Why not take a vacation to Salina, Kansas and have the time of your life with every amazing thing this beautiful city has to offer?
Located on the banks of the Smoky Hill River, Salina is a city rich in art, culture, history, and natural beauty.
It has numerous picturesque parks, great galleries, excellent theaters, fascinating museums, diverse wildlife, lively festivals, and much more.
Salina has something for everyone, from the enchanting river and vast greenery to tranquil ponds and rolling hills.
Her beautiful parks provide opportunities for various recreation activities such as hiking, rock climbing, biking, wildlife viewing, fishing, sledding, etc.
Don’t miss a thing at the historic downtown area, which offers excellent restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, theaters, galleries, sculptures, etc.
A trip to Salina gives you the chance to feel, enjoy nature and create unforgettable memories.
Just because we want the best for you, here is a guide of carefully selected things to do in Salina (KS):
Fun Things to Do in Salina (KS)
1. Relax at the Jerry Ivey Park
This beautiful park offers a charming pond, lush greenery, and beautiful hiking trails.
There are also basketball courts, picnic areas with grills, a children’s playground, a volleyball sandbox, soccer fields, tennis courts, a splash park, and much more.
Hike the green trails that run through this beautiful park, enjoy a fun game of tennis or soccer, cool off at the water park, and end your day with a lovely picnic by the pond.
Admire scenic views from Jerry Ivey Park, feed the ducks and geese by the pond, and just get away from the fast-paced everyday life and enjoy a relaxing day.
2. Don’t Miss the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Car Show
Enjoy your Salina travel experience by experiencing one of the city’s largest and most popular events.
This annual four-day event takes place every July.
It includes a vintage car show, car races, a vintage car market, car auctions, dances, and concerts.
The KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Car Show dates back to 1980 and attracts countless classic car enthusiasts.
Attend this event, and you will be welcome to watch fantastic demonstrations and enjoy the race.
3. Go See a Show at Salina Community Theatre
Established in 1961, this award-winning theater in Salina features local and regional artists.
The theatre aims to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in theatrical activities.
It presents several plays, comedies, and musicals throughout the year.
Visit this venue and enjoy a stunning performance by talented Kansas artists.
Things to Do in Salina (KS) at Night
1. Don’t Miss Salina’s Friday Night Events
Every Friday, clubs, bars, restaurants, and other venues in downtown Salina host a variety of fun arts-related events.
They include musical performances, stand-up comedy shows, and poetry, mostly by local acts.
These events at Salina aim to promote and encourage regional art and support local artists and businesses.
In addition, an art walk is held on the first Friday of every month, showcasing the outstanding artistic creations of regional talent.
Have a wonderful evening, and enjoy these remarkable events.
2. Grab a Bite for the Night at Hickory Hut Barbecue
The business, which has been around for over 30 years, is family owned and operated by Robin and Dale Blake.
Their restaurant serves some of the best barbecues in Salina and the state of Kansas.
These brothers saw and jumped at the opportunity to open a delicious, quality barbecue business in Kansas and have found great success with many loyal customers from all over the country.
Suppose you happen to be visiting Salina, Kansas, and want to sample this delicious barbecue among the other dishes on their menu.
In that case, you can check out Hickory Hut’s excellent barbecue Monday through Saturday.
3. Have Dinner at the Cozy Inn
This historic burger palace was established in 1922 and has used the same 100-year-old grill since it opened.
The little burgers are sold by the bag, but sometimes the burgers are unwrapped and just piled into a Cozy Inn brown paper bag.
Cozy Inn serves all their burgers with onions and no cheese at a very reasonable price. Cozy Inn offers only 90% lean hamburgers, coffee, hot chocolate, soda, potato chips, and Cozy Inn souvenirs.
The small restaurant has only six seats along an old counter covered with clippings of old Cozy Inn news.
The restaurant always smells like hamburgers and onions, giving it a homey feel.
Although Cozy Inn has a different manager, they have still managed to maintain the quality of their burgers; however, they are now bigger.
The Cozy Inn is more recognized for its history than its food. The restaurant is open every day of the week.
Things to Do in Salina (KS) For Couples
1. Experience Sculpture Tour Salina
The Salina Sculpture Tour is an annual competition where qualified sculptors from around the country compete for a $15,000 prize.
About 20 to 30 sculptures are selected and displayed for one year in downtown Salina for visitors to view and purchase.
