Heading to Wichita for the Texas Tech game? Here’s what to see and do while there
March Madness has officially kicked off, with the No. 3-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team expected to take on 14-seed UNC Wilmington on Thursday.
The matchup will take place in Wichita, Kansas, prompting the city to offer up a list of must-see places for traveling fans.
“Friday is an opportunity for visitors to tour our great city – and Wichita has something for everyone,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “While basketball fans will find a variety of sports bars and fan events, those wanting to learn more about Wichita or find family-friendly adventures will enjoy a whole day to explore.”
For Tech fans braving the drive or flying in and planning to make a vacation of it, here are some things Visit Wichita believes you should check out during your stay.
Wichita, Kansas fan parties kick off Wednesday for NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
Visit Wichita has a guide for people to experience Fan Central activities at visitwichita.com/fancentral/. The activities, some of which do require tickets, include:
- An open practice viewing on Wednesday at the INTRUST Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman St.
- Fan Fest in Naftzger Park, filled with games, food trucks and live-streams of the games.
Here's where to eat, drink in Wichita, Kansas
The city is home to more than 1,200 restaurants, from fine dining to barbecue to global flavors. Visit Wichita also touted White Crow Cider Co., 1236 E. Waterman St., as a unique spot for people looking for local hard cider.
Some restaurants near the arena include:
- B&C Barbeque Pub and Grill, 355 N. Washington St. This former garage is known for buffet-stlye barbeque and maintains a 4.6 star rating out of 2,850 reviews on Google.
- The Depot, 711 E. Douglas Ave., #105, was once a train depot. Now it serves up comfort food and beer on tap.
- Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom has three locations serving pizza classics and in-house pizza rolls.
- Pumphouse, 825 E. 2nd St. N., was once a gas station and is now one of the areas top bar and grill restaurants. Customers can also find cocktails, beer on tap and live music.
- Solly & Jude's, 400 S. Emporia St., Suite 100, is a sandwich shop with a specialty in tater tots.
Some recommended sports bars include:
- Emerson Biggins Old Town, 808 E. Douglas Ave., offers more than 30 TVs and three projectors on 100-inch screens to give plenty of space for people to watch. It also has an extensive menu of American classics and Mexican dishes.
- The Monarch, 579 W. Douglas Ave., has multiple TVs, craft cocktails and a patio. It is also known for its extensive list of bourbon options and New American eats.
- Public at the Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island Ave., offers plenty of screens, eats, and live music.
- River City Brewing Company, 150 Mosley St., has 16 beers on tap, plenty of space to watch the tournament continue, but it also prides itself on food that shows the history of the region.
For travelers looking for something different to do, Mort's Martini and Cigar Bar, 923 E. 1st St. N., offers more than 160 martinis, beer and cigars. It also has a rotation of live music arts and a snack menu.
People can visit visitwichita.com/restaurants/ to see a longer lineup, which can be filtered by cuisine types, regions within the city and if they are locally-owned.
Here are some must-see shops in Wichita, including mermaids and a chocolate factory
Wichita has several top shopping districts: Downtown, Old Town, Delano and Douglas Design.
Downtown is home to a sweet destination - Cocoa Dolce Chocolates, 235 N. St. Francis Ave. Visitors can see it in action, and enjoy the variety of other pastries, gelato and unique drinks.
In Old Town, an area filled with converted brick warehouses from the 1800s, is home to mermaids. Literally. The Enchanted Mermaid, 222 N. Washington St., is a mermaid themed boutique with food, cocktails, and its main attraction - mermaid and aerial shows.
The Delano District is west of the river and offers some eclectic shops, including Bungalow 26, 613 W. Douglas Ave. This shop specializes in selfcare items, made by the owner, Kelsey Metzinger.
The Douglas Design District, which covers three miles, has more than 300 shops, all focused on design. Among these shops is The Spice Merchant & Co., 1300 E. Douglas Ave. This coffee shop offers an array of spices, coffees, teas and specialty food items. As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, it is maintaining a 4.8-star rating from 2,496 reviews on Google.
Museums, art, spas and Keeper of the Plains are highlights in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita has five public golf courses, along with offerings for disc golf and foot golf. People can tour the city by renting a bike at Bike Share ICT, walk along the river, and see the sights.
While wandering the city, people should see the Keeper of the Plains monument, 339 Veterans Parkway, with stands at 13.4 meters. The Cor-Ten steel sculpture was crafted by Blackbear Bosin, a Kiowa-Comanche artist. At 9 p.m., the fire pots at the base of the statue are lit in a ceremony known as The Ring of Fire.
Travelers can also see 31 bronze sculptures along Douglas Avenue and dozens of paintings and murals throughout the Douglas Design District. The downtown area is also home to many art galleries and museums.
Wichita is home to the most complete tyrannosaurus rex in the U.S., aviation museums, and one of the first electric guitars. Some of the area's museums include:
- Museum of World Treasures, 835 E. 1st St. N., where people can find dinosaurs, mummies, a section of the Berlin Wall and other historical artifacts.
- Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd., is a science museum currently housing shark specimens from the Australian Museum. People can use augmented reality to play with whale sharks, explore a shark's stomach, and touch specimens.
- Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main St., specializes in local history. Among its displays includes one of the first electric guitars.
- The Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 George Washington Blvd., was formerly the Wichita Municipal Airport terminal between 1935-1954. Now it touts historical aircraft, engines and more items that celebrate flight.
And finally, after hanging out at the arena and seeing the sights, visitors may want to check out the spas. Visit Wichita named the Bohemia Healing Spa, 611 W. Douglas Ave., as a good spot to relax, with the added bonus of it being near the arena.
Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech vs UNC Wilmington to play in Wichita, here's where to eat
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