Affectionately dubbed “The Little Apple,” Manhattan, Kansas might not be a booming metropolis like its same-named counterpart in New York, but for Wichitans looking to get out of the city for the weekend, the town offers a nice reprieve. Only two and a half hours from ICT, Manhattan is a quick and inexpensive getaway. As a Wichita native who moved to Manhattan for school and has just sort of stuck around ever since, I can honestly say that Manhattan has a certain charm you won’t find many other places. People here are friendly for no apparent reason (probably because they’re happy to be here), the landscape (and the drive here) is scenic, and the town’s school spirit – Manhattan is home to Kansas State University – is infectious enough to make even the most diehard Jayhawk contemplate sporting purple.

The collegiate atmosphere is a large part of Manhattan’s draw – twenty-somethings can mingle with other twenty-somethings in real time rather than on Facebook, while baby boomers can relive their college years and spend the rest of the week recovering. Keeping in line with this “something for everyone” spirit, I’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of the top 10 places to go during your trip to Manhattan. All of the years I spent in college extensively researching bars in Aggieville and taking diligent notes at K-State tailgates are culminating on your screen. My mother would be so proud.

1. Bill Snyder Family Stadium/Bramlage Coliseum on game days (Follow signs to Kimball Avenue – once you’re there you can’t miss it!)

A first-time spectator in the stands at Bill Snyder Family Stadium might observe K-State fans with legitimate concern as the first few beats of the “Wabash Cannonball” begin – for a moment it appears everyone wearing purple is having a seizure. While you’ll rarely find a student who knows any of the actual lyrics to the folk song or the historical events that led up to the “Wabash Cannonball” tradition at K-State (the song was the only piece of music left to play on the following game day after a 1968 fire in Nichols Hall left the band without sheet music), you’d be pressed to find a student in the crowd who doesn’t know the moves. What can best be described as an alternating “wave” (every other person moves back in forth in opposite directions), the Wabash appears to be a surefire way to get severe whiplash – or to get in the zone. Either way, fans better brace themselves.

Though football season has all but ended at Bill Snyder Family Stadium (K-State’s last home game was November 14), the Wabash will still be alive and well through the winter at Bramlage Coliseum. Both men and women’s basketball seasons began earlier this month, and fans are already packing the stands with purple.  Go here to order tickets or to view a comprehensive schedule of all K-State sports.

2. The Little Grill, 6625 Dyer Road

Though its location at the end of Tuttle Creek Resevoir is not quite as exotic as lounging beachside in the center of the Caribbean, The Little Grill is able to offer locals a taste of Jamaica without the threat of hurricanes. (however, drinking large quantities of their rum punch could result in a disaster of FEMA-worthy proportions.) Always crowded on the weekends, a relatively new outdoor patio area now complements the bright and unfinished looking décor of the restaurant, allowing patrons to be seated with less of a wait. (And there is definitely a wait when you go to The Little Grill.  Everything about this place is chill, down to the cooks and the wait staff. No one here is in a hurry, and if you’re planning to visit you shouldn’t be either.) In addition to providing the closest thing to what anyone in Kansas can call “an island atmosphere” (the restaurant frequently has live music, including reggae), The Little Grill serves up a number of Jamaican dishes, such as jerk chicken and jerk pork chops, Jamaican gumbo with festivals, and sweet and crispy coconut shrimp. Oh, and did I mention the rum punch?

3. Acme Gifts, 1227 Moro St.

Walking into this store automatically puts me in a good mood, and I would bet the Yodeling Pickle I bought there that it will put you in a good mood too. Full of interesting books and quirky gifts, the store smells wonderful from the fresh flowers it sells alongside brightly colored giant balloons. (Think of the balloons in the movie Up.) The people who work there are exceptionally friendly, and they usually have good tunes playing overhead as well. If you’re looking for Boyd’s Bears, you’re in the wrong gift store, but if you want to send your friends a package of fake moustaches, a pastel rubber unicorn, or a coin purse that looks like a taco (I’ve given people ALL of these things), Acme Gifts is your place.

4. The Insect Zoo and K-State Gardens (north of Claflin Road on Denison Avenue)

Entomophobics might want to sit this one out, but for everyone else (children and adults alike), Kansas State University’s Insect Zoo is an interesting and unique way to spend the afternoon. Located next to the K-State Gardens, the Insect Zoo is home to a tropical nighthouse (in layman’s terms – a cave), a giant ant colony, an observation beehive, and a number of additional exhibits, including tarantulas, scorpions, and various other creepy crawlers. Not only does the Zoo provide an opportunity to learn about insects, it also gives you an excuse to revive one of 1995’s best slang phrases, “Yo, I’m buggin’!”

The Insect Zoo is open Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 6 PM. Admission is $2.00 for adults and children (over age two) and $1.50 for seniors. Guided tours are available with advance notice.

5. The Konza Prairie

If the Insect Zoo hasn’t completely turned you off to all things au naturel, a visit to the Konza Prarie is in order. While it can be viewed from a distance at an observation point off of Highway 177, the prairie is best appreciated when experienced up close. The prairie has been meticulously preserved, as it’s a part of the Konza Prairie Long Term Research program. According to its website, the program is “a comprehensive ecological research, education and outreach program, centered around one of the most productive grasslands in North America – the tallgrass prairie.” For those of you who aren’t scientists, it’s a really pretty place to take a hike. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, there are six miles of trails available to explore, with shorter trails for beginners and lazy people like me, and longer, steeper trails for experienced hikers. In an effort to continue to preserve the prairie, donations are appreciated.

