When we think about travel, our minds often wander to far-flung destinations, exotic cultures, and unfamiliar landscapes. However, there's a treasure trove of experiences waiting for us right in our own backyard. Being a tourist in your hometown can be an eye-opening and delightful adventure that allows you to see your familiar surroundings with fresh eyes.

As locals, we often take our hometowns for granted. We become accustomed to our routines and the everyday sights and sounds. But when you approach your city with a tourist's perspective, you'll start to notice details and nuances you've never appreciated before. Whether it's the architecture of historic buildings, the beauty of local parks, or the uniqueness of neighborhood cafes, your city suddenly becomes a canvas of discovery.

Recently Kansas Tourism hosted a Fam (familiarization) tour of the Wichita area focusing on agritourism operations in the area and I had the opportunity to attend, not only as the Kansas Agritourism Program Manager but also as a Wichita native. I was born and raised in Wichita and was so excited to head back home for the week and experience Wichita with a new perspective!

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and may not be your first guess when trying to find agritourism destinations in the state. However, don’t let the size and population fool you, Wichita and surrounding areas are flourishing with agritourism destinations you must visit! On the tour we visited 6 unique stops that were all agriculturally focused and redefined how I viewed my hometown!  

Wichita Keeper of the Plains

Wichita

Wichita is a place where art aficionados, history lovers, self-proclaimed foodies and outdoor adventurers all find a lot to love. 

  1. Kansas Maze Sunflower Field
  2. Grace Hill Winery
  3. Lazy Moon Ranch
  4. RISE Farm
  5. GROW Giesen Plant Shop/ Botanic
  6. Public

Kansas Maze Sunflower Field

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Located in Buhler, Kansas Maze Sunflower Field offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in 16+ Acres of the state’s flower, the sunflower! They are open every Aug/Sept and host a multitude of events all focused around the flowers in bloom! Walk the trails looking for the perfect photo opportunity, enjoy a 5K or 1 Mile walk/run through the captivating fields or just enjoy being in the country!
 

Kansas Maze Sunflower field

Kansas Maze

Kansas Maze

Immerse yourself in 16+ acres of gorgeous sunflowers! The Sunflower Festival at Kansas Maze is every Aug/Sept and is the perfect place for pictures! Walk the trails and use the many prop stops available throughout the…

Grace Hill Winery

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Just outside of Wichita, in Whitewater, Grace Hill offers the authentic winery experience! With over 15 locally grown and produced wines to try, there is something for everyone! Schedule a wine tour and tasting or follow their social media pages for a variety of upcoming events that range from live music, yoga, or even helping with grape harvest!
 

Group touring a farm
 

Woman goes down a slide at a farm

Grace Hill Winery and Vineyards

Grace Hill Winery and Vineyards

Grace Hill Winery is the total package winery experience! With live music, public events, food to snack on, and a delicious wine for anyone's palate (red, white, rose, sweet, or dry!). Come enjoy a wine flight and…

Lazy Moon Ranch

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Lazy Moon Ranch is for the animal lovers and the eclectic! Where Farm & Art Collide-Pankratz family hobby farm, located in Augusta, is truly an experience like non-other! Experience a black lighted arcade or interact with a menagerie of alpacas, miniature donkeys, dwarf Nigerian goats, chickens and even a tortoise! My personal favorite activity was painting with alpacas! They host a number of activities throughout the year so be sure to check out their social media for upcoming events!  
 

Woman takes selfie with goat

Lazy Moon Ranch

Lazy Moon Ranch

Our small ranch offers an opportunity to interact with alpacas, goats, miniature donkeys and other farm animals. Visitors can enjoy outdoor games and purchase items in our small retail store. Open on select weekends and…

RISE Farm

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RISE Farms is unique to Kansas, as it is the largest rooftop farm in the Midwest and is located in the heart of downtown Wichita! This urban farm is a 15,000-square-foot specialty crop farm blooming on the top floor of Fidelity Bank’s RISE Car Park! They grow a variety of produce in a no-waste manner to supply area restaurants and residents with fresh, local ingredients! The tour of the urban farm was fantastic and extremely enlightening to learn their growing practices.
 

Fountains in Wichita

RISE Farms

RISE Farms

One of the largest roof-top farms in the Midwest, RISE Farms is located in the heart of downtown Wichita, Kansas. RISE Farms consists of a 15,000-square-foot urban farm and a 204-panel solar farm situated on the top…

GROW Giesen Plant Shop/ Botanic

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GROW at Botanic is an entire vibe! Located in Downtown Wichita, what started out as a green house has turned into an experience you won’t want to miss out on. This location is a one stop shop that offers a coffee and cocktail lounge, plant store, event space and my favorite, a DIY plant bar where you can create your own Terrarium!  
 

GROW - Wichita

GROW Giesen Plant Shop

GROW Giesen Plant Shop

Experience Wichita's boutique plant shop. Unique plants, pots, planty accessories, locally made plant art and more. Create at our DIY Plant Bar, unwind at BOTANIC our botanical martini bar, and enjoy our many educational…

Public

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To top off our amazing day, we came full circle with an amazing dinner at Public. Located in the heart of Old Town, Public is an all-inclusive farm-to-table eatery for the whole family! We enjoyed a wonderful meal, prepared by Travis Russell (Chef and Owner), that incorporated fresh produce from RISE Farms! It was a perfect way to end such a great day focused on agriculture and community!
 

Wichita Food

Public

Public

Public is constantly seeking out the best farmers and beer crafters in the area so that we can bring the area’s finest ingredients to your table. We aim to engage our community while serving you the freshest ingredients…

Becoming a tourist in my hometown was not just an opportunity to see familiar places in a new light; it was a chance to deepen my connection to the place I call home, and I encourage you to do the same! By embracing a tourist's perspective, you can uncover hidden treasures, support local businesses, and create lasting memories. So, the next time you're seeking adventure, consider exploring the wonders of your own city. You just might be surprised at the beauty and excitement that have been right under your nose all along.

Wichita Keeper of the Plains

Wichita

Wichita is a place where art aficionados, history lovers, self-proclaimed foodies and outdoor adventurers all find a lot to love. 

The Traveling Child holding a goat at Providence Hill Farm

Farm Experiences

The farm experiences in Kansas are almost as diverse as our landscape! For those who like to relax, enjoy a sip or two at a Kansas winery or…

People eating at a farm to table restaurant in Kansas

Farm To Table

Farm to table, farm to fork, locally sourced…whatever you call it, know that it will be farm fresh, local and keep you wanting more.

Group of people gather outside a stage at the Dam Jam

South Central

Find yourself immersed in one of the many migratory events across this region. This part of the plains is also referred to as the Central…