Autumn brings many fun traditions to start with your young family! These are a few of our all-time favorites:
Enjoy an Autumn Classic … Visit the Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patches in the metro offer many wonderful family attractions. Corn mazes, trains, play spaces, hayrides, corn cribs, carousels, zip lines, rides, concerts, ponies and pumpkins are just some of the enticements Kansas City’s pumpkin patches offer visitors. Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch is one of the biggest patches in the metro and has been enjoyed by generations of families. Their famous pumpkin donuts, fabulous petting zoo, jumping pillows, train, pig races, carousel and fall fun play spaces create a carnival atmosphere the entire family loves. The Louisburg Cider Mill Patch offers good old-fashioned fall fun and watch-it-made self-guided tours of the cider mill to boot! Johnson Farms offers apple picking, giant jumping pillows and tons of fabulous play spaces. Fun Farm is home to a charming Keebler Village with delightful treehouses, a petting zoo and many fun fall attractions for all ages. Weston Orchard serves up scenic views, hayrides and a smaller, quaint atmosphere ideal for little ones. Be sure to check out the KC Pumpkin Patch Guide for tips on these and all the best patches in town. BONUS TIP: We’ll be giving away FREE pumpkin patch tickets on KCParent.com all season long! Enter our giveaways for a chance to win.
Spend a Day at the Zoo
We love visiting the Kansas City Zoo on a fall day when the air is crisp and the animals are playful. You’ll also find that crowds are smaller, as children are back in school. For families with infants and toddlers, this is a great time to enjoy all the zoo has to offer. The alligators and the Elephant Expedition are favorite attractions to check out this year. In addition to these, we still love the Discovery Barn, Australia, Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the Tropics and sea lions. The first four weekends in October at the Kansas City Zoo are filled with spooky fun during the annual Hoots and Howls, as well as Boo at the Zoo on Halloween weekend. Come in costume and celebrate with the entire family. Enjoy fall decorations, enrichment for the animals and fun for all. Visit KansasCityZoo.org for information.
Take a Family Photo in a Sunflower Field
Take a signature fall family photo at a local sunflower field. Four favorite fields: Eleanor's Sunflower Field (335 W. 189th St., Scranton, KS), Grinter Farms (24154 Stillwell Rd., Lawrence) Historic Pharis Farm (20611 EE Hwy., Liberty) and Russell Sunflower Patch (18220 Hwy. B, Richmond, MO). Follow the U-Pick Farm Guide on KCParent.com for blooming status. Each field observes special rules that you’ll find on their social media pages outlining the etiquette for visitors.
Inspire Your Tiny Artist
Paint, glitter, glue .... kids love to create their own works of art, but unbridled creativity can often make for unbearable messes at home. Consider a compromise and treat the kids to an outing to Ceramic Cafe where they can paint their own ceramic masterpieces. They'll be able to choose from piggy banks, plates, mugs, picture frames and many seasonal pieces as well. Another creative option is a visit to a Kansas City classic—Kaleidoscope, our own FREE art center for children. It's difficult to capture the magic of Kaleidoscope in words, but we tell readers that if Willy Wonka had designed an imaginative world where children could create their own masterpieces with a variety of supplies in a magical setting ... Kaleidoscope is what you would get! This year, Kaleidoscope underwent a major renovation and update, offering a fresh atmosphere for young ones. Best of all, Kaleidoscope offers FREE sessions all year. Simply make reservations online at HallmarkKaleidoscope.com.
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Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch
Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch is Kansas City’s Original Pumpkin Patch and a “must-visit” fall destination! Enjoy dozens of family-fun attractions and activities, including the historic Country Carousel, Little Bud’s Railroad, the Petting Barn, and more.
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Louisburg Cider Mill
A fall trip to the Cider Mill is not complete without a stop at our Family Farm! Venture through our 10-acre corn maze, and search for the perfect pumpkin to carve or for one of our special ones in our 10-acre pumpkin patch.
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Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins
Johnson Farms is a real farm in the country, but very close to your home. You pay one admission and only pay extra for anything you harvest, snack on, or seasonal items in the retail store.
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Fun Farm
What started from an effort to sell pumpkins, quickly turned into over 300 acres of full-fledged, fun-loving experiences packed with family activities for all ages to enjoy together. Visit Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch this season!
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Historic Weston Orchard & Vineyard
Enjoy a u-pick apple orchard, u-pick pumpkin patch, hayrack rides, apple cannons, rat racers, bouncing pillow, low ropes course with zip line, kids corn maze, vintage carousel, petting zoo and more!
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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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Grinter Farms
24154 Stillwell Rd, Lawrence, KansasThese fields are in the far eastern part of the state (near the population centers) and the Grinter family let the public come into the fields and take photos. A great many people want to have their photos taken with the sunflowers.
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Historic Pharis Farm
20611 EE Hwy,, Liberty, MissouriLearn about the history of the farm, its establishment in 1842 by Daniel Bell, construction of the home, purchase of the land by Donald Pharis in 1927, Mr. Pharis' efforts to raise awareness about soil and water conservation, his reconstruction of...
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Kaleidoscope
At Kaleidoscope, children use their imaginations to make art with left-over materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. Some materials are cut into shapes, while others are left just as Hallmark sends them.
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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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dszc Getty Images/iStockphoto
Union Station
A place for great adventure. Where Kansas City Connects. All of these phrases – and more – are regularly used to describe Union Station. Visitors of all ages, from all places and for all reasons tie Union Station to special and magical moments.
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Lakeside Nature Center
Enjoy an incredible place to enjoy learning about local native wildlife, including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, turtles, fish and invertebrates.
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Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
One of the largest nature centers in the Metro, Burr Oak Woods features hands-on exhibits for children, an aquarium with Missouri fish, live animals and nature trails.
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Ernie Miller Nature Center
The nature center features animals native to Kansas, hiking trails and educational programs.
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Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center
Explore the nature center, hiking trail, special programs and more.
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KidScape at Johnson County Museum
Play in a Pint-Sized Village
For younger children, another great option is the Johnson County Museum. Their KidScape is a wonderful interactive hands-on, child-sized exhibit perfect for young children. Children time travel to different periods and communities from the region's past. They enjoy pretend play as they 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 and fry up some burgers at the diner.
Explore Science
Science City at Union Station is a favorite family-friendly attraction. Little ones especially love three experiential, hands-on exhibitions at Science City. Let’s Play! is designed especially for babies, crawlers and toddlers, with multiple sensory and role-playing activities. At Creative Corner, art meets science in a whole new way with cool interactive activities. And All Aboard celebrates Union Station’s rail history in a fun way for little ones. On your visit, consider catching a show at the planetarium (they frequently feature Sesame Street and Magic School Bus programs for younger audiences) or a presentation on the Extreme Screen.
An Autumn Hike
There’s no better time to enjoy a family hike than autumn when the leaves are in full fall color. For tiny tots, we love the trails at our local nature centers, many of which are paved and convenient for strollers. Before or after your hike, you can explore one of these local nature centers. Each one features free hands-on exhibits, animal displays and even educational programs and story times with the earliest learners in mind. 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. Anita Gorman Discovery Center features an amazing exhibit on Lewis and Clark and an outstanding outdoor classroom.
These are just a few of our favorite outings to enjoy in the fall as a family. We also love visiting our local parks and libraries and enjoying many of the great events on the KCParent.com calendar.
Kristina Light truly loves fall most of all. You will find more seasonal inspiration in her online articles on KCParent.com.