giraffes. One reticulated giraffe in particular didn’t seem to mind me watching it strip bark from branches for several minutes before it joined its giraffe family.

You can expect to see native and exotic animals, ranging from the smallest invertebrates to large mammals. The river otters were not outdoors during my visit, so I can’t wait to return to see them at play in the water.

ESCAPE THE CLOCK

Test your puzzle-solving skills at Escape The Clock (124 N. Main Street #5458) with friends or family members before time runs out. First, choose the thematic room and challenge level.

Then, work together to figure out codes that reveal clues or unlock boxes with additional clues. The key to escaping the room before the one-hour time limit expires is to keep it simple.

My group escaped the clock with 52 seconds to spare inside Sunken Secrets, a deep-sea research submersible in peril. The two-room submarine was well-designed and kept our attention through each step until we successfully resurfaced.

The clue master had to help us a few times over the room’s speaker, but we solved it.

Afterward, we signed our group’s names on the wall with our ending time and snapped a photo to mark the occasion.

Each room design impressed with its details and storyline, and most of the rooms are appropriate for all ages. Walk-ins are welcome; however, you can preview room details and reserve a session online or via phone.

FINNEY COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Touring the Finney County Historical Museum (403 S. 4th Street) and its True Crime exhibit is another worthwhile experience you must include during your visit.

It showcases timelines, actual evidence, and donated artifacts detailing several notorious crimes in the county, such as the 1959 Clutter murder case, inspiring author Truman Capote to write the novel, “In Cold Blood” about the deaths of the Herb and Bonnie Clutter family at the hands of prison parolees Richard Hickock and Perry Smith.

You’ll also learn about the Fleagle Gang, bank robbers, and murderers of the 1920s by criminals Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger, Bonnie Parker, and Clyde Barrow. The temporary exhibit remains viewable due to its popularity.

Other museum areas are equally fascinating, detailing the county’s prominent people and industries. Start a self-guided tour in a room highlighting the area’s earliest residents, Native Americans. (Don’t miss the mammoth tusk!)

Meander into the main gallery to uncover historical facts about Buffalo Jones, a man who settled on 160 acres of ranch land in the area who worked with the town’s founders to convince two railroads, the Atchison-Topeka and the Santa Fe, to stop in Garden City.

A curious learner, I was intrigued by other exhibits, such as the 19th-Century Kitchen, Santa Fe Trail, Finney County Agriculture, and Take Stock in Finney County, that explain the area’s prolific cattle industry.

I’ve toured innumerable county museums, and this one is one of the best for its overall design and rotating exhibits.

PRO TIP: Don’t miss The World’s Largest Hairball removed from a cow’s stomach on display at the museum’s welcome desk. View the museum’s seasonal hours before making the drive.

FLOURISH HERBALS & AROMATHERAPY

Sometimes, you need to pause the hustle of travel to relax and unwind. Flourish Herbals & Aromatherapy (203 E. Laurel Street) is the place to do just that. You can purchase dried herbals by ounce to incorporate into recipes or home remedies, and you can enjoy a flavorful hot or iced tea prepared at the tea bar.

Additionally, the staff is ready to assist you in creating aromatic bath products or a room spritzer at the Blending Bar. After a few minutes inside the retail store, you naturally feel your shoulders relax, and with the owner’s guidance, you learn what herbals and essential oils best suit your needs.

I thoroughly enjoyed a 60-minute relaxation massage, which included red light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation. Afterward, I felt less stressed and my mood lifted. My hope is that you make time for yourself as well.

View the massage menu and pricing.

SHOP LIKE A LOCAL FOR TREASURES

After the railroad established itself in Garden City, the population of Southwest Kansas grew, and its downtown offerings appealed to people passing through town as they do today. Today, thriving downtown Garden City attracts people who prefer to shop and dine locally.

THE CORNER ON MAIN

Every town needs a store like The Corner on Main (324 N. Main Street). A third-generation business, the boutique offers various home decor, gifts, jewelry, baby products, and specialty food items. You could spend an hour shopping here.

My heart beat faster with excitement as I discovered item after item I wanted to purchase. Drink mixes,  Kansas-made jarred products, lovely pillows, and jewelry with inspirational messaging. I left for home with a bag of goodies, and I suspect you will too.

