Guidebook for Manhattan

Cyndi
Guidebook for Manhattan

Food Scene

Local favorite! Very busy on weekends, so get there early.
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The Chef
111 S 4th St
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Local favorite! Very busy on weekends, so get there early.
Excellent Mexican food in a casual dining setting. Less than 1 mile from my house; only a 15 minute walk!
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La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
2301 Tuttle Creek Blvd
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Excellent Mexican food in a casual dining setting. Less than 1 mile from my house; only a 15 minute walk!
The Hy-vee Market Grill is inside the Hy-vee grocery store, and is just a 5 min drive from my house. They have a diverse menu and super friendly staff. There is also a bar. Burger lovers should try the Mac-n-Cheese burger or the Hy-waiian burger (can you say candied bacon??? yes please!). Daily specials listed outside the door. They also do online ordering and curbside pick-up!
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Hy-Vee
601 N 3rd Pl
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The Hy-vee Market Grill is inside the Hy-vee grocery store, and is just a 5 min drive from my house. They have a diverse menu and super friendly staff. There is also a bar. Burger lovers should try the Mac-n-Cheese burger or the Hy-waiian burger (can you say candied bacon??? yes please!). Daily specials listed outside the door. They also do online ordering and curbside pick-up!
Bread rolls with cinnamon-honey butter. Unlimited and free. That is my favorite reason to go to the Roadhouse, since I'm not a big steak-eater. However, I find the steaks to be very affordable and delicious. If you've never been to Roadhouse, be forewarned that patrons are encouraged to eat peanuts from a giant barrel and discard the shells on the floor. The restaurant is only 5 min from my house.
Texas Roadhouse
200 Manhattan Town Center
Bread rolls with cinnamon-honey butter. Unlimited and free. That is my favorite reason to go to the Roadhouse, since I'm not a big steak-eater. However, I find the steaks to be very affordable and delicious. If you've never been to Roadhouse, be forewarned that patrons are encouraged to eat peanuts from a giant barrel and discard the shells on the floor. The restaurant is only 5 min from my house.
Maple bacon bar, the Cookie Monster donut, and the Flat Tire donut are my favorites. Decadent and delicious. They have a large selection of board games and coloring books you can enjoy while snarfing down your entire day's worth of calories. Sometimes there is live music. It's a pretty happenin' spot on weekend mornings, so be prepared for a long line (it's worth it!)
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Varsity Donuts
704 N Manhattan Ave
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Maple bacon bar, the Cookie Monster donut, and the Flat Tire donut are my favorites. Decadent and delicious. They have a large selection of board games and coloring books you can enjoy while snarfing down your entire day's worth of calories. Sometimes there is live music. It's a pretty happenin' spot on weekend mornings, so be prepared for a long line (it's worth it!)

Entertainment & Activities

Just a 10 min drive from my house, Sunset Zoo is an AZA accredited zoological park. You can view the entire zoo in just 1 or 2 hours, and it is open 7 days a week, 360 days a year! You will love watching the gibbons (lesser apes from Asia) swing around in their brand new outdoor habitat! Check out the huge claws on the Giant Anteater, who shares his home with a Maned Wolf! Walk freely among wallabies and say hello to the resident emu on the Australia Trail!
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Sunset Zoo
2333 Oak St
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Just a 10 min drive from my house, Sunset Zoo is an AZA accredited zoological park. You can view the entire zoo in just 1 or 2 hours, and it is open 7 days a week, 360 days a year! You will love watching the gibbons (lesser apes from Asia) swing around in their brand new outdoor habitat! Check out the huge claws on the Giant Anteater, who shares his home with a Maned Wolf! Walk freely among wallabies and say hello to the resident emu on the Australia Trail!
Bugs are cool! For only $3/person, spend an hour at the K-State Insect Zoo, where you'll find a huge collection of creepy crawlies arranged in fun exhibits. The staff is VERY knowledgeable and super happy to answer all your questions about spiders and insects. Sometimes there are tarantulas for sale, should you be inspired to take one home (check travel restrictions first before buying)! There is also a small gift shop. When you're done, walk through the University Gardens located right outside the door.
K-State Insect Zoo
1500 Denison Ave
Bugs are cool! For only $3/person, spend an hour at the K-State Insect Zoo, where you'll find a huge collection of creepy crawlies arranged in fun exhibits. The staff is VERY knowledgeable and super happy to answer all your questions about spiders and insects. Sometimes there are tarantulas for sale, should you be inspired to take one home (check travel restrictions first before buying)! There is also a small gift shop. When you're done, walk through the University Gardens located right outside the door.
The summers in Manhattan are hot and humid. Just 2.5 miles from my house, in the heart of Manhattan, you can swim in the 50 meter pool, relax on the lazy river, take a plunge down the two water slides, try the Stingray wave simulator, or do flips off the diving boards. Open late-May to mid-August. Admission is only $1 from 6-8pm!
Manhattan City Park Swimming Pool
1220 Poyntz Ave
The summers in Manhattan are hot and humid. Just 2.5 miles from my house, in the heart of Manhattan, you can swim in the 50 meter pool, relax on the lazy river, take a plunge down the two water slides, try the Stingray wave simulator, or do flips off the diving boards. Open late-May to mid-August. Admission is only $1 from 6-8pm!

