Salina Visitors Guide

#6740Wonderful

WELCOME TO SALINA

WELCOME TO SALINA…the perfect blend of big-city amenities with small-town ambiance. Our location at the crossroads of I-70 and I-135 in central Kansas makes us an easy destination. Whatever brings you here – making family memories, relaxing as a couple, having fun on a friends getaway, attending an event or convention, or conducting business, Salina is well worth the trip. This Visit Salina Guide is full of pleasant surprises for your time spent in our community! Want some assistance in planning your visit?

Let us know at visitsalina@salinakansas.org or call 877-SALINAKS.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME HOSPITALITY

Once you realize how much there is to experience in Salina, you will want to spend the night…at least one!

You have many options for accommodations to choose from. The more than 2,200 rooms are found at your favorite hotels. Some feature convenient access to our two interstate systems, are close to Salina Regional Airport, live in the heart of our downtown core, or have specific amenities…like welcoming your beloved pet. You’ll enjoy all the comforts of home, and then some!

The Accommodations section of our Business Directory shares all there is to know about each location. Or for a quick look at your options, use the Accommodations Grid.

FAMILY FUN

Salina, Kansas is all about family fun, from A to Z, as in ZOO! Kansas’ wild discovery on the prairie – Rolling Hills Zoo – features 88 species and 396 animals, all ready to meet you! Rolling Hills also has a Wildlife Museum (see museum section below), a Conference Center, and fun family events throughout the year!

COMING SOON...Pride of the Prairie lion exhibit!

FAMILY FUN

District Eat & Play

Rolling Hills Wildlife Museum

Smoky Hill Museum

The Alley

SPORTS

Excellent sports facilities not only create a family-centric community in which to raise your kids, they also attract a myriad of competitive youth events in baseball, softball, volleyball, and soccer, just to name a few. Those options include Salina Fieldhouse, Tony's Pizza Events Center (TPEC), multiple golf courses, Salina Soccer Complex, The Yard, Dean Evans Stadium, and the Berkley Family Recreation Area.

On the horizon... a new tennis facility and the exciting Smoky Hill River project. Considering participating in an event in Salina versus another community? There are some great reasons to choose Salina for sports! Discover all there is to know about the sports venues in the Visit Salina Sports Facilities Guide.

Interested in hosting a sports event in Salina? Contact Tiffany Benien at the Visit Salina office to see how we may help.

Salina Fieldhouse

KWU Mabee Arena

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Statistically speaking, ‘The 67401’ is a perennial powerhouse when it comes to leisure recreation and sports competition opportunities. Whether it’s a day at the park or a weekend tournament, Salina is the place to play!

More than 1,000 acres of City parks are ready for you to explore with amenities from picnic shelters, playgrounds, hiking paths, fishing, bird watching, sports fields and courts to quiet gardens and green space. If golf is your game, we are ready to tee you up for some great rounds at both public and private (reciprocal) courses.

Salina is home to many indoor and outdoor facilities providing activities, events and entertainment to sports fans in the youth, adult and spectator markets.

Visit Salina...it's a GREAT place to PLAY!

R E C R E A T I O N www.VisitSalinaKS.org

THE ARTS

There is a strong arts presence and appreciation throughout Salina. In fact, it is such an integral part of our lifestyle, we have a City department dedicated to it – Salina Arts & Humanities (SAH) – which among many other programs presents the Smoky Hill River Festival annually.

ARTS THE

Theatre Salina stages productions for all ages throughout the year. In addition, they provide high caliber training in dance, acting and voice through the Center for Theatre Arts. See Kinky Boots in June, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in July!

The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts is the home of Salina Symphony and Salina Youth Symphony. The Stiefel also presents touring concerts and comedy shows. See the website for shows!

Salina Art Center features contemporary exhibitions and programming that sets it apart, PLUS an Art Cinema showing nightly films and a make space at the Warehouse.

Museums of many interests dot the cultural landscape of Salina. Smoky Hill Museum pays homage to our roots with incredible temporary and permanent exhibits.

The Wildlife Museum at Rolling Hills Zoo presents a ‘trip around the world’ via beautifully designed dioramas with full-size mounts. NEW this summer...20,000 sq ft Pride of the Prairie lion habitat!

The Garage is now open downtown! Salina is an enthusiastic ‘car town’, and this attraction speaks to the community and visitors alike. Check out the KKOA Museum and Hall of Fame for some 'kool kustom' cars. The current exhibit in the Crossroads Car Experience is "Muscle Car Wars" starring some of the beefiest machines of the 1960s and 1970s!