Residents and visitors, young and old, can view the statue and vote for their favorite sculpture in the People’s Choice Award program.
Ballots are placed in silver boxes at the foot of each statue. You can also get ballots from downtown businesses like boutiques and restaurants.
After the show season, the statue with the highest number of votes is purchased by the city of Salina.
The purchased statue is left in Salina for public viewing. Those interested can also buy the sculptures.
So far, over 40 sculptures have been purchased through the Salina Sculpture Tour exhibits, which means there are currently many sculptures to view.
2. See Beautiful Plants at Stutzman’s Greenhouse
One of the best places in Salina, Kansas, is Stutzman’s, located at 9th & Cloud in Salina, KS. Ervin and Emma Stutzman founded this destination in April 2007.
The Stutzman Greenhouse was born out of Ervin and Emma Stutzman’s passion for growing vegetables and flowers and is located under a canopy outside.
These plants are grown in the nursery until they are transferred to more stable growing soil or pots.
You can buy a wide variety of common and rare flowers and vegetables from this destination. You can visit their website for the different plants available.
3. Grab a Cup of Coffee at Ad Astra Books & Coffee
This has been a prominent downtown feature for more than a decade, Ad Astra Books & Coffee combines a bookstore with a coffee shop, but it’s much more than just a comfortable place to read and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
First, you can pick up vinyl, comics, and handmade gifts.
And there is also a calendar full of events, from talks to author readings to film screenings, children’s spoken word theater, and live music performances.
The result is a kind of intimate cultural center with a program designed to reach the largest possible audience.
Things to Do in Salina (KS) For Kids
1. Take Them to Rolling Hills Zoo
Rolling Hills Zoo is one of Salina’s top tourist attractions. It has a zoo and a museum.
Rolling Hills Zoo is home to many exotic animals, including flamingos, giraffes, camels, giant anteaters, Qatari lemurs, cotton tamarins, and Caymanian iguanas.
Others are golden eagles, green and black poison frogs, snakes, giant African millipedes, and chimpanzees. , tigers, wolves, bears, Sumatran orangutans, rhinoceroses, leopards, African lions, and many others.
Rolling Hills is a modern zoo where animals are kept in a more natural environment.
The museum offers exhibits related to flora and fauna belonging to different world regions.
Helen L. Graves Hideaway Hollow is an educational center within the museum that offers a variety of hands-on exhibits about diverse nature.
This place also has a fine art gallery with rotating exhibits.
A unique feature of the museum is that its exhibits include many human robots, making the experience of visiting the place fascinating.
Spend a fun and exciting day at this zoo, get up close with exotic animals, explore the museum’s fascinating exhibits, and end your day with a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
2. Let Them Play at Kenwood Cove Aquatic Park
This popular water park features several pools, giant water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, a water playground, gazebos, and much more.
This is a great place to take a break from your daily routine and enjoy some fun-filled time with your family.
Soak up the sun and enjoy a splash in the pool.
Enjoy the exhilarating experience of sliding down the tornado slide and have fun in the wave pool.
You can also attend swimming lessons here.
3. Check Out District Eat & Play
Everyone is invited to enjoy themselves at the world-class District Eat & Play, where every day is a unique adventure with enough surprises to keep everyone entertained.
Customers can enjoy half-price games and access to their industrial-scale arcade machines every Wednesday.
One of their quirky attractions is an escape room that provides an opportunity to test your critical-thinking skills.
At District Eat & Play, kids can also enjoy go-kart racing.
They also offer delicious food like burgers, chicken nuggets, and homemade nachos.
Indoor Activities to Do in Salina (KS) For Adults
1. Don’t Miss a Show at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Formerly known as the Fox-Watson Theatre, this historic theater is located in downtown Salina.
It features numerous live performances all through the year, including dance, comedy, concerts, plays, orchestra, and more.
Goo Goo Dolls, B.B. King, Sarah McLachlan, Emmylou Harris, and Daughtry are just a few of the numerous big names in the industry that have performed live at the theater.
Stiefel Theatre also has a visual arts gallery with rotating exhibits that feature notable works of art.
It’s an excellent place for a great evening’s entertainment.
Get your show tickets and enjoy the fantastic show here.
2. Take a Tour of the Yesteryear Museum
Yesteryear Museum emphasizes the history of agriculture and rural life in Kansas.
