Five "Secret" Places to Picnic in Kansas City
Venture beyond your neighborhood park and enjoy a summer picnic at one of these unique places in Kansas City:
- View downtown’s skyline at Rooftop Park in the Kansas City Power & Light District, located on the rooftop of Cosentino's Market downtown. Access may be found off of Main Street, between 12th and 13th streets. The park is open from 8:00 in the morning until dusk throughout the summer and offers green space in the center of the city where you can relax and enjoy amazing views of the downtown skyline. You may pack a picnic or purchase one from the delicatessen at Cosentino’s. Bring a blanket (there are no tables, only benches) and eat on the lawn atop a downtown roof!
- Listen to a waterfall while you picnic at Parkville Nature Sanctuary - pictured above - (MO Highway 9 & 12th Street, Parkville, MO). Enjoy scenic hiking trails, waterfalls, a stream, wildlife and serenity just 15 minutes from the city! Bring a backpack picnic and enjoy it in nature. Or hike, then picnic, at nearby English Landing Park overlooking the Missouri River.
- Explore a cave at Cave Springs Park (8701 Gregory, Kansas City, MO). Enjoy a nature center with local exhibits, hiking trails, a pond, water garden, waterfall, historic ruins including chimneys from pioneer homes and, of course, the cave! Picnic at the pavilion on the grounds.
- Pack a picnic to enjoy then visit bison at the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure in Fleming Park in Blue Springs, MO, wherebison, white-tailed deer and elk approach the fences. Fleming Park is also home to Missouri Town 1855, Lake Jacomo and the Kauffman Education Center with a variety of great shelters and picnic areas. Rent a pedal boat at Jacomo or step back in time at Missouri Town 1855 while you’re there.
- Pretend you live in the Wild West then picnic at Antioch Park (6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS), where you can explore a pond, rose garden, acres of land for playing, a park and the beloved Wild West Village, where children pretend to live in old Kansas.