SAGEHOUSE BATH & BODY

Nearby, SageHouse Bath & Body (312 N. Main Street) sells handmade soap, bath products, and home fragrances you can’t live without. Using goat’s milk, the owner’s handcrafted soaps are okay for even the most sensitive skin types for men or women. As the name implies, one will also discover purifying sage available.

If you’re unsure which scented body product to purchase, the owner will help you determine a signature scent. When in doubt, the most purchased soap fragrances are Black Raspberry Vanilla and Kansas Sunset. Each one smelled natural and not overly perfumey.

PRO TIP: Inquire about SageHouse Bath & Body‘s individualized services such as an ion foot cleanse, red light therapy, salt therapy, and ear seeds.

BONUS RETAIL STORES TO SHOP

My itinerary for the day was tightly scheduled, so I missed visiting a couple of stores. I look forward to returning to downtown Garden City to shop at Klaus Wood Pellets & Outdoor Living and Main Street Market Hub.

EXPLORE PUBLIC ART & GALLERIES

HISTORIC STATUES

You’ll want to appreciate the historic statuary designed to beautify and educate passersby along Main Street and beyond.

If it wasn’t for Charles Jesse “Buffalo” Jones, Garden City wouldn’t be what it is today. A towering statue of the plainsman rests on the Finney County Courthouse lawn. Read the panel inscriptions to learn more about his legacy.

In patriotic fashion, the courthouse lawn is also home to a Little Sisters of Liberty replica statue, one of over 200 like it across the United States. In 1950, the Boy Scouts of America local chapter installed it as part of a national crusade emphasizing liberty and freedom.

Across the street, an oversized rustic metal sculpture resembling a geometric buffalo stands at attention. Stop here for a quick photograph before exploring the rest of the downtown area’s sculptures.

PRO TIP: Garden City’s walkable historical home tour is worthy of consideration if you appreciate architecture. View the locations.

MAGNIFICENT MURAL

A town that celebrates the arts by installing a mural conveys a happy personality. The Monarch Butterfly Mural (310 N 7th Street) represents a new life and the plant life is meant to reflect the town’s name and the diverse people who call Garden City home.

Look closely and you’ll see the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle. A local told me the city plans on adding an AI interactive component to the mural making it an engaging experience for those who stop to enjoy it.

GARDEN CITY ARTS

No other place in town honors the talents of makers and creators as much as Garden City Arts (318 N Main Street), a non-profit organization benefiting the community.

Stop in to view current art exhibits or inquire about taking a pre-enrolled single-session class. Walk-ins are welcomed if available spots are open.

I was happy to learn that not only is much of the gallery’s artwork is for sale, ranging from glass creations to paintings, but more creations are on exhibit at various locations around town.

PRO TIP: Garden City organizes public works of art projects, and you can contribute to them, so be sure to view the gallery’s events calendar.

SIP & SAVOR AROUND TOWN

PATRICK DUGAN’S

When craving a wake-me-up cup of coffee or a mid-day Italian soda, visit Main Street mainstay Patrick Dugan’s (301 N. Main Street). Since 2008, it’s served as a community gathering place for small groups chatting up about the day’s happenings and remote workers who make use of the Wi-Fi to get projects done.

I love a carefully crafted cup of java (they use Kansas-made PT’s Coffee Roaster’s Flying Monkey Espresso), but on the day of my visit I was craving a refreshing iced Italian soda. Its cherry lime flavor quenched my thirst.

If you’re visiting during morning hours, refer to the breakfast sandwich menu and don’t miss the seasonal specialty drinks offerings.

MILK & HONEY AT THE FLIGHT DECK

As a pilot’s girlfriend, I know something about flying into airports to appreciate on-field restaurant fare, and Milk & Honey at the Flight Deck  (2215 S. Air Service Road) is certainly worth the trip to Garden City Airport. You don’t have to be a pilot to enjoy their elevated breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu items with views of the tarmac.

The cinnamon roll pancakes arrived stacked and covered with copious vanilla-flavored icing, which I’d recommend for diners with a sweet tooth.

I spied other savory breakfast items at fellow guests’ tables, such as shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, and a crab cake club. Maybe you’re craving eggs benedict? You’re in the right place.

Illuminated by sunshine from floor-to-ceiling windows facing the airport’s runway, the restaurant is also a go-to Sunday brunch destination. Seasonal menu items are highlighted on their Facebook page. No reservation is required.

