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Four Fun Ideas for a KC Spring Break Staycation

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Destination #1: Downtown

Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum, Science City at Union Station, offers something for visitors of all ages. Little ones especially love three experiential, hands-on exhibitions: “Let’s Play!” designed especially for babies, crawlers and toddlers with multiple sensory and role-playing activities, “Creative Corner” where art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities and “All Aboard” that celebrates Union Station’s rail history.

Walk the Link from Union Station to Crown Center where you can enjoy Funville, the newest free, hands-on exhibit for kids. In Funville, children experience grown-up occupations in a kid-friendly setting. The interactive exhibit offers ways to imagine careers in weather forecasting, magic, farms, a salon or government. Whatever they choose, the most important job in Funville is to have fun. 

Sea Life Aquarium transports guests into an amazing underwater world with up-close views of more than 5,000 sea creatures! Next door to Sea Life you’ll find Legoland Discovery Center in Crown Center, a larger-than-life attraction. Find a coupon here.

National World War I Museum and Memorial is not only a Kansas City landmark, but an American landmark. The museum tells the story of the Great War through interactive displays, thought-provoking films and eyewitness testimonies. With family guides and hands-on exhibits, the museum is an educational attraction for all ages.

If you’re in the mood for an outdoor adventure, Kansas City Kayak & Canoe offers float trips to paddle local Kansas City waters in a kayak or canoe. Floating down the Missouri River is a one-of-a-kind experience, and KCKC makes it simple, providing all the equipment and a variety of float trips for a few hours or a day.

Destination #2: Johnson County

Urban Air Adventure Park (locations in Overland Park and Lenexa) is our favorite local trampoline park. Offering much more than trampolines, this is a great place to spend a day! Urban Air gives a generous helping of frenetic fun with attractions like Kidzone and Urban Air Warrior Course.

RoKC Olathe is an excellent indoor attraction to get a bit of exercise and challenge yourself to try new things. Adventurers have a blast bouldering and rock climbing on walls up to 50 feet tall! The facility offers introductory classes and walk-in programs for beginners and experts alike, with a variety of styles for every skill level and interest. For bouldering and training enthusiasts, the facility offers hydraulic Kilter and Tension boards, MoonBoard, campus board, hangboards and system boards.

Get your DIY on at Ceramic Cafe, a local paint-your-own-pottery shop also offering glass fusing during walk-in studio hours. Glass fusing involves layering multiple pieces of colored glass to create a design. The pieces are fired in a kiln producing beautiful tiles, bowls, jewelry and other works of art. 

If you have little ones, KidScape at the Johnson County Museum is a whimsical, hands-on, child-sized city. Children time travel to different periods and communities from the region’s past. They enjoy pretend play as they work on the farm, perform at the theater or the puppet show, teach in the school, deliver the mail, care for patients at the hospital and fry up some burgers at the diner.

Blade & Timber (5203 W. 117th St., Leawood) is a great indoor attraction for adventurers. This indoor axe-throwing venue allows you to reserve a lane or play with strangers, throwing axes at a wooden target. This is great fun for couples or group. Participants must be 10 years old or older.

Destination #3: Swope Park

Explore the Kansas City Zoo. Travel all over the world without ever leaving the Kansas City Zoo. Take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel, ride the train, then continue your journey on the tram to the award-winning Africa exhibit. Visit Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the Discovery Barn and Stingray Bay. Stroll down Tiger Trail and get nose to nose with primates, orangutans and tigers—and be sure to explore Australia too.

Go Ape

Near the Kansas City Zoo, Go Ape offers treetop and private group adventures. The two- to three-hour obstacle course includes 40 crossings that feature rope bridges, five zip lines, Tarzan swings and net bridges. This is a fully immersive experience combining obstacles and zip lines for the adventure enthusiast.

For animal lovers looking for a free, low-key outing, Lakeside Nature Center is an urban oasis and home to native animals in need of care. Children will learn about conservation and the needs of the animals. Enjoy hiking trails around the center and coming face to face with birds, reptiles, fish and mammals.

Destination #4: Kansas City, Kansas

Located in the heart of Village West, the state of Kansas’ top tourist destination, Legends Outlets is the only outlet shopping destination serving the greater metropolitan region. Legends Outlets is home to more than 75 leading designer and favorite brand-name stores, including Coach, Banana Republic Factory Store, Gap Factory, J.Crew | crewcuts, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet and Under Armour Factory House, among many more. These stores offer savings of up to 65% off regular retail prices. One of the most fun attractions at Legends Outlets is Dave & Buster’s, a restaurant and indoor arcade offering hours of entertainment.

Stay at Great Wolf Lodge or buy a day pass to swim at the indoor water resort that boasts a four-story interactive tree house water fort, winding lazy river and numerous slides, including the Triple Twist, a high-speed, five-story drop into a huge funnel followed by twists and turns. Kids love the MagiQuest game as they attempt to conquer a dragon solving riddles throughout the lodge. Tip: If you don’t want to stay overnight and enjoy the waterpark, you may go enjoy MagiQuest only—a fun interactive game for kids who love wizards and fantasy.

Take in a little sightseeing as well. History buffs will enjoy a tour of Grinter Place, the oldest home in Wyandotte County, for a look at frontier life along the Kansas and Missouri border.

Kansas City mom Kristina Light enjoys taking her girls on adventures all over her hometown.

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