Disclaimer: This post is done in partnership with Visit Manhattan. All opinions and photos are mine with the exception of images courtesy of Museum of Art + Light.
Any weekend spent exploring Manhattan is a good one, especially when you have access to some of the best attractions in the state in the heart of The Little Apple.
Use my there-day itinerary as a pocket guide to adventures near K-State University and amongst the scenic Flint Hills. From a family-friendly zoo tour to an adults-only cocktail lounge experience, you can find it all in Manhattan, Kansas.
DAY 1
Disc Golf at Tuttle Creek State Park
Calling all outdoor adventurers! A beautiful day spent at Tuttle Creek State Park isn’t complete without a round of disc golf.
Of course, you’ll need to purchase a $5 vehicle day pass to the park ($25/year), but it’s worth it to access the 18-hole Tuttle Creek State Park River Road course.
Disc golfers can expect a course that winds through shaded tree canopies, opening to picturesque views of the 80-acre lake. Concrete tee boxes and manicured fairways make ringing chains a delight.
PRO TIP: Use your vehicle day pass to the state park to explore hiking trails on foot or go mountain biking. Tuttle Creek’s 6-mile mountain biking trail at the Fancy Creek Area is considered one of the steepest in the state.
Museum of Art + Light
The Museum of Art + Light (316 Pierre Street) is the newest must-see attraction in Manhattan. It bridges 21st-century technology with the visual and performing arts to create an immersive experience.
I took a guided tour with a member of the museum staff prior to its grand opening, and I can vouch that the plans for the state-of-the-art museum will certainly deliver wow-worthy reactions from museum-goers.
A 21,500-square-foot immersive exhibition environment, Mezmereyz invites art lovers to walk inside a fully animated space. Renoir: A Luminous Evolution, a temporary exhibition, will surround you with imagery using 300 high-res digital images during a 40-minute show. (November 8, 2024-August 31, 2025)
Upper floors include rotating gallery exhibitions showcasing artists with an array of practices. Creators with science, engineering, and manufacturing backgrounds produce digital art in Code & Canvas.
Not to be missed, Mads Christensen Solo Exhibition shows off the electrical engineer’s talent to create pulsating 2-D and 3-D works of art. (November 8, 2024-June 30, 2025)
Make a day of the experience by enjoying a snack at the on-site cafe, shopping for art-centric gifts in the retail store, or attending an event.
PRO TIP: Inquire about studio and learning spaces opening in 2015, including studio art classes.
View Museum Hours and Ticket Pricing
Lunch: Cox Bros. BBQ
Enjoy a mid-day lunch break at Cox Bros. BBQ (223 McCall Rd), a 7-minute drive north of the museum. Several blog readers suggested I try it out, and who am I to doubt them? The restaurant is designed with a barn aesthetic featuring wood beams, metal bucket light fixtures, and a patio that opens up via massive garage doors.
The menu features an array of slow-smoked meats and a short list of homestyle side dishes. We shared the three-meat platter with friend okra (ranch dressing for dipping!) and their signature mac-and-cheese. The brisket, sausage, and burnt ends (more like pulled pork) had authentic smoke flavor and color.
A caddie of four barbecue sauces made our lunch experience more enjoyable as we tried each one in the “How Q are you?” challenge.
Cox Bros. BBQ sauces are worth buying before you leave, especially the Carolina sauce.
Sinkers Lounge
Indoor mini golf? Sign me up! Sinkers Lounge (100 Manhattan Town Center) combines a 9-hole mini golf course with a cocktail lounge. We signed up for a round of traditional gameplay, but not before ordering a drink from the bar.
After one sip of Cart Girl, a pink lemonade vodka cocktail, I nearly scored a hole-in-one on the first hole. We listened to streaming Indie Rock music and we teased one another in true competitive style.
The best moments were when the course required golfers to enter fully designed rooms. We stopped playing long enough to snap photos within the rainbow room.
The cost for two people to play nine holes of mini golf (table golf not included) and two drinks was a bit steep, but the photo-worthy rooms made up for some of the expense. Expect to pay more money if you’re dining from the Sinkers Lounge food menu.