The St. John’s Military School Historical Museum opened in 2021 with a unique collection of SJMS memorabilia.

PUBLIC ART

Art is unavoidable in Salina, which is just how we like it! The SculptureTour Salina exhibit in our downtown core presents works on loan annually, with a fun People’s Choice component to choose art for the community to enjoy long term. Public parks and downtown spaces are adorned with creative and diverse murals, with MORE to come via the Salina Kanvas Project. Kanvas will utilize the exteriors of structures as mega-large canvases for murals by internationally recognized artists. The first, Mural at the Mill, is shown below, but MUST be experienced firsthand! Mark your calendar now for the BOOM! Salina Street Art & Mural Festival in October! Salina Arts and Humanities is a resource for more public art opportunities.

Featured Events

Equifest of Kansas

March 16 - 19, 2023

Featured Events

Spring Break: Go WILD

Rolling Hills Zoo

March 11 - 19, 2023

Mid America Farm Expo

Tony's Pizza Events Center

March 22, 23, 24, 2023

Three Dog Night

Stiefel Theatre |

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Salina events are diverse! First Walk, the SculptureTour Salin Party, theatre productions, c festivals, car shows, sports eve shows and, well, MORE are a many options available when y sure to add those to your Salin by visiting SalinaAE.com whe search by date, venue, or speci

E V E N T S

SHOPPING

After the primary reason for travel to any destination – an event, a meeting, sports tournament or to see family – the #1 activity of a visitor is usually eating, followed closely by SHOPPING! In The 67401, there are many opportunities for retail therapy! Quaint little specialty shops feature everything from clothing and home décor to kitchen gadgetry and sports equipment.

The South Salina shopping district is anchored by the Central Mall with several nationally branded stores like The Buckle, Glik's Boutique and Glik's Mens, a food court, cinema and the District Eat and Play fun center. Other favorites in the neighborhood include Brown’s Shoe Fit, and Kohl’s Department Store. For more info, visit the Business Directory of the Chamber’s website.

INTRODUCING... A NEW DOWNTOWN

While 2020 was a challenge in so many ways, a tremendous bright spot for the community of Salina was the completion of a beautiful, Art Deco-inspired, pedestrian friendly, and engaging streetscape throughout Downtown. Plazas, planters, benches, outdoor dining, public art, attractions, entertainment, light installations, and an exciting, welcoming vibe have become the heartbeat of the community!

Downtown is not just a pretty face! A unique collection of eclectic local retail shops and dining establishments make the trip downtown complete. From ladies’ apparel and gifts at PB&J and Sanity Boutique, to home décor at The Market Shop and Baron MushMouse, to hands on fun at On The Pot, and the gallery featuring regional artisans at The Flower Nook, Downtown will feed your retail need!

And speaking of feeding a need, check out the dining options across Salina...

Delectable Dining

# S A L I N A E A T S

Built up an appetite? Salina’s choices for dining are just as exciting, from local favorites to well-known branded restaurants. The pasta and chopped salad at Martinelli’s Little Italy are a tradition. Try a flight of craft beer with your brick oven pizza at Blue Skye Brewery & Eats. Celebrating a special night? Plan dinner at YaYa's Euro Bistro located at the Homewood Suites Downtown, or Daimaru Steak House, known for entertaining grill side service and yummy sushi. Fun stops like The Cozy Inn and Dagney’s Ice Cream, will satisfy your special cravings, or maybe mile-high pie at Bayard's Cafe.

DINING AL FRESCO IN SALINA!

Spring and Summer in Kansas can present some lovely opportunities for enjoying a meal, a cocktail, or a snack outdoors. And several of our eateries plan for just that experience. Some of the favorite outdoor dining options include:

Blue Skye Brewery and Eats creating a great selection of brick-oven pizza, paired with starters, salads, and craft brews.

Martinelli’s Little Italy takes their great service to the Santa Fe sidewalk for a glass of wine, fresh bruscetta and family style pasta. Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom boasts joined these local favorites downtown and offers a huge menu of both delicious food and refreshing brews.

Barolo Grille presents an accomplished menu for a very special dining experience, inside or outside. The unique YaYa's Euro Bistro features items not found elsewhere in Salina, wonderful bar service and staff. Get some of your favorite sandwiches and bar food at one of many local establishments that serve in the great outdoors as well, like The Voo, Chuck's Bar & Grill, Sandstone Saloon (Brookville) and the Paramount.

