Magnets, ornaments and T-shirts make nice souvenirs. But some of my favorite keepsakes are ones my family has made themselves. Whether you’re planning a staycation or visiting the City of Fountains for the very first time, KC is home to a myriad of attractions where you can make your own souvenirs. Here are some of my favorites:
Strike Gold at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. One of Overland Park’s greatest treasures is Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. For close to fifty years, this local institution has given children a taste of turn-of-the-century farm life right in the middle of the ’burbs. More exciting than a park but less daunting than a sprawling zoo, the farmstead is the perfect place for my family when we’re on a timeline (or when my preschooler prefers to walk!). Guests can hit the books with a real schoolmarm in a one-room school house, observe cows being milked, bottle-feed baby goats, and fish with an old-school reed pole and night crawlers. You can also purchase a sweet treat such as saltwater taffy or hand-scooped ice cream as you browse the shops in the small town square. Want to grow your farm history knowledge? Grab a passbook at Ben’s Bank and visit the discovery stations throughout the farmstead. Once you’ve answered all the questions, take your booklet back to the bank and redeem it for a prize. And don’t forget to pan for gems at the Mining Shack! Visitors leave with an impressive collection of colorful stones.
Pro Trip: Bring a bag of quarters to buy animal feed and to activate the player piano in the mercantile!
Make Your Own Puzzle at Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope is the brainchild of Don Hall, son of Hallmark founder J.C. Hall. When Don noticed how much his kids enjoyed playing with materials left over from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes, he set up a traveling exhibit in 1969 that would eventually settle into its present-day home at Hallmark’s Crown Center. For over fifty years, guests have been making memories by designing and cutting their own puzzles, creating watercolor masterpieces and making out-of-this-world artwork out of melted crayons. Both my husband and I visited Kaleidoscope as children, and we get a sense of nostalgia taking our own kids. Art sessions are free but reservations are required.
Pro Trip: Wear art-friendly clothes (or bring your own smock!).
Make Your Own Bow at the Hallmark Visitor Center. Right next door to Kaleidoscope, guests can discover Hallmark’s rich, 100+ year history at Hallmark’s Visitor Center. Fascinating exhibits, interactive displays and a small theater showcase the company’s rags-to-riches legacy. Learn about the company’s ever-evolving media empire, check out J.C. Hall’s custom Christmas tree collection, and stop by the bow machine where, with the press of a button, you can create a star-shaped bow to take home as a memento. Admission is free (groups of 15+ require reservations).
Pro Trip: Enjoy free two-hour parking with validation.
Snag a Bag of Cash at the Money Museum. There is a catch: it’s shredded and no longer has spending power! At the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Money Museum, you’ll learn all about the U.S. monetary system. You can explore how millions of dollars in currency are processed at the bank, view Harry S. Truman’s personal coin collection and even lift a gold bar! My kids enjoy designing their own money while we’re there, but the shredded souvenir is where it’s at. Tickets are not required for a free, self-guided tour.
Pro Tip: Download the museum’s free app for tours and scavenger hunts!
Make Your Own Soap. There’s nothing more luxurious than a bar of handmade soap, but making it at home can be a laborious process. Take the guesswork out of the equation by learning from the experts at Natural Farm Soap Co. in Blue Springs, Mo. Participants in their soap-making classes receive an instructional booklet, oils, fragrances and colorant to make a pound of their own custom soap bars. After going over safety guidelines, the instructor will teach you to make soap the traditional way with oil blends and lye solution.
Pro Tip: Your instructor will cover the topics of lye safety, fat-cutting, molding, natural additives and curing.
Whip Up A Culinary Masterpiece. One of my favorite birthday treats was taking a cinnamon roll class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City. Not only was the class fun and engaging, but the instruction was top-notch. I still use my notes from that class anytime I bake cinnamon rolls at home. Like his mama, my fifteen-year-old is quite the foodie, so for his birthday, he received a Culinary Center gift card to take a class of his choice. Classes are available for every age range, experience level and palate. Guests learn from expert instructors and get to enjoy the fruit of their labors (and there’s nothing better than leaving with a box full of goodies you made yourself!).
Pro Tip: The Upper Crust, Penzeys and the Overland Park Farmers market are all within walking distance, making for a day full of foodie fun!
Eat Your Way Through KC. While you might not technically be making a souvenir, it’s fun to take home scrumptious treats that remind you of your favorite KC food destinations! Favorites include barbecue (check out The Kansas City BBQ Store for a wide variety of rubs, spices and sauces), Parisi whole bean coffee, Boulevard brews and André’s Must-See KC Chocolate Discs.
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If you want something uniquely artisan, but are hard-pressed for time:
- Check out Souvenear! With eight not-your-mama’s vending machine locations throughout the city, visitors can find a memento that was handcrafted by a local artist and radiates KC pride! Long gone are the days of settling for run-of-the-mill trinkets made somewhere far away. Curated items include a variety of food, apparel, home goods and beauty products that you won’t find anywhere else!
- Whether you want to share a little bit of KC with visiting friends and family or take a piece of KC with you wherever you go, check out Made in Kansas City’s custom curation boxes. Chock-full of homegrown and homemade products, these packages come in themed sets such as Cowtown (filled with barbecue seasonings and sauces) and wellness (featuring local honey, lavender and elderberry products).