CASA MARIACHI

Mega margaritas, sizzling tacos, and smothered burritos are some of the delectable menu items at Casa Mariachi (125 W Pine Street). But first, sample their chips and salsa, which are some of the best in the state.

Chomp chips while you peruse the six-page menu and listen to Mexican dance music over the speakers.

After careful consideration, I chose a pork burrito smothered in green verde sauce and white queso. My server helped me find what I was craving on the menu, and I was pleased with the pork’s soft texture and savory spices.

Whether you’re visiting Casa Mariachi for a lunch or dinner date or watching soccer while devouring a scrumptious meal, the festive vibe and menu selections deliver a party vibe.

TRADITIONS SODA & SANDWICH SHOP

To visit Garden City without stopping at Traditions Soda & Sandwich Shop (121 W. Grant Avenue) would be a crime. A Garden City original since 1925, a throwback menu showcasing 5-cent root beer, tin ceilings, and an old-fashioned soda fountain are nostalgic throwbacks.

Claim a booth or a counter barstool during lunch or dinner hours to order a made-to-order burger with fries and a thick chocolate malt or shake. I recommend sitting at the counter to see a view of the bustling kitchen staff.

Traditions Soda & Sandwich Shop remains a hometown favorite. Regular customers are recognized by name, and locals stop by for to-go orders. Not many old-fashioned soda fountain counters remain in Kansas, and this one is well worth the visit.

PRO TIP: Borrow a Garden City yearbook from the restaurant’s collection and flip pages while you dine.

NAPOLIS ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Do yourself a favor and dine at Napolis Italian Restaurant (2204 E. Kansas Avenue #5) for traditional Italian chicken entreés, pizza, and sizzling baked pasta dishes rich in flavor.

If you partake in a pre-dinner drink, ask your server for the wine menu or select from an imported beer list. During my dinner-time visit, I found the service attentive and friendly.

The house salad was good, and while I enjoyed the balsamic dressing and crunchy lettuce, it left me wishing it had less cheese and more sliced vegetables. But it was okay because the star of the dinner was the baked ziti pasta served bubbling hot.

The cheese stretched with every sauce-coated bite, making it a rave-worthy meal. Regretfully, I was too full from my meal to enjoy cheesecake or a cannoli, but that’s just another reason to return.

PRO TIP: The restaurant posts meal discounts and themed dinner nights to its Facebook regularly, so follow the page to stay in the know.

HIDDEN TRAIL BREWING

Hidden Trail Brewing (2010 E Schulman Avenue) isn’t just another Kansas brewery. Since 2021, it’s been a place where community and visitors alike can hang out and feel welcomed, including families with kids and dog owners who want to relax with a craft beer on the patio.

Unlike other breweries I’ve visited, Hidden Trail Brewing hosts live music and a food truck and encourages people to bring a cake and decorations for an impromptu celebration.

The brewery uses a large, on-site production facility. Three flagship pours are served on tap, and the remaining nine taps are reserved for rotators. The bartender told me the brewery’s gluten-free Wicked West Cider is popular with regulars.

The evening of my visit, an acoustic original songwriter sang while newcomers milled about chatting with friends. I appreciate the brewery wide selection of beer types choosing best-selling El Compadre, a adjunct lager, and maltier Irish ale, Clurichaun.

BONUS PLACES TO SIP & SAVOR

Time ran out before I could sit down for a meal at Hannah’s Corner (comfort food) or Baron’s Steakhouse & Bar (American cuisine), which my host highly recommended. Locals tell me karaoke night at Loving’s Moon bar brings down the house on Saturday nights.

IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME

GARDEN RAPIDS AT THE BIG POOL

Garden Rapids at the Big Pool (504 E Maple Street) is the end-all-be-all of public swimming pools with multiple areas for aquatic fun. Endurance swimmers will appreciate the competitive lap pool, while families with kids are likely to gravitate to the elephant slide, Otter Rapids or Dolphin Dive.

If the outdoors is more your mode, consider playing 18 holes at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course or Southwind Golf Course.  Prefer to see nature from two wheels? Ride your bike along the Talley Trail greenway.

No matter the itinerary, you can make unlimited happy memories exploring Garden City, a Southwest Kansas destination sure to exceed your expectations.