Why go there

Kansas’ largest city, Wichita offers a little bit of everything to its visitors. It’s home to more than 1,000 restaurants, varied shopping options and a vibrant nightlife. With a downtown situated on the Arkansas River, about 4 million visitors come to the city each year to enjoy the antiques stores, shopping options and live music, along with the dining and nightlife options in the Old Town district.

What to do there

Cultural opportunities abound, including museums, botanical gardens, a symphony orchestra and musical theater. A steady stream of events keep visitors entertained throughout the summer and fall months, including the Tallgrass Film Festival and Wichita’s annual River Festival.

Must see

One of the most-photographed stops in Wichita is the 44-foot high Keeper of the Plains statue near the Arkansas River. At night, the statue is illuminated by a ring of fire pots in the surrounding river.

For the kids

The Sedgwick County Zoo is the seventh largest zoo in the country in terms of its acreage, and features more than 400 species of animals, including everything from Asian tigers to exotic penguins.

Pocketbook friendly

Wichita’s Old Cowtown Museum offers a look at what 1870s life was like in the area. The 19th century living history museum offers a look at period costumes and historical buildings on the banks of the Arkansas River.

Online/Twitter/Facebook

More information is available at gowichita.com, facebook.com/gowichita and twitter.com/gowichita.

Save the date

This year’s Tallgrass Film Festival will show more than 100 films in the Wichita area Oct. 22-24 at various theaters in downtown Wichita. More than 500 movies were submitted last year.

Did you know?

Home to a number of aviation companies, Wichita builds about 47 percent of all the world’s general aviation aircraft.

How to get there

In the south-central part of the state, the city is at the intersections of Interstates 35 and 135 and U.S. Highway 81 and U.S. Highway 54/400.

Also near

Wichita is about an hour’s drive southeast of Hutchinson, and is just down the Kansas Turnpike from Emporia and Topeka.