40 Things You Didn't Know You Could Enjoy in Kansas City This Summer
This summer embark on fresh adventures with your kids exploring some of Kansas City’s favorite places and best-kept secrets.
10 Wild Summer Rides
- Bicycle across a high wire at Science City (30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.460.2020).
- Ride the rails with the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad, where they offer hot dog rides, ice cream trains and more throughout the summer.
- Slide the City, Aug. 8-9, as you ride 1,000 feet of slick vinyl through Kansas City’s streets.
- Step back in time with a horse-drawn stagecoach ride at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm (1200 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS, 913.971.5111), where Thursday nights are free hands-on history nights for families.
- Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Africa aboard the Sky Safari at the Kansas City Zoo.
- Ride shotgun at speeds of up to 165 mph or get behind the wheel and drive a 600-horsepower NASCAR race car for eight to 18 laps at the Richard Petty Driving Experience (800.237.3889) at Kansas Speedway.
- Ride the KC Northern Railroad.
- Ride seven world-class roller coasters at Worlds of Fun (816.454.4545).
- Tour the city aboard an old-fashioned trolley with KC Fun Tours, where you’ll learn the history and secrets of the city.
- Rent a bike and explore downtown (BikeShareKC.com).
10 Ways to Have Fun with Food in Kansas City
- Dixon’s Chili (9105 E. US Hwy. 40, Independence, MO, 816.861.7308) has been one of Kansas City’s most famous restaurants since 1919—both for its chili and for its most beloved patron, President Harry S. Truman.
- Watch a magician at Minsky's Pizza (12920 State Line Rd., Leawood, KS, 913.317.9965), where tricks are performed at your table every Saturday night.
- Dine in a castle at Renee Kelly’s Harvest (12401 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS, 913.631.4100).
- Eat barbecue at the Filling Station (333 SE Douglas St., Lee's Summit, MO, 816.347.0794), a renovated Texaco station turned restaurant.
- Eat food delivered to your table by a model train at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant (find a location at FritzsKC.com), where they have been serving hamburgers, hot dogs and shakes since 1954.
- Explore local art galleries and eat al fresco, enjoying a variety of tasty cuisine from the city’s best food trucks at First Fridays in the Crossroads.
- Pick berries this summer. Read our complete KC guide to local berry patches and their picking season.
- Experience one-of-a-kind decadence showcased in a dozen ice cream flavors you've never imagined at one of Glace’s two locations (4960 Main St., Kansas City, MO, and 4535 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS). Locally owned and operated, this Christopher Elbow ice cream shop frequently invents new flavors just begging to be tried.
- The Roasterie, known for selling premier air-roasted coffee, offers one of the most fun free tours in town. Visitors watch as coffee goes from bean to brew. Call 816.931.4000 for reservations.
- Watch as potato chips are made from scratch in a machine at Price Chopper (7201 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS, 913.897.4600), then sample the flavors and choose your favorite to take home.
Unique Animal Encounters
- Touch sea animals at Sea Life Aquarium (2475 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.471.4386).
- Sleep with animals at the Kansas City Zoo, which offers overnights with the polar bears and penguins or campouts in Africa. Visit their online calendar for information and to make reservations.
- Feed baby goats at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (138th & Switzer, Overland Park, KS, 913.897.2360). Tip: They are open late on Tuesday & Thursday evenings in the summer!
- Milk a cow on a tour of the Shatto Dairy Farm (9406 N. Hwy. 33, Osborn, MO, 816.930.3862), where you learn how milk is processed and bottled and sample Shatto Milk’s variety of products.
- Learn about big cats at Cedar Cove Exotic Feline Sanctuary (3783 Hwy. K68, Louisburg, KS, 913.837.5515), where they protect and care for endangered animals. Tip: Visit the nearby Lousiburg Cider Mill and enjoy some Lost Trail Rootbeer.
- Feed the fish at the Longview Marina (11100 View High Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.966.0131). Fish food is sold for a small fee. Tip: You can rent boats at the marina or book a Pirate themed lake cruise - call the office for info!
- Visit the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure (8010 E. Park Rd., Lee's Summit, MO, 816.229.8980), where you can watch white-tailed deer, elk and bison eat and play.
- Watch fish in the giant aquariums at Bass Pro (Independence and Olathe) or Cabela’s.
- See falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects at Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960).
- Take a class at Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO, 816.228.3766), one of the largest nature centers in the area and home to some of Missouri's freshwater fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more.
10 Free Summer Fun Favorites
- Sign up for free bowling with KidsBowlFree.com or free roller skating at KidsSkateFree.com.
- Head to the KC Power & Light District for the free Sprint Family Fun Days event the second Saturday of each month.
- Splash and play at a Kansas City area sprayground. Read our KC Water Fun Guide for favorite places to enjoy water fun - including Spraygrounds!
- Attend Shakespeare in the Park.
- Play at Crown Center’s free summer kids exhibit .
- Create a masterpiece at Kaleidoscope, a free hands-on art center for kids.
- Imagine at KidScape, a child-sized play village at the Johnson County Museum (6305 Lackman Rd., Shawnee, KS, 913.715.2550). Tip: They host Pop 'n Play events, story times, and concerts for kids.
- Tour KC Strings and learn how violins are made.
- Build a free project at Home Depot. They offer free kids workshops on select Saturdays.
- Kauffman Memorial Gardens (4800 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.932.1200) is a beautiful free botanical garden near the Country Club Plaza and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (another free favorite!), perfect for a summer stroll.
Please comment below with your favorite "Best Kept Secrets of Kansas City" and tips to enjoy our favorite local attractions: