I like to have as much fun as anyone else, but sometimes, I’m on a budget. As a native Wichitan, I’m an expert at finding entertaining things to do in the city without breaking the bank. I challenge you to use this guide for a fun day in Wichita, Kansas, for $30 or less.
(The following day trip itinerary assumes you spend a day in Wichita from Monday to Friday. The cost of transportation is not included.)
How To Spend a Fun Day in Wichita for $30 Or Less
START THE DAY WITH LIGHT BREAKFAST
Bakesale Treat Parlor
You need your stamina for a full day of exploring Kansas’s largest city. Drive to Bakesale Treat Parlor (2000 N. Rock Road) for a muffin or scone before window shopping at Bradley Fair. If the weather is beautiful, stroll around the pond, stopping to take a photo with the waterfall or center fountain as a backdrop.
Pro Tip: The shopping center includes a Little Free Library on the sidewalk south of the courtyard. You can bring a book to donate before you take one of your own.
Cost: $4.00 plus tax
ADMIRE WORLD-RENOWNED ART IN A QUIET SETTING
Ulrich Museum of Art
Drive 10 minutes west to Wichita State University’s Ulrich Museum of Art (1845 Fairmount Street), where parking is free for visitors and admission is complimentary. The museum consists of 7,000 works of modern and contemporary art in inventory, so it’s permanent collection evolves and new exhibitions rotate regularly.
Established in 1974, the campus museum continues to wow each time I visit. After perusing its second-floor galleries, I highly recommend taking a walk on campus to discover 86 permanent works displayed in the Martin H. Bush Sculpture Collection.
The 330-acre campus is vast, so if walking its entirety isn’t possible, consider admiring the several installations surrounding the museum, including “Minnie” The Millipede by Tom Otterness.
Cost: FREE
STAND INSIDE THE BUILDING THAT BECAME THE LARGEST PIZZA CHAIN IN THE WORLD
The Original Pizza Hut Museum
Drive to the north side of the Wichita State Campus to tour The Original Pizza Hut Museum (2900 Innovation Boulevard), a tiny building where the first slice was sold by two college students, Dan and Frank Carney, in 1958. The unstaffed museum is open for self-guided tours and free or charge.
Promotional merchandise, the original pizza sauce recipe written on a napkin, and video displays will surely take you down memory lane. You can almost smell the pizza, can’t you?
PRO TIP: Feeling nostalgic? Scribble your thoughts on a napkin to pin to the Memory Wall.
Cost: FREE
ENJOY A MID-DAY MEMORABLE MEAL AT WHERE CRUMBLY IS BETTER®
NuWay Burgers
Cross town to NuWay Burgers (1416 W. Douglas Avenue) in the heart of the Delano District. A crumbly burger and fries. A frosty root beer float. There are many reasons to dine at one of Wichita’s longest-running eateries. I’ve eaten at NuWAY since I was a little girl. The food is a classic mainstay of the Wichita food scene.
The original owner Tom McEvoy was on to something when he made the burgers and root beer fresh daily. NuWAY’s slogan Crumbly is Better!®, is true.
The loose meat sandwiches prepared with mustard, onion, and pickle have drawn locals and tourists to the restaurant since 1930. A Classic Combo served with a housemade root beer will set you back $7.79.
PRO TIP: Cut costs by ordering the sandwich only with curly fries for $4.49.
Cost: $7.79 plus tax
WALK THE PATH THE COWBOYS TOOK ALONG THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
Historic Delano District
Douglas Avenue was a rowdy route during the 1870s when the neighborhood called Elgin was a stop on the Chisholm Trail. The place resembled a scene from a Wild West movie. Cowboys pushed cattle through town, stopping long enough to gamble in saloons and take up with ladies of the night.
Today, Historic Delano District‘s original buildings house retail stores, restaurants with patio dining, and a series of hand-painted murals illustrating scenes from the Chisholm Trail. Listen to the Wichita History Walk to learn about the city’s past suing the PocketSights app. The narrated tour is free.
PRO TIP: Stop to appreciate one of several Keepers on Parade, small scale versions of the city’s iconic sculpture, Keeper of the Plains. In the Historic Delano District, Credit Union of America and Hutton Construction display a Keeper on Parade.
COST: FREE
FEEL AWESTRUCK VIEWING WICHITA’S MOST ICONIC STATUE
Keeper of the Plains
When people visit Wichita, I take them to the Keeper of the Plains (339 Veterans Parkway). The 44-foot CorTen steel sculpture resembling a Native American standing with his hands raised to the sky is situated at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. A five-minute drive from the Delano District, it’s a must-see attraction.
