Free & Cheap Ways to Explore Downtown KC

10 Free & Cheap Ways to Explore Downtown KC

1. Walk the Country Club Plaza and admire the art and fountains of the city’s original landmark. 
2. Share a Skyscraper, a giant ice cream soda meant for sharing, at Winstead’s, Kansas City’s original burger joint.
3. Stroll through the free Kauffman Memorial Gardens where something is always in bloom.
4. Explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Admission is free; there is a fee for parking. The world-class museum is open regularly until 5:00 but remains open late on Thursdays and Fridays for many special events throughout the year.
5. Discover a masterpiece and take a photo with the giant spider at the free Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
6. Enjoy wildflowers and play among the trees at the Anita Gorman Discovery Center, a free nature center with an imaginative outdoor playground and hands-on exhibits.
7. Get free (shredded) money at the Money Museum.
8. Ride the KC Streetcar and visit the FREE KC Rail Experience at Union Station, then ride to the Power & Light District where you’ll find a variety of dining and entertainment options or go on to River Market to explore shops and restaurants.
9. Visit the National Archives of Kansas City and explore their free exhibits.
10. Tour the FREE Hallmark Visitors Center. Then, enjoy a bit of shopping and dining at Crown Center. The district is also home to live theater and attractions.

Discover more ideas with the geo-based search in our Going Places guide on KCParent.com.

• Country Club Plaza

  Walk the Country Club Plaza and admire the art and fountains of the city’s original landmark.

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

  Explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Admission is free; there is a fee for parking. The world-class museum is open until 9:00 Thursdays and Fridays and offers many special events throughout the year.

• Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center

  Enjoy wildflowers and play among the trees at the Anita Gorman Discovery Center, a free nature center with an imaginative outdoor playground and hands-on exhibits. 

• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

  Discover a masterpiece and take a photo with the giant spider at the free Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. 

• Kauffman Memorial Gardens

  The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden is a privately-owned garden that is run in cooperation with Powell Gardens. The garden is free and open to the public.

• Hallmark Visitors Center

  Tour the free Hallmark Visitors Center. 

• Crown Center

  Then, enjoy a bit of shopping and dining at Crown Center. The district is also home to live theater and attractions. 

• Kaleidoscope

  At Kaleidoscope, children use their imaginations to make art with left-over materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. Some materials are cut into shapes, while others are left just as Hallmark sends them.

• Federal Reserve Bank & Money Museum

  Get free (shredded) money at the Money Museum. 

• KC Streetcar

  Ride the KC Streetcar and visit the free KC Rail Experience at Union Station, then ride to the Power & Light District where you’ll find a variety of dining and entertainment options. Or go on to River Market with shops and restaurants.

• dszc Getty Images/iStockphoto

  Union Station

  A place for great adventure. Where Kansas City Connects. All of these phrases – and more – are regularly used to describe Union Station. Visitors of all ages, from all places and for all reasons tie Union Station to special and magical moments.

• Kansas City Power & Light District

  The Kansas City Power & Light District is a dynamic, nine-block neighborhood in the heart of downtown Kansas City, with more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues! The Power & Light District is the Midwest's premier entertainment

• City Market Kansas City

  City Market

  Open daily and featuring an eclectic mix of dining, shopping, entertainment, and attractions in a unique open-air setting, the City Market offers visitors a variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, specialty groceries, flowers, and gift items.