If your family is like our family, you don't need more "things." I've long believed that stuffed animals replicate themselves at night. If you have multiple children, you undoubtedly have plenty of toys.
I've always been a fan of "experience" gifts. They are my favorite gifts to give and to receive. I love watching my girls' faces light up when they experience a new show or try something new. This holiday season, consider gifts of experiences—not toys—for your family and friends.
Memberships
We love family memberships to local attractions. Members enjoy free admission, special members-only events, and, in many cases, reciprocal relationships with other venues in other cities for discounted or free admission. Some favorites include:
Kansas City Zoo FOTZ Membership: You can choose your membership level to include just admission or add on unlimited rides (a favorite for families with young children). In addition to enjoying our fabulous zoo year-round, members enjoy special events and discounted or free admission at zoos across the nation. This year, the Kansas City Zoo has the perfect gift to create memories year-round! Purchase a Premier Family Membership as a gift and receive a free plush in an adorable bag that is ready to go under the tree. Your friends and family will be able to enjoy the Zoo throughout the year, partake in unlimited rides and receive discounts on retail and concessions. Bring smiles throughout every season with the gift that keeps on giving!
This year is the PERFECT year to buy a zoo membership. The Kansas City Zoo just keeps getting better and 2023 promises to be a truly magnificent year, for this, one of the best family-friendly attractions in KC. Since the 1950s, sea lions have been a highlight of visits to the zoo. Their exhibit reopens in spring 2023 with a new and improved Sea Lion Splash featuring increased seating capacity, improved ADA accessibility, and additional indoor space for the California sea lions. Then, September 2023 brings the biggest new attraction to the zoo in years! The brand-new 650,000-gallon aquarium will feature six zones with thirty-four exhibits that will tell the story of how ocean currents connect animals across the globe. There will be approx. 8,000 animals in the aquarium include sea turtles, sea otters, multiple species of sharks, and octopuses.
KidScape at Johnson County Museum
Johnson County Museum: Members enjoy free admission to Kidscape and the entire Johnson County Museum, as well as a 10 percent discount in the Museum Store, discounts on museum programs, and invitations to exhibit openings and special events. Tip: Mention KCParent when you buy your membership at the Museum and receive a free gift. Offer good while supplies last ends February 1, 2023. Become a member today!
Urban Air Trampoline Park: You may choose a membership at the Overland Park or Lenexa locations or buy a combo membership to enjoy both parks year-round. They offer three levels of memberships so you may choose the value. Attractions include virtual reality, Sky Rider, ropes course, climbing walls, Leap of Faith, Wipeout, ProZone performance trampolines, Warrior Course, Battle Beam, Drop Zone, indoor tubes playground, and basic trampolines.
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Ceramic Café
Pottery painting and glass fusing. Walk-ins welcome. Great for birthdays and group events too.
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Chicken N Pickle: Overland Park
An indoor/outdoor entertainment complex including a casual, chef-driven restaurant and sports bar that boasts pickleball courts, a variety of yard games and enough space to kick back and relax with your favorite peeps.
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J Robert Schraeder
Coterie Theatre
The Coterie Theatre, named "One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences" in the U.S. by TIME magazine, provides unique theatre experiences for families and young audiences.
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Crown Center Ice Terrace
Enjoy ice skating at Kansas City's original outdoor rink, open annually November-March.
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Family Tree Nursery Overland Park
What sets Family Tree Nursery apart is our passion for plants. Our bedding plants look better because they’re grown better – we grow almost every bedding plant we sell at our own greenhouses.
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Johnson County Museum staff, 2020
Johnson County Museum
Featuring award-winning long-term and changing exhibitions as well as public and school education programs, the Museum is a great place to spend the day learning about our county’s history and having fun in our hands-on exhibit spaces.
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Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Explore the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, with nearly 10,000 animals on 202 acres, it's the most affordable family fun for kids of all ages! Travel all over the world without ever leaving Kansas City.
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center
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.
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Midwest Trust Center
The Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College connects and enriches the community with live performances for all ages.
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National WWI Museum and Memorial
The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. Named one of the top 25 museums in the United Sta...
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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is Kansas City’s favorite free attraction, as voted by readers of KC Parent Magazine! Discover masterpieces in the galleries, spend quality time together at a festival or drop in for a weekend art activity. Classes...
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Oceans of Fun
With waves of fun from mild to wild, Oceans of Fun offers AMAZING for everyone in the family. Extreme water slides appeal to thrill seekers and kiddos love our pint-sized slides, geysers, and foundations at Crocodile Isle.