It features a variety of historical artifacts and local monuments, including agricultural tools, implements, and equipment dating back centuries.
The museum also contains two historic buildings: an early 20th-century church and a schoolhouse.
The museum hosts many events such as tractor and car shows, Fourth of July parties, Christmas celebrations, etc.
Explore the museum and see the fascinating exhibits.
3. Check Out Beautiful Art Works at the Salina Art Center
It consists of the Art Center, the Warehouse, and the Art Center Cinema.
The Art Center is a contemporary fine art gallery that features outstanding artworks by regional, national, and international artists.
The galleries are free for everyone.
Warehouse offers professional art studios and artist work. You can view this place by appointment.
Established in 1997, Art Center Cinema is a famous theater that presents a variety of independent films, documentaries, and more.
Get show tickets and have fun here.
Romantic Things to Do in Kingsport (TN)
1. Don’t Miss a Thing at Lakewood Park
This scenic park features lush foliage, a prairie, a nature center, charming gardens, a tranquil pond, diverse wildlife, hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas with grills, a disc golf course, and much more.
The pond is popular with fishermen.
Hike the green trails to explore the region’s vast wilderness and enjoy the sounds of nature.
You can see deer, squirrels, beautiful birds, and raccoons.
Have fun observing insects in the butterfly garden and test your skills on the disc golf course.
Grill your burgers and enjoy delicious food against a stunning backdrop.
The nature center also offers fascinating flora and fauna exhibits that inspire curiosity.
2. Explore the Indian Rock Park
This park offers a calm river, two charming waterfalls, scenic views, dense foliage, beautiful sledding hills, picnic areas, nature trails, etc.
The river meanders through the park’s sacred landscape.
Take a trip along the green paths along the river, enjoy the sounds of nature and breathtaking views, enjoy a delicious picnic by the river and relax.
This site is best rated for mountain biking, fishing, and rock climbing.
Visit the Indian Rock Park early in the morning to exercise, breathe fresh air and watch the beautiful sunrise.
3. Don’t Miss the Smoky Hill River Festival
This Renowned festival takes place every June and is an important part of Salina’s local culture.
The four-day event dates back to 1977.
It features fine art shows, arts and crafts markets, numerous musical concerts, awe-inspiring food stands, amazing art installations, exciting games, parties, health runs, dances, treasure hunts, and more.
You can explore the remarkable artworks of more than 135 artists from around the country.
Visitors can interact with these artists while viewing the exhibits.
Enjoy fun activities like face painting, henna tattoos, make-and-take projects, dance battles, and more.
Be part of the festivities and experience the incredible local culture of this city.
Free Things to Do in Salina (KS)
1. Participate in the People’s Choice Awards at Sculpture Tour Salina
The Salina Sculpture Tour is an annual competition where talented sculptors from around the country compete for a $15,000 prize.
Here, 15 to 25 works of art are selected and displayed throughout the year for visitors to admire.
Statues are also for sale.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the Salina Sculpture Tour’s People’s Choice Award program and vote for their favorite sculptures.
Explore downtown Salina and view these remarkable works of art.
2. Go for a Walk at Oakdale Park
This fascinating park offers a beautifully maintained garden with beautiful flowers, a playground, tennis courts, picnic areas with barbecues, an entertainment stage, a pond, lush greenery, and much more.
It hosts many popular events, including the Smoky Hill River Festival and vintage shows.
The park is also popular with anglers.
Take a refreshing evening walk through the park and enjoy the view of the elegant garden and charming landscape.
3. Take a Walk by Downtown Salina
Downtown Salina offers numerous historic buildings, restaurants, cafes, antique shops, boutiques, bars, art galleries, museums, theaters, hotels, and more.
Notable buildings in the neighborhood include the Smoky Hill Museum, the Stiefel Theater, the Salina Art Center, the Salina Fieldhouse, and the Salina Community Theater.
Check out the museums, catch a fun show at the theaters, shop for antiques, try delicious food, admire the art, and enjoy the nightlife while exploring this neighborhood.
Cheap Things to Do in Salina (KS)
1. Don’t Miss an Event at Tony’s Pizza Events Center
Formerly known as the Bicentennial Center, the Tony’s Pizza Events Center is a 7,583-seat multi-purpose venue.
The Events Center has meeting rooms and an 18,000-square-foot convention center called Heritage Hall.
