By Katie Smith, A&E Editor
Even if you can’t make it out to Padre, Florida, or California this Spring Break, there are tons of places you can visit that are just a short drive from Wichita. So pile up your mom’s minivan with your best friends and hit the road to these mini vacations.
Newkirk, Oklahoma, 1 hour 7 minutes
You might be looking at this and wondering why in the world Newkirk made this list. One word: Casino. For my fellow gambling buddies, make the short drive down to Oklahoma. Everytime I go to the 7 Clans First Council Casino, I make some type of money. The best time to go is late at night. Head there around 10 p.m., pregame in the car, and go blow your money and time on the tables and slots. You won’t regret it. Never take more than $100.
Oklahoma City, 2 hours 23 minutes
Drive less than two and a half hours to the Bricktown scene in OKC. There’s tons of art and culture to explore here. They have similar restaurants to KC and tons of different forms of entertainment, from memorials to Topgolf to botanical gardens. If you don’t mind a little longer drive, Turner Falls (1 hour 18 minutes from OKC) might be somewhere you want to explore, especially for nature lovers.
Kansas City, Missouri, 2 hours 52 minutes
Nothing is more fun than spending a weekend in KC with your favorite people. There’s shopping at the Plaza and Legends Outlet Mall. Stay entertained with places such as Dave & Busters, Worlds of Fun and Topgolf. Eat your heart out at restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack or The Melting Pot. Don’t pass up the chance to have the time of your life in the Power and Light District. Time spent in Kansas City is never wasted.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, 4 hours 45 minutes
The short drive to Eureka Springs will be well worth it. If you’ve ever wanted to explore a city with an artsy but historic feeling downtown, Eureka Springs is the place. Not only do they rent out treehouse rooms as hotel rooms, they also have tons of unique restaurants that you’ve never heard of. In the hills close to the city, there is a gorgeous glass chapel, the Thorncrown Chapel. Eureka Springs is also quite close to Hot Springs National Park. Eureka Springs is definitely somewhere for nature lovers to explore.
Waco, Texas, 6 hours 16 minutes
Are you a big fan of the HGTV show “Fixer Upper” too? Then you know why Waco is on the list. This is a bit more of a drive from Wichita, but it is definitely worth it. Visit the Magnolia Market Silos to explore a piece of Joanna Gaines’ world. Driving down the streets of Waco, it could be cool to see the houses that Chip and Joanna have worked on together. There are even a couple of their “fixer uppers” that are available as Airbnbs if you have a little extra to spend.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, unsplash.com
