Hutchinson is one of the largest cities in Reno County, Kansas, and because of the active salt mine industry in the area, it is a popular tourist destination.
You can visit Hutchinson for an ideal fun vacation with your family, kids, and friends exploring various attractions.
To ensure you have the best stay, here’s a list of the best and most fun things to do in Hutchinson, KS.
Things To Do In Hutchinson
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1. Explore Downtown Hutchinson
Downtown Hutchinson is a commercial district near Carey Park and one of the most beautiful streets in Hutchinson.
Downtown Hutchinson is a bustling place with pulsating entertainment, fine turn-of-the-century architecture, and several restaurants.
You can walk down the streets corridors, which are adorned with beautiful ornaments, and there is lighting, making it a fun area.
Downtown Hutchinson is also one of the largest antique districts in the city, with collectibles, vintage furniture, decorative arts, and other items for sale.
2. Visit Cosmosphere
The Cosmosphere, located in the Hutchinson Community College contains the most practical combination of both US and Russian spaceflight gadgets.
All of the Cosmosphere artifacts come from the Kansas State Fairgrounds planetarium, which opened in the early 1960s.
At this center, you’ll see lots of Russian space artifacts and more U.S. space artifacts than at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
This center displays a diverse collection of artifacts, including the Command Module Odyssey, Titan II launch vehicles, Apollo 11 moon rock, and Redstone.
You can explore the demonstration laboratory, the digitally done theatre, and the food court.
3. Watch Movies At B&B Hutchinson Mall 8
The family-owned theatre shows the most recent movies and has exciting screenplays, making it a fantastic tourist destination.
The B&B Hutchinson Mall 8 also has a scenic setting, reclining and adjustable seats, and a comfortable movie viewing experience.
At B&B Hutchinson Mall 8, you can reserve seats for your favorite movie and pick up some popcorn for friends and family.
4. Attend Events At The Kansas State Fair
The Kansas State Fair hosts events that draw lots of people, such as the 10-day celebration of Kansas agriculture.
The regular event begins every Friday immediately following Labor Day, with numerous fierce competitions hosted.
The Kansas State Fair features a variety of activities, including livestock, vegetables, and baking competitions.
It also has a variety of food vendors, educational exhibits, a world-class midway, and special events such as concerts.
5. Explore George W. Pyle Park
At George W. Pyle Park, you can sit on the benches and enjoy the sunshine, or walk down the parking lane and feel the warmth of the community facility.
George W. Pyle Park has fun activities for everyone, including a playground for younger kids.
According to history, President Harding and other well-known public figures have visited the park since 1923.
6. Explore Carey Park
Carey Park, located along the Arkansas River to the south of Hutchinson, is a place of adventure for everyone.
The park was set up to inspect Works Progress Administration projects, an innovative program launched by the city to reduce the city’s unemployment rate.
Carey Park has many modern facilities, such as the 18-hole Carey Park Golf Course, disc golf course, Hutchinson’s Jim P. Martinez Sunflower Trail, and a baseball stadium.
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7. Explore Sand Hills State Park
Sand Hills State Park has about 1,120 acres of land space and its major features are the dunes which distinguish the park from others.
The dunes were formed by wind-deposited sands blown from the Arkansas River at the end of the ice age.
The park’s layout is stunning, and it also has a campground with approximately 64 sites, 20 of which have only water and sewer and 44 of which have water, sewer, and electricity.
8. Watch Performances At Historic Hutchinson Fox Theatre
The Historic Hutchinson Fox Theatre houses entertaining exhibits such as the Boller Brothers’ 1931 Art Deco movie palace.
The theater is tastefully decorated, from the light fittings around the corners to the alignment of the stair railings.
It is an excellent romantic venue for you and your lover to watch comedy, musicals, concerts, and dance performances.
9. Shop At Reno County Farmers’ Market
The Reno County Farmers’ Market is an excellent place to buy fresh farm produce, especially during the summer months.
