Summer vacation looks a bit different this year so we're helping you embrace the STAY-cation!

We're all trying to stay closer to home this year and while that might mean your typical summer vacation was canceled, it doesn't mean there's no way to enjoy the summer. So, we've compiled a list of staycation spots within driving distance of Wichita. Stay safe and enjoy! 

1. Keeper Of Plains

The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot tall steel sculpture standing at the point where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join together in downtown Wichita. This land between the two rivers is sacred ground to the Native American people and is also home to the Mid-America All-Indian Center. The American Indian sculpture was created by Wichitan and Native American artist Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980). 

Decades later, the Keeper of the Plains now has an even larger view of Wichita. A complete renovation of the sculpture and installation of the Keeper of the Plains Plaza now brings people out each evening to see the Keeper and the lit fire pots that surround it, known as the Ring of Fire. The 5-ton Keeper of the Plains statue is now 30 feet higher than before with it's new pedestal.

2. Botanica Wichita

Located in Sim Park, this gorgeous patch of cultivated flora offers themed gardens such as the Butterfly Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Rose and Wildflower Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden, plus special programs for children.

3. Santa Fe Lake

If outdoor recreation or relaxation is what you're after, Santa Fe Lake is the answer.  Located just 10 minutes from Wichita, KS, you can find activities to enjoy all week long and not just on the weekends.

Enjoy year-round outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking, biking, hiking, and much much more.  

4. Cow Town

Be wowed when you step onto Cowtown's dirt roads and realize you've entered a world off the Chisholm Trail that is frozen in a 1865-1880 loop.

Connect with history through artifacts in Cowtown's 10,000-piece permanent collection - textiles, furnishings, furniture, tools, art - that are proudly maintained by Historic Wichita Cowtown, Inc. Cowtown's unique programming tells the story of Wichita's transformation from a frontier settlement to a cattle town to an agricultural and manufacturing area.

Wichita's storied past is vividly brought to life through daily activities, special events and education programs.

5. The Exploration Place

Delve into hundreds of interactive exhibits that stimulate the mind and teach about science, and that's only inside the main building. Outside there's a park where visitors can observe Kansas wildlife in a wetlands habitat and dig for...more.

6. Kansas Star Casino

Kansas Star Casino offers a high-energy gaming experience! Try your luck at over 1,770 of the newest, hottest slots, over 50 table games including Craps, Roulette, no-ante Blackjack, an Asian Gaming pit, plus a live-action poker room! Hungry? You don't have to go far for a delicious meal - or snack - made with fresh ingredients and served with style. Don't miss your favorite, big-name national acts live at the Kansas Star Arena!