All About KC is the newest feature on KCParent.com. You ask and we answer your questions about Kansas City! From Family Fun in KC, to Date Night ideas, to the Best Places to take out-of-town guests, to inside tips on local attractions and restaurants, we have the answers! Submit a question for All About KC here. Each week, a new column is featured in our eNewsletter!
This Week's Questions:
- Q. Best Time to Visit Kaleidoscope?
- Q. Can you visit the KCP&L Building? Other great views?
- Q. Easy to plan Date Nights in KC?
- Q. Gardener coming to town, which gardens should we visit?
Q: I love to take my preschool daughters to Kaleidoscope but it's always so crowded. Are there some days better than others? ~ Mel
A: When you offer one of the best family outings in the city, it also means an extremely popular place to visit. My girls adore Kaleidoscope! We have learned that if you go in the summer, the best time to go is during the week (not weekends), when the weather is nice (everyone else is more likely to be outdoors), and for the earliest session possible (many kids aren’t up by 9 or 9:30am when they offer morning sessions). If you go during the school year (the very best), definitely go on school days (not holidays or weekends) and shoot for a rainy day (if it hasn’t been raining all month)… moms are more likely to stay home if it rains one day during the week. Also, we love to go at holiday time because they frequently have special projects for Christmas, Valentines, etc. I try to take the girls before schools let out for holiday breaks.
Q:Can people visit the top of the Power & Light Building? ~ Marlene
A: The KCP&L Building is one of our city’s most famous landmarks. At 97 feet tall, it was the tallest building in Missouri when it was completed in 1931 (the tallest is now One Kansas City Place at 1200 Main). As a child, I loved spotting the building in the city landscape. Like most kids, I enjoyed watching the lights change on top of the building from white to amber to red and green. There are observation balconies on the 32nd floor, however, they are not open to the public at this time. In 1992, KCP&L moved from the building which is now leased to other local businesses.
So, now that you have the scoop on the KCP&L building, you may still want to see a great view of the city. My three favorite spots for a great view (unless you have an airplane) are:
- Liberty Memorial (my husband proposed to me at Liberty Memorial, so it’ll always be #1). 100 W. 26th St., KCMO. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. A trip to the top of the tower is $4/adults and $3/chidren 6-11. However, for a few dollars more you can also visit the National World War I Museum! 816.784.1918
- KCMO City Hall Observation Deck. 414 E. 12th St, KCMO. City Hall is the third tallest building in the city. The best part of this site seeing trip? It’s FREE! City Hall is open 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri. Visitors may go to the Observation Deck until 4:30pm. It does require climbing two flights of stairs.
- Cliff Drive Scenic Byway. If you take a trip to the Kansas City Museum, don’t forget a scenic tour through Cliff Drive. Cliff Drive is “car free” on weekends from 2pm Friday until 8am Monday so visitors can enjoy walking and biking the trail. The byway runs from the intersection of The Paseo and Independence Avenue, through to Indian Mound on Gladstone Boulevard at Belmont Boulevard. We take the entrance near the Kansas City museum at Benton and Gladstone Boulevards.
Q. Could you suggest any unique ideas for date nights on a time crunch? My husband and I have a sitter for two and a half hours in the evening every other week. I like the idea of an extended elaborate date, but if we did that we could only afford the sitter once a month or so. It's nice to have more frequent dates, but we get tired of the same old, same old. Also, the hot weather is making it hard to walk on trails near our house which is a favorite date night activity of ours. So, any suggestions? ~ Elizabeth
A. Here are five ideas for Date Nights in KC that are Affordable and Easy to Plan!
- Love to Laugh? Comedy City (817 Westport Rd, KCMO, 816.842.2744). If you’ve never seen live Improv, this is a blast! The audience suggests ideas for the comedians and they create skits right before your eyes. Comedy City is located at the Westport Flea Market, so you can order great sandwiches while you’re there. And, they offer coupons in the Entertainment Book and on their website www.instantcomedy.com. Just call ahead for show times. They are seldom crowded and you can almost always walk in for a show.
- Art Buffs? We have three great FREE galleries! The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is open till 9pm on Fridays. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open till 9pm on Friday and Saturday. And, the new Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at the Johnson County Community College is also open till 9pm on Fridays. Or, take an art walk and visit a lot of local small galleries for a date during First Fridays in the Crossroads. If you go to First Fridays, Manny’s serves fabulous Mexican, Jack Stack BBQ at Union Station is the my favorite BBQ (I love all Fiorella Jack Stack locations), and Lydia’s serves terrific Italian.
- Be a Kid again. Go ice skating at the indoor rink at Pepsi Ice Midwest. Ride Go-Karts at Saddlers. Miniature Golf at Cool Crest. Or go bowling at a local AMF. Rent Pedal Boats at Kill Creek Park in Shawnee or Lake Jacomo in Blue Springs.
- Dessert only. Eat dinner at home and get dessert out. McCormick and Schmick’s Chocolate Bag is a delicious and beautiful dessert for two. Split Chocolate Fondue at the Melting Pot. Or, go for a frozen treat at Murray’s Homemade Ice Cream, Sheridan’s, or TCBY.
- Peak at KCParent.com. You’d be surprised how many great calendar ideas you’ll find for adults too. Take in a Free movie or concert, visit an outdoor theater, enjoy a Sunset Safari at the Zoo, or go to a Royals Game and sit in GA. There’s always something to do in KC!
Q.My father is a avid gardener and I'd love to show him a few of the best flower gardens in KC while he's here visiting...which parks would you recommend? ~ Melissa
A. I have three favorites and they’re all free! Visit Kauffman Gardens (4800 Rockhill Road, KCMO) for beautiful flowers and fountains year-round, Loose Park (51st and Wornall, KCMO) for the most beautiful Rose Garden, and the Overland Park Arboretum ( 8909 W. 179th St.) for trails, flowers, ponds, and trees. All three are picturesque and great for photo-ops with the kids as well!
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