Wichita has deep roots in the aviation industry and is well known as the “Air Capital of the World”. Many aviators and aviation professionals find themselves in Wichita at some point in their career, and I was asked on numerous occasions if I was a pilot whenever a Wichitan (yes that’s a real word) found out I was visiting their city. Whether you are passing through the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport on a work-related layover or deciding to visit ICT for the weekend like me, Wichita’s surprisingly vibrant downtown area has a lot to offer.
I visited on one of my free weekends and spent less than 24 hours on the ground in Wichita. Arriving at dusk on Friday allowed us an opportunity to appreciate one of Wichita’s Instagram-worthy worthy sunsets over the Arkansas River. Fun Fact: people from Kansas aren’t afraid to tell you that you’ve been pronouncing Arkansas wrong your entire life; everyone here has collectively chosen to say “ar-Kansas” when referring to the river instead.
Where to stay in Wichita
Douglas Ave
I wish I had known that Wichita has free downtown shuttle service before booking my hotel. Wichita’s Q-Line, affectionately referred to as the Q, allows locals & visitors to hop on or hop off the trolley for free at any of the posted stops along Douglas Avenue. Currently, the free weekend route runs east-west every 15 minutes between Seneca St & Edgemoor St (the weekday route is shortened from Seneca St and terminates at Hydraulic Ave on the west side of I-135). You can view more information on the Q-Line’s official website.
Most of the stops that I visited were near this route, so targeting a hotel or B&B within walking distance of the Q’s stops on Douglas Ave will provide you a free & easy way to navigate Wichita’s downtown area and the nearby Douglas Design District.
Where to eat in Wichita
I personally stayed at a hotel within close proximity of Scotch & Sirloin, a Wichita landmark for steak and libations. This world-renowned restaurant received a modernized renovation a few years ago, and we were blown away by the service. We were seated in a fairly empty dining room towards the end of service, so we ended up being the center of attention. Our California cabernet sauvignon was decanted in a beautiful Riedel crystal snake, and the buttery escargot held our attention until a tender filet mignon & well-marbled KC strip made it our table along with uniquely plated mashed potatoes. We ordered a cheesecake slice to split, but we couldn’t possibly finish it after this meal and took it to go.
The following day, we ventured out along the Q-Line to explore food in the College Hill/Clifton Square area. Ziggy’s Pizza is a family-owned establishment that was recommended to us by multiple Wichita natives. Their White Delight pizza topped with chicken, bacon, and cream cheese was delicious enough that we grabbed a to-go box and brought it back with us on the plane! The neighboring Dempsey’s Burger Pub & their sister cafe Dempsey’s Biscuit Co. were also highly recommended by Wichitans.
Where to drink in Wichta
Historic Old Town
Friday evening means hitting the bars, and we were told by our rideshare driver that the bar near our hotel was best avoided. We found this hot take to be completely accurate because that very bar was full of cops arresting people by closing time that night. Instead, we were directed to Mort’s Martini & Cigar Bar in Old Town to kick off the night. Mort’s was unlike any martini bar I had ever been to, and felt like it was closer to a dive than a stuffy cocktail bar. Needless to say, the quirky vibe here was outstanding: Mort’s is an unpretentious watering hole with an open patio that features live music on the weekends. The nearby Industry Old Town boasts a lively (if not the only) rooftop patio bar that looked like a great stop, but we sadly didn’t make it over before last call. If we hadn’t grabbed an extra drink or two at Mort’s, Industry would have definitely been next up on our list.
On Saturday, our main objective was to hit as many craft breweries along the Q-Line’s route as possible. We checked out of our hotel and brought our carry-on bags with us because we knew we would be heading straight to the airport to catch our 4:30pm flight. We started again in Old Town with the plan of making our way east on Douglas Ave until we ran out of time.
Nortons Brewing Company
We started at Nortons Brewing Co. and sampled a couple flights that were served on badass carved wooden battle axes. The industrial tasting room also features a spacious outdoor patio with grass & picnic tables.
Favorite beer here: Polkadot Princess (Belgian Strong Golden Ale – 9% ABV). Belgians aren’t for everyone, but this strong peach-forward golden ale with was the perfect way to kick off a summertime brewery crawl.
Third Place Brewing
A quick walk around the corner takes you to Third Place Brewing’s intimate tasting room. Named after the concept that everyone needs a third place to hang out after their two most frequented places (your home & your office), this quaint brewery features a bar with less than a dozen stools and walls covered with stickers from other breweries. The focus here is simple: produce good local beer & support the craft beer revolution.
Favorite beer here: Black Toro (Sweet Stout – 5.6% ABV). I love judging a brewery by their darkest beer, and this sweet stout laced with coffee notes wasn’t too heavy and hit the spot early in the afternoon.
Central Standard Brewing
Less than a mile down Douglas Ave is the non-descript Central Standard Brewing in the heart of the Douglas Design District, so you can take a 15-minute walk from Third Place or jump on the free Q trolley if you see it approaching. The simple outdoor patio & taproom provide plenty of space to spread out and enjoy some local Wichita beer.
Favorite beer here: Drop Top Caddy (American Sour – 5% ABV). I’m not usually a fan of sours, but this orange creamsicle-inspired beer did the trick. This sweet & tart beer is perfect for sipping outside in the sun with distinct notes of orange & vanilla bean.
Hopping Gnome Brewing Company
The last stop on our adventure was Hopping Gnome, which is a 5-minute walk from Central Standard.This cozy taproom is situated in a small storefront and was busy when we arrived, so we chatted with some locals and paired up to snag a seat at one of the tables.
Favorite beer here: Earl of ESB (Extra Special Bitter – 6% ABV). Complex and slightly funky, good ESBs are a treasure. This English pub-style beer easily washed down Hopping Gnome’s complimentary popcorn.
Where to get the best Instagram-worthy pics in Wichita
Keeper of the Plains
If you enjoy landscape pictures, make your way over to the 44-foot tall metal statue where the Little Arkansas meets the Arkansas River (don’t forget to pronounce it correctly!). Sunset views of the sculpture produce magnificent purple and orange hues that are unlike anything else.
Exploration Place
The architecture of Wichita’s Exploration Place science museum is iconic by itself, but capturing the silhouette from across the Arkansas River will produce stunning reflection shots. Head inside the nonprofit Exploration Place for even more interesting backdrops.
Anywhere with the Wichita city flag
When you visit Wichita, you will quickly find that locals are fiercely passionate about their city’s flag. Flown every and slapped on murals across the city, you will find yourself taking a picture with this iconic flag sooner or later.
Conclusion
My overnight trip to Wichita transformed into a 20-hour booze-laden blitz to explore Wichita’s nightlife and craft beer revolution. I am happy to report that I found plenty of stellar options in the city. For every great spot I stopped at, there were two more recommendations that I didn’t have time to visit. We barely got a chance to scratch the surface, and those are my favorite kinds of trips: interacting with locals and hearing about other things that make me excited to come back.
Overall, I found ICT a wonderfully enticing city for an overnight layover or quick non-rev weekend trip. I now know more about the city than I could have ever hoped for, and I am looking for the next time I have an excuse to visit Wichita, KS.
Have you flown into ICT or have any recommendations for would-be visitors? Share your recommendations with me on Twitter (@StandbyWithMe) or leave a comment below!