6-7. So Long Saloon and Coco Bolos Wood Fire Grill and Cantina

1130 Moro St. and 1227 Bluemont Ave., respectively

After an afternoon hiking trails (or tailgating before a game, if you went that route instead) you’re bound to be hungry. So Long Saloon and Coco Bolos Wood Fire Grill and Cantina are great places to get your fill of local fare. Located in close proximity to one another, you can always eat at one and then go have drinks at the other, as both have full bars in addition to their kitchens. (In fact, Coco Bolos has incredibly good drink specials throughout the week, with $5 carafes of sangria on Wednesdays and $5 margaritas on Thursdays.) Both have hearty (though not always healthy) menus, with burgers and Tex-Mex being the standard at So Long and Southwestern-inspired dishes at the forefront of the Coco Bolos menu. So Long Saloon also has a “Cowboy Challenge,” for those of you who have been inspired by one too many episodes of “Man Vs. Food.” Ten layers of American cheese, bacon, fried eggs, ground beef, and mayo between Texas toast, the Cowboy Challenge is not for the faint of heart or those who are concerned about developing heart disease. If you finish the Challenge you receive the ultimate prize for anything worth doing, a free t-shirt. If you who would rather spend the rest of your time in Manhattan free of indigestion, So Long does have options with less than 10 layers, such as the Jack Smack burger (Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and sour cream) or The Bird (grilled chicken breast, guacamole, Pepperjack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and tortilla ribbons). They also have the best onion rings in town. As for Coco Bolos, their regular menu is diverse and interesting (and tasty, of course!), but their brunch is by far the highlight of (my) Sunday mornings. For those of you who prefer a Bloody Mary to a “Hail Mary,” Coco Bolos serves them spicy and strong. They also have specials on mimosas and screwdrivers, as well, in addition to an exclusive brunch menu made up of Southwestern house specialties like “Amanda’s Eggchiladas” and “Austin Style Migas.” Though it may be difficult to find a seat at either place (neither restaurant takes reservations), both restaurants are well worth the wait.

8. The Aggieville District (Next to City Park, between Bluemont Avenue and Freemont Street)

If you ask any K-State student what there is to do in Manhattan, there’s a very good chance you’d get the response, “I don’t know. Go to Aggieville?” During the day you will see families eating and shopping in any number of the Aggieville district’s local shops and restaurants (the aforementioned Acme Gifts, So Long Saloon and Coco Bolos are three of them), but in the evening the few blocks that comprise the area turn into Manhattan’s prime destination for nightlife. Bars such as O’Malley’s Alley and Auntie Mae’s (my personal favorites) attract a more low-key crowd, while places such as Kite’s Bar and Grille and Tubby’s draw in young people ready to dance and be noticed (if you’re into that sort of thing). Rockabelly Deli’s bar and the KatHouse Lounge are hip without being pretentious. For those on the fast-track to funkytown Shot Stop is exactly what it sounds like, and very hardcore pubcrawlers should split a fish tank at Fat’s. Rusty’s Last Chance is… well, Rusty’s Last Chance. No matter the bar, drinks everywhere are generally pretty cheap since Manhattan’s college-town status ensures bars compete with each other for students’ hard-earned loan money. Additionally, after a night out in the ‘Ville there are also a number of places in the district to stop and get some grub.

9. Lemmy’s Pizzeria, 600 S. 4th St.

“This isn’t New York style pizza, this isn’t Chicago style pizza – this is Kansas style pizza!” In an effort to outshine its competitors (Manhattan has two other pizzerias serving Chicago and New York style pizzas), Lemmy’s has gone the extra mile to create specialty pizzas that can’t be found anywhere else in town. Examples: Lemmy’s serves a Rueben pizza, a Bierock pizza, and an all-day breakfast pizza along ide more traditionally topped pies such as “The Loaded Lemmy” (pepperoni, sausage, beef, onion, green pepper, and mushrooms). A great family atmosphere, you could take your kids here before visiting the Insect Zoo. Just be sure to go before the Zoo, since you might not have much of an appetite after spending the afternoon looking at cockroaches.

10. Kansas State University

As you walk through Manhattan, you will begin to notice that everything here is decorated in purple. You will see “Purple Pride” or “Wildcat” specials at most bars and restaurants, and you will inevitably see someone wearing a K-State shirt – they’re literally issued to freshmen when they come for orientation. The Little Apple takes a lot of pride in being the home of Kansas State University, and the community support for the school is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. While in town, you would be remiss not to take a walk down Lover’s Lane (yes, that’s really the street’s name) and tour the K-State campus. Additionally, K-State houses an incredible group of students who make up its Union Program Council (UPC), a student organization that plans events on campus. Hosting AfterHours events and films on campus nearly every weekend, UPC provides a wealth of activities for both students and the local community. From lectures (UPC brought PostSecret’s founder Frank Warren in October), to concerts (Ben Folds was here in March), to comedians (Will Farrell performed at K-State with Zach Galifianakis, Demetri Martin, and Nick Swardson during their “Funny or Die” tour), all of these events are put together and meticulously executed by student volunteers.

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