Make It a Staycation: 7 Wichita Spring Break Ideas

1. Lake vacay at BrightWater Bay

A lake vacation without the long drive! BrightWater Bay is a private lake retreat that’s less than 15 minutes from downtown Wichita. Get out on the pristine water for boating, skiing, tubing, kayaking, racing around on your jet ski, or simply relaxing. Bring your boat (up to 24 feet) and up to 12 people per shared reservation, or book exclusive access and get the entire private lake to yourself.

There’s plenty to do on dry land at BrightWater Bay, too! Try your hand at pickleball, horseshoes and shuffleboard, or challenge family and friends to basketball, tennis or beach volleyball. Take a breather at the outdoor seating area, complete with toasty fire pit.

Make a full day or a weekend of it with an overnight stay at the BrightWater Bay Beach House, offering lake views and all the comforts of home. It sleeps 11, so bring the family and friends for a lakeside getaway.

2. Rediscover downtown Wichita

If you haven’t been downtown lately, you haven’t been downtown! Make a day of it exploring galleries, boutiques, public art and museums. Grab a bite to eat from the food trucks at the ICT Pop-Up Urban Park and play a board game or two while sipping coffee at Sente.

Don’t want to worry about parking? Take the free Q-Line Trolley. Or if the day is nice, discover Wichita history on foot or by bike. Wichita Public Library offers an app that takes you on a guided tour of downtown.

Venture a bit east into the Douglas Design District, and there’s an app that directs you to the neighborhood’s many murals.

3. Museum activities

Wichita’s many museums have got parents covered during Spring Break. The Wichita Art Museum offers Artcation each year, and the Museum of World Treasures, Exploration Place and Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum all have Spring Break activities for kids.

4. Volunteer

Not only does volunteering help others, but it’s a great way to spend time with family or friends. Not sure where you’d like to volunteer? Call 2-1-1 and United Way can connect you with an opportunity that fits your skills and interests.

United Way of the Plains holds their Youth Days of Caring during Spring Break. Teens can join hundreds of area youth volunteering at nonprofit agencies all over the Wichita area.

5. Learn about nature

In addition to their usual educational programs, the Great Plains Nature Center has Spring Break specials for kids and families. Take a nature walk through the surrounding 282 acre Chisholm Creek Park, exploring native and restored prairies, wetlands, ponds and woodlands. The trails are paved and accessible.

6. Retro gaming

There’s no school like the Old School! Regale the kids with stories of your gaming glory days of the 80s and 90s. (Guaranteed eye rolls.) Show the whippersnappers how it’s done at your favorite arcade console or pinball machine. All-Star Sports often has Spring Break specials, and The Arcade in Old Town has over 75 retro games.

For the older college Spring Break crowd, The Arcade has late night hours, or you can check out the Industry Old Town Pinball Lounge.

7. Learn about animals

The Kansas Humane Society holds their popular week-long Critter Camp during Spring Break. Kids get to interact with rescue animals while learning about animal care and safety. Activities include games, tours and crafts.