Exploration Place is one of the absolute best outdoor attractions in a laid back place like Wichita in far-away Kansas in the United States. This place is literally at the center of the continent in terms of latitude and longitude if you’d go out and measure.
The first impressions of Exploration Place are of a scenic open space along the river Arkansas. There are lush green lawns until where the eyes can see. A beautiful bridge that spans the river, statues of American Indians, and a series of museums outside the main gate.
The most notable figure in the skyline is The Keeper of the Plains statue of an Indian American nicely located at the confluence of Arkansas and the Little Arkansas rivers. The statue offers no extreme excitement or jaw-dropping inspiration but the working effort that’s been put into its making shows a lot of thought and attention to detail. In essence, the statue itself might seem underwhelming up close but given a good distance, you can make out a striking silhouette of a native American raising his hands to the Great Spirits.
There are also placards and information about different aspects of beliefs and ways of life the Indians of the Great Plains had. My personal favorite is the one here about the Circle of Life seen in the left photo in the collage below.
I absolutely loved this park for being so close to the water and on a 72 degree, partly cloudy windy day was literally perfect. I would love to come back at night and see the flames that they lit up near the statue and also the museums but as a place to get out and walk around, it is spectacular. The Exploration Place is part of the local greenbelt so there’s lots of activity and taking a stroll along the riverside or even shopping in one of the superstores on the way could easily be one of them.
One of my favorite parks I’ve been to in the US thus far, the ideal time to visit would be during the dusk as the shining silver waters of Arkansas River light up the surroundings and the skyline of Wichita brings life to the evening though I had to return back to the hotel before dinner time which is usually quite early compared to the dinner time out here in India.
Have you been to parking before where you witnessed something unexpected and awesome? I’d be interested in knowing your experience.
Until then… Happy Guiding 
Accessibility Features
The park had most though not all accessibility features for the differently-abled and here’s a quick snapshot.
Ramp Access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
What Else To Do In Wichita, Kansas
While you are in Wichita, KS, these are the top-recommended places:
