The city is nestled in the Flint Hills, so named for their bands of limestone and flint. The region, which remains largely untouched by the plow, includes the Konza Prairie. The Flint Hills are the largest remnants of tallgrass prairie on the continent; uncut or ungrazed, the native bluestem grasses can grow 8 feet high. A self-guiding hiking trail is open daily dawn to dusk and offers views of the tallgrass and limestone geology; a $2 trail fee is charged. No bikes or pets are allowed on the trail.
Kansas State Agricultural College, now Kansas State University, opened its doors in 1863; it was one of the first land-grant colleges in the nation. Tours of the more than 24,000-student campus are offered; phone (785) 532-6011.
Forty-five-acre City Park, on Poyntz Avenue between 11th and 14th streets, includes a pioneer log cabin, swimming pool, rose garden and a 30-foot statue of Johnny Kaw, a mythical Kansas wheat farmer. Tuttle Creek State Park offers 13,350 acres for sports, hunting and recreation, while Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake No. 2 offers 247 acres.
In late June, country music fans flock to Tuttle Creek State Park for the Country Stampede , a 4-day music festival featuring big-name country-music stars as well as food, shopping opportunities and exhibits.
Visitor Centers
Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau 501 Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502. Phone:(785)776-8829 or (800)759-0134
Shopping
Manhattan Town Center, at Third and Poyntz avenues, features Dillard's and JCPenney. Aggieville, near the Kansas State campus, is a mix of bars, restaurants and shops located within a six-square-block area that is the state’s first dedicated shopping district.
Things to Do
Flint Hills Discovery CenterKansas State University Insect Zoo
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art