The 2024 Air Capital Hoopfest, a two-day boys basketball showcase featuring four of the top high school basketball programs in the U.S., is set to take to the hardwood Feb. 15-16 at Friends University.

What’s a basketball fan to do in between games in Wichita, the Heart of the Country? The opportunities are endless. We’ve compiled this checklist of things every first-time visitor should do before they leave Wichita. Even if you’ve been to our city before, we bet there’s something on this list you’ve yet to do!

Friends University is uniquely located within a short drive of attractions on Wichita’s west side, like Sedgwick County Zoo, and Wichita’s downtown districts such as the historic Delano District, Old Town and more. See what’s nearby with this interactive map.

^{The Keeper of the Plains}

Uniquely Wichita

• Visit the iconic Keeper of the Plains monument and search for “the troll” after a trip through the Mid-America All-Indian Museum.
• Learn why Wichita is known as “The Air Capital of the World” by exploring displays and aircraft at the Kansas Aviation Museum, visiting the interactive Design Build Fly exhibition at Exploration Place and exploring the B-29 Doc Hanger, Education and Visitors Center to learn about the restoration of one of only two airworthy Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft left in the world.
• Learn the history of Wichita by spending time exploring the Historic Delano District established during the days of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives, witnessing an 1870s version of Wichita at Old Cowtown Museum or walking through the original 1890 City Hall that now houses the Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum.
• Did you know Wichita is Home of the Hut? The building that housed the first Pizza Hut is now on Wichita State University’s (WSU) campus. The Original Pizza Hut Museum tells the story of how two brothers and WSU students turned their idea for a small pizza restaurant into the most recognized pizza brand. The free museum is located just south of the Marcus Welcome Center, where visitor parking is available.
• Less than a mile from Friends University, try a crumbly burger, house made onion rings and root beer at NuWay Burgers – a Wichita classic since 1930!
• Go home with Wichita flag swag, available at Bungalow 26, The Workroom, Generations Antiques, The Health Connection, The Spice Merchant, Wichita Screen Printing and most museum gift shops.

^{Bricktopia exhibit at Exploration Place}

Museums and attractions

• Enjoy the seventh-largest zoo in the country at Sedgwick County Zoo. If you arrive in Wichita on Wednesday, Feb. 14, take advantage of $3 admission with Winter Wednesday.
• Make a splash at Blast Off Bay, a large indoor water park featuring a sci-fi theme, variety of slides, surf machine, kid's area and a swim-up bar.
• Tour the Wichita Art Museum to see an incredible permanent collection of American art. Kids of all ages will love the newly revamped “Play” space.
• Plant-a-holics will love GROW Giesen Plant Shop/Botanic. Not only can you shop for unique plants, pots, plant accessories, locally made plant art and more, you can create your own terrarium. Need a pick-me-up? They have coffee too!
• Explore more than 30 gardens, including a children’s garden and fully restored Allan Herschell carousel at Botanica Wichita.
• Ax throwing is a perfect activity for friends and family. Axe to Grind is located downtown and Blade & Timber can be found in the historic Delano District.
• Experience one of the most complete T. rex in the country or let loose in Ivan’s Playhouse at the Museum of World Treasures. For more history and culture, visit The Kansas African American Museum.
• Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright Allen House Museum and Study Center, designed by the famous architect and completed in 1918.
• Find indoor activities and loads of entertainment at SCHEELS, The Arcade, Dave & Buster’s, All Star Sports and All Star Adventures and Pink Elephant Games & Café.
• Less than five miles from Friends University, Bowlero’s Northridge is a great option for groups to have fun knocking down pins.
• Find diverse art programming and intriguing exhibits at CityArts and Mark Arts.
• Fans of LEGO® will find lots to explore at Let’s Go Build or the traveling exhibit, Bricktopia, at Exploration Place that contains 3,300 pounds of Lego bricks.
• Those looking for active fun will enjoy Bliss Climbing & Fitness, Topgolf Wichita, the Wichita Ice Center and Aviate, a trampoline park inside Wichita Sports Forum.
• At Chicken N Pickle, enjoy great food, plus an outdoor ice rink, ping pong, pickleball courts and more.

^{Gallery Alley in Downtown Wichita}

Free and affordable activities

• Hop on an electric scooter or rent a bicycle through Bike Share ICT or Boats & Bikes and design your own mural tour. Take in the other amazing public art experiences in Wichita's core along the way.
• Stretch your legs at any of the city’s parks or enjoy the exhibits and walking trails at Great Plains Nature Center. At O.J. Watson Park, enjoy paddle boats, a train and other affordable activities. Find approximately nine miles of paved trails at Sedgwick County Park.
• Have STEAM-based fun at the PBS Kansas’ Children’s Education & Discovery Center or at the Advanced Learning Center’s STEAM Learning Garden.
• Peruse the shelves at any of Wichita’s three Book-A-Holic locations (West, Northwest and Southeast) to find a large selection of half priced and used books.
• Wichita Ice Center offers lessons and time on the ice at their indoor facility. They offer public ice skating sessions daily. 
• Watch handblown art glass pieces being made at Rayer’s Bearden Stained Glass. Just outside of Wichita are Infinity Art Glass in Benton and Karg Art Glass in Kechi.
• Other museums and attractions with no general admission fee include CityArts, Envision Arts Gallery and Engagement Center, Mark Arts, The Original Pizza Hut Museum, Ulrich Museum of Art and the Wichita Art Museum. On Sundays, admission is free at the Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum. While closed on Sundays, Botanica Wichita has $5 admission through the month of February.

^{Great Plains Nature Center}

The Heart of the Country has many other attractions and popular restaurants perfect for basketball fans. For more ideas on where to eat, shop and play within a short drive of Friends University, explore downtown districts or southwest and northwest Wichita.

Find a list of events happening during your stay in Wichita on our calendar of events page, and for even more inspiration, check out our Official Visit Wichita Visitor’s Guide.