For a sunny season full of giggles and wonder, try the best KC has to offer for your baby’s firsts.
Listen to live music at Barkley Square
Pop and rock music that’s not too loud, not too soft, but just right! Every Friday through September, Guitars & Games in Barkley Square provides live music (lineup available online) and lawn games for families.
Tucked inside Leawood’s Park Place, this inviting green space offers giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and multiple cornhole and beanbag games. Adult- and child-size Adirondack chairs line the square, and string lights lend a warm glow. The turf below reduces the risk of bug bites, making it a sweet lounge spot for you and your baby.
Cost: Free.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Treat your older baby to a first lick of ice cream at nearby Ice Cream Bae, just steps from Barkley Square.
Picnic on the lawn at Nelson-Atkins
Find a shady spot to spread out your blanket and enjoy the Nelson’s expansive lawn and the scenic Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. While you’re there, you can snap a selfie with baby in front of one of the iconic giant shuttlecocks. Plus, enjoy the Nelson’s Lawn Party on July 20.
Cost: Free.
Nelson Atkins Lawn
Farm fun at Deanna Rose
Old MacDonald had nothing on Deanna Rose. With almost 250 animals and birds, the farmstead invites families to explore its 12 acres through a petting zoo, fishing pond, garden, one-room schoolhouse and much more. The farmstead hosts a variety of activities and attractions from April 1 to October 31.
Cost: Free for ages 2 and under; $5 for ages 3+.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Admission is free for all guests after 2:00 Mondays through Thursdays (excluding holidays).
Ride a merry-go-round
My little guy wiggles with excitement every time he’s in a saddle of the zoo’s Endangered Species Carousel — even before the ride starts! We make a point to ride every visit. Besides the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, you can also ride carousels at Worlds of Fun, Crown Center and Oak Park Mall.
Take a family photo at the Liberty Memorial
Beyond the Liberty Memorial, a skyline view of Kansas City presents the perfect backdrop for family pictures. Visible landmarks include Union Station and the Western Auto sign.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Plan to snap your photo on a weekday — the Liberty Memorial can be crowded with visitors and wedding parties on weekends. A Monday visit is ideal, as The World War I Museum and Memorial below is closed, making for fewer tourists.
Explore an aquarium
Kansas City offers two major aquariums: Sea Life Kansas City at Crown Center and Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo. The tanks are well-lit, and vibrant fish and sea creatures are primarily at stroller level — all the better for your baby’s developing eyesight!
Cost: Both are free for children ages 2 and under.
KC Parent Pro Tip: To save a penny, opt for the saltwater aquarium at Scheels in Overland Park. The unique arch entrance to the main shopping floor holds 16,000 gallons of water, and colorful coral reefs are on display. Feedings are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the early afternoon.
Enjoy butterflies at Powell Gardens
Take a lingering stroller walk through Butterfly Meadow at Powell Gardens. For an extra-educational visit, check out The Festival of Butterflies from July 17 to August 3. Depending on the heat, you may prefer to wander inside the conservatory among tropical and native butterflies.
Cost: Ages 4 and under are free.
Eat local and fresh produce
Introducing solid foods is an exciting experience for both parent and baby. You’re sure to make this milestone sweet with fresh produce samples from a nearby farmers market or an outing to a u-pick berry patch. If you have small children in your crew, you may want to adopt my rule: eat berries off the bushes, not from the bucket. Otherwise, your berries may disappear as quickly as you pick them. For the best blueberry picking, head to The Berry Patch in Cleveland, Mo. Find a complete list of berry picking locations at KCParent.com.
If you don’t bring a stroller or wagon your first year, you’ll remember it for the next. Picking rows can seem especially long in the summer heat if you’re carrying your pail and a berry-stained sweetie.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Before you gather up yourself and baby, check online or call the u-pick farm for a picking report.
Read
Every summer day throughout my childhood, my mom read aloud for hours. Once chapter books were appropriate, she alternated reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys Mysteries to me and my brother. This tradition even inspired my son’s name: Hardy. Starting a reading tradition now will help maintain a rhythm as your baby gets older and life gets busier.
Local libraries also offer baby story times and summer reading programs that are designed to capture your infant’s attention and teach skills to build on for school readiness. Check out KCParent.com for a complete list of story times. A Parents as Teachers educator can also give you a booklist by age and topic to start with.
Spark a love for the outdoors at Burr Oak
Register for nature-based activities designed for children from infancy to 3 years old.“Babes in the Woods” events at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area are hands-on for both parents and children with play, crafts, sensory exploration and gentle, guided trails. You can also venture out for a stroll on your own. I recommend either the Missouri Tree Trail (0.7 miles) or the Discovery Trail (0.6 miles).
