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Rain or Shine

Spring into Fun in KC

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Spring weather in the Midwest is unpredictable. Enjoy these favorite outings, whether the weather forecast is rain or shine.

Get the Wiggles Out

On a rainy day, visit an indoor playground during an open jump. Many indoor play places offer special jump times for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Also, visit KCParent.com and click “Coupons” to save on admission. Urban Air Trampoline Park offers Jumperoo from 9:00 to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays for children ages 5 and younger.

On a sunny day, visit one of the best parks in Kansas City. Some of our favorites for little ones include Meadowmere Park with a fun forest-themed play area and soft play surfaces, Leawood City Park with a fully accessible playground for all ages and abilities and Penguin Park with giant penguins and elephants adorning the play area with equipment for all age groups.

Wild Animals

StoneLion Puppet Theatre

On a rainy day, check out Mid-Continent Public Libraries for free educational programs for all ages throughout the year. Some of the most popular events include the Kansas City Zoo’s Zoo to You programs where animals visit the zoo. They also offer petting zoo programs and animal-themed story times and puppet shows. Check the library’s event calendar for information and follow our Kansas City Calendar.

On a sunny day, ride the carousel and train at the Kansas City Zoo. The zoo is always a favorite destination, with the polar bear, penguins, elephants, kangaroos, sea lions and hundreds more animals to enjoy. Purchase a FOTZ pass to include rides and visit often—plus, zoo memberships are reciprocal with other zoos if your family travels. Tip: You may pack a picnic at the Kansas City Zoo.

Art Appreciation

On a rainy day, paint pottery. Ceramic Café offers story time and projects for little ones. Or walk in any time and paint something together. Let your little one get creative or design a handprint or footprint keepsake.

On a sunny day, spend some time at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. You can visit the museum any time and explore the galleries, then enjoy a picnic on the lawn and explore the exhibits outside at Sculpture Park. The info kiosk offers a family-friendly tour and ideas for little ones.

Native Nature

On a rainy day, you’ll be glad Kansas City is home to many wonderful nature centers, and they all offer story times and classes for all ages, including infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Burr Oak Woods (816.228.3766) is one of our favorite outings on a chilly afternoon. You’ll see a large aquarium of Missouri's freshwater fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more, and many great hands-on exhibits. Lakeside Nature Center (816.513.8960) is home to some of the best animal displays in the area, with falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish, insects and wonderful exhibits on the animals in our city and in our homes.

On a sunny day, visit the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure in Fleming Park. This 110-acre fenced enclosure is home to bison, elk and white-tailed deer. 

On the Farm

On a rainy day, head inside to play pretend at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. This whimsical destination is a 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. This exhibit is a favorite for early education.

SUSAN PFANNMULLER

On a sunny day, feed baby goats, ride a pedal tractor and learn how to milk a cow at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (913.897.2360). The farmstead is a top pick for local moms, who can take their tots to encounter goats, chickens, ponies, cows, bunnies, pigs, horses, bison, prairie dogs and more.

Growing the Garden

On a rainy day, visit your local nursery. Family Tree Nursery and Colonial Gardens, some of the largest nurseries in the area with wide selections to enjoy. Both offer beautiful seasonal displays and special events. At Colonial Gardens, they offer livestock farm tours, and Family Tree’s Café Equinox is a favorite place to relax.

On a sunny day, Overland Park Arboretum is a delightful place to spend a spring day. With blooming flowers to enjoy and the charming children’s garden, the whimsical train garden and the stunning Monet garden, as well as miles of trails to walk and explore—you and your little ones will have an enchanted visit

Learn New Things

Let's Play at Science City at Union Station

On a rainy day, head to Science City, Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum with something for visitors of all ages. Little ones especially love the experiential, hands-on exhibitions designed with them in mind. The “Let’s Play!” exhibit is designed especially for babies, crawlers, toddlers and their caregivers and features activities designed for developmental needs with multiple sensory and role-playing activities. “Creative Corner” is an exhibit where art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities encouraging kids to explore, paint on glass and interact with sand and light tables to engage senses and stimulate minds.

On a sunny day, Prairie Park Nature Center (LawrenceKS.org) showcases reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, as well as a hands-on center for preschoolers that features nature puppets, puzzles and activities.

Little Engineers

On a rainy day, Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City offers a fun, highly interactive and educational two- to three-hour indoor experience. Based on the ever-popular Lego brick, Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas. The Train Station Adventure is where children climb, slide, jump and roll around train obstacles. Families also enjoy the Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice rides; Miniland, an interactive Lego replica of Kansas City’s most famous landmarks; and a variety of Lego play spaces.

On a sunny day, Shawnee Mission Park’s new inclusive playground offers some incredibly fun ways to explore. Climb in a giant spider web, enjoy adaptive swings, play on spinning spheres and buckets, explore musical instruments and practice swaying on a platform. This playground is wonderful for children of all ages and abilities and offers many fun elements to explore the basics of engineering.

Kristina Light believes in being prepared when it comes to fun with kids.

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