46 Things To Do Around Fort Riley
When we first found out we were moving to Kansas, I cried. It had been our top choice, due to the job available to John, but it was Kansas. I reminded myself that we’d go for our 2 year assignment, then we could get the heck out.
Although I had my concerns, everyone that I spoke to who had actually lived there, had fantastic things to say. Once we finally arrived in the Fort Riley area, my fears were quelled. Thanks partially in part to the university, the local area has plenty to offer. This is my list of many of the free or cheaper things to do around Fort Riley.
In addition to everything below, there are so many great food options (especially in Manhattan) and plenty of great shopping in that area as well.
- Halloween Ghost Tour – In October, HASFR puts on a tour highlighting the haunted history across Old Post.
- Christmas Tour of Homes – Get an inside view of the beautiful historic homes on post, pristinely decorated for the holidays.
- K State Football – There is so much team spirit in Manhattan! When you live half an hour from a D1 college football stadium, you’ve gotta go! There is a military appreciation game, where you can get free tickets from MWR.
- J Birds Football – The Junction City High School also has a military appreciation night that offers free entry for military members.
- Rent an MWR Boat – For 4th of July one year, we rented a pontoon boat from MWR and spent the long weekend on Milford Lake.
- Canoe Tuttle Creek – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has canoe rentals available during the summer months, or you can take your own.
- Fish Moon Lake – Moon Lake is located on post with a walking trail starting in the New McClellan neighborhood. The lake it stocked seasonally with rainbow trout for fishing.
- Beach at Milford Lake – If you’re not boating at Milford Lake, you can still enjoy the water on the small beaches or splash pad.
- Milford Nature Center – Located near the Lake, the Milford Nature Center gives visitors the opportunity to experience local wildlife firsthand.
- Apple Days – Fort Riley hosts the Apple Days event in the Fall each year. Booths feature all sorts of apple treats, including Libby Custer’s famous apple pie.
- Oz Museum – The Oz Museum offers tribute to all things Wizard of Oz, with displays from the movie.
- Oz Winery – Also located in Wamego, you can try a flight of wine or check out an event.
- Liquid Art Winery – One of my favorites! Liquid Art Winery is located in the picturesque hills. You can taste wines, buy by the glass, order food, or host events.
- US Cavalry Museum – the museum is located on Historic Main Post and features exhibits from the cavalry branch’s history.
- Custer House Tour – General Custer’s actual home burned down, but this house is set up to most accurately replicate the architecture and furnishing from the period. The house is avialble for hosting events and also featured in the Haunted Ghost Tour.
- First Territorial Capitol Building – This building served as the first territorial capitol of Kansas, dating back to Civil War times.
- Manhattan Farmers Market – The Downtown Farmer’s market is one of the oldest in the state taking place year-round on Saturday mornings as well as Wednesday evenings in the summer.
- Konza Prairie – The prairie is a large protected area of native tallgrass. It’s a great area for a hike, with the most beautiful sunset views.
- Russell Stover Outlet – Not far from post in Abilene, Kansas you can enjoy a tour of the facility, and build a box full of your favorite chocolates.
- Eisenhower Museum – Another great stop in Abilene, you can visit the museum about President Eisenhower, as well as tour his childhood home, his Presidential Library, or the Place of Meditation, where the president is buried.
- Top of the World Drive – A great spot to pull off the road for landscape views of Manhattan.
- K State Flower Garden (April/May) – The gardens on the campus have a beautiful variety of ornamental plants.
- K State Call Hall Dairy Bar – Quite possibly the best ice cream ever. The Dairy Bar sells ice cream by the scoop or packaged to take home with fresh milk. They also have other dairy products available for sale.
- Sunset Zoo – This zoo, right in the middle of Manhattan has all of the great zoo animals that you’d expect to see. It’s a smaller zoo, making it perfect for the littles.
- A&H Farms U Pick Berries – You can pick your own berries at this farm which also has a petting zoo.
- Little Munchkins Pumpkin Patch – This pumpkin patch has so many great things for the littles!
- Britts Farm Sunflowers – You can tour the sunflower fields on your own, or this is the perfect spot to bring a photographer to for family photos.
- Tallgrass Tap House – Right in the middle of the downtown area, the rooftop bar is great for drinks and even dinner.
- Pep Rally at AJs Pizza – Grab a table and enjoy a pie as the band comes through on the evenings before home games.
- Varsity Donuts – The most amazing fresh doughnuts I’ve ever had. They have a bunch of delicious flavor varieties to try and even offer DIY Donut parties. Make sure to try the Fruity Pebbles or flat tire doughnuts!
- Hildebrand Dairy Farm – Take a tour and get up close to the cows, then visit the shop for fresh ice cream!
- Flint Hills Discovery Center – A great place to take the kiddos, with plenty of interactive exhibits.
- Johnny Kaw Statue – This is an interested photo opportunity located right in the heart of Manhattan at City Park.
- Wamego Tulip Festival – This springtime tulip celebration happens at Wamego City park. The festival is free and open to the public, however there are booths and vendors as well. The park fills up with dozens of brightly colored varieties of tulips.
- CJ Hoover Opera House – Catch a show at the Opera House located just outside of Fort Riley.
- Wildwood Adventure Park – rated the #1 adventure park in the Flint Hills. You can zipline right through Manhattan.
- SpareTime – Spare time is an on-post MWR facility with mini golf, bowling, batting cages, climbing wall and so much more. Food and drink are available for purchase, and they’re open for unit or SFRG events.
- Hunting & Trapping on post – Fort Riley allows game hunting. Check out iSportsman for details.
- Hike Riverwalk Trail – This popular trail is right outside the Trooper Gate and a good family friendly hike.
- Festival of Lights – Kick off the holiday season with the Festival of Lights parade and tree lighting ceremony in the Blue Earth Plaza in Manhattan.
- Fort Riley Golf Course – Play a round of golf at the Custer Hill Golf Course.
- Godfrey’s Shooting Range – Practice your shooting skills at the indoor range.
- Group fitness at gym – You can work out on your own, hire a personal trainer, or join one of the many group fitness classes at the on-post gyms.
- Outdoor Adventure Park – The on-post adventure park has activities such as paintball, walking paths, archery, and batting cages.
- Custer Hill Aquatics Park – Relax in the lazy river or go down one of the may slides. This park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Ice Skating at City Park – The Wefald Pavilion in City Park becomes a skating rink in the winter months.
Looking back, 2 years at Fort Riley was not nearly enough! We had such a great time and I’d be more than willing to return if the Army wanted to send us.