25 Ways to Say "I Love You" Kansas City Style

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, surprise your loved ones with a bit of amore, Kansas City style! These are our favorite ideas for couples and families...

• Attach one of Helzberg's "I Am Loved" pins (available free at Helzberg locations, Helzberg.com) to a card or package. The pins have been a Helzberg Kansas City tradition since they were first announced in the Kansas City Star in a 1967 ad campaign.
• Send "the very best" with a Hallmark Card. The Kansas City-based company offers free self-guided tours through the Hallmark Visitors Center (2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.3613, HallmarkVisitorsCenter.com), where you'll learn the history of Hallmark and watch the production processes of Hallmark cards on factory machines. And don’t leave without pressing the button to watch a gift bow made right before your eyes as a free souvenir to take home.
• Make a valentine at Kaleidoscope (HallmarkKaleidoscope.com). After visiting the Hallmark Visitors Center, stop in next door at Kaleidoscope, the FREE art center for children. It's an imaginative world where children can create their own masterpieces with a variety of supplies. February’s materials offer plenty of beautiful valentine inspiration.
• Commemorate your love with a love lock on the Old Red Bridge in Minor Park (KCParks.org/attraction/old-red-bridge-love-locks/). "The placing of love locks is a custom whereby couples affix a padlock to a bridge, fence, gate or similar fixture, so pronouncing their unbreakable and everlasting love. The Old Red Bridge is adjacent to the new bridge located on Red Bridge Road between Holmes and Blue River Road in south Kansas City." 
• Split a Skyscraper (a giant milkshake or ice cream soda meant for sharing) at Winstead's (WinsteadsSteakburger.com). The Plaza location delivers the treat with a jingle!
• Take the family to a valentine themed event in Kansas City. From daddy/daughter dances to craft projects to special shows—there is something for everyone on our Kansas City calendar.
• On Valentine's Day, head to the Truman Presidential Library (TrumanLibrary.org), where you can learn about the love between President & Mrs. Truman and peruse the museum's vast collection of love letters the two shared over the years.
• Buy a balloon bouquet from U.S. Toy in Leawood (USToy.com). Tip: Bring the U.S. Toy coupon  on our site when you shop!
• Treat your sweetheart to made-from-scratch personalized chocolates from Laura Little's Candies (LauraLittleCandy.com). They offer free personalization on fudge hearts for your valentine!
• Make a masterpiece for your special someone at a paint-your-own-canvas shop like Thirsty Palette in Leawood (ThirstyPalette.com) or the Got Art Gallery in Lee’s Summit (GotArtGallery.org). Read "Canvas Shops” on KCParent.com for more locations.
• Serve the kids Shatto Dairy Farm's pink strawberry milk or baby blue cotton candy milk for breakfast. The Missouri dairy farm sells milk at local grocery stores. ShattoMilk.com
• Dine at the Rozzelle Courtyard Restaurant at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Nelson-Atkins.org), one of the most romantic settings in the city. Then, enjoy the FREE art gallery and sculpture park.
• Kids love Lego and Lego bricks can spell I love you! Head to Legoland Discovery Center at Crown Center (LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com) where you can build Lego valentines, race cars, ride theme park style rides and watch Lego films at their 4D theater. 
• Delight in one of Glace's (GlaceIceCream.com) flavors of gourmet ice cream. They have locations in Leawood and near the Plaza. If you're looking for one-of-a-kind decadence showcasing a dozen flavors you've never heard of, Glace Artisan Ice Cream is for you. The chic shop with a sleek, modern atmosphere and robin's egg blue walls beckons customers to sample exotic and unheard-of-before ice cream flavors, and it’s the perfect place for a spontaneous date night.
• Buy a box of chocolates from a local company. Go classic with Russell Stover (RussellStover.com) or splurge with gourmet delights from Christopher Elbow (ElbowChocolates.com). 
• Catch a movie. Read “Coolest Movie Theaters in Kansas City” on KCParent.com to discover the best theaters in town.
• Take pictures together at local landmarks: Fountains, local galleries, parks or the "Married Love" statue of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill at the Country Club Plaza. 
• Show your KC love with a Charlie Hustle (CharlieHustleShop.com) shirt emblazened with a huge heart and the letters “KC.” The style became extra popular during the 2014 World Series when Paul Rudd was photographed sporting the tee and enjoyed a resurgence with the 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series Championship. This is one shirt that will always be in style in our book.
• Cookies from McLain's Bakery in Waldo (McLainsKC.com) have been enjoyed by generations of Kansas Citians since 1945! Buy a dozen to share with the family.
• Ride to the top of the Liberty Memorial (TheWorldWar.org) and take a photo together. With an amazing view of the city skyline, this location is one of the city's most popular spots for marriage proposals.
• Paint pottery together at a local shop. Search “Paint Pottery” on KCParent.com for locations.
• Celebrate with chocolate dipped strawberries from Garza's Goodies (GarzasGoodies.com) in Waldo.
• Enjoy decadent Strawberry Hill Povitica Bread (Povitica.com), a holiday delicacy for decades.
• Eat heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's (PapaMurphys.com), where they sell take 'n bake pizza. Or dine in or order carry-out at Minsky's (Minskys.com), where they sell the special shapes for holidays.
• Make your own KC valentine tradition and share it with us on the KC Parent Facebook page at Facebook.com/KansasCityParent.

Kristina Light has been collecting “I Am Loved” pins since her grandmother began the tradition when she took her shopping as a girl. Now, she continues the tradition with her daughters.