Delano - Wichita, KS Area Guide

Delano is a historical community that remains tied to its 19th-century associations with trade, cowboys and cattle herding. The Chrisholm Trail was once an important trade route for cattle going from the western to eastern markets, and trail markers can be found throughout the city. While in those times vices such as gambling and drinking were strictly forbidden in Wichita itself, cowboys found an unregulated haven in Delano, where brawls and fights in the streets were a constant occurrence. A stone monument commemorating this period of time, dubbed the Chrisholm Trail Historical Marker, can be found nearby in Delano Park. The trail was fully operational from the years 1865 to 1874.

At the intersection of Douglas and Sycamore in the business district, the Delano Clock Tower (dubbed "The Window in Time") provides artistic insight into four different periods of Delano's dynamic past in the 19th century.

La Galette French Bakery provides an exceptional opportunity to experience French cuisine, from the delicious pastries and coffee blends to the sandwiches and soups. This shop, located right on West Douglas Avenue in the middle of Delano, maintains a small coffeehouse feel while still providing high-level service. Their glass showcase of pastries is hard to walk away from empty-handed. La Galette posts their soup of the day and meal special every morning on their Facebook page.

Just up West Douglas Avenue, The Monarch is a medium-priced option for a classy restaurant and bar experience. This restaurant is well-known for the smoky flavor of its meats, and it offers an entirely different menu for the bar's selection of bourbons. Every Monday, customers can purchase a "mystery beer" for $2.75. Located in Delano's Historic District, The Monarch features lovely views of the Delano Clock Tower.

The Vagabond Cafe combines the idea of an artistic coffeehouse with a full bar, resulting in a hot cultural spot for hanging out in the morning or at night. Sit with an espresso and play one of the cafe's in-house board games with a friend, or chill out and talk at the bar with a martini. The Vagabond features live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, hosts an open mic every Monday and sponsors trivia night every Wednesday. It offers other events and deals on drinks regularly throughout the month. For those looking for a robust nightlife, travel across the river to Wichita and head to Rain Cafe and Lounge on E Douglas Ave. The bar features food and plenty to drink, they have seating inside and a patio for nice weather.

Route 400, taken from either Interstate 35 or Interstate 235, provides easy access through the heart of Wichita. The Seneca/Sycamore exit leads to South Seneca Street and into Delano. Parking on the street at meters is an option all throughout Wichita, however parking lots are usually only found in the downtown area.

There are 18 fixed bus routes maintained by Wichita Transit that run all throughout the area. Their West Maple Line runs directly through Delano and provides easy access east into Wichita or west to NewMarket Square.

Uber is available for transportation in and out of Delano as well as taxi service called in advance. The area is highly walkable, and bicycle routes are maintained all through the Friends University Campus and on both banks of the Little Arkansas River.

The Delano Park is located on a triangular space of land near the Douglas Street Bridge on McLean Boulevard. While providing a relaxing green space for the community, this small park contains a monument dedicated to the Chrisholm Trail and a decorative water fountain dedicated to Benjamin Franklin McLean, a two-time mayor of Wichita.

Just north of Delano where the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers meet, the Keeper of the Plains Park and Plaza features footbridges across the river that provide great locations to sit and appreciate the Wichita skyline. The Ring of Fire is lit nightly in the park and attracts both tourists and residents to gather and communicate. The fire is lit at 7 p.m. in the fall and winter and at 9 p.m. in the spring and summer.

The overall cost of living in Delano is about 16 percent higher than the national average, while the overall Wichita averages falls 13 percent lower than the national average. Rent for an apartment within 10 miles of Wichita averages $702, while rent in Delano specifically is $999 on average.

General costs tend to be quite reasonable. Gas prices in the Delano area tend to be about 28 percent lower than the national average. A one-way ticket on Wichita Transit costs $1.75 or $2.00 with a transfer. At local pubs, expect to pay around $3 for a pint of beer.

Not only does Delano's West Douglas Avenue deliver in terms of cafes and restaurants, it also offers some great shopping choices as well.

At Bungalow 26, customers are treated to an eclectic environment. The shop specialize in bath and body products, jewelry, candles and home decor. This is a great venue to shop for a unique gift or browse on a day out in Delano's Historic District.

Nearby, What's Brewin' sells the tools you need to start your future brewery or just make your next batch of homemade beer. The only store of its kind in the Wichita area, it sells the ingredients needed to make a variety of beers, wines and sodas for both the beginner and the experienced brewer.

There are several Dillon Stores and a nearby Whole Foods that meet the grocery-shopping needs of area residents. Down West 1st Street, Delano residents can benefit from the Old Town Farmers Market in downtown Wichita. The market opens in May and operates on Saturdays until October.