PRO TIP: For extended play, pay for Mini Golf Unlimited + Table Top Combo for $20/adult.
Arrow Cocktail Lounge
The cost for two people to play nine holes of mini golf (table golf not included) and two drinks was a bit steep, but the photo-worthy rooms made up for some of the expense. Expect to pay more money if you’re dining from the Sinkers Lounge food menu.
PRO TIP: For extended play, pay for Mini Golf Unlimited + Table Top Combo for $20/adult.
Arrow Cocktail Lounge
Arrow Cocktail Lounge (418 Poyntz Avenue) inside the historic Wareham Hotel, came highly recommended by locals. The downtown restaurant is considered elevated dining and appeals to cuisine-lovers who appreciate an appetizer and dinner menu inspired by ingredients.
In the dimly lit ambiance of the original hotel’s interior, we sipped cocktails surrounded by dark green painted walls complementing dark wood finishes and burnt orange curtains. Crown molding and chandeliers accented a nearby space devoted to lounging with friends.
I deviated from the dinner menu, substituting a charcuterie board and deviled eggs on a bed of arugula for an entree. The fig-flavored spread, soft ricotta cheese, and cured ham layered on crackers were just what I hoped for and the deviled eggs sprinkled with chopped bacon delivered a big flavor. I sampled the table’s 1800 Steak entree, which was delicious in flavor but not as impressive as its price.
Our server was kind-hearted and attentive, adding to the overall experience. Arrow Cocktail Lounge is the standard of dining excellence in downtown Manhattan.
PRO TIP: Reserve your table in advance. Although we arrived a half hour early and sat immediately without issue.
Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Aggieville
I’m always happy to stay at Courtyard by Marriott Aggieville (715 N. 12th Street) because I’m a fan of the property. It’s located within a five-minute walk to restaurants, shopping, and the K-State University campus.
After self-parking in the hotel’s garage, we received a warm welcome from the staff member in the lobby, who checked us into a fourth-floor King Guest Room. Unlike my previous stay, the room lacked a couch, including a velvety oversized chair.
The lobby’s Bistro Bar serves Starbucks® drip coffee and grab-and-go snack items. In the evening, it transforms into a full bar, an added perk since it’s located adjacent to the rooftop lounge, where couches and fire pit tables await.
We took advantage of the hotel’s high-speed Wi-Fi, in-room mini fridge, and proximity to the neighborhood’s attractions, including a Starbucks® coffee shop next door.
PRO TIP: Expect to pay for parking, which ran about $35 after taxes for a two-night stay. To offset the cost, remember to provide your Marriott Bonvoy® member benefits number at check-in to earn points for a future stay.
DAY 2
Breakfast: Radina’s Bakehouse
Radina’s Bakehouse (227 Blue Earth Place #111) lived up to the local hype. When we arrived on a Saturday at 9 a.m., a short line was already forming from the register. The aroma of fresh artisanal bread permeated the air as we watched two bakers manipulating dough.
To my surprise, the line moved swiftly, likely because it consisted of regular customers who knew what they wanted to order. I opted for the Classic Coffee Flight, which included four 3-ounce cold and hot drip coffee pours.
As we sat down to enjoy coffee and breakfast pastries, we couldn’t help but notice the waiting line for customers from the register stretched to the front door, about 25 people deep.
I recommend ordering a Bacon Hand Pie, served warm with a butter-flavor flaky crust and a soft interior filled with egg, cheese, and of course, bacon. I sampled a sausage burrito, and it was tasty but not nearly as delectable as the hand pie.
PRO TIP: Plan to arrive by 8:30 am to avoid a long wait at the restaurant’s counter or in the drive-thru line.
Fort Riley Museums
We toured the U.S. Cavalry Museum, 1st Infantry Division Museum, and Custer House for the first time. Each museum is worth exploring for its well-designed exhibits containing impressive military artifacts. Collectively, they tell a story of bravery, ingenuity, grit, and pure heart. The following museums are free to view with an approved visitor’s pass.
