Make your baby’s first summer extra sweet with fun-filled memories of enjoying the best summer has to offer.
B Build a sandcastle at a local swim beach. In Kansas, you can enjoy the beach at Lake Olathe Park. The beautiful 170-acre lake is surrounded by a 258-acre community park and is popular for fishing, swimming and boating. Also check out Shawnee Mission Park Lake, Kill Creek Lake, Blue Springs Lake, Longview Lake and Smithville Lake Beach.
A Admire animals at the Kansas City Zoo. Visits to the zoo are a favorite family summer tradition. Watch the elephants play in their swim hole, feed the camels and goats, pet the stingrays, make silly faces at the monkeys, watch the polar bear and penguins, and imitate animal sounds. Little ones especially love the exhibits in the Tropics and Discovery Barn. Train rides, carousel, Sky Safari, trams and boat rides make the day. Tip: Pack your own picnic when you head to the zoo.
B Bounce and play. Head to Urban Air. On select mornings they open the entire trampoline park just for little ones ages 5 and under during Jumperoo sessions. Children can just jump, bounce and crawl around at their leisure.
Y Yell for the Kansas City Monarchs. Sunday games are Family Fundays. Enjoy carnival games, bounce in inflatables, play catch on the field and even more! Children 2 and under get in free.
S Splash at a sprayground. Kansas City is home to many wonderful spraygrounds-water playgrounds where tots can play and splash on a hot summer’s day. Check out our online guide to “Kansas City’s Spraygrounds” to find one near you.
F Feed the fish at Longview Lake Marina.Take your little one out on the dock in his favorite life jacket to visit the marina’s shop where you may purchase fish food for 50 cents to $2.50 per bag.
I Imagine and play at Crown Center’s FREE Fairy Tale Village Exhibit. Discover a world of make-believe as classic children’s tales come to life. Meet the Ice Queen in her Ice Palace and experience the giant adventures of Jack and the Beanstalk. Sit in Cinderella’s magic carriage and later stroll with Little Red Riding Hood through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Run safely inside the brick house of the Three Little Pigs, and then have lunch with the Seven Dwarfs. See Pinocchio come to life and more! This interactive exhibit includes a reading area where parents can share their favorite tales with their kids.
R Read books. Every local library offers terrific free summer reading programs where everyone can earn prizes for listening to books (infants and toddlers) and reading them (older children). Read our guide to “Summer Reading Programs” to learn about local reading incentive programs for families.
S Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park. Perhaps the most beautiful park in Kansas City, Loose Park is home to an amazing rose garden, fountains, ponds and trails for beautiful photo ops, plus a playground and sprayground for fun.
T Taste new foods at the farmers market. Farmers’ markets are a summer delight with fresh seasonal produce and tasty treats for sale. Many vendors offer samples, so you can try before you buy. Read our guide to “Kansas City Farmers Markets.”
S Swing and slide at the park. Here are three of our favorites: Meadowbrook Park is home to 80 acres of green space featuring the Treeline Adventure destination playground, a pavilion, pickleball courts, fitness equipment, lakes, and more. Antioch Park has several great play areas, including Old Dodge Town, a Wild West village. T.B. Hanna Station includes a new playground with a train theme and splash pad that is inclusive for children of all abilities.
U Use your imagination at Science City at Union Station. The Let’s Play exhibit offers a variety of interactive environments designed for young learners 3 and under. Moms can rest easy as little ones explore the Babyscape, Pretend Play, Ramps & Runs and Air Play areas.
M Meet animals on a nature walk at one of Kansas City’s local nature centers. Lakeside Nature Center is home to falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center features fish tanks, turtles, bird watching, a giant indoor nature play area, walking trails and an outdoor discovery center. Ernie Miller Nature Center has paved trails through the woods; this a great place for a stroller walk.
M Make believe at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. This 3,500-square-foot indoor exhibit is a favorite play area for little ones. 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 or fry up some burgers at the diner.
E Enjoy the flowers at Kauffman Memorial Gardens. . This free, small but exquisite garden near the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (another free outing that is stroller friendly) is the perfect size for a toddler outing.
R Run, jump and crawl at Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter. The specially designed children’s indoor play attraction in Independence offers climbing areas, tunnel play, slides and even a dedicated toddler area, where the littlest children can safely play on a range of equipment designed with fun in mind.
Kristina Light’s family makes it a summer tradition to build sandcastles at the lake.