March Madness has officially kicked off, with the No. 3-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team expected to take on 14-seed UNC Wilmington on Thursday .

The matchup will take place in Wichita, Kansas, prompting the city to offer up a list of must-see places for traveling fans.

“Friday is an opportunity for visitors to tour our great city – and Wichita has something for everyone,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “While basketball fans will find a variety of sports bars and fan events, those wanting to learn more about Wichita or find family-friendly adventures will enjoy a whole day to explore.”

For Tech fans braving the drive or flying in and planning to make a vacation of it, here are some things Visit Wichita believes you should check out during your stay.

Wichita, Kansas fan parties kick off Wednesday for NCAA Division I Men's Basketball

Here's where to eat, drink in Wichita, Kansas

The city is home to more than 1,200 restaurants , from fine dining to barbecue to global flavors. Visit Wichita also touted White Crow Cider Co., 1236 E. Waterman St. , as a unique spot for people looking for local hard cider.

For travelers looking for something different to do, Mort's Martini and Cigar Bar , 923 E. 1st St. N. , offers more than 160 martinis, beer and cigars. It also has a rotation of live music arts and a snack menu.

People can visit visitwichita.com/restaurants/ to see a longer lineup, which can be filtered by cuisine types, regions within the city and if they are locally-owned.

Here are some must-see shops in Wichita, including mermaids and a chocolate factory

Wichita has several top shopping districts: Downtown, Old Town, Delano and Douglas Design.

Downtown is home to a sweet destination - Cocoa Dolce Chocolates, 235 N. St. Francis Ave. Visitors can see it in action, and enjoy the variety of other pastries, gelato and unique drinks.

In Old Town, an area filled with converted brick warehouses from the 1800s, is home to mermaids. Literally. The Enchanted Mermaid, 222 N. Washington St. , is a mermaid themed boutique with food, cocktails, and its main attraction - mermaid and aerial shows.

The Delano District is west of the river and offers some eclectic shops, including Bungalow 26, 613 W. Douglas Ave. This shop specializes in selfcare items, made by the owner, Kelsey Metzinger.

The Douglas Design District, which covers three miles, has more than 300 shops, all focused on design. Among these shops is The Spice Merchant & Co., 1300 E. Douglas Ave. This coffee shop offers an array of spices, coffees, teas and specialty food items. As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, it is maintaining a 4.8-star rating from 2,496 reviews on Google.

Museums, art, spas and Keeper of the Plains are highlights in Wichita, Kansas

Wichita has five public golf courses, along with offerings for disc golf and foot golf. People can tour the city by renting a bike at Bike Share ICT, walk along the river, and see the sights.

While wandering the city, people should see the Keeper of the Plains monument, 339 Veterans Parkway , with stands at 13.4 meters. The Cor-Ten steel sculpture was crafted by Blackbear Bosin, a Kiowa-Comanche artist. At 9 p.m., the fire pots at the base of the statue are lit in a ceremony known as The Ring of Fire.

Travelers can also see 31 bronze sculptures along Douglas Avenue and dozens of paintings and murals throughout the Douglas Design District. The downtown area is also home to many art galleries and museums .

And finally, after hanging out at the arena and seeing the sights, visitors may want to check out the spas. Visit Wichita named the Bohemia Healing Spa , 611 W. Douglas Ave. , as a good spot to relax, with the added bonus of it being near the arena.

Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at [email protected].