It has a permanent plaza where markets are held every Saturday from mid-May to October and every Wednesday morning from June to October.
You can shop for baked goods, honey, confectionery, eggs, jams, kettle corn, and other accessories such as jewelry and home decorations at the market.
10. Explore Yoder Amish Community
Yoder Amish Community is one of Kansas’ largest Amish communities that was established in the early 1880s.
You can buy time-honored Amish specialties like tasty handmade quilts and other homemade crafts and desserts, smoked meats, and preserves at the Yoder Amish Community.
The Yoder Heritage Day in August is one of the best times to visit the area and you can explore other fun activities including a quilt auction, a parade, a fireworks display, and a petting zoo.
11. Visit Hutchinson Art Center
The non-profit Hutchinson Art Center is one of Hutchinson, Kansas’s historic landmarks, dating back to 1949, and it welcomes visitors from all over the world.
The beautiful space hosts one-of-a-kind exhibitions created by national and local artists, as well as collections sourced from shows and events.
With collections spanning more than 70 years, you’ll learn about Hutchinson’s history, culture, and events.
The location also serves as a venue for a variety of enjoyable activities such as live music shows and concerts.
12. Visit Reno County Museum
The Reno County Museum is one of the most remarkable American structures because it archives historical materials and beautiful paintings by both local and international artists.
The museum has several store exhibits of various categories, including paintings that depict historical events.
You can explore the Transportation Gallery which houses a 19th-century Schuttler wagon, a 1903 Ford Model A, and a 1929 Indian Ace motorcycle.
There are also beautiful profiles of Reno County public figures from the past, as well as a documentary about the police department and other topics.
13. Explore Dillon Nature Center
Dillon Nature Center is home to over 300 species of the popular Woody plant, as well as many native types of grass and over 100 species of wildflowers.
The center is a planned site for the National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary and over 200 birds can be seen on the trail in the area.
The Dillon Nature Center also includes a fishing pond, a 10,000-square-foot visitor center with a gift shop, excellent interpretive exhibits, and terrariums.
14. Go On A Tour Of The Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm
The Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm is a bed and breakfast and exotic animal farm, where you’ll learn about the importance of eating fresh, natural produce.
You can go on tours to see many beautiful sights, such as the sights and sounds of ostriches and kangaroos.
You can learn about the animals’ daily routines and lifestyles, which include their mode of feeding, diet, and even their distinct personalities.
You’ll see camels, giraffes, peacocks, zebras, monkeys, and other exotic animals at the Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm.
15. Watch Entertainment At Stage 9
Stage 9 is one of Hutchinson’s largest local art complexes, created to highlight local talent through entertaining performances, live shows, concerts, and musical competitions.
It also has a gallery that displays artistic expressions by Hutchinson’s talented artists as well as other beautiful works by international artists.
At Stage 9, you can get musicals and plays ranging from contemporary hits to classic beats, and attend educational lectures.
16. Visit Hutchinson Zoo
Hutchinson Zoo is only about 9 acres in size but it is home to several rare and exotic animals including 160 native animals and other foreign breeds.
You can visit the zoo to observe the beautiful otters jumping in the water, meet the raccoons, and feed the fish.
The center also has a Prairie Thunder Railroad ride that transports visitors around the complex and a picnic table for family outings.
There’s also a gift shop where you can get a take-home package, souvenirs, and other nice accessories.
17. Explore Hutch Putt Park
Hutch Putt Park is located along the Hutchinson Mall and attracts nearly half of the city’s population due to the variety of fun activities it provides.
There’s an 18-hole mini-golf course at Hutch Putt Park, providing maximum entertainment to golfers.
The park also has nice landscaping, two ponds, a laid hole, and a creek with exciting elevation changes.
18. Have Fun At Salt City Splash Aquatic Center
Salt City Splash Aquatic Center is a lovely water park that has attractions for both children and adults.
