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.
Take a picture with an animal. This summer the Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.285.3689, KansasCityZoo.org) welcomes Bam Bam, a new polar bear playmate for our resident bear, Berlin. They also opened a brand-new Stingray Bay touch pool and a new playground in Africa with accessible playground equipment for all abilities. In addition, enjoy the penguin exhibit, sea lions, indoor exhibits in the Tropics and Discovery Barn and fantastic Australia and Africa exhibits.
Build a sandcastle at a local swim beach. These local lakes offer great swim beaches for the whole family to enjoy: Blue Springs Lake (816.503.4870), Longview Lake (816.503.4870), Shawnee Mission Park Beach (913.312.8847), Kill Creek Park Beach (913.312.8847), Smithville Lake Beach (816.407.3400) and Watkins Woolen Mill State Park Lake (816.580.3387).
Enjoy your first popsicle. Independence hosts free Popsicles in the Park events every Tuesday evening in June and July at their local parks. The evening includes live entertainment and hands-on activities for toddlers and young children. You’ll find details here.
Take a ride on your first train. The Kansas City Northern Railroad (6000 NW Waukomis Dr., Kansas City, MO) offers 75-cent train rides on Saturdays and Sundays May through September. This 16-inch gauge train ride is perfect for your first train ride. The park is a great spot for a family picnic or kite flying too.
Photograph your family in front of a fountain. Kansas City is home to more than 200 beautiful fountains, making a picturesque backdrop for family photos. Choose your favorite and take pictures…try to remember to do this annually and watch as your children grow.
Walk through the flowers. Stroll at the Overland Park Arboretum (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS), where admission is affordable (and free on Tuesdays). Enjoy loveliness in the Monet Garden, whimsy in the Train Garden and natural beauty on walks through the woods.
Taste your first ice cream cone. We love the homemade waffle cones and creative flavors at Betty Rae’s in Waldo, the classic atmosphere at Sylas & Maddy’s in Olathe, the old-fashioned style of Poppy’s in Lee’s Summit and the fun of Freezing Moo (multiple locations). You’ll find more great ice cream choices when you search “Best Ice Cream” on KCParent.com.
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 KC Water Fun Guide to find one near you. Our top pick is John Anderson Park (4701 E. 135th St., Grandview, MO), with a great nautical theme and adjacent dry playground.
Pick berries. Kansas City is home to many u-pick farms all in our guide. Enjoy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and other fresh fruits. Many of the u-pick farms offer picnic areas and play areas to enjoy. You’ll find fun photo ops and tasty treats on this outing.
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. Read our complete Kansas City Summer Reading Program Guide.
Ride a pony. Deanna Rose (13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS, 913.897.2360) is a summer must-see, with a dairy barn, petting zoo, pony rides, tiny tractor rides and playgrounds. A day of fun is guaranteed.
Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park. Perhaps the most beautiful park in Kansas City, Loose Park (51st & Wornall, Kansas City, MO) is home to an amazing rose garden, fountains, ponds and trails for beautiful photo ops, plus a playground and sprayground for fun.
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 it before you buy it. Read our KC Farmers Market Guide.
Swing and slide at the park. Here are three of our favorites: Penguin Park (North Vivion Road & North Norton Avenue, Kansas City, MO) features gigantic friendly animals as the centerpieces of the park. Antioch Park (6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS) is a 44-acre park with several great play areas, including Old Dodge Town, a Wild West village. Brumble’s Forest at Meadowmere Park (13610 Byars Rd., Grandview, MO) is one of the most creative playgrounds in the area.
Meet animals on a nature walk. Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO) is home to falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO) features fish tanks, turtles, bird watching, a giant indoor nature play area, walking trails and an outdoor discovery center. Ernie Miller Nature Center (909 Kansas Hwy. 7, Olathe, KS) has paved trails through the woods; this a great place for a stroller walk.
Cheer 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.
Kristina Light’s family makes it a summer tradition to build sandcastles at the lake.