U.S. Cavalry Museum
Located in the original Fort Riley Post Hospital building constructed in 1855, the U.S. Cavalry Museum (205 Henry Avenue) is where you should start your tour of historic Fort Riley. The illuminated displays and life-like exhibits are designed in chronological order from the use of the horse by Native Americans and Army soldiers to the use of motorized vehicles during war.
As you meander from room to room, you’ll likely be wowed by the curated artifacts detailing the plight of the American soldier from the Revolutionary War through 1950.
You can expect to learn how the frontier was shaped, the Kansas-Missouri Border War, and the ongoing struggle for freedom thereafter.
Overall, the storytelling exhibits showcase a historical timeline while emphasizing the plight of the American soldier. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll appreciate the video displays and kids’ zone offering immersive experiences. The museum is fully accessible via elevators for aging visitors.
PRO TIP: Don’t miss a chance to admire artwork by Frederic Remington representing moments in war.
1st Infantry Division Museum
You may have heard of the Big Red One, but perhaps you’re unsure of its significance?
The 1st Infantry Division Museum (207 Henry Avenue) emphasis the first permanent division of the Army’s service in all wars since its organization in 1917 led by General John J. Pershing. It’s the first Army unit deployed to engage with the enemy. Big Red One is represented by a red numeral patch on the soldier’s uniform.
Exhibits represent soldiers’ efforts from 1917 to present. Well-worn uniforms and boots, guns, artillery, and photography on display humanize their experience fighting in World War I to current operations.
I was emotionally moved reading the displays about the typical Army soldier in each war. As the soldier’s eyes stared back at me, a sense of empathy and civic pride came over me. As you tour the museum, I suspect you’ll revere their civic duty similarly.
The sense of teamwork and devotion is clear when you look inside the D-Day diorama representing the infantry’s heroic actions on June 6, 1944.
PRO TIP: Schedule extra time to take a self-guided tour of the tanks on display outdoors.
Custer House
Lt. Col. George A. Custer was quite possibly the most prominent resident at Fort Riley. He lived with his family on post from 1866-1867. The Custer House (Quarters 24, located on Sheridan Avenue) is the only original officers’ quarters since the fort’s construction in the mid-1850s.
Available for self-guided or guided tours, Custer House is not the colonel’s original home, but it represents it with rooms featuring period furniture and 19th-century homewares.
The museum’s employee informed us that the teddy bear, located upstairs in the children’s room, is said to move around the house, although she’s never witnessed any signs of haunted activity.
PRO TIP: Drive by Quarters 123 (123 Huebner R0ad) to see the residence where the chaplain resided until 1890. One of the oldest buildings on post, it was later used as a hospital during the cholera outbreak.
Memorials
Just beyond the museum exit doors is the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Monument , which memorializes the soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Outdoors, a memorial honoring the battalions who fought in various wars, pays tribute to U.S. Army soldiers.
Coins on headstones and memorials signify a visit, nickels symbolize shared training, dimes indicate service together, and quarters denote presence during the veteran’s passing.
PRO TIP: Don’t miss a chance to view outdoor displays of tanks outdoors, nearby memorials, and the Fort Riley Post Cemetery, established in 1853. The Ogden Monument is located nearby.
Lunch: Bluestem Bistro
In Aggieville, Bluestem Bistro (1219 Moro Street) is a haven for college students seeking a relaxing place to study over breakfast or lunch. While there are numerous indoor two- and four-top tables, we selected a cozy café table on the sunlit patio.
My tomato bisque and Caesar salad combo was tasty and met my needs for a healthy lunch. The Italian panini prepared with savory meats and cheese was equally flavorsome.
We chatted between bites with a nearby student whose curious cat roamed to and from patrons’ tables while they studied on laptops.
Sunset Zoo
Nestled in the heart of town, Sunset Zoo (2333 Oak Street) offers visitors glimpses of more than 150 animals, from small farm animals to big cats. Using a handheld map, we navigated through the park starting with the African Trail and ending in The Americas.
