Five Fabulous Daycations in Kansas City
Back to the Basics
Take a break from technology and enjoy an opportunity to get back to nature at one of the most scenic state parks in Missouri. Just north of the river lies Watkins Mill State Park (26600 Park Rd. N., Lawson, MO, 816.580.3387, www.MoStateParks.com/Park/Watkins-Mill-State-Park), featuring a 100-acre lake, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails and Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site. There, you can tour a 19th century three-story woolen mill and home to learn what life was like for families more than a century ago. The mill is the only 19th century textile mill in the United States with its original machinery still intact. Watkins Mill offers many terrific choices for daycationers. The lake features a paved bike path, fishing spots, boating, picnic tables and a swim beach. If you’d like to stay the night, you may make reservations to use the campgrounds. During the day you’ll see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and a variety of birds (pack some binoculars and a good camera), and at night you’ll find terrific views for stargazing (bring a telescope or ask your Facebook friends if they have one you may borrow).
Make Some Waves
Summer and swimming—the two go hand-in-hand. Kansas City’s year-round waterpark, CoCo Key Water Resort (816.737.0200, www.CoCoKeyKansasCity.com), offers both indoor and outdoor water park attractions, making it ideal for even the hottest summer days. The Shark Slam, Barracuda Blast and Pelican Plunge are three 40-ft. thrilling body and raft water slides for adventure seekers! Guests must be 48" tall to ride down tube slides and 42" tall to ride down the body slide. At Parrot's Perch, the park also offers slides for those at least 36” tall so little ones can begin to enjoy the fun. You can play for just the day or spend the night. Ask about overnight package bundles with tickets for other local attractions as well.
Go on “Another Person’s Trash Is Your Treasure” Hunt
As children grow up, their interests and needs do as well. Could your kids use a new chair or desk for their room? A bulletin board or reading nook? Kansas City is home to four Habitat for Humanity Restore locations (www.Habitat.org/cd/env/RestoreUS.aspx). Each store is a resale outlet where donated goods—home remodeling materials, from hardware, tile and carpet to the proverbial kitchen sink and furnishings—are sold at a fraction of retail. This is a great way to buy inexpensive materials and reuse supplies that may otherwise wind up in a landfill. And, even better, 100 percent of the proceeds benefits local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to fund the construction of Habitat homes within the community. You may find a chair, shelf or cabinet that can be quickly freshened up with a bit of paint, a mirror begging for a bit of personalization with decoupage, a carpet square to stencil or a bulletin board for artwork and notes. Take the kids on a treasure hunt to find just the right item to jazz up their bedrooms, update it with a fresh coat of paint and voila! You’ve just updated a bedroom, made memories and helped a worthy cause. For inspiration to repurpose your treasures, check out 50 Ways to Paint Furniture: The Easy, Step-by-Step Way to Decorator Looks by Elise Kinkead or Furniture Facelifts: A Paint Recipes Book : A Step-By-Step Guide to Revamping Your Furniture by Liz Wagstaff and Mark Thurgood.
Hole in One
If you grew up in Kansas City, as I did, chances are strong you hold many summer memories of mini golf at Cool Crest (10735 E. US Hwy. 40, Independence, MO, 816.358.0088, www.CoolCrest.com. Open Mon.-Thu. 10:00-10:00, Fri. & Sat. 10:00-11:00 and Sun. 11:00-10:00). If you haven't been, this is a family favorite for us. (Tip: Find great coupons on pg.??). Cool Crest features four miniature golf courses with mechanical hazards, water traps and decorations ranging from the Statue of Liberty to windmills and dragons. The dragon with the opening/closing mouth is every child’s favorite. Cool Crest also offers go-karts, arcades and a pizzeria for snacks or dessert after golf!
A Day at the Lake
Whether you enjoy swimming, boating or fishing, Kansas City is home to many terrific lakes with sand beaches, boat rentals and terrific fishing. If you’re up for an “adventure on the high seas” of Longview Lake, you can enjoy a Pirate Ship Cruise. Read “Beaches and Boating” for details on local swim beaches and boat rental. If you’re up for a real adventure, you can learn to sail at Lake Jacomo in Missouri with the Jacomo Sailing Club (816.678.7761) or on Lake Perry in Kansas with Clifton's Columbus School of Sail (913.220.5177). Lessons are offered for beginning sailors, and sailing can quickly become a family sport. Or, become a spectator of the sport and watch sailboat races every Sunday afternoon at 1:30 through October on Lake Jacomo, where boats sail from both Sailboat Cove on the east side and the marina on the west side.
Kristina Light and her girls love local adventures.