The Salina Liberty of the Champions Indoor Soccer League also uses this multi-purpose venue, which has earned the nickname “Mid-America’s Meeting Place” because it is a popular venue for meetings, conventions, etc.
Tony’s Pizza Events Center offers many different forms of entertainment throughout the year, featuring sports teams, comedians, and famous bands.
Notable annual events held at this venue include the Salina Invitational Basketball Tournament, Basketball and Volleyball State Tournaments, and the Salina Home & Leisure Show.
Tony’s Pizza is home to five franchises in four sports leagues, one of which is the Salina Saints of the American Basketball Association.
It is also home to the most famous Monster Truck competition, the “Toughest Monster Truck Tour.”
Monster truck lovers will enjoy watching them perform stunts like sky jumps, twisty races, and freestyle workouts like wheelies, donuts, and even crashes!
2. Learn About the Local Community at Salina Public Library
Located along Elm Street, the Salina Public Library offers all sorts of things.
The library’s facilities offer everything visitors may need to feel comfortable and explore their interests.
This bookworm haven offers some of the best workshops and classes you can imagine, and they’re fun too.
The library has an incredible children’s section on the ground floor with books about dinosaurs and planets and dozens of large tables for art projects.
You’ll also find a few PlayStation 4s and PCs here.
3. Have Some Outdoor Fun at the Webster Conference Center
This beautiful Conference Center is the perfect place to relax, surrounded by a calm stream and spans over 220 acres.
The center aims to create a place where people can relax and unwind for one or more days after a stressful day or season.
In addition to relaxation, there are many outdoor recreational activities and facilities for young or old visitors to enjoy.
Facilities at the center include basketball and volleyball courts, an archery range, open fields for outdoor games, frisbee golf, a swimming pool, practice fields, canoes, paddle boats, nature trails, and more.
The above features make the Webster Conference Center an excellent place for family, friends, and organizations to visit while vacationing in Salina, Kansas.
Cool Places to Visit in Salina (KS)
1. Smoky Hill Museum
Smoky Hill Museum is a renowned museum that focuses on the local history of Salina.
It offers numerous interactive exhibits and historical artifacts dating back to the 19th century.
Learn about regional history through a variety of exciting hands-on experiences.
Smoky Hill Museum’s collection consists of over 30,000 artifacts and local memorabilia.
Visit this museum and learn about the fascinating history of this city.
2. Fossett Plaza
Fossett Plaza, which opened and was dedicated in 2018, is an incredible spectacle for aviation enthusiasts.
It was established in recognition of Steve Fossett’s unprecedented solo flight worldwide, non-stop, in a worldwide flyer in 2005, 22,936 miles in 67 hours without refueling.
The monument, an 8-foot stainless steel globe that stands above the 12,300-foot runway, was created by Bruce and Brent Bitter of B&B Metal Arts in Hoisington, Kansas.
The stunning sculpture is a prominent feature of Fossett Plaza at the Salina Airport.
The entire route of the manned flight is written in the lowest part of the monument.
Tim Rogers, A.A.E., executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, said the statue intends to inspire young and old aviation enthusiasts for years to come, according to the Salina Airport Authority.
Fossett Plaza is one of the places of interest in Salina, Kansas, especially for aviation enthusiasts.
3. The Salina Fieldhouse
For sports fans, one of the fun things to do in Salina (KS) is a game at the Salina Fieldhouse.
Salina Fieldhouse, another attraction in Salina, Kansas, is a 70,000-square-foot sports facility downtown Salina.
This facility is built for sports and offers many surfaces for different sports, such as grass, artificial wood, and hardwood.
This destination inspires and promotes a healthy lifestyle through several sports services, programs, and recreational opportunities.
The Fieldhouse has space for every team game, such as basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and football. Pedestrians are also allowed in the Salina Fieldhouse.
The Fieldhouse has adjustable basketball courts that can be modified to include volleyball courts and an indoor regulation soccer field.
The Fieldhouse also has pop-up batting cages and pitching tunnels.
At the Salina Fieldhouse, you can enjoy dodgeball, kickball, dancing, and field hockey, among others. This destination is ideal for sports lovers.
Conclusion
Regardless of its small size, Salina is a city quite rich in historical features, recreational activities, and much more.
Perhaps you are searching for an ideal vacation destination, then Salina, Kansas, should be top of your list.
Follow our guide above on the best things to do in Salina (KS) and have the time of your life!
