Together with Sur La Table

Some people say there is nothing to do in Wichita.

They clearly haven’t heard about the cooking classes at Sur La Table.

A few weeks back, we spent a couple hours at the Bradley Fair location to try our hand at Chinese Takeout and haven’t stopped recommending it to friends since.

You just show up and everything is there and ready for you to go to school with your professional cooking instructor.

You cut, you slice, you sauté, you do it all.

Or none of it, if that’s more of your style. That’s the best part, you can be as involved or not involved as you want.

You can choose from a plethora of options such as: French Bistro Favorites, Date Night: Dinner in Tuscany, Perfecting French Pastries, Date Night: Evening in Paris, Citrus Lovers’ Macarons, and so many more.

10/10 couldn’t recommend the cooking classes at Sur La Table more.

Check out a full list of classes here and sign up today!

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

As opening day 2025 approaches, we want to take a quick look at Tanganyika.

The History

This deserves a whole deep dive itself (and we will probably get there eventually), but I’ll give a brief history and you can read the rest in detail here.

The TL/DR:

Jim Fouts was obsessed with animals as a kid and started working at the Sedgwick County Zoo in 1972 while he dreamed off having his own collection of animals.

He worked at SCZ for 5.5 years before leaving to spending his time breeding birds.

Jim traveled across South America, then Africa and became one of the leading importers for rare birds in the US.

In 1985, he bought 5 acres, built a barn and the initial home of Tanganyika was born. Fast forward to 2000, they started giving tours of their backyard (after acquiring tigers over the past 13 years) and in 2004, 4000+ people were visitnig the park.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park officially opened on August 2, 2008 with 15 exhibits and 3 interactive areas.

Tanganyika in 2025

If you’ve been to Tanganyika before, it will look a little different this year. In the past there have been too many options for admission, membership, events, programs, etc. The lines were too long, people felt rushed.

To improve on all the above mentioned drawbacks, things are more streamlined into a new all-inclusive format and you can read about everything that goes into that here. I will touch on the highlights below.

The park opens for the season on March 15th!

Experience Tanganyika

Although there are a lot of changes to the park, several things will not change:

• The open exhibit still creates an intimate experience to get up close and personal with your favorite animals

• The playground will still be full of kids

• They still offer more up-close animal experiences than anywhere else in the US

• Tanganyika Falls (the splash pad) is still the best way to cool off on a hot day

Animal Feedings

One of the most popular attractions is feeding the animals. Rather than paying per feeding, all season passes and admission levels now include unlimited feedings.

(The one exception is the penguin feeding, that does require an extra ticket.)

Experiences

I won’t go into detail on all of these, but there are NUMEROUS experiences to choose from:

• Australian Adventure

• Big Cat Feeding Adventure (ages 8+)

• Capybara meet and greet

• Giraffe and Rhino feeding adventure

• Otter Art Adventure

• Otter meet and greet

• Patagonian Mara meet and greet

• Penguin Chick Feeding (seasonal)

• Penguin Feeding Experience

• Penguin meet and greet

• Penguin Swim (ages 8+)

• Porcupine meet and greet

• Pygmy Hippo Behind the Scenes (ages 8+)

• Red-ruffed lemur meet and greet

• Sloth behind the scenes

• Small Carnivore Meet and Greet (ages 8+)

• Secret Menu (By Request)

Human Feedings

No, you can’t pay to feed the other humans, but there is a big change regarding the food and beverage service at the park.

Premium passes and all admission includes:

• Breakfast - waffles, eggs, muffins, sausage, bacon and other treats

• Lunch - seasonal salads, burgers, and favorites like chicken strips, french fries

• Grab-and-go snacks available at two locations including soft pretzels, popcorn, and warm cookies

Where do you start?

First off, you need to get your tickets. We will cover your options below.

