Wild, Wild West in Kansas City

Kansas City is no longer the cow town it once was, but it holds its cowboy heritage dear, with many local traditions. Most notable is the American Royal, which hosts rodeos, agricultural competitions and education through programs and the American Royal Museum. The American Royal also hosts the world’s largest barbecue contest, an appropriate event for Kansas City, the barbecue capital of the nation.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Johnson County brings 1850s farming to life with tours and programs all year, including stagecoach rides, family programs and a working blacksmith shop. On Thursdays in June and July enjoy free family fun in the evenings with living history programs designed for kids.

Learn firsthand about life in the 1850s on a tour of the John Wornall House Museum or the Alexander Majors House, home of the founder of the Pony Express. Missouri Town 1855 and Shoal Creek Living History Museum are two historic villages teaching pioneer life through fun events, festivals and programs. Shawnee Town 1929 is a slightly more modern village where families explore living history firsthand.

At the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, you can load a wagon bound for Oregon and learn about the Westward Expansion. For a truly historic experience, take a wagon tour with Pioneer Trails Adventures.

Horse lovers will enjoy a day trip to Boonville, just over an hour from Kansas City, for a tour of Warm Springs Ranch, a state-of the art Clydesdale breeding facility and home of the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales.

Grab the family and head to Antioch Park where children enjoy playing in a pretend Wild West Village with child-sized buildings including a school, home and old town businesses. For more great parks in the metro, visit www.KCParent.com.