50 Sensational Ways to Savor Summer in Kansas City
Make the most of your summer in Kansas City with these favorite local experiences:
- Get an amazing view of the city from the River Observation Tower as you gaze out over the vast Missouri River.
- Savor McGonigle's ribs. Since 1951 the market has been selling some of the tastiest meats in the city. The smoker entices customers in the summer with the promise of juicy ribs and barbecue.
- Treat your kids to a frozen treat at a Kona Ice truck parked at local festivals and attractions through the summer. Using the flavor wave, customers flavor their own slushes.
- Feed the fish at Longview Lake, then enjoy a dip at the swim beach or rent a boat at the marina.
- Attend Maker Faire June 27-28 at Union Station, a festival celebrating things people create themselves—from new technology and electronic gizmos to urban farming, “slow-made” foods and unique art projects.
- Visit the big cats at Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary.
- Enjoy a free concert in the park (see our Kansas City calendar of events for a full schedule).
- Watch a live Broadway show under the stars at Starlight Theatre.
- Hike Monkey Mountain and other local trails found in the book Hiking Kansas City
- Window shop and take photos at the Country Club Plaza, then top off the day by sharing a skyscraper (GIANT ice cream soda) at Winstead's.
- Spend the night at the Kansas City Zoo, where they offer overnights in the penguin and polar bear exhibits and campouts in Africa.
- Root for the Kansas City Royals and enjoy Friday night fireworks.
- Indulge in a hand-crafted soda or snow cone at Little Freshie, where customers revel in flavors like blackberry lavender, strawberry rhubarb and more.
- Watch a retro flick on the big screen at the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater.
- Sample foods from around the world at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Aug. 21-23 in Swope Park.
- Explore Kansas City’s historic cemeteries and see where her most famous residents are laid to rest. The book Here Lies Kansas City by Wilda Sandy offers a visual tour of these famous graves.
- Tour the Green Dirt Farm in Weston and learn why grass-fed sheep make the tastiest cheese.
- Camp at Watkins Mill State Park and tour the antebellum woolen mill.
- Ride the Mamba at Worlds of Fun and enjoy water rides at Oceans of Fun.
- Feed animals at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.
- Spend a first Friday in the Crossroads admiring local art and feasting on food truck favorites.
- Attend a free family fun night at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop (Thursdays in the summer), where history comes to life.
- Learn the history of Independence, MO, as a jumping off point for the trails by jumping aboard a horse-drawn wagon ride with Pioneer Trails Adventures.
- Get lost in the new glass labyrinth on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- Ride the rails with the Belton, Grandview & KC Railroad, the Midland Railway or the KC Northern Railroad. All three offer great train rides on the weekends in the summer.
- Enjoy stargazing at Powell Observatory, home to a 30-inch telescope, the largest available for public viewing in the Midwest.
- Delight in decadent artisan chocolate from Christopher Elbow.
- Attend the Brookside Art Annual May 1-3, a local art festival.
- Take a tour of the Kansas City, MO, City Hall and go to the roof for amazing views of downtown.
- Play a round of miniature golf at Cool Crest.
- Learn about the Santa Fe Trail at Cave Springs Nature Center.
- Celebrate Children’s Day at Missouri Town 1855 on June 6 with old-fashioned tug-o-war and gunny sack races.
- Play at Schlitterbahn water park.
- Celebrate African American baseball history at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
- Pick blueberries, strawberries and fresh fruit at Kansas City's U-Pick Farms.
- Treat the kids to some of Shatto Dairy Farm’s signature ice cream and ice cream sammiches.
- Explore one of the area’s quaint shopping districts located on Main Street in KC’s surrounding suburbs and small towns.
- Discover Kansas City’s rich history aboard the trolley.
- Ride the sky bike, a bicycle over a high wire, at Science City.
- Visit the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial and grab a free Family Guide at the entrance with a scavenger hunt for the kids. End your trip with photos at the top of the tower.
- Play disc golf at Swope Park.
- Explore Downtown Kansas City and take photos with public art on display.
- Learn the fine art of butchering at Local Pig, where they offer hands-on classes in everything meat.
- Watch as homemade potato chips are sliced and fried in the machine at Price Chopper at 151st & Metcalf, then indulge in a bag of your favorite flavor.
- Dine al fresco at one of the many restaurants offering patio seating at the Country Club Plaza, Brookside Shopping District, Briarcliff Village, Park Place or Prairie Fire.
- Laugh at the live improv comedy at Comedy City.
- Dine with dinosaurs at T-Rex Cafe at the Legends Outlets.
- Rent a pedal boat at Shawnee Mission Lake.
- Take a free trip to the Money Museum and leave with a bag of shredded cash.
- Visit KCParent.com and search our calendar for more ideas all year long!