Go Explore Eastern Jackson County

Independence, MO, is rich with history as the starting point of the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails and home of President Harry S. Truman. You can learn about his humble lifestyle at the Truman Home in Independence. Visit other historic sites including Vaile Mansion, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, the Jail Museum and the National Frontier Trails Museum, all hosting events throughout the year and specially decorated for the holidays. Another favorite for history buffs is a ride aboard Pioneer Trails Adventures. On the horse-drawn wagon ride through the historic Independence Square, you’ll hear stories of the city’s history. At Christmastime, visitors enjoy rides with Santa Claus himself!

Nature lovers relish a visit to Powell Gardens, home to a beautiful island garden, rock wall garden, conservatory, Heartland Harvest Garden and acres of trails with magnificent flowers, plants, and prairie. In the autumn, enjoy Fall Fling: Through the Looking Glass. During the holiday season, enjoy the Festival of Lights, a magical holiday event. On your way, stop at Cockrell’s Mercantile, a quaint mini-village of boutique shops where you’ll find special items for the home and kitchen. For a free outing, visit Burr Oak Woods Nature Center where you can walk miles of trails and enjoy their annual Halloween event and free workshops.

Downtown Lee’s Summit is home to shops and boutiques, including bookstores, hobby shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, cooking stores and more. At Paradise Park in Lee’s Summit, your family will enjoy laser tag, rock wall climbing, miniature golf, the Exit Room, the Foam Factory, bumper cars, an arcade and more. Visit Sky Zone in Lee’s Summit (additional locations available across the metro), a trampoline park with obstacle courses and games. Or, entertain the gang at Main Event (multiple locations), where you can enjoy arcades, laser tag, obstacle courses, bowling, and more family fun. Landmark Skate is a classic roller skating rink, and Centerpoint Community Ice is an indoor ice skating rink, both open year-round. 

• Truman Home

  The Truman Home offers a glimpse at the personal life of the 33rd President of the United States. Beautiful in its uncluttered commonness, the Truman Home showcases the simple life Truman and his wife Bess.

• National Frontier Trails Museum

  The National Frontier Trails Museum is a museum, interpretive center, and research library, operated by the City of Independence, dedicated to telling the rich history of America’s principle western trails.

• Vaile Mansion

  The 31 room mansion was built in 1881 by tycoon Harvey Vaile. Recognized as one of the finest examples of Second Empire Victorian architecture in the U.S.

• Independence Square

  Shop, Dine, Unwind with our unique shops, restaurants, services and tourist attractions on the historic downtown Independence Square.

• Pioneer Trails Adventures

  At Pioneer Trails Adventures, we are more than just a ride. Come visit Independence, where three trails began, two Civil War battles were fought and one President began his march to the White House.

• 1859 Marshal’s Home and Jail Museum

  One-room schoolhouse, Marshal’s home, 1859 jail and museum.

• Powell Gardens

  Powell Gardens is a not-for-profit botanical garden located just east of Kansas City, Missouri. Our mission: to be an experience that embraces the Midwest’s spirit of place and inspires an appreciation for the importance of plants in our lives.

• Burr Oak Woods Nature Center

  One of the largest nature centers in the Metro, Burr Oak Woods features hands-on exhibits for children, an aquarium with Missouri fish, live animals and nature trails.

• Downtown Lee's Summit

  Downtown is and will continue to be the historic, present and future heart of Lee’s Summit. It is a commercially vibrant, cultural, spiritual, and educational family destination.

• Paradise Park

  Our Board of Education has approved a letter of intent to purchase Paradise Park. Learn more about this exciting opportunity and our plans to ensure this special campus remains a place where young people thrive.

• Main Event: Independence

  When you want to let your fun out with family and friends, Main Event is the best — and easiest — place to HEAD FOR FUN. With state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, more than 100 games topped with handcrafted food and a full bar under on...

• Sky Zone Lee's Summit

  Sky Zone is the original indoor trampoline park, proud to bring the unmatched, out-of-this-world, and high-flyin' FUN of the world's first all-trampoline, walled playing court to the Lees Summit area.

• Independence Community Ice

  The Independence Community Ice Rink is a year-round ice facility dedicated to ice sports and recreation.