Kansas City's Summer Bucket List

KC is cool all the time, but especially summertime! Enjoy the best of summer with our MEGA FUN Bucket List!

• Attend a Summer Festival.
• Visit stingrays, polar bears, kangaroos, tigers, penguins, and giraffes at the Kansas City Zoo.
• Ride the Nordic Chaser at Worlds of Fun and try all seven world-class roller coasters, and make waves at Oceans of Fun - all for the price of one ticket!
• Spend the day bird watching at the Overland Park Arboretum. Tip: Admission is FREE on Tuesdays!
• Get lost in the Glass Labyrinth on the lawn of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
• Savor Popsicles in the Park (a free program every Tuesday in Independence)!
• Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park.
• Attend  T-Bones Baseball Game! Tip: Kids Eat Free at the game on Monday nights!
• Treat the kids to a professional puppet show courtesy of Mesner Puppet Theater.
• Challenge the kids to a match at Advanced Laser Tag.
• Participate in hands-on history at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and get a spectacular view of the city atop Liberty Memorial.
• Explore Big Backyards at Powell Gardens.
• Participate in a Summer Reading Program.
• Play at the batting cages at Paradise Park or ride the gokarts, try to escape from their Exit Room, play a round of miniature golf, enjoy arcades and rockwall climbing, laser tag, or the Children's Edutainment Center.
• Spend a day at Crown Center - explore the new Trivial Pursuit exhibit (opening Memorial Day Weekend), visit Legoland or Sea Life and catch Goosebumps (showing summer 2018) at The Coterie.
• Pick berries, peaches, and apples at local U-Pick Farms.
• Ride bikes at one of KC's Best Bike Trails.
• Go Bowling - for FREE!
• Spend a day at the Legends Outlets.
• Explore one of Kansas City’s best parks.
• Visit the Johnson County Museum.
• Ride the KC Streetcar and visit the FREE KC Rail Experience at Union Station, play chess on the roof at the Central Library and taste-test a yummy treat at City Market. TIP: Bring our Streetcar Scavenger Hunt from on your trip!
• Watch a show and make your own puppet at the Puppetry Arts Institute.
• 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.
• Take a FREE tour of the Roasterie and learn about coffee.
• Create your own custom donut at Donutology in Westport.
• Step back in time at one of Shawnee Town 1929's family-friendly summer events.
• Join a summer movie club at your local movie theater.
• Tour the homes of KC's famous residents at the Alexander Majors House, Wornall House, Vaile Mansion, Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Truman Home.
• Go on an adventure hunting for treasure at new places with geocaching.
• Discover KC's Coolest Districts.
• Rent a pedal boat at Shawnee Mission Lake. 
• Learn about Missouri's real discovered treasure at the Arabia Steamboat Museum.
• Marvel at modern art at the Nerman Museum, where admission is free.
• Enjoy homemade waffle cones and delish ice cream at Betty Rae's in Waldo or Freezing Moo.
• Ride aboard one of KC's Trains.
• Shop at one of KC's Farmers Markets.
• Go camping at one of Missouri or Kansas' campgrounds.
• Play disc golf at Swope Park.
• Try the zipline at GoApe Zipline in Swope Park or Zip KC in Bonner Springs.
• Discover Kansas City’s rich history aboard the trolley.
• Spend a Saturday in the West Bottoms, a perfect excursion to get creative juices flowing as you explore antique shops, boutiques and retailers in KC’s most eclectic shopping district.
• Head to Moon Marble in Bonner Springs and watch a marble making demonstration. 
• Nurture your creative bug at Paint, Glaze & Fire or Ceramics Cafe.
• 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 Prairiefire.
• Attend a Saturday Night Feeder at Cedar Cove where big cats live in Louisburg.
• Share a Skyscraper (a giant ice cream soda or shake) at Winstead’s.
• Swim at a local pool, waterpark, sprayground or beach - discover them all on our KC Water Fun Guide.
• Pretend you live in the Wild, Wild West at Antioch Park.
• Stargaze at Powell Observatory, home to the Ruisinger telescope, one of the largest telescopes available for public viewing in a five state area. 
• Taste test every flavor of Glace Ice Cream until you find your favorite.
• Feed the goats at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.
• Ride a stagecoach (minimal fee) during one of Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop's FREE Family Fun Nights (Thurs in June & July).
• Discover nature on a local hike.
• Jump at Urban Air indoor trampoline park.
• Try one of the Best Picnic spots in KC.
• Participate in hands-on science at Science City, catch a planetarium show at Gottlieb Planetarium, watch a movie at the Extreme Screen and explore the Body Worlds exhibit at Union Station.
• Stroll through Kauffman Memorial Gardens.
• Celebrate African American baseball history at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
• Explore Downtown Kansas City and take photos with public art on display.
• Picnic near a Kansas City area waterfall.
• Get an amazing view of the city from the River Observation Tower as you gaze out over the vast Missouri River.
• Paint a masterpiece at Thirsty Palette.
• Visit the free National Archives of Kansas City and explore their free exhibits.
• Build a free project at Home Depot during free workshops on select Saturdays.
• Visit the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.
• Head to a new park for a picnic or go all out and attend KC's Big Picnic on the lawn of The Nelson-Atkins.
• Roller skate with the family at a local skating rink.
• Go old school and catch a movie at one of KC's Drive-In Theaters.
• Take a family float trip and canoe locally.
• Take a tour of the more than 200 fountains that grace Kansas City.
• Learn about the Santa Fe Trail at Cave Springs Nature Center.
• Go on a hunt for the best burger in KC.
• Discover a masterpiece and take a photo with the giant spider at the free Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
• 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.
• Learn new things about nature through a class or program at one of KC's Nature Centers or Gardens.
• Grab some cash and take the kids on a trash or treasure hunt... a.k.a. Garage Sale Shopping.
• Take a free trip to the Money Museum and leave with a bag of shredded cash.
• Explore the Central Branch of the Kansas City Library, because any library with a parking garage painted with classic books has to be cool.
• Root, root, root for the Royals! Tip: If attending a first game with a little one, take the family to guest services where young fans are awarded a souvenir certificate in honor of their first game.
• Watch the fish at Bass Pro in Olathe or Independence, the outdoor shop featuring giant fish tanks kids love.
• Ride the $1 Ferris Wheel at Scheel's.
• Munch on Topsy's popcorn and enjoy their homemade lemonade.
• Try something new in KC - use our Kansas City Calendar for inspiration.