We’re glad you are here for the Summer Ball Showdown Baseball Tournament! Wichita is a fantastic family destination. The city has something for everyone with various activities, museums, and attractions. If you are looking for affordable things to do in Wichita, Kansas to keep yourself or your children entertained and engaged during the baseball tournament, look no further than this blog post! Our list for must-see and must-do include the following:
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Kansas Aviation Museum
- Riverfront Stadium
- Old Cowtown Museum
- Botanical Garden
- Museum of World Treasures
- Keeper of the Plains
- Wichita Art Museum
- The Ulrich Museum of Art
- The Pizza Hut Museum
- Sedgwick County Park
Things To Do In Wichita Kansas During The Baseball Tournament
If you are attending the Summer Ball Showdown, hosted by Genesis Sports Complex you must start planning what things to do in Wichita during the baseball tournament. The first step is to research nearby activities and figure out which ones are best for your schedule in-between games. For those who want more than just sports action during their stay, we’ve compiled some recommendations on how you can make the most of both worlds while visiting.
Just five minutes down the road from Genesis Sports Complex is Wichita´s favorite family-friendly Tanganyika Wildlife Park. This boutique zoo is famous for its up-close, hands-on interaction with animals, including rhinos, hippos, lions, and giraffes. Also, for being one of the few places in the world where you can swim with penguins! People attending the Summer Baseball Tournament can claim a special discount on their all-day pass, just $50 for 3 days of all-day visits (original price $120). Add to your visit an animal encounter with a sloth, a lemur, or an otter and make your day even more unforgettable.
When choosing a place to stay, remember that Wichita offers big-city amenities without losing the small-town comforts. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious downtown stay or an affordable room in your price range, there is an option for you. If you want to stay as close to the tournament as possible, these are the nearest hotels:
- Hampton Inn and Suites Wichita Airport, 7230 W Harry St, Wichita, KS 67209
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Wichita Airport. 6335 W Kellogg Dr, Wichita, KS 67209.
- Comfort Suites Airport, 7515 W Taft St, Wichita, KS 67209
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Wichita Airport, 6633 W Kellogg Dr, Wichita, KS 67209.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wichita Airport, 1236 S Dugan Rd, Wichita, KS 67202.
- Best Western Plus Wichita West Airport Inn. 3800 W Kellogg Dr, Wichita, KS 67213.
Wichita is well-known for its food scene with various food options and restaurants on every corner with something for everyone’s taste buds. From burger joints to harbors, Wichita restaurants do not hold back in the culinary department! There are so many places around town that you can easily plan an international feast with food from Italy, Mexico, Korea, and many more!
In case you’re hungry before, during, or after the match, here’s a list of restaurants close to the Summerball Showdown Baseball Tournament:
- Ginger Asian Cuisine (19894 W Kellogg Dr, Goddard, 67052) offers quality Chinese food at a friendly price.
- Braums (18601 W Kellogg Dr, Goddard, KS 67052). A great stop for ice cream and burgers.
- Abuelos Mexican Restaurant (452 Ridge Rd S, Wichita, KS 67209). Authentic Mexican food, made from scratch, at all price levels.
- Texas Roadhouse (6707 W Kellogg Dr. Wichita, KS 67209). Texas-style steaks with top-rated service.
- Twelve Restaurant Bar (12111 W Maple St #121, Wichita, KS 67235) fine dining with a good bartender and a casual atmosphere. Great steaks and red wine, and you can wear shorts.
Things To Do This Weekend In Wichita, Kansas
If you plan a stay of 2-3 days, start taking notes because Wichita has so much to offer! That’s why we prepared this guide of things to do this weekend in Wichita.
Wichita´s name “The Air Capital of the World” comes from its rich history in aircraft production. The city is home to five important aircraft manufacturers for Airbus, Bombardier/LearJet, Beechcraft, Cessna, and Spirit. If airplanes and flying are part of your interests, plan a visit to the Kansas Aviation Museum, with more than 40 aircraft on display representing all branches of aviation history.
If you are a baseball fanatic, then you must visit the new Riverfront Stadium. Home to minor league baseball team Wichita Wind Surge, the stadium offers affordable tickets starting at $10 for individual games!
Take a journey to the Old West at Old Cowtown Museum, a living history museum that allows you to explore life in Kansas during the 1870s – 1880s. There are live gunfight reenactments and guides dressed in period costumes ready to answer all of your historical questions.
Wichita Botanical Garden is a magical place for you to explore. With acres of attractions and theme gardens like the Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Sensory Garden, or the Chinese Garden. The is also a unique garden dedicated to the little ones and a 1948 restored Carousel for little and big riders.
The Museum of World Treasures is the ultimate destination for your little Indiana Jones. Anyone with a taste for history and adventure will love visiting it. This museum gives you the chance to experience a trip through time with 80 different collections full of historical artifacts, including a T-Rex, Egyptian Mummies, a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Things To Do Today In Wichita, Kansas
Whether you’re visiting the city for the first time or looking for some fun activities to do between games, these websites are full of tips and ideas for things to do today in Wichita:
- wichitaonthecheap.com offers tips from locals who live here; they’ll tell you where all of the deals are hiding too!
- Wichitamom.com is all about family-friendly activities. A great place to check out what other moms do and where they go.
- 360wichita.com is a guide to everything there is to know about this eclectic and exciting city.
- visitwichita.com will help plan your trip with detailed information on attractions as well as places worth checking out.
Free Things To Do In Wichita
If you are looking for free things to do in Wichita, you will find a wide variety that will guarantee your family an enjoyable experience with indoors and outdoors activities.
Wichita River Walk, along the Arkansas River, is an excellent place for a family stroll. This nice paved trail passes through different parts of Wichita, like the Keeper of the Plains, a relevant landmark honoring the native Americans. During your walk, you will also have a nice view of the modern building of Exploration Place, also worth a visit.
Just minutes from Downtown is the Wichita Art Museum. The most significant art museum in the state of Kansas offers free admission on Saturdays. You will find one of America’s most prestigious art collections with more than 7,000 pieces and works by Mary Cassatt and Edward Hopper. As well as two spectacular and large-scale works by Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly.
The Ulrich Museum of Art, housed on the Wichita State University campus, is also free. This museum highlights modern and contemporary art from the 20th century with more than 6,300 works.
The Pizza Hut Museum is a not-to-miss attraction for any pizza lover. The largest pizza company in the world was started in 1958 by two Wichita State University students, Dan and Frank Carney. Admission to the museum is free, but you must first sign up online at their website.
Sedgwick County Park is another excellent place for the whole family to come and play. With four lakes where you can fish or feed ducks and more than 4 miles of paved pathways ideal for jogging, walking, or bicycling – not to mention tennis courts with basketball hoops and volleyball nets!
In Conclusion
Wichita is the perfect place to come for the Summer Ball Showdown Tournament. We’ve given you some great ideas of things to do during the baseball tournament, as well as other events that will happen during your stay. Now that you have a list of fun activities planned out, all you need to do is start packing! Whether it’s an impromptu getaway or a pre-planned trip, we hope these suggestions help make your time exploring our lovely city just a bit more enjoyable. Check out some free things to do today, start planning your trip ahead of time and make sure not one minute goes by without fun planned in Wichita!