Colobus Monkeys were the most active in the late afternoon, followed by prairie dogs, pelicans, and flamingos. The best time to visit a zoo is typically in the morning at feeding time if you want to see animals the most active, so it was no surprise that many species were sleeping.
I enjoyed taking photos of buzzing bees at work in the Master Gardener’s Butterfly Garden. Inside the Nature Exploration Center, we observed reptiles exploring their aquarium habitats. The zoo’s wide sidewalks and ample shade made exploring a pleasure.
PRO TIP: If visiting when school is out of session, sign up for the Sunflower Summer Program, a passport to free admission available to families.
Dinner: Little Grill
After resting at the hotel, we drove to Little Grill (6625 Dyer Road) an 11-minute drive north near Tuttle Creek State Park. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the restaurant has grown in size since it initially opened in 2002, likely because of its popularity with locals who frequent for traditional Jamaican food and live music.
Owned by a Jamaican native and a Manhattan local, the menu is a mix of Jamaican and American entrees. The walls of the restaurant are covered in framed artwork, particularly of rock and blues musicians. An alternate dining room airs televised sports.
The Rasta Pasta with added shrimp was a large portion of penne pasta covered in Alfredo sauce. I kicked it up a notch by adding homemade jerk sauce (so good!) added heat.
A sample of the table’s Double Trouble Jerk Pork Chop and Chicken delivered a well-seasoned flavor, and the dark meat chicken was the best of the two types of meat.
PRO TIP: View the Menu Specials board upon arrival, which includes drinks and dessert options.
A&H Farm
Part hobby farm with a petting zoo and part outdoor concert venue, A&H Farm (1374 Collins Lane) is an outdoor playground for all ages. On the day of our visit, the farm hosted Red Dirt Saturday, a ticketed event featuring a line-up of country music bands headlining with Logan Mize.
Exploring A&H Farm is incredibly fun conjuring up thoughts of when we were kids playing adults-size yard games, swinging, and petting goats.
The highlight for me was walking inside the bird aviary. We watched as dozens of budgies (parakeets) flew by our heads from one side of the aviary to the other. In quieter moments, they ate from provided feeding sticks only inches from one’s hand.
Inside the A&H Farm store, the shelves and coolers are stocked to the brim with pickled vegetables, baked goods, and gifts, ready to be taken home as a memory of the fun experience.
Overall, the entire farm experience is one I’ll always remember, and I hope you get to experience it with your family.
DAY 3
Breakfast: Colbert’s Bar & Grill
On Sunday, there is no better place to savor a delicious brunch than Colbert’s Bar & Grill (5200 Colbert Hills Drive). The short drive to the outskirts of town is worth it for epic early-morning views of the public golf course.
Choose to dine inside the native limestone clubhouse or enjoy brunch from the patio. Ranked the top public golf course in Kansas, the fairways and greens are a vibrant emerald contrasted by blue skies matched only by the beauty of the rolling Flint Hills in the distance.
The brunch menu includes stick-to-your-ribs meals such as Spicy Chicken & Biscuits and Stuffed French Toast. Tempted by Colbert’s Hash, I ultimately decided to order the Chicken Fried Steak, which I devoured down to the last bite. I also sampled the Breakfast Burger with egg, an appetizing brunch meal option.
Like any good brunch venue, Colbert’s also serves a short list of boozy beverages. The look of the golf course transported us to Ireland, so I ordered an Irish Coffee.
PRO TIP: Visiting Colbert’s on a K-State game day? View the special menu before arrival. Watch the game from numerous clubhouse televisions.
Liquid Art Winery and Estate
Cheers to good times exploring the beauty of Manhattan’s scenery at Liquid Art Winery and Estate (1745 Wildcat Creek Road). As your car ascends the gravel road and turns left, expansive views of lush green vineyards greet you.
Established in 2014, the tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday year-round for wine-tasting flights, wine slushies (non-alcoholic available), hard ciders, and beers.
After selecting four one-ounce pours for my dry wine flight, we exited to the partially sun-drenched patio. I preferred to sip Petite Pearl, a medium-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Aronia.
