5 Playful Ideas Under $5 in Kansas City
Date night
One of Kansas City’s newest businesses, Glace Artisan Ice Cream, is a favorite spot for couples. The greatest challenge is narrowing down your choice! Glace uses only pure, fresh foods and natural ingredients to create their delicious flavors— no artificial flavorings. Locally owned and operated, this Christopher Elbow ice cream shop frequently invents new flavors and shares their creation journey on the Glace Facebook page, where fans are tempted with new tantalizing ice creams. And, with Christopher Elbow chocolates as signature ingredients for many of the flavors, you simply can’t go wrong! Visit one of two locations: 4960 Main St., Kansas City, MO, and 4535 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS.
Evening with your toddler
Little Monkey Bizness offers an Early Monkey Special of $5/ child before 10:00am on Monday and Wednesday. A favorite place to play and burn off energy, the attraction with a coffee shop for moms is a local favorite play place.
Fun with school-age kids
Overland Park Arboretum has hiking trails, botanical gardens and a sculpture exhibit that are perfect for children of all ages, but especially for school-age children. Admission is free for kids 5 and under, $1 for ages 6-12 and $3 for individuals 13 and over. Bring a picnic lunch/dinner and enjoy the great outdoors.
Taking the whole family
Look no further than Crown Center for your day of family fun. Crown Center offers free parking on the weekends and events for all ages. Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope offers free art activities Mon.-Thu., with the first session starting at 9:40 and last beginning at 3:30. Hallmark Visitors Center offers fun and educational tours that are great for the older child or teenager. The month of October brings free puppet shows every Saturday at Noon and 2:00. The Crayola Store offers art stations for the kids to showcase their inner Picasso. Round out the day with dinner at Fritz’s. Hotdogs and hamburgers are brought to your table on a train car that circles the restaurant. Prices range from $2 to $4, and the kids will love wearing their own conductor’s hats.
Girls’ night out
The Country Club Plaza can offer much fun for your group of girlfriends. Window shop while you make your way over to the Melting Pot Restaurant. Sun.-Fri., 4:00-7:00, the restaurant offers happy hour on the cheese and chocolate fondue. Grab two friends, and the three of you can share the $12 small, or a group of five can go for the $24 large, transforming the menu to less than $5 a person. Or on a Saturday night, begin your fun with a free visit to the Nelson-Atkins Museum, then visit the Melting Pot from 10:00 to 11:30 for Reverse Happy Hour, where the chocolate fondue is once again $12 for a small or $24 for a large.
Having fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Kansas City offers so many amazing activities and events for unbelievably reasonable prices. Get out on the town and enjoy yourselves!
Jessica Heine lives in Olathe with her husband and two young children.