Welcome to our 4th Annual Grandparents Guide to Fun!
By Teresa Schmied
At The Active Age, it’s our mission to educate, empower and entertain, and we believe this special section does just that. Inside, you’ll find a wonderful mix of local advertisers and out-of-town attractions — perfect for day trips or weekend adventures with your grandchildren.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our 2026 sponsors. Music Theatre Wichita has been a valued supporter since the very beginning—joining us for our first Grandparents Guide in 2024 and continuing to stand behind this publication each year. The
organization's generosity, including providing tickets for participating grandparents, helps create lasting memories for families.
A very special thank you to our newest sponsor, Wichita Public Library, for its generous financial support
We would also like to recognize Valley Print Logistics for their support as our print sponsor, helping ensure this guide reaches the hands of thousands of readers in our community.
A special thank you goes out to the families who contributed photos and stories of their “littles.” Your memories bring this publication to life.
Summer Reading at Wichita Public Library
What began as a simple idea has grown into a meaningful community tradition — one that brings generations together and celebrates the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. Putting this guide together is
truly a joy. As a grandmother to 11 grandchildren myself, I know first- hand that there is always something to do, somewhere to go and memories waiting to be made. Teresa Schmied is advertsing director at The Active Age.
May 21-July 30, 2026
Pre-Readers: Birth-K
Summer Reading at Wichita Public Library
Kids Read: Grades K-5
Teens Read: Grades 6-12
May 21-July 30, 2026
Pre-Readers: Birth-K
Kids Read: Grades K-5
Teens Read: Grades 6-12
May 21-July 30, 2026
Pre-Readers: Birth-K
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Andover Historical Museum
937 N Andover Rd, Andover
Augusta Historical Museum
303 State St, Augusta
Blast Off Bay
435 N Crowne Dr, Goddard
Botanica
701 Amidon St, Wichita
Butler County History Center & Kansas Oil Museum
383 E Central Ave, El Dorado
City Arts
334 N Mead, Wichita
Clearwater Historical Society
149 N 4th, Clearwater
Coutts Memorial Museum of Art
110 N Main St, El Dorado
Derby Historical Museum
710 E Market St, Derby
Douglass Historical Museum
318 S Forrest St, Douglass Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, 177 W Hickory St, Hesston Exploration Place
300 N McLean Blvd, Wichita
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 East 29th St N #2200, Wichita
Great Plains Transportation Museum
6232 East 29th St N #2200, Wichita
Halstead Historical Museum
116 E 1st St, Halstead
Harvey County Historical Society
203 N Main St, Newton
Wichita
and surrounding area attractions
Kansas Aviation Museum
3350 George Washington Blvd, Wichita
Kansas Firefighters Museum
1300 S Broadway St, Wichita
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
515 S. Wichita, Wichita
Kauffman Museum, North Newton
2801 N Main St, North Newton
Lake Afton Observatory
25000 W 39th St S., Goddard
Mark Arts
1307 N Rock Rd, Wichita McCormick School Museum
855 S Martinson St, Wichita
Mid-America All-Indian Museum
650 N Seneca St, Wichita
Mulvane Historical Museum
300 W Main St, Mulvane Museum of World Treasures
835 E 1st St N, Wichita
National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame
3700 E Douglass #70, Wichita
Old Cowtown Museum
1865 Museum Blvd, Wichita
Rolling Hills Zoo
625 N Hedville Rd, Salina
Rose Hill Historical Museum
106 S Main St, Rose Hill
Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 West Zoo Boulevard, Wichita
Sewing Histoy Museum
1230 N Waco, Wichita
Strataca
3504 E Avenue G, Hutchinson
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
1000 S Hawkins Ln, Goddard
The Garage-Educational Automotive
Museum of America City Arts
134 S 4th St, Salina
The Kansas African-American Museum
601 N Water St, Wichita
Towanda Area Historical Museum
401 Main St, Towanda
Ulrich Museum of Art
1845 Fairmount, Wichita
Warkentin House, Newton
211 E 1st St, Newton
Wichita Art Museum
1400 Museum Blvd, Wichita
Wichita Boat House
515 S Wichita, Wichita
Wichita Ice Center
505 W Maple St, Wichita
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
204 S Main St, Wichita
Wichita Toy Train Museum
130 S Laura Ave, Wichita
WWII History Center
119 W. Central in downtown El Dorado
13th St Sports Park
1008 E 13th St., Andover
Andover Central Park
