Visitors can take a bite out of the Little Apple to discover tempting dining, the legacy of the Flint Hills and country tunes to tap their boots to.
Known as the Little Apple, Manhattan, Kansas is an intimate and thriving historic area, a university town and a growing center for meetings and attractions.
“We have everything that the Big Apple has, only on a smaller scale,” said Karen Hibbard, director of the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Located in the Flint Hills regions of the northeastern part of the state, Manhattan sits in the last 4 percent of remaining tallgrass prairie. The Flint Hills Discovery Center is committed to telling the story of the unique ecosystem and works to educate, inspire and motivate visitors to explore the region. The center’s Immersive Experience Theater uses technology to illustrate the winds, smoke, snow and rain that allow the prairie grass to renew. The center is also attached to the Manhattan Conference Center and offers a terrace view of the landscape the early settlers might have seen.
Home to Kansas State University, with more than 53,000 students, and numerous historic sites, the downtown area is just finishing a revitalization project. The development includes new shopping, dining and living experiences and improvements that make the town more walkable. The district is anchored by the Manhattan Town Center and has numerous hotels
“Manhattan is bursting with dining experiences,” Hibbard said. “If your taste buds are hungry for it, we have something to tempt you with.”
Many different restaurants can be found downtown ranging from fine dining to barbecue. Harry’s, located in the historic Wareham Hotel, regularly hosts celebrations and events, and Four Olives is an elegant restaurant and wine bar with more than 800 wines. There are also four bakeries in town that satisfy any sweet tooth and the desire for exceptional bread.
Manhattan also plays host to Kicker Country Stampede, the largest country music festival in the country for 19 years running. Over four days in the summer, 150,000 people attend the outdoor festival to see artists such as Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan.
Getting to the town is easy, as the nearby airport is serviced by American Eagle (American Airlines) and has regular flights to and from Dallas and Chicago. The airport is undergoing expansion and will triple in size once finished. Manhattan is nine miles north of Interstate 70 as well, making it an easy task to fly or drive in.
“When people come to Manhattan, they’re amazed with our history, people and the beauty that surrounds them,” Hibbard said.
Primary meeting facility: Manhattan Conference Center
Other meeting properties: Four Points by Sheraton; Holiday Inn at the Campus; Prairie Wood Retreat and Preserve
Largest meeting space: Manhattan Conference Center (15,500 square feet)
Total hotel rooms: 1,263
CVB website: www.manhattancvb.org
