Make memories together in Kansas City this spring break by exploring favorite landmarks and attractions the whole family will love.
Three Ideas Especially for Kids
Crown Center/Union Station
Bricktionary: The Ultimate LEGO® A-Z photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
Fun: Enjoy a day at Union Station. Explore Bricktionary, the feature exhibit focused on giant Lego sculptures. Science City at Union Station overflows with indoor and outdoor fun. And, while you’re there, take in a show at Gottlieb Planetarium. UnionStation.org
Food: There are many great restaurants at Crown Center, where you can also enjoy shopping and visiting Legoland and Sea Life. Unforked is known for using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to serve delicious burgers, tacos and more. SPIN! Pizza is a crowd-pleaser with delicious pizzas. Empanada Madness is famously the favorite of Royals catcher Salvador Perez. CrownCenter.com
Free: Journey to Oz is the newest free exhibit at Crown Center. Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, the exhibit invites families to enter the enchanting world of the Munchkins and follow Dorothy and her friends on the Yellow Brick Road. (CrownCenter.com) Also, make reservations for Kaleidoscope, KC’s free hands-on art center for children. This whimsical space inspires kids to make masterpieces with materials donated by Hallmark. HallmarkKaleidoscope.com
Lenexa
Fun: Urban Air Adventure Park (locations in Overland Park and Lenexa) is our favorite local trampoline park. Offering much more than trampolines, this is a great place to spend a day! Urban Air gives a generous helping of frenetic fun with attractions like Kidzone and Urban Air Warrior Course. UrbanAir.com
Food: Lenexa Public Market (across from Lenexa Rec Center, our favorite indoor pool!) is a local food court featuring a variety of locally-owned eateries all in one location. This is perfect for families when you can’t agree on what to eat or want to try something new. LenexaPublicMarket.com
Free: The Lenexa City Center Library offers a variety of excellent reading spaces, including our favorite, a balcony outdoor area with comfortable seating, charging stations and Wi-Fi. The library also offers drive-through service, a holds lobby and a charging counter making it accessible for everyone. JoCoLibrary.org
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Fun: Check out the new Sobela Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. With a sea turtle, orange lobster, sharks, thousands of fish and a multitude of other sea life, this aquarium is truly world-class. While you are at the zoo, take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel, ride the train, then continue your journey on the tram to the award-winning Africa exhibit. Visit Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the Discovery Barn and Stingray Bay. Stroll down Tiger Trail and get nose-to-nose with primates, orangutans and a tiger—and be sure to explore Australia too. KansasCityZoo.org
Food: Pack a picnic to bring to the zoo (food and drink are permitted) or indulge in burgers, fries and pizza at the Tuxedo Grill across from the Helzberg Penguin Plaza.
Free: For animal lovers looking for a free, low-key outing, Lakeside Nature Center is an urban oasis and home to native animals in need of care. Children will learn about conservation and the needs of the animals. Enjoy hiking trails around the center and coming face to face with birds, reptiles, fish and mammals. LakesideNatureCenter.org
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Gayle Babcock - Architectural Im
Kansas City Museum
The Kansas City Museum is a history museum. It is the City’s leading institution on local and regional history with the collection, capacity, mission, and vision to share the robust multicultural stories of Kansas City and its people.
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Main Event: Olathe
When you want to let your fun out with family and friends, Main Event is the best — and easiest — place to HEAD FOR FUN. With state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, more than 100 games topped with handcrafted food and a full bar under on...
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Main Event: North KC
When you want to let your fun out with family and friends, Main Event is the best — and easiest — place to HEAD FOR FUN. With state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, more than 100 games topped with handcrafted food and a full bar under on...
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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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Country Club Plaza
41st and Wyandotte, Kansas City, MissouriIt was designed in 1922 as the nation's first suburban shopping district. Since then, it's open-air public art gallery has continuously added to its collection, with fountains, sculptures and murals.
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The Escape Game
Opening summer 2023. Escape games designed to be epic for everyone – from the experienced gamer to the newbie who’s never played.