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Powell Gardens
Powell Gardens is a not-for-profit botanical garden located just east of Kansas City, Missouri. Our mission: to be an experience that embraces the Midwest’s spirit of place and inspires an appreciation for the importance of plants in our lives.
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RoKC North KC
RoKC’s facility is housed in a building that was initially used to build tanks, and later to rebuild trains. It is important to RoKC that the building retains its historic industrial feel, while providing a modern, world-class climbing facility wi...
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RoKC Olathe
RoKC’s mission is to bring a state of the art climbing facility to the Olathe community, and provide a fun, adventurous environment, capable of teaching and challenging individuals of all ages and abilities.
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Science City at Union Station
Kansas City’s Science Center, Science City at Union Station Kansas City, is a dynamic, hands-on science center featuring nearly 200 individual interactive exhibits and daily programming. Kids of all ages experience the amazing world of science fir...
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Sea Life Kansas City
This aquarium experience will get you up close and face-to-face with amazing underwater creatures such as sharks, octopus, our green sea turtle named Gertrude, stingrays, sea stars, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish! A favorite a...
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tomofbluesprings Getty Images
T-Mobile Center
T-Mobile Center is Kansas City’s home for sports, concerts, family shows, collegiate competitions and special events.
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Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Forget We Bought A Zoo! This family built one from the ground up. Learn more about the fascinating origins of Tanganyika and how we built a world-class collection of animals.
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The Rink at Zona Rosa
The Northland’s newest ice rink is at Zona Rosa this winter season. The Rink at Zona Rosa is open daily through February 2021 for public ice skating, curling, pond hockey, special events and more.
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Science City photos by Kristina Light
Science City Membership: Science City is a great indoor venue for families to enjoy year-round. Members enjoy special events and discounted admission for ticketed exhibits. Free admission to Science City for 12 months, discounted tickets to exhibits, ASTC Travel Passport Program with discounted admission to 300+ museums, Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4. Regnier Extreme Screen theatre popcorn for only $1 and a 10% discount at Union Station venues. Membership is reciprocal with other science museums across the nation, meaning you can enjoy free or discounted admission when you travel. Buy a membership to Science City.
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun: Enjoy unlimited visits and free parking to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun with your season pass. Best of all, your Gold Pass includes exclusive discounts, early park access, and more! This year is the PERFECT time to buy a season ticket to Worlds of Fun! In 2023, Worlds of Fun is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style. The theme park will be commemorating five decades of fun and launch new experiences for fans to enjoy. The highlight of 2023 will be the return of the brand new reimagined Zambezi Zinger, a thrilling new coaster in the heart of the African Serengeti. For fans, this ride will be reminiscent of the original ride. The new coaster is built on a hybrid structure of galvanized steel and wood. The original Zinger was one of the park's most popular rides – and one of three coasters – when Worlds of Fun opened in 1973. The park is also offering new entertainment including “50 Nights of Fire,” an amazing spectacle that will make you want to party non-stop. The evening stage show will feature some of the greatest Top 40 hits from 1973 – 2023, along with a finale filled with pyrotechnics. The around-the-world theme of the park will be amplified with the new passport to adventure as guests are invited on an immersive journey as they explore the various countries, continents, and lands in 2023 and beyond.
Legoland and Sea Life memberships: Legoland and Sea Life offer multiple membership levels offering free admission, discounts in the shop, discounts on tickets for guests, and birthday parties - and even a combo pass to enjoy BOTH attractions for unlimited visits all year long!
The Coterie Theatre In lieu of season subscriptions, The Coterie offers Spotlight Passes which work like season tickets without committing to a set schedule. Passes are $150.00 and include a variety of benefits including 10 flexible tickets that can be used on a combination of shows in the 2022/2023 Season.
Powell Gardens: Members enjoy free admission to top-notch annual festivals (including the Festival of Butterflies and Festival of Lights) and free or discounted admission to more than 200 gardens and arboretums across the country and discounted classes and programs for families.
Tanganyika Wildlife Park is offering a Season Pass Sale this year. A Basic pass includes unlimited visits, splash park access and discounts. A Silver Pass includes all of the basic features plus 4 extra one-day admissions, five animal feedings per visit, $10 off experiences, winter access and activities, special days, a souvenir, and goat food coupons. The Gold Pass includes all of the silver features plus early entry, free food on Mondays, a welcome bag with goodies and no capacity restrictions. Learn all about this incredible place (where you can swim with penguins, ride camels, feed big cats, and experience unforgettable animal encounters, here.
Sean Pavone Getty Images
Liberty Memorial Tower at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Opened in 1926, the museum is dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial: Enjoy free admission and special events. You may also purchase additional museum tickets for guests at half price.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Members enjoy free admission to featured exhibitions and free parking. Upper levels also include free admission to other art museums.