Designed by Kiowa-Comanche artist Francis (Blackbear) Bosin, the pedestrian bridge leading to it resembles two bows and arrows.
PRO TIP: Find choice parking at Veterans Memorial Park (339 Veterans Parkway) east of the statue and walk to it.
COST: FREE
ENJOY AN ICE CREAM SUNDAE AT A SODA FOUNTAIN
Old Mill Tasty Shop
Diners of all ages have enjoyed ice cream sundaes and authentic drinks at Old Mill Tasty Shop‘s (604 E. Douglas Avenue) old-fashioned soda counter since 1932.
Take a step back in time and order one of the restaurant’s most popular desserts, an turtle sundae. Watch a consistent flow of customers arrive and listen to the shake machine whizz as you sit at the marble counter enjoying each bite of your sundae.
COST: $4.50 plus tax
SNAP A PHOTOS AT A HISTORIC LANDMARK
Wichita Railway Sign
Document your day trip with a selfie photo in front of the Wichita railway sign at Union Station Plaza (701 E. Douglas Avenue). The historic sign served as a welcome for passengers traveling by train dating back to 1914 when Union Station was a hub of activity.
Imagine arrive to the largest city in the state, where Mayor W. J. Babb once addressed a opening day celebration proclaiming, “Wichita is the best city by far of any in Kansas, and of which the state is justly proud.”
Cost: FREE
APPRECIATE THE ARTISTRY ALONG DOUGLAS DESIGN DISTRICT
Mural Tour
The Douglas Design District is a beautiful array of color in all directions thanks to the installation of over 100 murals by local artists. Since 2015, oversized paintings draw the eyes of onlookers from Uptown to east of Oliver Street.
PRO TIP: Some smaller mural installations appear on doors, also referred to as the Alley Doors Project.
Cost: FREE
END A DAY OF EXPLORING WITH A DELICIOUS MEAL
Meddy’s™
You’re within a short drive of some of Wichita’s best Mediterranean food. A locally owned and operated restaurant, Meddy’s™ (120 S. Washington) serves a fast-casual menu promising to exceed your expectations. I’ve eaten at the downtown location numerous times, including on my birthday because I love it so much.
Each meal is prepared to order using fresh ingredients, and if you ask me, they serve the creamiest, most delicious hummus in town. It’s consistent food quality and service is why I also included it in a blog post about the city’s thriving Lebanese food scene.
A Big Bowl with a choice of protein served on steamed rice with vegetables is a full meal with complimentary warm pita bread and olive oil.
Cost: $10.99 plus tax
I hope this post inspires you to explore my hometown with a new sense of discovery. Finding fun things to do in Wichita doesn’t require a big budget. I’ve written two books about the city, a place that continues to inspire my curiosity.
BONUS IDEAS: If you’re someone who appreciate adding exercise to one’s travel plans, consider this blog post 5 Ideas for Exploring Wichita While Staying Active. Art lovers will appreciate an additional blog post Sit Back and Enjoy the Beauty of Wichita’s Painted Park Benches, a no-cost activity.
PRO TIP: Pack hiking shoes. If weather permits, take a nature walk along the Tallgrass Trail, a scenic 1.5-mile loop with views of a pond and natural prairie. Walkers gain access to an open-air pathway leading to learning stations.
PRO TIP: Bring binoculars if you plan on driving designated roads to view waterfowl on a good weather day in the Cheyenne Bottoms.
Koch Exhibit Hall includes 3,500 square feet of walk-thru displays with hands-on visual and auditory stations. Birdwatchers will appreciate the Bob Gress Wildlife Observatory for spotting native songbirds, deer, or turkey.
The collection includes birds, wild animals, and Kansas native species. His collection of owls is particularly amazing, especially when in contrasted with big cats in close proximity.
Fossils, rocks, minerals, dinosaur bones, and aquariums with snacks, frogs, and bugs make touring the museum an immersive experience for all ages. A native Kansan, I loved the artifacts found in the Sunflower State, including massive geodes and crystals.
PRO TIP: Animatronic dinosaurs and life-size taxidermy may frighten the museum’s youngest visitors, so prepare your self-guided tour accordingly.
Ignite your curiosity on a self-guided tour of mammal skulls and taxidermy ranging from Arctic animals and the Rocky Mountains to the rain forest and the Kansas prairie.
Open year-round, Kansas nature centers offer visitors an opportunity to learn about native plants and animal species.
