After living in Manhattan Kansas for almost 21 years, it's hard to find activities to occupy your summer, all 100 days of summer. I'm sure us "townies" could use a little inspiration along with others who decide to visit the Little Apple, so why not make a summer bucket list? Here's some known and not so known treasures of the place we call home.
1. Varsity Donuts
If not the best donuts in town, these are definitely the most creative. They’ve got bacon donuts, cookie monster donuts, and Oreo donuts. You name it, they have it.
2. Manhattan Hill
You can see for miles and miles across Manhattan, not to mention the trails that follow the hill that are just waiting to be traveled.
3. Shopping on Pontz Avenue
Restaurants, boutiques, jewelry stores, book stores and so much more lay along Manhattan’s historic Pontz Avenue.
4. Aggieville
Bars, restaurants, book stores, ice cream, and coffee shops, oh my! Aggieville is another great business district for college students, high schoolers, K-State enthusiasts or anyone looking for a variety of places to spend an afternoon. This is also the home of Straight Upp Creative Studio if you’re feeling a little creative one afternoon.
5. Tuttle Creek State Park
Tuttle Creek offers places for disc golf, fishing, boating, camping and much more. This is a perfect place to spend a day, if not a weekend relaxing and enjoying the closest thing to a beach Kansas has to offer.
6. Sunset Zoo
Wanting to travel without the cost of traveling? Sunset Zoo is the perfect place to spend an afternoon admiring the numerous animals. There’s nothing like walking with the kangaroos and making faces with the monkeys to brighten up your summer.
7. Konza Prairie
The beautiful Konza Prairie can be viewed from a lookout spot right off of I-70 or on the Konza Prairie Nature Trail.
8. Locked Manhattan
Feeling a little like an escape artist? Locked Manhattan is the perfect place to spend an afternoon to spend team building with coworkers or just with friends. Here you’ll face a challenge to solve puzzles and figure out various clues before time runs out!
9. Downtown Farmer's Market
Tents with baked goods, vegetables, flowers, decorations, clothes, sauces and much more line the parking lots throughout town on Saturday mornings, Monday evenings and Wednesday evenings. You don’t want to miss out on these treats!
10. Wildwood Outdoor Adventure Park
Always wanted to Zipline? Manhattan now offers a place to do just that, so of course it had to be put on the Little Apple Bucket List!
11. Arts in the Park
Held in City Park, Arts in the Park offers a summer concert series every Friday night of the summer starting June 3 at 8:00 pm. It’s a perfect way to relax after a busy week of work or summer adventures.
12. Green Apple Bikes
A new form of public transportation in Manhattan allows citizens to get around town and enjoy the beautiful sites of town and the weather all at the same time. With bike stations all across the city, it’s easy to find your wheels.
13. Sparrow Specialty Coffee
An afternoon at a coffee shop is a great way to spend an afternoon in the summer, if not many, many afternoons. Sparrow Specialty Coffee is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday Manhattan and enjoy a great cup of coffee at the same time.
14. Bowling
Two great places, Little Apple Lanes and the K-State Union offer great places to spend an afternoon perfecting that spin you’ve been working on for years or to pick up a new hobby!
15. Frank Anneberg Park
This park has everything from batting cages to softball fields to mini golf to a place to feed the ducks. It even has a playground with houses built just for a good game of hide-and-seek or tag!
16. Manhattan River Trails
This river trail follows the Kansas River and offers a great place for kayaking, biking or hiking. Pictures don’t do this trail justice!
17. Riley County Fair
Usually in late July, the Riley County Fair offers a rodeo, a carnival full of funnel cakes, games and rides, and animal showings all in one place.
