Penguins on Parade in KC
National Penguin Awareness Day is Jan. 20, and Kansas City is ready to roll out the red carpet for our favorite tuxedo-feathered friends.
Kansas City offers an array of cool penguin experiences…beyond watching them play at the zoo!
A Day on the Mild Side: Visit the Coolest Park in Town
Penguin Park (N. Vivion Road & N. Norton Avenue, Kansas City, MO) is one of Kansas City’s oldest and most popular parks. Gigantic friendly animals are the centerpiece of the green space, where you can climb up through a kangaroo's pocket, slide down the namesake penguin, explore an elephant playground and bounce and slide on frogs, ducks and more. The park features a shelter house with picnic tables and playgrounds for all ages that include swings, slides, climbing equipment, merry-go-round, spring animals and more.
A Day on the Wild Side: Explore the Kansas City Zoo
Featuring a dozen Humboldt penguins and nearly 40 cold water penguins, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza at the Kansas City Zoo is a state-of-the-art exhibit with a 100,000-gallon cool pool for cold water penguins and a 25,000-gallon warm wet area laced with sand for warm water penguins. With fantastic views, accurate penguin habitats, accessibility for all visitors and educational displays feeding the curiosity about the Antarctic animals, the exhibit is a must-see. If you’re planning a visit to the zoo and want to get to know the penguins before your visit, check out the zoo’s penguin cam (KansasCityZoo.org/PenguinCam), where you can watch the action (including eggs, baby penguins and penguins at play) in real time.
A Night on the Mild Side: A Penguin-Themed Vacation
816 Hotel is the hottest hotel in town. With rooms specifically decked out in Kansas City themes, the hotel finds its favorite for families is the Kansas City Zoo room. This theme room is all about penguins! With an icicle border, penguin sheets on the bunk beds, a panoramic photo of hundreds of penguins and a special zoo four-pack for guests (including zoo passes, ride wristbands and penguin souvenirs), this is one super cool family getaway!