You’ll quickly be impressed by the high-quality selections as you peruse the bookcases. Of course, my eyes darted right to the cookbooks and travel guides, but I also found myself gazing at the rest of the gently-used books. The backend of the story is dedicated to the littlest shoppers, while the rest of the store stocks books for all ages.
The store is organized and managed by a small group of volunteers who are eager to help you find your next read. Open six days a week, book lovers can peruse well-stocked shelves for every genre from non-fiction to true romance. They make searching out a new book easy, too. The volunteer workers have painstakingly categorized the books and created thoughtful displays.
Open since 2015, the store is operated as a non-profit with the hope of connecting people with the resources they need. Within moments of my visit, I spotted books and supplies for every age. Parents with children in tow will appreciate the kids’ section devoted to their reading needs.
A haven for college students, the upstairs tables are typically occupied by college-aged scholars seated behind laptops. Downstairs, the register area doubles as a cafe.
Decorative ravens cut from paper dangle from string overhead as shoppers choose their next read. Like any good indie bookstore, a couple of curious cats are known to greet customers.
Shoppers can expect fiction and non-fiction titles, and I was impressed to see several best-selling titles in stock. Are you on the hunt for a good read during a road trip? Do you have a young adult reader interested in a new book? You’ll find multiple genres at Seven Stories.
You’ll notice that they don’t carry just best-selling titles but also curate new books that might not find elsewhere. For example, they stock a sizable selection of books by Indigenous authors, and the children’s book inventory is sizable.
But you’ll find more than books at Red Fern Booksellers. I was impressed to discover hand-made gift wrap, stationary for sale, puzzles, stickers, and handcrafted greeting cards. My visit ended perfectly when a butterfly greeted me as I exited the store, a delightful experience.
The café offers patrons a place to sit back and relax with a book or meet as a small group. During my visit, several locals met friends and colleagues at oversized tables with access to free Wi-Fi. Other areas of the coffee house were dedicated to families with kids, and the back patio offered a quiet, more secluded place to unwind.
I particularly appreciate their local interest and Kansas history books, a modest section located on the second floor. In 2021, I was proud to see they stocked my first book and encouraged me to sign them when visiting.
In business since 1977, the store regularly hosts author signing events and book talks.
This list merely scratches the surface of unique attractions worth pulling over to see. In fact, I’ve yet to add twine to the 
I loved the concept of adding my selection of condiments from the Keep It Saucey station, adding pico de gallo and hot sauce to my heaping mound of nachos.
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
PRO TIP: Cash only. An ATM is located at a bank nearby.
Many of the predominantly Swedish town’s residents gather there for an early-morning coffee and breakfast pastry, and the restaurant recently started serving lunch for mid-day diners.
You’re alway guaranteed to find the owner’s famous cinnamon rolls under the glass case. Don’t miss a chance to purchase his family’s jarred jams and jellies.
Tasty Pastry Bakery & Coffee Shop is open every day except Sunday. Arrive early to order the best pastry selection. The coffee is hot, and the donuts are fresh.
Other bakeries in Lawrence worth checking out include 
Not only do they serve delectable pastries for early-morning crowds, their baristas can prepare a short list of classic coffee or hot tea drinks. Late-day patrons may appreciate the bar menu.
I recommend ordering a Bacon Hand Pie, served warm with a butter-flavor flaky crust and a soft interior filled with egg, cheese, and of course, bacon. I sampled a sausage burrito, and it was tasty but not nearly as delectable as the hand pie.
My ham and cheese breakfast cheese made with flaky crust was the real deal. It paired well with a Mixed Up real fruit smoothie prepared with strawberries, pineapple, mango, and peaches. The berry scone was to die for.
The lunch menu includes multi-layered sandwiches, salmon cake, BBQ meals, and more.
The display case was filled with every kind of donut you could imagine. Apple fritters the size of your hand. Blueberry cake donuts. Cinnamon rolls. And classics like maple long johns and old-fashioned crullers.
Use a scoop and bag to stock up on bulk candy priced at $10/lb. My lemon macaroon was perfectly soft, and the no-bake cocoa cookie lasted only minutes.
Other Wichita must-stops for donuts or pastries include 
As I devoured a chocolate cake donut and a melt-in-your-mouth glazed donut, customers came and went with brown bags filled with tasty early morning treats.
If you’re not into sweets, consider order their yummy meat and cheese breakfast burritos – don’t forget to ask for salsa.
If you’re someone who loves to order a steaming cup of coffee with their breakfast, please read my blog post, 
