A Day in Manhattan, Kansas

Manhattan is one of a handful of interesting towns in eastern Kansas along with Topeka, Lawrence, Hutchinson, and Wichita. The town is also home to Kansas State University, and with that comes all the pride and excitement of college life. In this article we’re going to talk about the things to do in Manhattan, Kansas as if you have only one day to visit.

Be sure to check out the 20 best things to do in Kansas when you’re done learning about Manhattan, Kansas. There’s a surprising number of constructive things to experience in this subtle part of the country. We hope you enjoy the articles.

Kansas State University Campus

A great way to start your Manhattan, Kansas visit is to tour the campus on foot in the early morning.

It is the nature of college campuses to exude hope for the future, a distinct vitality found in the architecture and in the denizens, and walking about Kansas State University is a perfect way to tap into that energy and start the day right.

We recommend parking near Aggieville (MAP), and walking north onto campus. Take your time and loop through the buildings, eventually reaching the Insect Zoo and K-State Gardens in the opposite corner of campus.

Be Sure to Visit the Insect Zoo!

Amidst the K-State Gardens and greenhouse conservatory is the small, unassuming building seen above. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, and honestly the inside is less impressive.

Nonetheless, we have never seen a collection of live insects that rivals the Kansas State University Insect Zoo, which probably makes it the best thing to do in Manhattan, Kansas.

Start by engaging the staff at the door. They probably love bugs. See if they have the time to tour the museum with you. The young lady walked around with me for an hour and we had an amazing time talking about the bugs.

Related Article: Complete guide to Topeka, Kansas

The most impressive exhibit was the outrageous assortment of spiders. Mind you, I hate spiders more than anything, so this was a big step for me. The Insect Zoo allows you to peer into clear plastic boxes, for lack of a better word, at dozens of different arachnids. There are so many weird spiders and this was a safe way to peer into their soulless eyes and admire their devilish bodies.

Beyond the spiders, there was every weird bug to which the imagination clings out of fear: Stick bugs, leaf bugs, scorpions, vinegaroons, silverfish, roaches, and things my pineal gland has forced to forget.

Take this demented tour of nightmares and be happy you did. For it isn’t every day you are treated to a free, creepy circus.

Aggieville

Upon returning to your car, take a cursory stroll around Aggieville, the happening spot in town. Here you’ll find the largest collection of bars and restaurants in town.

Perhaps it’s a little early in the day to start drinking, or perhaps you don’t drink at all. Still, you can have fun shopping and getting your fix at Varsity Donuts.

Later in the day, if you haven’t found enough trouble, come back here and get your butt kicked by a 22-year-old at the end of a beer-fueled, mistake-ridden evening. Or maybe just get some Mexican food. There’s a lot of options in Aggieville.

Related Article: Best things to do in Lawrence, Kansas

Flint Hills Discovery Center

The Flint Hills Discovery Center is perhaps the best interactive museum in the state of Kansas.

Kansas isn’t the most impressive place to gaze upon, but the Kansas countryside is actually remarkable once you learn about it. The history of the region is interesting, as are the geography and ecosystems.

At the Flint Hills Discovery Center you will learn about everything that makes this region special. The facility is ornate and professional. Kids will have fun here, too.

If you love to travel, we have something we would like to give you. It is our professionally designed e-book and it is FREE of charge. We think it’s pretty great, and we’re hopeful you’ll like it, too. It’s called, “Cultivating a Lifetime of Travel”. Click HERE. and we’ll send it on over!

Other Things to Do in Manhattan

Everything listed above could fill a single day. We think its a foolproof plan and invite you to try it. But lets say you’re not into bugs and history and whatnot. You might be thinking, what else is there to do in Manhattan. So here’s a few things.

The Sunset Zoo: A small zoo.

Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art: A small art musuem on K-State campus.

Kansas State Football Game: An excellent thing to do in Manhattan, Kansas.

Midwest Dream Car Collection: A collection of over 60 cars.

Konza Prairie Hike: A popular place to get out in nature near Manhattan, Kansas.

Related Article: An Honest Review of Wichita, Kansas

An Honest Conclusion: A Day in Manhattan, Kansas

Of all the towns in eastern Kansas, I would choose to live in Manhattan.

Kansas State University brings a youthful energy to the town without the concomitant arrogance/douchebaggery typical in university settings. A visit to the rival KU town of Lawrence provides a contrast.

The town is clean and beautiful with well maintained roads. Nowhere did I see the societal rot that plagues so many towns these days.

If you’re looking for somewhere pleasant to spend your day, Manhattan is worth your time. While it lacks the humdinger attractions of Topeka or Hutchinson (surprisingly), it has two interesting stops with the Insect Zoo and the Flint Hills Discovery Center, and you can’t go wrong strolling a college campus.

Thank you for stopping by our website! We are the Hoffmann family, a full-time RV family that has split residence in Seattle, Washington and San Antonio, Texas. We have special needs children that we homeschool, and work travel assignments for the Veteran Affairs Hospital. If you would like to learn more about us, check out our Start Here and Biography pages. In the meantime, God bless and travel happy!

Recent Posts

• 50 Best Things to do in Middle America
• 10 Best Things to Do in Oklahoma City
• A Day in Manhattan, Kansas
• 20 Best Things to Do in Kansas
• 30 Best Things to Do in Missouri