Coming soon and much anticipated is The Prickly Pear Grill & Cantina which will serve in their outdoor dining area that sits within the Campbell Plaza, complete with a stage for entertainment.

A Little Background...

Salina sprang from the fertile soil near the Smoky Hill, Saline and Solomon Rivers. In the mid-1860s, our legacy as a regional trade hub first began between Native Americans and immigrants from the east. Wholesale trade gave H.D. Lee (Lee Jeans) a start to his success. The Lee Buildings still stand downtown, and recently were converted into beautifully renovated loft dwellings. With the railroad came industrial growth, in industries from milling to manufacturing.

The population surged in the 1950s when the Smoky Hill Air Force Base (Schilling AFB) re-opened. The base closed in 1965, but Salina prospered with the development

of industry at our central and accessible location at the crossroads of I-70 and I-135.

Those aspects of the economy remain and continue to grow today. Salina produces everything from frozen pizza to agricultural and paving equipment. As a former AFB, we also benefit from an expansive airport area, Salina Airport Authority, which - along with Kansas State University-Salina - served as the launch and return site for the 2005 Global Flyer record setting flight by pilot and entrepreneur Steve Fossett. Fossett Plaza, a memorial to the late adventurer, stands near the flight line today. See more in the Transportation section.

Great Plains Mfg

Global Flyer landing, 2005

MEET& CONVENE

Visit Salina works with event planners to create customized service packages to address specific needs. The hospitality community understands those needs, and strive to exceed them with comfortable accommodations, great food and excellent service! As the meetings market evolves with COVID challenges, Salina venues follow guidelines to ensure the comfort and safety of your group remains a top priority.

Venues to accommodate groups from 5 to 5,000 attendees provide choices at varying price points and in diverse environments. What works for you? Perhaps it’s a retreat setting like that of Webster Conference Center; something unique like the Conference Center at Rolling Hills Zoo; the more traditional environment of a hotel and meeting space all under one roof such as the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center with 11,000 sq ft of meeting space and 97 rooms; or the versatile Arena and Great Plains Manufacturing Hall at the recently renovated Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

If you have a meeting or convention to plan, Salina wants to host it! Make your first contact Visit Salina’s Meeting and Military Manager, Jo Ann McClure. She knows this market, will brainstorm with you to create a truly unique and successful Salina experience. Be sure to ask Jo about a special rate we have for United flights into Salina Regional Airport for your delegates and VIPs! For a quick list of venues see our Meeting Facilities Guide. You can also submit an RFP to receive a proposal from Salina.

Hilton Garden Inn

District Eat & Play

Rolling Hills Zoo

TRANSPORTATION

Flight

Salina Regional Airport has the capability to land nearly any aircraft, with four runways: the primary at 12,300 feet, a 4,300 foot parallel, and crosswinds runways at 6,500 and 3,648 feet. More than 1.2 million square feet of aircraft parking apron is available.

The airport’s world class FBO, Avflight Salina, annually delivers aviation fuel to thousands of business jets and military aircraft. This has earned Salina the moniker, "America's Fuel Stop." The air traffic control tower is busy during the year with aircraft operations exceeding 90,000.

United Airlines provides daily scheduled passenger air service non-stop to Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Reservations can be made at www.united.com by calling 1-800UNITED.1 (800.864.8331), or by contacting your local travel agent.

While you are in the area of the Salina Regional Airport, be sure to stop and enjoy the beautiful monument at Fossett Plaza. This artwork is dedicated to aviator and adventurer Steve Fossett, who piloted the GlobalFlyer on its world record flight in 2005, which originated at this airfield in Salina!

GroundTransportation

Salina’s fixed-route bus system, CityGo, serves more than 80 percent of the city with safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation service. In partnership with the City of Salina and the Kansas Department of Transportation, OCCK operates and manages CityGo transit services, including a fleet of buses, 200 bus stops throughout Salina, and comprehensive accessibility.

CityGo spans the city from North to South and East to West with five routes, noted by colors on route maps and bus stops: red, blue, purple, green and yellow. There are six transfer points to make crossing from one line to the next fast and efficient.

Each bus is wheelchair accessible. CityGo buses feature a green, organic design that is clearly marked “CityGo” and can be easily spotted.

For specific information regarding maps, routes, fares and hours of operation, go to the CityGo website.

CarRental

Currently, these Chamber members provide car rental services: Conklin Cars Salina, Long McArthur, Inc., and Marshall Motor Company.