Quality of Life

Hutchinson has a high quality of life, in part, because we have the amenities of a big city, while offering residents a friendly community in which to live, work, and raise their family. Our attractions draw tourists from around the area and there is always something fun to do in Hutchinson. We invite you to visit and to discover why so many families are calling our community home.

Attractions

Hutchinson is a premier destination for families living in the entire region. With numerous attractions and opportunities for entertainment, locals always have something to do and visitors regularly come to town to catch a game, watch a show, attend a gallery opening, shop, or dine.  Some of our popular attractions include:

Cosmosphere

Visitors to the Greater Hutchinson area can easily spend days exploring all that this Smithsonian-affiliated museum has to offer. Permanent exhibits include the Hall of Space Museum, Justice Planetarium, and Dr. Goddard's Lab. The Cosmosphere presents an incredible opportunity for visitors to learn about science, space, and the world around them. This is truly a state-of-the-art museum and destination for people living in Kansas and the surrounding states. Throughout the year, children are invited to participate in various STEM-education opportunities, along with adventurous summer camps. Here, eager young minds can learn how to turn concepts into reality with hands-on exploration and application of scientific theories. Learn more or register here.

Hutchinson Sports Arena

Visit the Hutchinson Sports Arena, a mecca for junior college basketball, local sports teams, and tournaments. We invite you to visit Hutch to watch the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament or the Blue Dragon men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball teams. With seating for 6,500, the Sports Arena can host other large events, concerts, and conventions. The Sports Arena has recently undergone a $29.5-million renovation to improve the building’s infrastructure, add three more practice gyms, and prepare it to host the 2017, 2018 and 2019 NJCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Champion. If you enjoy a good game, it’s time to Visit Hutch.

Hutchinson Zoo

Come explore the Hutchinson Zoo where you can ride the Prairie Thunder train – a historic train that children and adults enjoy riding.  While here, visitors can explore animal habitats, discover native birds and beavers in the aviary, get up close and personal with prairie dogs through specially designed tunnels, and meet animals on our mini farm. Children looking to play can step out of the exhibits and into a play area designed for Dinosaurs and archeologists. Children can uncover fossils in the Dinosaur Dig area and zip down a slide designed for adventurers.

Best of all – it’s open year-round and admission to the Hutchinson Zoo is FREE!.

STRATACA

650-feet underground is one of the most unique attractions you can find. Visit the Strataca to explore one of the largest salt deposits in the world. Here, you can explore environs carved from salt deposits formed more than 275 million years ago and participate on tours that showcase what life is like for minors underground. You won’t believe what is down here! Everything from a working train to historic cars and even relics from Hollywood blockbusters are waiting for you underground.

Explore Our Many Attractions

These are just a few of the many attractions that draw people to Hutchinson ever year. We invite you to Visit Hutch and explore them all.

Arts

Hutchinson has a vibrant arts community where citizens are regularly contributing to the depth of artistic culture found here. From local community theaters like the Family Community Theatre and Stage 9, to national acts performing at the Historic Fox Theater, along with public art visible throughout the city, Hutchinson has invested heavily in the arts and our community is deeply engaged in keeping the arts flourishing. Another venue, the Hutchinson Art Center, features both national and local art exhibits, drawing visitors from across the region. It is an excellent venue for those wishing to further their art education and anyone desiring to view works created by local artists. 

Love for the arts is interwoven into the fabric of the Hutchinson community. The arts create opportunities for exploration, for learning, for growth, and for fun. If you are interested in joining a vibrant art community, we invite you to come explore and to discover Why Hutch.

Recreation

If you love the great outdoors, you will enjoy spending time in Hutchinson and the surrounding area. Our corner of the world is truly stunning and with so many recreational opportunities, there is something to do year round. We invite you to join us to start exploring.

Some of our many recreational opportunities include:

Hiking and Biking

Over twelve miles of hiking and biking trails, perfect for adventurers and families alike.

Dillon Nature Center

This 100-acre Urban Sanctuary features 300 species of woody plants, hundreds of varieties of wildflowers and native grasses, 200 species of birds, and a large variety of other wildlife along three miles of National Recreation trails. There is also a free Visitor’s Center, fully-stocked fishing pond, outdoor play areas, and educational programs that run throughout the year. 

Golfing

If walking the course or working on your backswing is your idea of a good time, you will never want to leave Hutchinson. We have incredible golf courses here, including the legendary links of Prairie Dunes. Prairie Dunes is ranked 24th nationally by Golf Digest and 25th worldwide by Golf Magazine. In addition, the eighth hole was named “the best eighth hole in the country” by Sports Illustrated. In addition, the Hutchinson area is home to four other courses, some of which have club houses with amenities like swimming and tennis.

We invite you to Visit Hutch for a weekend golf outing or to relocate here and enjoy our many golf courses year round. With an average annual temperature of 55 degrees, it is possible to comfortably play golf throughout the year.

 

Swimming

Hutchinson is home to waterparks, including the 6-acre Salt City Splash Aquatic Center. Featuring two large slides, a 50-meter pool, diving boards and a small tots area, the entire family can have a day of adventure swimming and playing in Hutchinson.

Cheney State Park also features swimming beaches and a lake for boating and fishing. With on-site camping, this is an excellent destination for families looking to take a summer vacation or just get away for the weekend.

These are just a few of the many opportunities for recreation available in Hutchinson. To explore them all, Visit Hutch.