KC is cool all the time, but especially in the summertime! Enjoy the best of summer with our MEGA FUN Bucket List!
- Visit the new Sobela Aquarium. And be sure to see stingrays, polar bears, kangaroos, elephants, penguins and giraffes as well at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
- Participate in hands-on science at Science City, catch a planetarium show at Gottlieb Planetarium, watch a movie at the Extreme Screen and experience the Disney:100 exhibit at Union Station.
- Ride the Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun and try all of their world-class roller coasters. Then, make waves at Oceans of Fun—all for the price of one ticket!
- Ride the KC Wheel at Pennway Point, then enjoy miniature golf.
- Spend the day bird watching at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
- Play miniature golf at the Art Course on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park.
- Attend a KC Monarchs baseball game! Tip: Sundays are Family Fun Day.
- Challenge the kids to an escape game at Tick Tock Escapes.
- Participate in hands-on history at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and get a spectacular view of the city atop Liberty Memorial.
- Explore Fortopia at Powell Gardens.
- Participate in a summer reading program.
- Spend a day at Crown Center—visit Legoland or Sea Life and catch a show at the Coterie.
- Pick berries, peaches and apples at local u-pick farms. You’ll find a complete guide to local u-pick farms on KCParent.com.
- Ride bikes at one of KC’s best bike trails.
- Spend a day at the Legends Outlets and meet up with friends on the Lawn.
- Explore one of Kansas City’s best parks. Use the Going Places guide on KCParent.com to find a new one.
- Visit the Johnson County Museum and play in KidScape, a child-sized village.
- Ride the KC Streetcar and visit the FREE KC Rail Experience at Union Station, play chess on the roof at the Central Library, explore Rooftop Park in the Power & Light District and taste-test a yummy treat at City Market.
- Watch a show and make your own puppet at the Puppetry Arts Institute.
- Take a tour of the Roasterie and learn about coffee.
- Step back in time at one of Shawnee Town 1929’s family-friendly summer events.
- Join a summer movie club at your local movie theater.
- Tour the homes of KC’s famous residents at the Alexander Majors House, Wornall House, Vaile Mansion, Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Truman Home.
- Go on an adventure hunting for treasure at new places with geocaching or atlas questing.
- Rent a pedal boat at Shawnee Mission Lake or Lake Jacomo. Rent a stand-up paddle board at Lake Olathe or Legacy Park in Lee’s Summit.
- Learn about Missouri’s real discovered treasure at the Arabia Steamboat Museum.
- Marvel at modern art at the Nerman Museum, where admission is free.
- Ride aboard the KC Northern Railroad for $1 on weekends!
- Shop at one of KC’s farmers markets.
- Go camping at a campground in Missouri or Kansas.
- Play disc golf at Swope Park.
- Try the zip line at Go Ape in Swope Park.
- Head to Moon Marble in Bonner Springs and watch a marble making demonstration.
- Nurture your creative bug at Ceramics Cafe.
- Dine al fresco at one of the many restaurants offering patio seating at the Country Club Plaza, Brookside Shopping District, Briarcliff Village, Park Place or Prairiefire.
- Attend a weekend tour at Cedar Cove where big cats live in Louisburg, Kansas.
- Share a Skyscraper, a giant ice cream soda or shake, at Winstead’s.
- Swim at a local pool, waterpark, sprayground or beach—discover them all in our KC Water Fun Guide on KCParent.com.
- Pretend you live in the Wild, Wild West at Antioch Park.
- Stargaze at Powell Observatory, home to the Ruisinger telescope, one of the largest telescopes available for public viewing in a five-state area.
- Feed the goats at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.
- Ride a stagecoach during one of Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm’s Family Fun Nights on Thursdays in June and July.
- Discover nature on a local hike.
- Jump at Urban Air, indoor trampoline park, and try their virtual reality experience.
- Stroll through Kauffman Memorial Gardens.
- Celebrate Black America’s baseball history at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
- Explore Downtown Kansas City and take photos with public art on display.
- Picnic near a Kansas City area waterfall. You’ll find a list on KCParent.com.
- Get an amazing view of the city from the River Observation Tower as you gaze out over the vast Missouri River.
- Roller-skate with the family at a local skating rink.
- Go old school and catch a movie at one of KC’s drive-in theaters
- Take a family float trip and canoe locally.
- Learn about the Santa Fe Trail at Cave Springs Nature Center.
- Learn new things about nature through a class or program at one of KC’s nature centers or gardens.
- Grab some cash and take the kids on a trash or treasure hunt ... a.k.a. garage sale shopping.
- Explore the Central Branch of the Kansas City Library, because any library with a parking garage painted with classic books has to be cool.
- Root, root, root for the Royals! Tuesdays are Dollar Dog Day, and fireworks are shown after games on Fridays - making these favorites for families. Tip: If attending a first game with a little one, take the family to guest services where young fans are awarded a souvenir certificate in honor of their first game.
- Watch the fish at Bass Pro in Olathe or Independence, the outdoor shop featuring giant fish tanks kids love.
- Munch on Topsy’s popcorn and enjoy their homemade lemonade.
Kristina Light will be writing about summer fun in Kansas City all season long on KCParent.com.