Feld Entertainment
Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate
Show Tickets: Jurassic World LIVE is coming to KC at the T-Mobile Center in December, learn more about this amazing show and purchase tickets. Then, in January enjoy Monster Jam and February brings Disney on Ice.
More Ideas
- Pool Passes: Buy a membership to your local indoor pool at the neighborhood community center or YMCA or buy next summer's outdoor pool pass.
- Sports Season Tickets: Kansas City is home to several terrific sports teams—tickets to one game or the entire season make a great gift. Buy season tickets for Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, Sporting KC and KC Mavericks.
- Theater Tickets: Our local theaters offer a variety of shows for all ages. Season tickets are often less expensive than the per show ticket price. Families with children will enjoy season tickets to the Coterie (you may choose shows for older or younger children or a mix). KCRep offers shows that are typically suited to teens and adults, but A Christmas Carol is fun for all ages. Midwest Trust Center at JCCC offers shows for all ages throughout the year, and other local live theater groups are other great options. You may purchase single or season ticket packages as a great gift for theater buffs.
- Tickets to Shows Coming to Town: Follow our Kansas City calendar to discover the latest shows coming to town.
- Summer Camp: Register now for summer camp. Use our “Camp Guide” for the scoop on the best local camps.
ROKC Olathe, photos by Kristina Light
Unforgettable Experiences
- Rock Wall Climbing: ROKC Olathe is an indoor rock wall climbing facility featuring 35- to 50-foot walls for all skill levels from beginner to expert, 15-foot bouldering walls, fitness equipment available for ages 14+, cardio equipment, elliptical equipment, Jacob's Ladders and facilities for Advanced Climbing Training (for those with a year of experience). The attraction is great for single-day visits (purchase a day pass or multiple visit punch card), memberships and parties.
- Escape Rooms: Tick Tock Escapes is our favorite local escape room company. Their Pyramid Paradox room is a favorite with incredible special effects reminiscent of an Indiana Jones film. Teams of six to 10 people are "locked" in a room for an hour, and they solve puzzles trying to figure out how to escape. Each room features a different theme and a different set of puzzles. Find even more escape rooms in our Going Places Guide on KCParent.com.
- Movie Tickets: Treat the family to a movie. Save money and head to the theater during a matinee or discount night, or splurge on a dine-in theater or 4D experience.
- Paint Your Own Pottery: Ceramic Cafe offers clay building, ceramic painting and glass fusing. Enjoy Creative Story Time for little ones, special classes or their walk-in programs to make gifts and holiday decorations.
- Classes, Plants, Landscaping: Family Tree Nursery boasts three local locations. This beautiful local nursery not only offers everything you need for landscaping, they also offer home decor and a variety of classes. Colonial Gardens in Blue Springs offers a Kids Club and great family classes as well.
Ice Skating: There are many great places to ice skate this winter, and you'll find them all in our Going Places Guide.
- We especially love outdoor ice skating at Crown Center Ice Terrace (2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.8411). The Ice Terrace opens for the 2022 season Nov. 4 with FREE skating from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. The rink overlooks the mayor’s Christmas tree during the holiday season. Enjoy public skating daily. For more details on the Ice Terrace schedule and policies, visit CrownCenter.com/IceTerrace. They are using a reservation system for the 2022 - 2023 season. Reservations are now open.
- Chicken N Pickle (5901 W. 135th St., OPKS. 913.703.5950) is another favorite. Offering the most affordable daytime skate rates in town, Chicken N Pickle offers fun on their Ice Pond all season long. Check their calendar for family skates, character skates, and holiday skate parties. Chicken N Pickle is the place to gather on game day. "Sunday Funday" is where parents can watch the game, kids can play in the game yard, and families can come for brunch & bingo. For adults - Snowbound holiday pop-up! Make a reservation to experience our craft holiday cocktails, small bites, and a great place to gather pre-holiday.
- The Rink at Zona Rosa (8731 N Stoddard Ave, Kansas City, MO. 816.208.3690) Enjoy shopping from local and national retailers, dining at an eclectic mix of restaurant options and ice-skating under the lights at Zona Rosa. For hours and information visit: https://www.zonarosa.com/events/events/the-rink-at-zona-rosa/
This list should get you started. For even more local inspiration, search our Going Places Guide on KCParent.com where you can search local attractions and discover some great unique options from indoor skydiving and inflatable places, to go-karts, arcades and more!
Kristina Light loves the wide variety of local attractions across the metro. She blogs regularly about the best of Kansas City on KCParent.com.