Amenities play growing role

After another four-letter word — jobs — these are what many residents say are among the city’s most attractive features.

“I never thought I was a big foodie until I moved to Wichita,” said Alyssa Peppiatt, who works in marketing and recruitment for BKD, an accounting firm. “There are so many foods to try here.”

As for beer, Peppiatt doesn’t actually like the taste of the stuff. But she loves the vibe that’s been created by the city’s microbreweries over the past couple of years.

“At Central Standard Brewing they have these garage doors that open and you have that half-in-and-half-out environment,” she said, mentioning one popular local brewpub. “The environment is really key.”

Alicia Sanchez, who’s director of diversity and inclusion at Wichita State University, naturally prizes variety. And she says Wichita is packed with it.

“The food, the arts, the cultures, the family-friendly environment,” Sanchez says. “The diversity within the city is amazing, whether it’s the Hispanic community, the Asian community, the LGBT community. That’s something that’s really important to be able to expose my family to.”