Sightseeing

My house is only 10 miles away from the iconic Konza Prairie, one of the last remaining tallgrass prairie lands in the Midwest. There a few trails here, but I recommend the Nature Trail (2.5mi) because it is not too strenuous and takes about 2 1/2 hours to complete. Best times to visit are Sept/Oct when the grass is at it's tallest, and May/June when the wildflowers are blooming. It is possible to see bison when you are at the highest point of the trail! There is a suggested $2 donation. No dogs or bicycles are allowed. Bring water and wear sunscreen. There is a "composting toilet" on the trail, which is kind of cool.
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Konza Prairie - Nature Trail
Konza Prairie - Nature Trail
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My house is only 10 miles away from the iconic Konza Prairie, one of the last remaining tallgrass prairie lands in the Midwest. There a few trails here, but I recommend the Nature Trail (2.5mi) because it is not too strenuous and takes about 2 1/2 hours to complete. Best times to visit are Sept/Oct when the grass is at it's tallest, and May/June when the wildflowers are blooming. It is possible to see bison when you are at the highest point of the trail! There is a suggested $2 donation. No dogs or bicycles are allowed. Bring water and wear sunscreen. There is a "composting toilet" on the trail, which is kind of cool.

Parks & Nature

There is an awesome off-leash dog park here! It has a fenced area just for small dogs, and a much bigger, separate fenced area for dogs of any size. There is a doggie water fountain in both places, but it gets turned off during the winter months. If you don't want your dog drinking out of the same reservoir as everyone else, you should bring your own water and I can give you a bowl. The large dog area also contains a small agility course, complete with an A-ramp, hanging tire, and weave poles.
Fairmont Park
125 Messenger Rd
There is an awesome off-leash dog park here! It has a fenced area just for small dogs, and a much bigger, separate fenced area for dogs of any size. There is a doggie water fountain in both places, but it gets turned off during the winter months. If you don't want your dog drinking out of the same reservoir as everyone else, you should bring your own water and I can give you a bowl. The large dog area also contains a small agility course, complete with an A-ramp, hanging tire, and weave poles.

Shopping

A less than 10 min drive will get you to a great antique/furniture store with reasonable prices. If you are moving to the area, you should definitely check it out! There is also a good selection of K-State/Wildcat/Manhattan branded items, vintage clothing and jewelry, home fragrance reed diffusers (large variety of scents), knick knacks, and home decor. The owner, Pat, is very personable and often brings his dog to the shop. He'll give you a deal on multiple items, too! You can't miss the shop from the road--there are several giant, colorful garden sculptures on the front lawn. Closed on Sundays.
O'Callaghan's What Not Shop
1401 Pillsbury Dr
A less than 10 min drive will get you to a great antique/furniture store with reasonable prices. If you are moving to the area, you should definitely check it out! There is also a good selection of K-State/Wildcat/Manhattan branded items, vintage clothing and jewelry, home fragrance reed diffusers (large variety of scents), knick knacks, and home decor. The owner, Pat, is very personable and often brings his dog to the shop. He'll give you a deal on multiple items, too! You can't miss the shop from the road--there are several giant, colorful garden sculptures on the front lawn. Closed on Sundays.
Just a 10 min drive from my house, this is a very cool thrift shop specializing in vintage furniture from the 1940s-1970s. Tons of home decor and collectibles too. The owner is super friendly and maintains a list of requested items, so if she acquires an item that someone wants, she will call them directly! Closed Sat-Mon.
Josephine's Attic
8833 U.S. 24
Just a 10 min drive from my house, this is a very cool thrift shop specializing in vintage furniture from the 1940s-1970s. Tons of home decor and collectibles too. The owner is super friendly and maintains a list of requested items, so if she acquires an item that someone wants, she will call them directly! Closed Sat-Mon.