Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita

If you live in Wichita or are visiting, GO HERE! This is a great place to bring the kids or to go for some solitude. The trails are in wonderful condition. They are paved other than the boardwalk area. You can see many native species while out walking and if you start at the visitor's center first you can get food for the turtles. There are lots of benches along the path to rest or have a picnic too! The visitor's center is amazing. There are fantastic exhibits about native plants and animals including several live animals such as an owl, kestrel, frog, and lizards. There is also an aquarium with native fish. The displays have tons of information and they are interactive for children. All of the displays are very professionally done. The gift shop has some really great stuff too! This is a must do if you're in the area, and it's free!

I brought my kiddos here during spring break for some much needed sunshine. We have never been before and we will definitely be going more often. First of all, it’s entirely free. You can donate if you want to. There are plenty of walking trails that are clean for being a nature trail. It’s easy to navigate. You’re surrounded by nature and it’s an awesome way to learn about the prairie land. There’s an inside building if you need to use the restroom, and there are some live creatures in there. There is also a walk through type museum with an area where kids can touch as much as they want. It really is super neat to experience. They have a wildlife observation room with big windows and comfy couches to look at wildlife. On Tuesdays they offer a free craft for kids and I think there’s a story-time offered either the same day or a different day.