Daily admission

Daily admission will include unlimited animal feedings at nine different animal encounter stations, a kangaroo walk-about, unlimited food and drink (including a new breakfast menu), Tanganyika Fall Splash Park, playground access:

• $99.99 Mid-march through Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day through mid-November

• $149.99 Memorial Day through Labor Day

• 40% discount for locals living in Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, Reno, Kingman, and Sumner counties 

  • (use code “Local” when purchasing your tickets)

  • $59.99 Mid-march through Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day through mid-November

  • $89.99 Memorial Day through Labor Day

• Experience and cabanalow rentals are available

• Kids 4 and under and adults 90 plus get free access to Tanganyika

Best Day Bundle

Another option is the Best Day Bundle:

Season Pass Options

If you plan on going more than once this season, check out the Season Pass option (now on sale)!

Tanganyika wants to focus on increasing accountability, accommodating families and rewarding pass holders that have been loyal over the years, here are the changes for 2025:

1. Loyalty Discount: Enjoy 10% off for every consecutive year your household has had a season pass! For example, if you currently have a pass and have had one for the past 4 consecutive seasons for a total of 5 years, you’ll get 50% off your order.

2. Family Discount: Buy 4 passes and get all additional (non-premium) passes for free! (All passes must be for individuals living at the same address.)

3. Free toddlers: The free entry age from 2 years old to 4 years old. Kids 4 and under get in free.

4. Payment plans: If you’d prefer to spread the cost of your pass throughout the year, payment plans will be available

5. Alcohol: Alcohol will not be included with any of the season passes.

🌟 Season Pass – $149

• Unlimited Feeding: Enjoy all the feeding opportunities you want!

• Unlimited Grab and Go Snacks: Snack anytime at multiple locations in the park.

• Monthly Members-Only Sunset nights: Exclusive access to the park during golden hours.

• 50% Off Admission: Save half on additional tickets for friends and family.

• Bumper Magnet: Show off your membership with pride!

• Monthly retail specials: We’ll be offering special member discounts in the gift shop just for members.

• Program discounts: Enjoy discounts on cabanalow rentals, Twilight Tour, and Jr. Zookeeper camp.

🌟 Premium Pass – $349

• Guest Pass: Bring a guest every visit who enjoys all your same perks

• Unlimited Feeding: With 8 different feeding stations you can feed as many times as you like.

• Unlimited Food and Drink: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all your non-alcoholic favorite drinks

• Reciprocal Access: You’ll have access to over 60 zoos across the country with your pass to Tanganyika

• Monthly Members-Only Sunset nights: Exclusive access to the park during golden hours.

• 50% Off Admission: Half-price tickets for guests.

• 50% Off Experiences: Enjoy significant savings on premium experiences.

• Winter Access: If it’s warm enough during the winter, you’ll be able to enjoy the park, plus the popular member luncheons aren’t going anywhere

• Swag Bag: Rock our exclusive member swag and goodies. **named passholder only

• Program discounts: Enjoy discounts on cabanalow rentals, Twilight Tour, and Jr. Zookeeper camp.

Limited Availability! 

There are only have 3500 Season Passes and 1500 Premium passes available this season.

If you have feedback about the new passes or new all-inclusive destination model, they want to hear it!

Get your tickets today! Use code Local to save 40% and experience one of the best wildlife parks in the countries! This deep dive was written in partnership with Tanganyika Wildlife Park to help get the word out.

The “big, hairy” goal for Tanganyika is to facilitate 1,000,000 WOW moments before the 2032 season.

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

Together with Women Empowered Market

Shop local and check out the Women Empowered Market!

Highlights include craft coffee beverages from LegacyWorks students, delicious fare from Lady Burritos, and a visit from the Wichita Public Library's book bus. The event is a family-friendly opportunity to shop with purpose, learn about meaningful causes, and support dignified jobs worldwide.

Women Empowered Markets are a movement to connect people with social enterprises, mission-based small businesses, nonprofits, and purposeful consumers who shop, support, and learn from each other in a supportive community environment.

Quick Rundown

• Disney on Ice | INTRUST | 3/6 - 3/9

• 2025 NCAA D1 Basketball Hosting | Downtown & Intrust | 3/20 & 3/22

• Wichita Riverfest | Downtown Wichita | 5/30 - 6/7