I’ve partnered with Discover Wichita Falls to bring you a weekend guide to Wichita Falls. All opinions are my own.
This quaint Texas town offers plenty of fun activities the entire family will enjoy. Below you’ll find the ultimate list of the best things to do in Wichita Falls.
Wichita Falls is an easy day trip or weekend getaway from DFW. It’s located about 1.5 hours from Fort Worth and 2 hours from Oklahoma City.
There is so much to see, explore and enjoy plenty of outdoor activities that you could easily spend a long weekend here while never having a dull moment.
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Here’s everything you need to do to have a fantastic weekend getaway in Wichita Falls.
The best things to do in Wichita Falls, TX
Downtown Wichita Falls
The downtown area is adorable and is going through a revitalization with many new businesses and restaurants making it’s way downtown. You can park your car and stroll through the cute boutiques, antique shops, take photos of the murals, stop by the farmers market and grab a bite to eat.
River Bend Nature Center
The Ruby N. Priddy Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a must do. In the butterfly garden, you can watch the butterflies up close and personal! And if you can get your child to be still for long enough, they can get a butterfly to land on their hand.
Inside the 7,000 square feet, glass conservatory houses different kinds of plants, trees, turtles, chicken, prairie dogs, quail, and more. Behind that, you’ll find the nature trails, children’s garden, and open-air pavilion that is the perfect spot for a picnic.
They also have a gift shop that offers toys, books, artifacts, and other nature-inspired gifts.
Museum of North Texas History
If you or your child is into military history then you need to check out this museum! Not only does the museum walk you through the history of the impact oil & gas has on Texas, but also a huge collection of WWII memorabilia. Admission is free.
Lucy Park
This park is located on 178 sprawling acres and offers a 1.7-mile concrete trail that circles the park and is the starting point for the City-wide Circle Trail System. This is the city to bring your bike and ride or walk along the paved 18 miles of walking trails.
From Lucy Park, take the one-mile trail to The Falls, which is a man-made waterfall. The original waterfall was washed away during a flood in the 1800s. The new waterfall is gorgeous (can be seen from the freeway) and flows into the mighty Wichita River.
The park also has a swimming pool, basketball goals, disc golf course, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and picnic tables.
Maniac’s Mansion
By far the hippest place in town! This isn’t just a classic arcade featuring all your favorite games from your childhood. They also offer a cereal bar where you can dine on your favorite cereal while reminiscing of the good ole days when you picked a box based on the prize inside and not the taste.
This was a huge hit with my son and he would stay here forever! My favorite games they had were pinball, Galaga, and of course Pong. I could have played Pong all night, but my son was tired of me beating him every time.
CrashWorks STEAM studio & Makerspace
This is the place for kids to let their imagination run wild and build any creation they can dream of.
Kids can create any project they can imagine with an endless supply of materials! On one side of the studio is where guests can find all the supplies they need such as cardboard, plastic containers, scissors, paint, string, etc. There are stations where they can also disassemble electronics, play puzzle games, woodworking, and more.
Every hour an instructor will present a science experiment which some are hands-on. While we were there we saw a demonstration on fire and another one where my son was able to construct a flashlight.
I honestly wish there was something like this in every city. All kids need a space where they can have hands-on learning and get to test out their knowledge of how to create objects.
Castaway Cove Waterpark
The perfect place to beat this brutal Texas heat! This fun water park has a lazy river, several waterslides, a wave pool, a kids’ area, cabanas, a cafe, and a tropical bar. No coolers or outside food or drinks are permitted in the park. However, there is a picnic area outside the main entrance and guests have in/out privileges.
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
This fun museum walks you through the history of wrestling. Featuring memorabilia from famous wrestlers like the Von Erichs and other stars.
Wichita Falls Farmers Market
Located under a pavilion downtown, this is a great place to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, homemade baked goods, and more. It’s opened every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They also host special events throughout the year such as the Fall Wine Fest and Watermelon Fest.
