Editor's Letter

Kansas City is my hometown, and for years I enjoyed hearing stories from my grandparents of their adventures in our town. Now, I’m proud to share KC adventures with my own family.

I was there for the opening day of the Timber Wolf, Kansas City’s first wooden roller coaster, and I was ecstatic to be one of the first to ride this fierce thriller. The Timber Wolf has undergone a makeover, and now my daughters are excited to ride the revamped coaster with a new finale featuring a high-speed, over-banked, 70-degree turn.

Coasters are just one fun adventure awaiting visitors to Kansas City. Zip KC offers unforgettable adventures for riders as they zip through the treetops in Bonner Springs. KC Copters offers breathtaking views of the city’s downtown. If you love old-fashioned fun, the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad takes passengers on great train rides with fun themes, including hot dog and ice cream rides. The city is also home to many beautiful lakes, gardens and parks, many hosting great festivals throughout the season. You’ll find a guide to our favorite festivals here. My family looks forward to Celebration at the Station, the Festival of Butterflies, the Brookside Art Annual, the Ethnic Enrichment Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival every year.

For history buffs, we recommend a festival at Missouri Town 1855 or Shawnee Town 1929, a visit to the Truman Home and Presidential Library and a day at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Art lovers will want to plan an entire day at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and then make time for First Fridays in the Crossroads, a stop at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Kemper Museum.

A visit to Kansas City would not be complete without visiting downtown, where you can enjoy shopping at Crown Center, creating art with children at Kaleidoscope, taking a trip to the top of the tower at the National WWI Museum and Memorial and visiting Union Station. As you explore downtown, take a ride aboard the free KC Streetcar, where you can enjoy stops along the way, including the KC Power & Light District and City Market.

These are just a few of the things I enjoy about Kansas City. You’ll find many more as you flip through the pages of KC Going Places.

Welcome to Kansas City! We’re happy you’re here and we hope you love it just as much as we do!