The patio slowly filled with patrons as we watched dragonflies and swallowtails fly excitedly over 20 acres of vineyard. On this September day, the green of the Flint Hills was beginning to take on a slight tinge of yellow, a signal of upcoming autumn. An occasional breeze blew through the trellised vines.
Hungry? The tasting room also serves flatbread naan and fresh artisan pizza with farm-to-table ingredients.
PRO TIP: Bring a cooler. When you purchase a wine flight, you save 10% off a bottle of wine to go.
Aggieville Shopping
Sisters of Sound Records
Do you consider yourself a hi-fi enthusiast or a die-hard music fan? Shop at Sisters of Sound Records (1214 Moro Street Suite C), a small but fully stocked store selling new and used vinyl records and compact discs.
I purchased a record player last year, so I’m always keen to find a record store that appeals to my love of blues and rock music. Sisters of Sound Records carries a large selection of those genres, plus a few more.
Plus, if you’re looking for a new record player or jambox, peruse the back wall for available component systems.
PRO TIP: Follow Sister of Sounds Records’ Facebook page to keep tabs on upcoming concerts coming to town.
ACME Local
I never miss a chance to shop at ACME Local (1223 Moro Street) in the heart of Aggieville for a sticker, postcard, or coffee mug featuring Kansas messaging. I discovered the shop in 2021, and add it to my return trip itinerary every time I’m in Manhattan.
If you’re shopping with someone who doesn’t like shopping (ahem!), they can hang out on the leather sofa under the “Kansas Is Not That Bad” banner, a picture-worthy backdrop.
PRO TIP: Walk next door to shop at the sister store, ACME Gift (1227 Moro Street), to purchase a whimsical gift to bring a smile to someone’s face. Who doesn’t need a ramen bowl puzzle, right?
Rally House
When in K-State Wildcat country, there is only one place to shop for new threads: Rally House Aggieville (623 N. Manhattan Avenue).
At first glance, it’s a sea of purple from wall to wall, stocked with clothing, apparel, home decor, and gifts. Look closer; you’ll also find Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals merchandise.
If you’re looking for sunflower Wizard of Oz gifts, walk to the front of the store, where displays showcase innumerable retail items. Love a local business? Look for t-shirts, magnets, and cups featuring Pizza Shuttle, Rock-a-Belly Deli, Auntie Mae’s Parlor, and Manhattan Brewing Company.
The Dusty Bookshelf
Across the street, The Dusty Bookshelf (700 N. Manhattan Avenue) is a major draw for readers wanting a new title. Whenever I visit the store, I walk away with a bag of mystery books or purchase a new release.
A haven for students, the upstairs tables are typically occupied by college-aged scholars seated behind laptops. Downstairs, the register area doubles as a cafe.
PRO TIP: Look for the table of Mystery Books bags labeled by genre that are sold for a set price.
Lunch: Tanner’s Bar & Grill
Our final stop on a whirlwind weekend of fun in Manhattan? Tanner’s Bar & Grill (1200 Moro Street) for a light lunch and to watch NFL games. It’s the ideal place to watch sports, with innumerable televisions surrounding guests from every corner of the restaurant.
We sat amongst football fans supporting various teams while dining on Grilled Chicken Lips (tenders) and Cranberry Walnut Salad. Choose from burgers with unique toppings, grilled chicken sandwiches, and chicken wings to dominate the menu.
PRO TIP: Plan your visit around Tanner’s food-focused events, which adds to the fun atmosphere.
BONUS MANHATTAN VACATION SUGGESTIONS
Please give my additional blog posts a read written after previous trips to the Little Apple. Manhattan, Kansas: The Gateway to the Flint Hills (2021) and Experiencing the Best of Manhattan, Kansas in a Weekend (2021).
I can’t get enough of Manhattan. In fact, this was the third time I’d visited Little Apple and written about my experience. It’s easily one of the best places to visit when seeking a weekend of entertainment.
Do you also love Manhattan? Leave your suggestions for places to explore in the comments. I’m eager to return to a town ranked One of the Top 50 College Towns in America (Best College Reviews).
- Vanessa
