Planning short summer visit-Ideas??

My husband and I and our 13 yo son are planning a 3 day stay in Wichita in early June.

Would love to know what attractions are a must do while we are there and what ones we should avoid. We love museums and our son is dying for me to ask about skate parks in Wichita.

Any advice on interesting places to eat would be appreciated.

Also would like a hotel suggestion. We don%26#39;t need anything super fancy but we don%26#39;t want to stay in a dump. Will pay more if it%26#39;s worth it.

Thanks for your help.

Planning short summer visit-Ideas??

The Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita is one of the best in the county. And I think that a 13 year old would love the Museum of World Treasures.

But I would plan on running out to Hutchinson (about an hour away) to vist the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. It is one of the best in the world.

I%26#39;ve been disapointed with several of the inexpensive chain hotel locations in Wichta. A couple of the exceptions have been the Days Inn and Comfort Inn on South Laura. Of the two, the Days Inn has been a little better.

For a special treat for your son, you might do one night at the Hedrick%26#39;s Exotic Animal Farm Bed and Breakfast in Nickerson, close to Hutchinson. A stay there includes seeingthe animals and feeding and/or petting them. The tour concludes with a pony ride for the kids and camel rides for all.

Planning short summer visit-Ideas??

There is a skate park on South St. Francis street where it goes under Kellogg Street(US 54) but there was a news story a few months ago that the concrete was cracking and needed repairs. I will see what I can find out and let you know.

Zoo and Museum of World Treasures are good ideas as is the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson,also in Hutchinson is an underground salt museum that details the history of salt mining in the area. Oh yes, it is 650%26#39; below ground.

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is very close to the Museum of World Treasures if anyone is interested in Kansas sports.

In June Wichita Botanica should be in full bloom and is definitely worth an hour or two visit.

The best family hotel for this getaway would be the Homewood Suites on the Waterfront - lots of good hotels and two NICE cinemas nearby, it%26#39;s in the best area of town, indoor pool, jacuzzi and two bedroom suites. They provide a decent breakfast, and a snack HOT supper (salad, spagetti, wine/beer all included, changed daily).

I live in Derby, which is about a twenty minute drive from Wichita. I do spend a lot of time in Wichita and I would say the must-see places are:

The East 13th Street Warren. It%26#39;s one of the nicest movie theaters you%26#39;ll ever see. They also have a restaurant in the building and they%26#39;ll let you take your dinner into the theater ;)

http://www.warrentheatres.com/

The Exploration place is an awesome hands-on museum. I usually go with small children, but they have some amazing exhibits for older children and adults. If you like museums, this is where you want to be.

http://www.exploration.org/

The Museum of World Treasures is nice. It%26#39;s home to one of the largest complete dinosaurs in the world (or so the man in the parking lot told me, lol) If you%26#39;re into dinosaurs, it%26#39;s probably worth checking out. I found the museum a bit boring. However, I had two small children with me that I was trying to entertain. If I had just gone by myself, I may have had a different opinion. Not really sure about this one.

http://www.worldtreasures.org/

The Sedgwick County Zoo is really great. They have added a lot of new exhibits in the past few years. During the summer they have their summer concert series and their wet and wild days.

http://www.scz.org/index.html

You definitely have to come out to the Starlite Drive-in some night. This is probably one of the best drive-ins in the country. It%26#39;s a great place for families, and something I think your 13 y/o would really enjoy. My family and I have been going since I was a baby. I%26#39;m 17 now, and my friends and I still go pretty regularly. They play the same new movies that the other movie theaters are playing. There are speakers outside so you can set up lawn chairs if you want. If you want to sit in your car, they also broadcast the movie on your fm stereo. We usually bring our own drinks and snacks, but they do have a full dinner menu snack bar.

http://starlitefun.com/

I%26#39;m not sure about skate parks in Wichita, but I do know that we have a skate park here in Derby (only a 20-30 minute drive)It%26#39;s where the old municipal pool used to be. I%26#39;ve never been, but I%26#39;ve heard that it%26#39;s really cool.

If you%26#39;re coming down to Derby, you have to check out Rock River Rapids. The water park was built a few years ago, and it%26#39;s been very popular. There are six water slides, a lazy river, a diving area, and a regular pool. Admission is not expensive, $5-7 depending on age, and it is not very crowded.

http://www.derbyrec.com/RockRiverRapids.htm

Hi, I%26#39;m writing an article for The Boston Globe about summer travel deals and want to interview people who are going to vacation in Wichita. You sound like the perfect person. I%26#39;d like to do a quick phone interview with you about your vacation plans. Can you call me? My direct line at work is 617-929-3150. Also, email is nwong@globe.com.

Thanks!

Nicole

(Other people planning to vacation in Wichita this summer can also contact me. Would love to hear from you.)