Baby’s First Summer: Kansas City Style
Make your baby’s first summer extra sweet with fun-filled memories of enjoying the best summer has to offer.
B Build a sandcastle at a local swim beach. In Kansas, you can enjoy the beach at Lake Olathe Park. The beautiful 170-acre lake is surrounded by a 258-acre community park and is popular for fishing, swimming and boating. Also check out Shawnee Mission Park Lake, Kill Creek Lake, Blue Springs Lake, Longview Lake, and Smithville Lake Beach.
A Admire animals at the Kansas City Zoo. This summer, we are excited to visit two new koalas at the zoo. Also, visit the polar bears, penguins, tigers, elephants, meerkats, monkeys, gorillas, stingrays and more. Little ones love the exhibits in the Tropics and Discovery Barn. Train rides, carousel, Sky Safari, trams and boat rides make the day. Tip: Pack your own picnic when you head to the zoo.
B Bounce and play. Head to Urban Air. On select mornings they open the entire trampoline park just for little ones ages 5 and under during Jumperoo sessions. Children can just jump, bounce and crawl around at their leisure.
Y Yell for the Kansas City Royals. When children attend their first Kansas City Royals game, you may take them to guest services where they are awarded a first game certificate for the scrapbook.
S Splash at a sprayground. Kansas City is home to many wonderful spraygrounds—water playgrounds where tots can play and splash on a hot summer’s day. Check out our online guide to “Kansas City's Spraygrounds” to find one near you. Our top pick is John Anderson Park, with a great nautical theme and adjacent dry playground.
F Feed the fish at Longview Lake Marina.Take your little one out on the dock in his favorite life jacket to visit the marina’s shop where you may purchase fish food for 50 cents to $2.50 per bag.
I Imagine and play at Crown Center’s FREE Under the Sea Adventure Exhibit. Discover buried treasure in a sunken pirate ship, ride a dolphin and seahorses, paddle your way to the mermaid’s house, explore in the submarine, and many more aquatic adventures.
R Read books. Every local library offers terrific free summer reading programs where children earn prizes for listening (infants and toddlers) and reading (older children) books. Find a complete guide when you read our “Summer Reading Programs” guide. Mid-Continent Public Libraries offer story times for little ones. Visit MyMCPL.com to find one near you!
S Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park. Perhaps the most beautiful park in Kansas City, Loose Park is home to an amazing rose garden, fountains, ponds and trails for beautiful photo ops, plus a playground and sprayground for fun.
T Taste new foods at the farmers market. Farmers' markets are a summer delight with fresh seasonal produce and tasty treats for sale. Many vendors offer samples, so you can try before you buy. Read our guide to “Kansas City Farmers Markets.”
S Swing and slide at the park. Here are three of our favorites: Meadowbrook Park is home to 80 acres of green space featuring the Treeline Adventure destination playground, a pavilion, pickleball courts, fitness equipment, lakes, and more. Antioch Park has several great play areas, including Old Dodge Town, a Wild West village. T.B. Hanna Station includes a new playground with a train theme and splash pad that is inclusive for children of all abilities.
U Use your imagination at Science City at Union Station. The Let’s Play exhibit offers a variety of interactive environments designed for young learners 3 and under. Moms can rest easy as little ones explore Babyscape, Pretend Play, Ramps & Runs and Air Play areas.
M Meet animals on a nature walk at one of Kansas City’s local nature centers. Lakeside Nature Center is home to falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center features fish tanks, turtles, bird watching, a giant indoor nature play area, walking trails and an outdoor discovery center. Ernie Miller Nature Center has paved trails through the woods; this a great place for a stroller walk.
M Make believe at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. This 3,500-square-foot indoor exhibit is a favorite play area for little ones. 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, or fry up some burgers at the diner.
E Enjoy the flowers at Kauffman Memorial Gardens. This free, small but exquisite garden near the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (another free outing that is stroller friendly) is the perfect size for a toddler outing.
R Ride a pony at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. Admission is affordable all week long. This destination is a summer must-see, with a dairy barn, petting zoo, tiny tractor rides and playgrounds. A day of fun is guaranteed.
Kristina Light’s family makes it a summer tradition to build sandcastles at the lake.