Wonderful Winter Outings with Tiny Tots in KC

The weather outside is frightful, and the snow isn’t so delightful. Memories of snowmen and sledding seem magical and nostalgic, but reality is often something quite different if you’re home with little children confronting cold and snow. Entertaining small children to keep cabin fever at bay is a challenge. Fortunately, many family-friendly venues in Kansas City offer options where you can enjoy a day of learning, exercising and beating the winter blahs!

Note: Currently, online reservations are required to visit most of these local attractions. Be sure to visit websites in advance for details.

Cultivate a Love of Learning

Young children learn best when the opportunities are hands-on and engaging.

Science City at Union Station (30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.460.2020, UnionStation.org). Science City is Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum with something for visitors of all ages. Little ones especially love three brand new experiential, hands-on exhibitions that just opened this year! The “Let’s Play!” exhibit is designed especially for babies, crawlers, toddlers and their caregivers and features activities designed for developmental needs with multiple sensory and role-playing activities. “Creative Corner” is an exhibit where art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities encouraging kids to explore, paint on glass and interact with sand and light tables to engage senses and stimulate minds. And “All Aboard” celebrates Union Station’s rail history, allowing families to discover how steam engines work as they play and explore throughout the exhibit that encourages problem-solving and creativity.

KidScape at the Johnson County Museum (8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 913.826.2787, JoCoMuseum.org) is a whimsical, hands-on, child-sized city. Children time travel to different periods and communities from the region's past. They enjoy pretend play as they work on the farm, perform at the theater or the puppet show, teach in the school, deliver the mail, care for patients at the hospital and fry up some burgers at the diner. This exhibit is a favorite for early education.

Legoland Discovery Center (2475 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.471.4386, LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com). Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City offers a fun, highly interactive and educational 2- to 3-hour indoor experience. Based on the ever-popular Lego brick, Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas. The Train Station Adventure is where children climb, slide, jump and roll around train obstacles. Lego 4D cinema features exciting Lego movies with additional wind, rain and snow effects to really bring the film to life, and Duplo Village lets little ones build a colorful Duplo flower for the garden, or wiggle and slide around the cottage and play with the special big, soft bricks. Families also enjoy the Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice rides; Miniland, an interactive Lego replica of Kansas City’s most famous landmarks; and a variety of Lego play spaces.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side … favorite winter animal outings!

We often think of petting zoos and parks as summer outings, but many venues offer indoor animal exhibits—and the cold months, generally less crowded, can be a perfect time to visit.

The Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.5800, KansasCityZoo.org). The zoo is open year-round. In fact, winter is one of the best times to visit, as the animals are especially playful, and the zoo isn't crowded. The indoor exhibits at the Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Tropics, and Discovery Barn are great on chilly days. Bonus: Weather permitting, enjoy a ride on the carousel or train for more fun.

Animal Watching at Local Nature Centers. Kansas City is home to many wonderful nature centers, but these are some of our favorites: Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, 816.228.3766, MDC.mo.gov/regions/kansas-city/burr-oak-woods-nature-center) is one of our favorite outings on a cold afternoon. You’ll meet an animatronic Smokey Bear teaching children fire safety and see a large aquarium of Missouri's freshwater fish, as well as displays of snakes, turtles, toads and more. Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960, LakesideNatureCenter.org) is home to some of the best animal displays in the area, with falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish, insects and wonderful exhibits on the animals in our city and in our homes. Lastly, Prairie Park Nature Center (2730 Harper St., Lawrence, 785.832.7980) features reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, as well as a hands-on center for preschoolers that features nature puppets, puzzles and activities. Looking for more? Visit the Going Places tab on KCParent.com, where you can search for local nature centers.

Get the Wiggles Out!

Children need to exercise and play, but that can be tough when it’s too cold for the backyard swing set. Consider a day of swimming or indoor play!

Jump! Jump! Jump! Trampolines, toddler play areas and obstacle courses are perfect ways to burn off energy and get exercise, and Urban Air Trampoline Park (two locations: 8554 Maurer Rd., Lenexa, and 14401 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com) is one of our favorite places to play! With giant tubes playgrounds, ropes courses, a Sky Rider, virtual reality, and a bevy of trampoline spaces, this is a great place for little ones (who love the playgrounds) and older siblings and friends as well!

Go for a Swim! Kansas City boasts dozens of terrific indoor pools, from lap pools to full indoor water parks complete with slides, lazy rivers and more. (Visit the Going Places tab on KCParent.com to find the best pool near you.) Best of all, many offer terrific toddler areas, and you don’t have to worry about big crowds if you swim while school is in session. Our three favorite inexpensive but fun-filled options are Lenexa Rec Center (913.477.7529), Legacy Park Community Center in Lee's Summit (816.969.1550) and the High Blue Wellness Center in Belton (816.348.7400).

Three More Favorite Winter Outings with Tiny Tots in KC:

1. Wonderscope Children’s Museum (433 E. Red Bridge Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.643.6700). The museum reopened in a brand new space in the Red Bridge neighborhood in October 2020, offering amazing hands-on exhibits specially designed for early learning and play.
2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO, 816.751.1278, Nelson-Atkins.org). Spend an hour exploring the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with little ones in strollers. For toddlers, bring a copy of our Nelson-Atkins Scavenger Hunt, found on KCParent.com.
3. Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, 913.685.3604, OPKansas.org/recreation-fun/arboretum-botanical-gardens). The 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens turns into a winter wonderland perfect for an outdoor stroll or hike if you love crisp winter air and nature. On weekends during the holiday season, make it a family tradition to attend the annual luminary walk.

For more winter ideas for little ones, search “Cabin Fever Busters” on KCParent.com. 

Kristina Light loves winter with her girls. They are often out and about at local museums, libraries and play places.