Embrace Fun
Endlessly
It's All About Family
Wichita is a great place to raise a family because of its dynamic mix of family-friendly events, attractions and opportunities to explore. From parks and playgrounds to hands-on museums and exhibits, a world of wonder and lifelong learning is a purposeful part of the Wichita experience.
Creatures and Creativity
The Sedgwick County Zoo and Tanganyika Wildlife Park offer hands-on interaction with kids’ favorite animals and season passes for affordable and frequent family visits. A new dinosaur park, Field Station Dinosaurs, celebrates ancient residents with animatronic, life-size dinosaurs. The mid-town historic Riverside Park offers a small, free zoo. O.J. Watson Park is a go-to destination for pony rides, miniature train rides, fishing and pedal boats. And Botanica features a children’s garden with a storybook tree playground and butterfly enclosure.
Discovery and Learning
An all-new, state-of-the-art Advanced Learning Library anchors the Wichita Public Library system. The new downtown branch is big, bright and beautiful and is designed for browsing, just like large book stores. The first floor features a local Reverie Coffee Roasters, the children’s section includes a "baby mosh pit" interactive play space, and a gaming system in the teen pavilion, in addition to a wide range of engagement activities for all ages.
Kansas' premier science and discovery center is also located near downtown. Exploration Place helps kids foster a deeper interest in science through creative and fun experiences. An all-new, 5,100 sq. ft. Aviation Exhibit, "Design Build Fly," is a hands-on connection to the city’s aerospace manufacturing focus. Elsewhere in the center, kids can build a model spacecraft, explore life as a spy, and get introduced to nanotechnology.
One of the first affiliates of the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, the Kansas Cosmosphere is focused on applied science education with an emphasis on STEM and inspiriting the young leaders of tomorrow. The museum features a world-class collection of artifacts in a three level exhibit gallery, an IMAX® Dome Theater, and a real life display of a flown SR-71 Blackbird in the lobby.
Sun, Sports and Fitness
There’s a sport for every season and a place to play whether you’re a professional or just having fun. With eight YMCA’s (including three outdoor water parks), dozens of public splashpads and more than a half-dozen city pools, your summer fun is taken care of. Be sure to check out Rock River Rapids in Derby. And, the Wichita Ice Center offers year-round public ice skating, plus skating lessons, a figure skating academy, youth and adult hockey teams, and a speedskating club. Outdoor recreation is available at any one of the city’s 144 public parks, or it’s hiking, biking and fitness trails.