1607 E Central Ave Andover
Athletic Park
700 W 1st St, Newton
Brown Thrush Park
533 N Country Acres, Wichita
Buffalo Park Water Playground
10201 Hardtner Road, Wichita
Caperland Park
1501 E 9th, Newton
Castle Park
2923 Ohio #2829, Augusta
Chapin Park
2400 E MacArthur Rd, Wichita Central Riverside Park
720 Nims, Wichita
College Hill Park
304 S Circle Dr, Wichita
Dalton Palmer Park
612 State St., Augusta
Dorner Park
400 W 79th St S., Haysville
Dr. Glen Dey Park (Grove Park)
2801 N. Grove, Wichita
Eastborough Park
33 Willowbrook Rd, Eastborough Edgemoor Park
5815 E. 9th, Wichita
Playgrounds and parks for kids in and around Wichita
Evergreen Park Splash Pad
2700 Woodland N, Wichita
Friends at Watson Park
3022 S McLean Blvd, Wichita
Goddard Linear Park
108 N Main, Goddard
Herman Hill Park
101 E Pawnee, Wichita
High Park
2801 E. James Derby
Kechi Park
442 N Oliver, Kechi
Kiwanas Park
5101 W 2nd St N, Wichita
Lincoln Park
400 W 6th St., Newton
Lions Park
316 S Abilene, Valley Center
L.W. Clapp Memorial Park
4611 E Harry, Wichita
Madison Avenue Central Park
722 N Derby, Derby Main Park
1000 N. Main El Dorado
Maize City Park
401 S Khedive, Maize
McLaughlin Park
716 McLaughlin Dr, Valley Center
Oak Park
1100 W 11th St N, Wichita
Orchard Acres
1200 E Dirck, Haysville
Orchard Park
4808 W 9th St N, Wichita
Osage Park
2121 W. 31st Street S., Wichita
O.J. Watson Park
3022 S. Mclean Boulevard, Wichita
Pawnee Prairie Park
2625 S. Tyler Wichita
Quail Creek Park
500 S Quail Ct, Newton
Respit Park
100 Random Rd
Riggs Park
706 Sarah Ln, Haysville
Rivers Bank Orchard Park
2911 E 43rd Ave, Hutchinson
Riverside Park
720 Nims N, Wichita
Schweiter Park
900 Chautauqua, Wichita
Sedgwick County Park
6501 W. 21st St., North Wichita
Summit Park- El Dorado
201 N. High El Dorado
Sycamore Park
3637 W 15th St. N., Wichita
Warren Riverview Park
321 W Mkt St, Derby
W.B. Harrison Park
1300 S Webb Rd, Wichita
Simple ways to share your stories with your grandchildren
By Jill Wilson
When I was in fourth grade, my grandmother and I sat at her kitchen table on a rainy afternoon while she taught me to play gin rummy. She told me how when she was growing up, after it rained, their dirt yard was full of puddles. She and her brother would have huge water fights with the neighborhood kids, using buckets to scoop the water up out of the puddles and throw it on each other. Afterward, her mother made them wash off in the cow tank before they were allowed inside.
When you spend time with your grandchildren this summer, look for opportunities to share a little bit of your history with them. You don’t have to plan it. The best stories can come out of everyday moments, and they don’t have to feel especially deep or meaningful. In fact, lighter moments —a funny memory or detail from everyday life —a re often the ones kids enjoy most.
When something in your grandchild’s world connects to your past, that’s your opportunity. A visit to
the pool could spark a memory, like, “In the summertime, my friends and I spent all day at the pool. There was a tall high dive, and we would dare each other to jump. My stomach fluttered when I climbed the ladder and stood on the edge of the board, looking down before I jumped. One time my friend tried diving and did a belly flop — she never did that again!”
Memories connected to something tangible — like a quilt, family recipe, or a piece of furniture — can make a lasting impression. “My mother rocked me in this chair when I was a baby” or “When I was your age, these were my favorite cookies.”
Let these moments be part of a conversation. While it may seem like the big events in your life are the most important, it’s often the ordinary details that are the most interesting. Tread carefully when drawing comparisons between then and now. It’s easy to fall into a “Back in my day…” way of saying things. If a memory starts to sound like a lecture, kids will tune out — even if there’s a good story hiding underneath.
Sharing your stories isn’t just
about preserving memories. It’s a way of building connection with your grandchildren and giving them a sense of where they come from. Young children may not show much interest at first. That’s normal. Often, it’s not until children grow older that they recognize the value of their family’s stories. The goal is
to share small pieces of your life as part of your time together. As your relationship grows, those moments will add up. And over time, they may become some of the most meaningful ones you share.
Jill Wilson is owner of Personal Legacy Memoirs.
