We’ve all been there. Friends or family come in from out of town and we scramble to clean our house and stock the fridge and keep our guests entertained. But the entertaining part doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, there is a plethora of free or low cost things to do to show off the city of Wichita and have fun while you’re at it. Of course, you don’t have to be with out-of-town guests in order to take advantage of these opportunities.

• Catch a matinee at the Warren Old Town. Or go on a Wednesday when tickets are only $5 all day. The novelty of ordering food from your seat will amuse guests and the renovated theater is a great place to catch a flick.
• Starting in Eastborough, drive west on Douglas Avenue, marveling at the enormous homes in the city-within-a-city. Keep going through College Hill, into the Douglas Design District, through Old Town and Downtown, crossing the Arkansas River and finishing up in Delano. Cap off the tour with a burger at TJ’s Burger House, a pulled pork sandwich at Delano BBQ Company, fresh pastries at La Galette or your favorite libation at The Vagabond.
• Lace up your bowling shoes and take to the lanes at The Alley. Catch the early bird special on Sunday or Saturday from 9:30 am – noon and pay only $0.99 per game. Or check out HIP night on Mondays. For a $6 cover charge, enjoy unlimited bowling and billiards and great drink specials.
• First Friday and Final Friday give visitors the opportunity to experience big city culture around Wichita. The monthly music and art crawls offer free entertainment and the chance to see some of the unique venues and galleries throughout Old Town, downtown and Delano.
• Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors with a picnic in one of Wichita’s first-rate public parks. Riverside Park and OJ Watson Park are just two of many sprawling (and gorgeous!) options to choose from.
• Visit the Wichita Art Museum on Saturdays and enjoy free admission. Arrive early and dine at the museum cafe before checking out the extensive permanent collection and visiting exhibits.
• Catch a Shocker game at Larry Bud’s and cheer along with the legions of WSU fans who pack the place on game night.
• Spring, summer and fall evenings wouldn’t be complete without Monday night 2-4-1 martinis on Mort’s patio. Share a table with someone you don’t know, make a new friend, listen to live music and enjoy one of the 160 martinis on the menu.
• Wednesdays during the winter months offer $2 admission to the Sedgwick County Zoo. From the penguins to the lions to the gorillas, there’s something for everyone.
• Split a salad and an order of hummus (the portions are huge!) at one of Bella Luna Cafe’s three locations. On Monday’s, share a half-price bottle of wine. In the warmer months, people watching on the patio at the Bradley Fair location is part of the fun.
• As drive-in theaters become a thing of the past throughout most of the country, Wichita still boasts it’s own Starlite Drive-In. In the warmer months, loading up the car with people (and snacks!) and checking out a double or triple feature is a great way to have fun and stretch your dollar.
• Take a road trip to Yoder, Kansas and eat breakfast at the famed Carriage Crossing Restaurant and Bakery where the cinnamon rolls and pies are legendary. Browse the charming local shops and pick up freshly butchered meat from Yoder Meats for dinner.
• Drive out to Hutchinson for a tour of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Put on a hard hat and travel 650 feet into the earth and tour the underground caverns. You’ll even get to take home your own piece of salt.

What is your favorite way to show off your city? Share your favorite Wichita-area activities in the comments.

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