Kansas City has always been known as a vibrant mix of urban sophistication and small-town friendliness. But now there are five billion more reasons to love us. That’s the price tag for our downtown makover alone.
There’s also more of us to love. When you say “Kansas City,” you’re really talking about one diverse, exciting region that encompasses two states and 50 unique communities. Thanks to recent expansions, Greater Kansas City spans 18 counties in more than 9,100 square miles filled with 2.4 million happy, friendly folks.
Our unified advantage—along with our central location, well-educated and productive workforce, and low cost of running a business or buying a home—makes us a magnet for corporations to build headquarters here. Our attributes made it easy for Forbes.com to name us one of the “Best Cities to Get Ahead.”
Although Kansas City is a vast metroplex, locals think of home as separate neighborhoods (such as Brookside), destinations (Country Club Plaza), or geographical areas (the Northland). Before your eyes glaze over, we’ve divided the region into five handy little areas, described below. Maps of each are found in the front of this book. We’ll refer to these areas throughout the book. And remember, just about any destination in the metro is 20 minutes away or less.
Looking for a fabulous family vacation? Romantic weekend for two? A new place to call home? Congratulations! You’ve come to the right place. With so much to see and do, Kansas City is the perfect choice no matter how you define fun.
In fact, here’s where our unique mix of citified culture (la-de-da) and Wild West rowdiness (yee-haw!) really pays off. You can spend your day contemplating a Rembrandt or attending a rodeo and then dine by candlelight or campfire . . . all within our city’s boundaries.
History buffs will be taken aback; although another city is rightly called the gateway to the West, we were the gate that outfitted more than half a million travelers on the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails during the mid-1800s. You can relive their stories at dozens of museums, historic sites, and restored antebellum homes. And if your taste runs to more modern architecture, things are looking up . . . way up. Our downtown skyline has nearly 60 art deco buildings from the 1920s and 1930s.
Naturally in this chapter you’ll also see attractions that have wowed tourists for decades, such as our renowned Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the shopping mecca known as the Country Club Plaza. But for those frequent KC visitors who are thinking, Been there, done that, get ready for a few surprises. A citywide cultural renaissance is taking place just in time for your visit. We’re busy updating and renovating some of our most treasured landmarks and historical districts while adding new destinations on both sides of the state line. That means there’s bound to be a snappy little bonus for the art lover, sporting nut, and shopaholic in your entourage. We’re proud to show it all to you.
The attractions are grouped by category and listed alphabetically. Because hours frequently change, it’s best to call for updated information. You may wish to start at the Observation Points where you can see our city from on high.
As you’ll see, Kansas City is a great place to be a kid, raise a kid, or act like a kid again yourself. You can even pet a kid at a children’s farmstead in southern Johnson County. From hands-on creative workshops to captivating historic sites, there’s something for every tot and teen in your entourage. In fact, we’re so kid happy here we don’t have just one action-packed theme park, we have two.
And just to prove you can bring a kid to culture and still make him think, Kansas City offers lots of fascinating museums, including the interactive Science City at Union Station. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities so that youngsters can burn off all that energy, as well as kid-approved restaurants where they can gain it back.
Although we adore children, we’re also partial to parents. That’s why we tell you about several attractions that are cheap or absolutely free. You’ll find other family activities and events to help fill the photo album in the Festivals and Annual Events chapter and the Attractions chapter. But the following ideas should keep the youngest members of your party busy for days. Soon you’ll be hearing, “Mom? Dad? Can we move to Kansas City?”
The attractions in this chapter are listed alphabetically by kid-friendly category. All are located in Kansas City, Missouri, unless otherwise noted.
Why anyone would want to leave the pleasant confines of Kansas City is beyond us. But the three small towns in this chapter have enough appeal to pull anyone away from a plate of our famous ribs. Each one has a unique personality and enough attractions to make it well worth the short drive.
But instead of jumping on the highway after dinner, why not slide under a down-filled duvet at a bed-and-breakfast? Each town offers irresistible options, from an antiques-filled estate to a rustic but romantic working ranch. Besides a sumptuous breakfast the next morning, staying overnight gives you one more day to explore a museum, scout out another art gallery, or stop by that pretty park you passed on the way.
There you have it: three destinations that feel like a century away. Best of all, you’ll hardly need to top off your gas tank. You can be checking out that cute little antiques shop or sinking your teeth into a square of homemade fudge in less than an hour.
And now, let’s get started by doing what so many travelers did in the late 1800s: heading west.