Wichita's Sought-After Neighborhood Charms With Walkable Streets And Quaint Local Eats

The Midwest is an often underrated area, but it's full of pleasant surprises for anyone willing to check it out. Take Kansas: Is it even in the Midwest, or is it part of the Great Plains? Does the answer matter? According to a study by Emerson College Polling and the Middle West Review, 91.2% of Kansans say yes, they're part of the Midwest. While that may be a controversial opinion in some circles, Kansans clearly disagree. Regardless, the state has some honest-to-goodness cities like Wichita, which enjoys one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S. If walkable neighborhoods just steps from both downtown and tasty local restaurants are what you're after, then Wichita's College Hill neighborhood should be on your radar.

Derby may be Wichita's largest suburb, and nearby El Dorado has its fun lake vibes, but both are still a 20-30 minute drive from downtown Wichita. Meanwhile, the College Hill neighborhood is only 10 minutes by car. Better yet, you can take the bus, bike, or even walk the 3 miles into downtown for a more environmentally-friendly alternative. Everything else you might need (including parks and dining) is inside the community's boundaries. This single-square-mile neighborhood features tree-lined streets, historic homes, local dining, and College Hill Park.

College Hill has been considered a desirable neighborhood since it first came into being in the late 1800s. The area sits on higher ground than downtown, typically putting it out of reach of floods from the Arkansas River. Because of that, many of the early city's rich and powerful built their homes in College Hill. Trees were planted, roads were built, and even a streetcar ferried passengers up the hill.

Today, over a dozen of these historic homes are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House, the only Wright home in Kansas. Guided tours of the Allen House are available. You could also stroll the tree-lined streets of the residential areas for free to admire the other historic homes. They're easily walkable from the two main shopping areas on either side of the neighborhood, Lincoln Heights Village on the east and Clifton Square on the west.

College Hill Park was originally meant to be the location of a college, but when building plans didn't materialize after an economic bust, the name still stuck for the neighborhood. The space then became Wichita's first golf course, which was eventually abandoned and converted into a public park. Today, College Hill Park features walking trails, a swimming pool, a basketball court, shuffleboard courts, and lighted tennis courts. Free street parking is available around the perimeter of the park.

College Hill has a variety of local restaurants for delectable eats, many of them open throughout the day. Choose your vibe, but know that you can't really go wrong here. For breakfast, try Livingston's Cafe for diner vibes or Larcher's Market if you need an all-day breakfast option. Larcher's Market also offers coffee, lunch, and cocktails, all from local vendors only. It's a great spot for quick bites or drinks throughout the day.

For lunch, there are all the staples: burgers at Dempsey's Burger Pub, pizza at Ziggy's Pizza, and sandwiches and other Mediterranean fare at College Hill Deli, all just a few blocks from College Hill Park for a pleasant pre- or post-lunch stroll. For an upscale dinner, consider Georges French Bistro, Vora Restaurant European, or The Belmont. All three options have gorgeously decorated interiors and elegant menus, but The Belmont doesn't take reservations unless you have a group of six or more. Plan accordingly.

Don't forget dessert! College Hill has your sugar fix covered. Andy's Frozen Custard offers frozen custard mixers, Frost has baked treats as well as traditional ice cream options, and Papa's Ice Cream Shop has over-the-top extreme shakes and mixed sodas.