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Cardboard Corner Cafe
We strive to bring you a place for great food and great games, a place where community is valued and strengthened, a place where strangers can sit down to game and leave as friends.
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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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Jason Dailey
Johnson County Library - Lenexa City Center Library
Experience all that the Library has to offer including materials, services, programs, Holds Lobby, rooms with AV, PCs, plenty of seating and the balcony.
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Lenexa Rec Center
Get ready for an exciting new recreation experience in Lenexa! The 100,000-square-foot Lenexa Rec Center features cutting-edge fitness equipment, a fun-filled indoor pool, a jogging/walking track that encompasses a full-service fitness floor and t...
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Bill Harrison
Lenexa Public Market
We are a year-round indoor public marketplace offering fresh foods and locally sourced goods from artisans and entrepreneurs.
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Urban Air Trampoline Park Overland Park
Urban Air Overland Park is an attractive solution to a common problem: needing one place to entertain kids of every age.
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Urban Air Trampoline Park Lenexa
If you’re looking for the best year-round indoor amusements in Shawnee, Bonner Springs and Lenexa area, Urban Air Adventure Park is the perfect place!
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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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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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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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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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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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Crown Center
2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MissouriCrown Center is the place for pure entertainment. With exciting events and unique attractions. A center full of locally owned shops and restaurants. And two luxury hotels so you can stay at the center of it all.
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Three Ideas Especially for Tweens and Teens
Midtown/Plaza
Fun: The Escape Game at the Plaza is one of the newest escape room destinations in the area with excellent themed escape games enjoyed by all ages. Gold Rush sends players on a quest for gold and adventure, Timeliner is a train trip through history, and Prison Break is set in a jail cell. These are just a few of their fabulous games to try. TheEscapeGame.com
Food: Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is the coolest new restaurant at the Country Club Plaza. Customers pay by the plate after selecting dishes as they float by on the signature revolving sushi bar. Every plate is the same price, so the only decision to make is which roll you want to try. KuraSushi.com
Free: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers free admission and much to discover. With world-class exhibits featuring art from around the world, you can enjoy simply exploring the galleries or take a self-guided tour with resources from the Nelson’s info desk. Nelson-Atkins.org
Overland Park
Fun: Ceramic Cafe is a local paint-your-own pottery shop with a vast selection of ceramics to paint. Additionally, they offer glass fusing and special themed events. You pay per piece and can spend as much time as you need to complete your creation. This is a favorite spot for creative teens. CeramicCafeKC.com
Food: K-Street Hotdog at 103rd & Metcalf makes Korean corn dogs. Unlike American corn dogs, these hot dogs are dipped in a batter of panko, potato or ramen and deep-fried with add-ons. You’ll find savory, spicy and sweet combinations. K-StreetHotdog.com
Free: Cardboard Corner Cafe is a fun home away from home where you can gather with friends, enjoy tasty food and choose from a selection of hundreds of fun board games, card games and role-playing games to elevate game night. It’s free to play, but you can also enjoy the cafe’s delicious menu for a full meal or snacks—or purchase games to take home. CardboardCornerKC.com
Northland
Fun: Play is the name of the game at Main Event. This family fun center offers bowling, billiards, laser tag, a gravity ropes course and more. The arcade is a favorite for all ages, with dozens of games to choose from. Main Event also offers a full restaurant and bar, so you can spend an entire afternoon or evening at this attraction. Main Event has three area locations, including North KC, Olathe and Independence. MainEvent.com
Food: Draftcade is an arcade restaurant located in Zona Rosa. After a day of shopping and ice-skating, this is a great hangout in the Northland. Unlimited game bands are affordable, and you can enjoy retro arcades while you eat sandwiches, burgers, wings and more classic pub food. Draftcade.com
Free: The Kansas City Museum, in the historic northeast area of the metro, offers free admission to visitors. The museum is housed in Corinthian Hall and features exhibits on local history. The recently renovated museum tells the story of Kansas City through exhibits on the past, present and future of the city. KansasCityMuseum.org
Kristina Light writes about family fun in Kansas City on KCParent.com all year long.