World’s Littlest Skyscraper
The Newby-Mcmahon building stands at 40 feet high and is a must-see while downtown. It opened in 1919 and has 4 floors.
The building got its nickname when it was featured in Ripley’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! syndicated column as “the world’s littlest skyscraper” in the 1920s. It is now classified as a Texas Historic Landmark.
Wichita Falls Museum of Art
Located on the Midwestern State campus, the museum boasts more than 3,000 pieces of art. Ranging from drawings, watercolors, lithographs, and more. Admission is free.
Lake Arrowhead State Park
This state park is located about 20 minutes outside of town. The park offers fishing, lake swimming on an unsupervised beach, water skiing, disc golf, picnicking, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and boating
Murals Photoshoot
Every time I go to a new city, I love driving around looking for the coolest murals. Wichita Falls has several murals scattered around town. My favorite is the Longhorn Steer Mural located at 104 E. Scott Ave.
Backdoor Theatre
Looking for something fun to do on the weekends, then head to the theatre! Shows take place on either the Main Stage or Dinner Stage and range from dramas, comedies, and musicals. They also have an Improv Night held monthly.
Kell House Museum
Take a guided tour of the home of Frank Kell, one of Wichita Falls’s most prominent men in the early 1900s. This historic home houses original family furniture, arts, textiles, and historic clothing.
Kemp Center for the Arts
Home to The Arts Council and the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra. It features five galleries as well as an outdoor space that has rotating exhibits. The center offers kids camps and art classes for adults.
Shopping
There are countless boutiques and antique stores in Wichita Falls. Grab your girlfriends and head downtown for shopping and lunch. While there, be sure to stop in at Ramble & Company for cute gifts and adorable graphic t-shirts. Across the street from this boutique is the newly opened Re:Supply. Here you can purchase items in bulk and refill with your own containers (they also have glass jars for sale). They have everything you need from bath products, cleaning supplies, dried goods, nuts, herbs, spies and teas.
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Where to eat in Wichita Falls
Collective Coffee
Located across from the Midwestern State campus in a remodeled old gas station. The coffee shop is gorgeous, has a large dining space to work and a large patio. The menu includes craft coffee, grab-and-go items, pastries, and craft beer!
Karat Bar & Bistro
Housed in the original Zales jewelry store downtown, the restaurant kept the jewelry theme going for the restaurant. Guests will dine on locally sourced dishes, prohibition-style cocktails, and an extensive wine list.
We dined on a charcuterie board for two, salad and burger. It was all delicious and priced moderately. They also have a large patio that is perfect for cool evenings.
Progress & Provisions Craft Kitchen
Innovated dining in a casual environment. My son said that their burger was one of the best he has ever had! I dined on the Cobb salad and it was delicious! They also have a food truck you can find around town at different locations based on the day.
8th Street Coffee House
A casual and laid-back coffee house with a full menu. The menu includes coffee, deli fare, pastries, and gelato.
The Duck Coffee Co
This casual coffee shop has a large organic coffee menu, meal replacement smoothies, crepes, bagels, and gelato. We chose two different gelato flavors and enjoyed them on the patio. It’s in the perfect location for people watching!
Where to stay in Wichita Falls
Tru by Hilton Wichita Falls
This newly opened and gorgeous hotel is the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring the city. The rooms are modern and the bathroom was stocked with dispensers for soap, shampoo, and lotion.
In the lobby, you’ll find a market where you can purchase drinks and snacks 24 hours a day. As well as plenty of seating, tables, and a pool table. Each morning after we dining on the great complimentary breakfast, we played a couple of games of pool before heading out for the day.
Awesome job you did here, now I want to go! I didn’t know WF had such quaint places – I usually just drive through on my way to New Mexico.
My daughter, Maddie Gerber, and I are the artists behind the Marvel horse in downtown. Thank you so much for posting such a great picture of your son enjoying it! We never get tired of seeing the smiles it creates.