Grandparents Day falls on Sept. 12 this year. We are excited to honor grandparents with memory-making outings, homemade gifts and treasured time celebrating them!
1. Train Rides
Enjoy a ride aboard the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad. Trains bring out the child in everyone, and the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad’s old-fashioned rides are just the ticket! Take an excursion south from Belton on a 5-mile, 45-minute round trip. You’ll find tickets for 2:00 Sunday afternoon rides at KCRRM.org.
2. FREE Admission for Grandparents Day
One of our favorite local attractions, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm, is celebrating grandparents a day early this year, on Sept. 11. Bring the whole family to experience living history, 1860s style! The Olathe Civic Band will begin playing on the North Activity Area at 2:00. Living history activities may include stagecoach rides, seasonal farming activities, visiting the Mahaffie House, blacksmith and cookstove demonstrations, yard games, slf-guided tours of exhibits in the Agricultural Heritage Livestock Barn and the Heritage Center. Best of all, one grandparent is admitted free with one paying grandchild admission. Mahaffie.org
3. Paint Pottery
There is something special about the handprints of a child, and the best place to make a handprint, footprint or thumbprint keepsake is Ceramic Café. This paint-your-own pottery shop offers a wide selection of projects, from plates and mugs to frames and holiday pieces. The staff will happily help with project ideas and inspiration as your children paint ceramic masterpieces. You can invite grandparents to paint with you or make gifts in advance for the holiday. For the gifts to be ready in time, plan your painting for a week or more in advance. CeramicCafeKC.com
4. Head to the Kansas City Zoo
Everyone loves a beautiful day at the Kansas City Zoo. Pack a picnic and bring it to the zoo! Spend time enjoying the Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Tiger Trail, Australia and Elephant Expedition. Then, head over to Africa and enjoy a ride on the Sky Safari. Remember to ride on the carousel, boat or tram for even more fun. Upgrade your FOTZ membership to enjoy free rides! KansasCityZoo.org
5. Conduct an Interview
Whether grandparents live nearby or far away, you can capture and preserve the special relationship they hold in your family. Help the kids create a journal or blog and interview their grandparents, recording the answers. Make two copies—one to keep and one to share—or create a blog to share online. Add to it each year.
Interview Grandparents:
- When you were my age, what did you enjoy?
- Did you watch TV? Favorite shows?
- What did you enjoy in school?
- What did your bedroom look like?
- Did you have a favorite pet?
- What did you want to be when you grew up and did you do it?
- Tell about the first time you met Grandma/Grandpa.
- What was my parent like as a child?
- What did you think when you first met me?
Interview Children:
- What do you enjoy most about your grandparents?
- What is your first memory of your grandparents?
- What do you look forward to doing together?
- What would you like to know about them?
- What do you share in common?
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Belton Grandview and KC Railroad
Train rides will appeal to the entire family. Some specialty trips include hot dog trains, pumpkin hunt rides, ice cream rides and more.
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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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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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Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
Visit the only working stagecoach stop open to the public on the Santa Fe Trail. Relive the adventures of early stagecoach passengers. Tour the home, blacksmith shop and farm. Mahaffie offers many events throughout the year, including hands-on pro...
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