Wichita's Largest Suburb Is A Growing Kansas Community With A Free Splash Pad, Shopping, And Green Parks

If your family is looking for a full-sized dose of suburban Americana, Derby, Kansas might be just the ticket. It is one of top five fastest growing cities in Kansas. As the largest suburb of the bustling and wildly underrated Wichita, which boasts one of the country's lowest costs of living, Derby offers the classic suburban amenities like easy-to-access shopping, manicured parks, and entertainment for kids and adults. If you see nothing else, you've got to check out Field Station: Dinosaurs, a unique place for kids and adults to play and learn about dinosaurs. But if you just come for that, you'll be missing out on a load of fun for the whole family.

As a Wichita suburb, Derby is a common place for city-dwellers to come for shopping, food, and parks. Folks from a little outside the city may find the drive well worth it for a day trip to experience the variety of green space, activities, and shopping. Even further outside of Wichita are the more sparse, rural areas of western Kansas, northern Oklahoma, and even eastern Colorado and southern Nebraska, which means Wichita and Derby may be one of the closest destinations for the full suburban experience, and an especially ideal weekend road trip destination for families. As an out-of-towner flying in, Derby is about three hours from Kansas City (an underrated city with vibrant nightlife known as the "Paris of the Plains"), or only 19 minutes from Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, which means that this can be a great add-on to a Kansas City trip, or a fantastic addition to the city experience in Wichita.

The most noteworthy part of Derby may be the unique family attraction Field Station: Dinosaurs. For just $15 you can explore 10 acres of trails with moving, realistic dinosaurs, see shows, dig fossils, and play 18 holes of mini-golf. It is a can't-miss for kids and a whimsical day of fun for adults who love dinos. The Rock River Rapids aquatic park is also a highly-rated spot that attracts people from across Wichita and surrounding areas and comes in at $9-10 (free for kids 2 and under). The park includes slides, a lazy river, and a beach-entry pool throughout the summer. Beyond the unique dino park and aquatics, Derby has the classic suburban attractions as well as some modern twists. Let's Roll Derby offers both bowling and an arcade, there is a movie theater, and at Sandbox you can get food between games of volleyball, cornhole, and pickleball. You can also check out the city's Third Thursdays for local art, food, and entertainment.

Beyond these classic attractions and must-see spots, Derby offers you options for any budget. The multiple free parks throughout the city mean that you can find a walking trail or playground equipment with ease. The best park for walking trails is High Park, which has two miles of paved path, and Warren Riverview Park offers water access for kayaking, while Madison Central Park offers the best playground with a splashpad. If you've got some extra cash on hand or you need to grab some essentials, you can get a full day of shopping in as well. Common suburban chain stores like TJ Maxx, Kohl's, and Maurice's are plentiful, as well as some unique finds like Derby Marketplace, HTeaO, and New Age Center. And there are plenty of grocery stores, too, if you want a picnic in one of the several parks.

Derby's food scene isn't too diverse, and the nightlife is minimal, but it does have some fun and unique places. Layali offers an upscale Mediterranean menu that is comparable to menus you might see in a much bigger city, and there are more restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the city. If you're on the lookout for breweries with relaxed vibes, top-rated First Man Brewery is the perfect spot to get a taste of local life, sit back, and have a cold one. Remember that Derby is a suburb, so experiencing more of Wichita can definitely enhance your stay. For foodies, Wichita's up-and-coming food scene can add variety and fun for your palate. For overnight stays, Derby has a handful of hotels that are moderately priced and comfortable, but Wichita has a lot more options.

Wichita and Derby are heavily car-dependent. While there are buses, service is slow, and walking and biking trails throughout the city often require bus rides to connect. If you're flying in, setting up a rental or planning for ride-sharing is likely a must. 

If you are a stargazers or astronomy enthusiast, a trip even further outside the city may be well worth it. The Afton Observatory is about 30 minutes outside of Derby by car in Goddard and offers views of the night sky unobstructed by city lights. Even further outside the city, locals recommend Cowley County State Fishing Lake and Fall River Lake for a clear view of the sky. For more stargazing in the region, one of the world's last remaining tallgrass prairies is also a top-rated place to see the stars is just ninety minutes away, and Colorado's darkest town is a hidden gem for stargazing if you're further west and open to a longer trip through Denver.