Salina Visitors Guide

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! Their newest exhibit - Pride of the Prairie - is home to their lion residents, and provides up close and personal interaction!

FAMILY FUN

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, and volleyball, just to name a few. Great facilities include Tony's Pizza Events Center (TPEC), Salina Fieldhouse multiple golf courses, Salina Soccer Complex, The Yard, Dean Evans Stadium, and more!

NEW facilities...the Salina Tennis Center, a 12 court outdoor lighted facility with practice wall, pavillion and spectator space is the place for all ages and all levels to play. It is open for private lessons, tournaments and the public. Clubhouse Golf Salina, LLC is the place to play rain or shine. This indoor bay style facility provides real time golf with accurate feedback. Play over 200 courses or practice putting and driving. Open year around with walk-in and membership options. Also, on the horizon 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.

PARKS PARKS

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!

SALINA KANSAS

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

Salina Art Center features contemporary exhibitions and programming that sets it apart, PLUS an Art Cinema showing indie films. Be sure to check out what’s happening at their “make space” at the SAC 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. Visitors easily discover something new with each visit to the Wildlife Museum.

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. Exhibits change every few months, so be sure to visit often!

The St. John’s Military School Historical Museum opened in 2021 with a unique collection SJMS memorabili The exhibit is loca on the former cam in Linger Hall at 1 Avenue in North

ARTS THE

Performance...

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.

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! Murals, and sculptures, and neon...OH YES!!!

Salina's vibrant arts culture becomes more and more evident! We like to say that 'art is unavoidable' here, and that is just part of why we LOVE SALINA!

SculptureTour Salina unveiled their first exhibit in the spring of 2010. Each year artists from across the U.S. submit original work to be considered by a jury. Those accepted are brought to Salina to be part of the outdoor exhibit in Downtown, from the first Saturday of May when artists come to help with the UNwrap of the exhibit, until the following mid-April. Visitors and residents alike can vote for their favorite piece until the end of the year. The winner is purchased by the City to remain here, on public view.

Incredible murals created by local, regional, and international artists are a big part of the landscape of downtown Salina. The Salina Kanvas Project has made many of these possible, starting with Mural at the Mill shown to the left. The legacy continues through BOOM! Salina, an October event that brings muralists from around the globe here to create incredible work . In 2022, Salina Arts & Humanities worked with local and regional artists who created unique murals located downtown on 5th Street.

Public art is an essential part of Salina's landscape throughout the community. Find out more at salinaart.com.

Neon brightens our main street - Santa Fe Avenue - at night, and is a main feature of our recent downtown redevelopment. Live entertainment is often found at one of the downtown stages as well.

PUBLICART

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 utilizes the exteriors of structures as megalarge canvases for murals by internationally recognized artists. The first, Mural at the Mill, has become a favorite...moving toward being an icon here. 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. Salina Art Interactive Google Map

Featured Events

SculptureTour Salina UNWRAP PARTY

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Salina Downtown

11am – 1pm

Come vote for your favorite!

Featured Events

Smoky Hill River Festival

June 13 - 16, 2024

Oakdale Park

Barenaked Ladies

November 2, 2024

Stiefel Theatre

Tickets now on sale!

Salina events are diverse Walk, the SculptureTour Party, theatre producti festivals, car shows, spor shows and, well, MORE many options available w sure to add those to you by visiting SalinaAE.com search by date, venue, or

EVENTS

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 Glik's, a food court, cinema and the District Eat and Play fun center. Other favorites in the neighborhood include Brown’s Shoe Fit, Kohl’s Department Store, and Buckle. For more info, visit the Business Directory of the Chamber’s website.

www.VisitSalinaKS.org

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. Discover ladies’ apparel and gifts at PB&J, Blushe Boutique and Sanity Boutique, home décor at The Market Shop and Baron MushMouse, cool cooking fun at Apron Strings, blingy, sparkly yumminess at Vernon's Jewelers and hands on fun at On The Pot. 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

Click here for a quick printable dining list

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 by HiltonDowntown, 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 or Russell's Restaurant.

Burgers. Arguably one of America's favorite mealtime choices. Whether you prefer cheese only or all the works, hot n spicy or traditional, a sack full of sliders or a meal size selection, you will find YOUR burger here in Salina! We couldn't possibly feature all of the burger options Salina has to offer, so we decided to introduce you to just a few favorites.

No Salina burger blog could be complete without the Cozy Inn Hamburgers - Buy 'Em By the Sack slider style burgers. This six-stool hamburger stand just celebrated their 100th birthday in 2022. These 'aromatic' little gems come one way - grilled with onion, no cheese, on a bun with pickle and ketchup.

Paramount Bar likes to mix it up with burger specials not from the menu My favorite the Royal Blue, featuring bacon, BOTH blue cheese crumbles AND an incredible blue cheese sauce - put it on thick please!

There are unique burger options at Chuck's Bar & Grill Check out the Big Smoky 1/3 lb fresh Angus beef, topped with bacon, beef brisket, cheddar cheese and Jack Daniels sauce. YUM!

Blue Skye Brewery & Eats is known for its brick oven pizza, but their excellent burgers hold their own! And you can substitute a 6 oz chicken breast for the 1/3 lb burger if that's your thing Our pick the burger topped with pepperjack cheese, bacon, chipotle aoli, pickles, siracha and...peanut butter. Yep, it's a keeper!

Great Plains Mfg

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.

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.

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.