At the center, there are water slides, diving boards, floating toys, a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool, children’s splash pools, and other adult fun areas.
There’s also an organized introductory swimming lesson, as well as water fitness classes for both professionals and amateurs.
19. Shop At Smith’s Market
You can shop for some of the best local farm produce at Smith’s Market, which provides a memorable shopping experience.
At this market, you’ll be reminded of past events, and every aisle offers a rare product that cannot be found in a modern grocery store.
It has a wide selection of old-fashioned candies, fresh local produce, nostalgic toys, and several specialty food stores selling unique delicacies.
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20. Golf At Carey Park Golf Course
Carey Park Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole golf course that is open to the general public with no entry requirements.
Apart from golfing, the large-scale park offers a variety of fun outdoor recreational activities such as playing disc golf, skating in the skate park, visiting the small zoo, playing baseball, and going fishing.
You can also bring your kids because there are many areas to play with various equipment suitable for children.
21. Explore The Alley of Hutchinson
The Alley of Hutchinson provides a lot of delicious food and a great indoor fun experience for both friends and families in Hutchinson.
The area is well known for bowling activities and has the best bowling facility in the city, so you can rent bowling shoes and strike a superb strike in their modern and sleek alley.
The center features unique attractions such as bumper cars, a large variety of arcade games, laser tag, and other fun activities for both kids and adults.
22. Visit Strataca
The Strataca remains one of the top salt mining sites in Hutchinson and is important to the city for revenue generation and financial stability.
The complex was beautifully designed with a massive salt deposit at the top, so you can walk 650 feet underground in 90 seconds using a double-decker hoist.
The Strataca mining gallery displays historic features such as dynamite and other objects used by salt miners over the last century, as well as machine tools and dynamite.
23. Golf At Prairie Dunes Country Club
The Prairie Dunes Country Club’s golf course is a great place for golf enthusiasts looking for an exciting outdoor experience.
Prairie Dunes Country Club has hosted several international golf competitions, including the annual USGA national championship tournaments.
In addition, the facility has hosted the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championship and is rated as a top golf course in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top attractions to visit in Hutchinson?
Strataca
Sand Hills State Park
Dillon Nature Center
Hutchinson Zoo
Kansas State Fair
What are the most popular things to do in Hutchinson with kids?
Cosmosphere
Dillon Nature Center
Hutchinson Zoo
Kansas State Fair
What is Hutchinson KS famous for?
Hutchinson is known for its principal hard-wheat market and is the centre of one of the Midwest’s richest oil fields.
How big is the Hutchinson Zoo?
The Hutchinson Zoo is 9-acre (3.6 ha) big.
How did Hutchinson KS get its name?
Hutchinson was named after its founder, Clinton Carter Hutchinson.
How much is the Hutchinson zoo?
Age 2 and under – free with paid adult. Groups of 20 – $1.00 each.
What is minimum wage in Hutchinson Kansas?
$7.25 per hour is minimum wage in Hutchinson Kansas.
Does Hutchinson KS sell alcohol on Sunday?
Most Kansas counties and cities do not permit retail sales of packaged alcohol on Sunday.
What are some highly rated things to do in Hutchinson, KS?
Heritage Tours
The Room – Hutchinson
Dillon Nature Center
Hutch Putt
Borntrager Dairy
What is the prettiest part of Hutchinson, KS?
Monument Rocks – Gove County.
Pillsbury Crossing and Deep Creek Waterfall – Manhattan.
Wakarusa (Baker) Wetlands – Lawrence.
Elk Falls.
Wilson Lake.
Visit Hutchinson, KS
Hutchinson, Kansas, is a fun city to visit with your family exploring the historical sites, museums, sports complexes, and cultural centers.
You’ll have fun exploring popular attractions like the Carey Park Golf Course and Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm.
Start planning a fun vacation to Hutchinson and you can consult this guide.
Have a great day.
