Manhattan: Culture, Prairie and Parks

For a stay in Manhattan, you can shape your plans around your interests: history and art, tallgrass prairie and wildlife, or time outdoors. The attractions have different focuses and require varying degrees of preparation. An appointment must be arranged in advance for a tour at the Riley County Historical Museum; for events at the Midwest Dream Car Collection, the specific dates are important for planning your trip. This lets you choose the topics that suit your stay.

History, Vehicles and Art

Tours at the Riley County Historical Museum are available by appointment. If you plan to explore history this way, arrange your appointment before your visit. The African American Manhattan History Trail Driving Tour, by contrast, is designed as a self-guided driving tour. The two offerings therefore differ primarily in format: an arranged tour on the one hand, and a self-guided drive on the other.

The Midwest Dream Car Collection includes vehicles ranging from a 1907 Ford Model-R to a 2019 Tesla Model X. This span reaches from an early 20th-century vehicle to a model from the 21st century. The Collection also hosts events throughout the year. If you would like to include an event in your trip, check the specific dates in advance.

The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art is described as one of the leading art institutions and is located on the campus of Kansas State University. Art and automotive history thus add further cultural points of interest to the historical themes of the museum tour and self-guided drive.

Prairie, Exhibits and Wildlife

The Flint Hills Discovery Center presents the 10,000-square-mile tallgrass prairie of the geological Flint Hills that surround Manhattan. Each exhibit area has an interactive element. The Center also offers panoramic views of Manhattan from its rooftop. The exhibits and rooftop view offer different experiences: the interactive elements are part of the individual exhibit areas, while the panoramic view looks out over the city.

The Sunset Zoo is AZA-accredited and is home to more than 200 animals. The Expedition Asia exhibit area includes a Malayan tiger, a sloth bear and an Amur leopard. If a particular species is especially important to you, check the current information on animal populations and locations before your trip, as these may change. The AZA accreditation is another distinct aspect of the zoo; it should be considered separately from the information about animal numbers and exhibits.

Parks and Trails in Manhattan

Manhattan has 30 municipal parks with amenities for year-round use. Three water parks are among them. If you have a particular park or water park in mind, check current city information in advance, since the municipal park inventory may change.

For outdoor exercise, Manhattan has miles of hiking and biking trails spread across the city. The trails offer a different planning option from the municipal parks: you can choose based on whether you would rather hike or cycle. Plan around the latest information about the trails.

Manhattan has also been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community. If this status matters to your travel plans, check its current standing. The recognition is a separate point of reference for cycling, alongside the hiking and biking trails.

Cultural history, art, prairie, wildlife, parks and trails offer different ways to spend time in Manhattan; you can then check dates and changeable details about individual attractions as needed.

For the broader travel overview: Riley County.