Wichita and surrounding area pools
Aley Park Swimming Pool
1800 S. Seneca, Wichita Andale City Swimming Pool
350 Sherman St, Andale Augusta KS Municipal Pool
1501 Dearborn St., Augusta Bel Aire City Pool
7350 E Central Park Ave, Bel Aire
Buhler Public Swimming Pool
501 Parkside Dr., Buhler
Clear Water Aquatics
145 N 4th, Clearwater
College Hill Pool
304 S. Circle Dr., Wichita
Douglass Kansas Pool
301 E 5th St., Douglass El Dorado Municipal Pool
900 N. Taylor St., El Dorado
Goddard Community Pool
200 S. Main, Goddard Halstead Swimming Pool
300 North St., Halstead
Harvest Park Swimming Pool
9500 W. Provincial, Wichita
Haysville Community Pool
525 Sarah Lane, Haysville Hesston Aquatic Center
300 N Ridge Rd, Hesston McAfee Public Pool
1240 E 14th St. N., Wichita Minisa Swimming Pool
1350 N. Jeanette, Wichita Mulvane Swimming Pool
990 E. 111th St. South, Mulvane Newton Pool
401 Santa Fe St., Newton Orchard Park Pool
1062 N. Clara, Wichita Salt City Splash Aquatics
1601 S Plum, Hutchinson Sedgwick Community Pool
403 N Franklin, Sedgwick Towanda City Pool
2405 SW River Valley Rd, Towanda Valley Center Swimming Pool
255 E Allen St., Valley Center
Wellington Family Aquatic Center
1101 W Harvey Ave, Wellington
Splash pads
Andover 13th Street Sports Park
1008 E 13th St, Andover
Augusta KS Splash Pad
2923 Ohio St. #2829, Augusta
Boston Park Splash Pad
6655 E. Zimmerly St., Wichita
Buffalo Park Water Playground
10201 Hardtner Road, Wichita
Edgemoor Splash Park
5815 E 9th St N, Wichita
Evergreen Park Splash Pad
2700 Woodland N, Wichita
Fairmount Splash Park
1647 N. Yale St. Wichita
Haysville Splash Pad
525 Sarah Ln, Haysville
Rock River Rapids
Idlewild Park Splash Pad
2937 Oaklawn Dr., Wichita
KS Firefighters Memorial Park
1323 S. Topeka, Wichita
Madison Avenue Central Park
722 N Derby, Derby
Maize Splash Pad
401 Khedive, Maize
Osage Splash Park
2121 W. 31st Street S., Wichita
Riverside Central Park
720 Nims, Wichita
Valley Center Splash Pad
716 McLaughlin, Valley Center
W.B. Harrison Park
1300 S Webb Rd, Wichita
Wichita area water parks
1900 E. James Street, Derby, Kansas 67037
The Greater Wichita YMCA Waterparks
•Andover YMCA, 1115 E US Highway 54, Andover, 67002, 733-9622
•North Wichita YMCA, 3330 N Woodlawn, Wichita, 67220, 858-9622
•Northwest Wichita YMCA, 13838 W 21st St N, Wichita, 67235, 260-9622
•South Wichita YMCA, 3405 S Meridian Ave, Wichita, 67217, 942-5511
Walking and bike trails
Sedgwick County Park
Redbud Trail
Swanson Park Loop
Pawnee Prairie Nature Park
Meadows Park
Great Plains Nature Center
Chisholm Creek Park
Indoor Great Plains Nature Center
Oak Park Trail
South Lake Loop W B Harrison Park
• Advanced Learning Library
• Aloft Wichita
• B-29 Doc Hangar
• Berry Companies (x2)
• Berry Material Handling
• Bradley Fair Shopping Center
• Buffalo Park
• Cambridge Market
• Cargill Protein Headquarters
• Carson Bank
• Clapp Memorial Park
• Clifton Square Village
• Credit Union of America
• College Hill Park
• Colvin Elementary
• Cox Machine
• Cozine Life Events Center
• Dold Foods
• Douglas & Washington
Look for the Keepers on Parade around Wichita
• Dr. Glen Dey Park
• Eastview Park
• Envision
• Emprise Bank
• Exploration Place
• Evergy
• Fairmount Park
• Fidelity Bank
• First Tee of Greater Wichita
• Former Wichita Eagle Building
• Friends University
• Hall's Culligan of Wichita
• Hotel At Old Town
• House of Schwan
• Hutton
• ICTeeth Pediatric Dentistry
• INTRUST Bank
• INTRUST Bank Arena (x2)
• JR Custom Metal Products
• Kansas Perio & Dental Implants
• KSN-TV
• KU School of Medicine-Wichita
• KWCH
• Law Offices of Morris Laing
• Learning Lab Wichita
• Lincoln Heights Village Shopping Center
• Marriott International
• McConnell AFB Visitor's Center
• McCurdy Real Estate & Auction
• Medical Society of Sedgwick County
• Mid-America All-Indian Center
• Minisa Park
• NetApp
• Old Cowtown Museum
• Orchard Park
• Osage Park
• PepsiCo
• Planet Fitness (x2)
• Pracht Wetlands Park
• Prairie Ridge Animal Hospital
• Rainbows United Inc
• Scheels
• Stucky Middle School
• Sedgwick County Zoo
• Stryker Sports Complex
• The Looking Glass
• The Monarch
• The Workroom
• Transitions Group
• West Douglas Park
• Wichita City Hall
• Wichita East High School
• Wichita Heights High School
• Wichita Northeast Magnet School
• Wichita Public Schools Administration
• Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Wichita South High School
• Wichita Southeast High School
• Wichita State University
• Wichita Symphony Orchestra
• Wichita West High School
• White Star Machinery
Explore the Wild Side of Wichita
A day at the Zoo is more than just a visit—it’s a shared adventure filled with wonder, laughter, and moments that become core memories. Explore each new habitat, make new discoveries, and spark curiosity that lasts long after the day is done. Spend time together and visit Sedgwick County Zoo today!