Off-the-Beaten-Path KC

The first week of April is Read a Road Map Week. So often we stick to the highways and follow our favorite familiar routes, or we trust our GPS to help us find our way from Point A to Point B. Once in a while, it’s fun to read a map and see what great places you’re missing!

Enjoy a few of these off-the-beaten-path discoveries:

• When you visit the Kansas City Zoo, be sure to stop by Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960), a free conservation and wildlife rehabilitation center with educational exhibits, live animals and special programs. Pack a picnic for lunch and enjoy it at the zoo or the nature center.
• When you visit Union Station, the National Archives of Kansas City (400 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO) shares the same parking lot. The location features two outstanding halls with interactive exhibits, perfect for children in upper elementary through high school and adults, and it is free! The exhibits rotate, typically featuring regional or national history. After your visit, enjoy lunch at Lulu’s Noodles (2030 Central St., Kansas City, MO, 816.474.8424), the eclectic lunch spot known for some of the tastiest pad thai in the metro.
• When you visit the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, take the kids to McCoy Park across the street from the library (ci.Independence.mo.us/ParksAndRec), one of the best accessible parks in the metro. After your visit, eat where Harry ate: Dixon’s Chili (9105 E. US Hwy. 40, Independence, MO, 816.861.7308), the famous greasy spoon diner where chili is enjoyed by the forkful.
• When you visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, take some time to visit the Kauffman Memorial Gardens (4800 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.932.1200), a beautiful botanical garden with picturesque fountains and walkways. After your visit, enjoy lunch at one of many quaint restaurants in Brookside.
• When you visit Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (on the JCCC campus) is about 10 minutes away. This free art gallery features modern art and offers family guides for children. After your visit, enjoy lunch at Tequila Harry’s (11817 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS, 913.469.6644) for tacos and enchiladas.