Living history museums are a favorite local attraction, with several historic sites telling the area’s history through reenactments and hands-on education. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Johnson County brings 1850s farming to life with tours and programs all year, including stagecoach rides, family programs and a working blacksmith shop. On snowy Saturdays, enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides on the property. Shawnee Town 1929 is a slightly more modern village where families explore living history firsthand. Families also enjoy Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. The 12-acre park is home to more than 200 farm animals, gardens, a dairy barn, pony rides and much more.

Families love Urban Air Overland Park (additional locations), a favorite indoor trampoline park with an indoor playground and fun for all ages with obstacle courses and games. Create family keepsakes at Ceramic Cafe and more paint-your-own pottery shops. Patrons select and paint their ceramic masterpieces-anything from piggy banks to plates, mugs to picture frames. They offer glass fusing workshops, as well. For live entertainment, the Midwest Trust Center at JCCC offers a variety of professional shows all year long. Concerts, musicals, magic acts, dance performances and international shows grace their stage, offering a variety of shows for all ages.

The Johnson County Museum is one of the metro’s best resources for local history. With award-winning long-term exhibits featuring local history, including the beloved 1950s electric house and displays remembering local businesses, as well as changing exhibits, the museum is a great place to spend a day. Little ones love the hands-on play space at KidScape where they can play and imagine they are adults in a pint-sized village. This is a top pick for visitors who have come to town for an event at the Overland Park Convention Center. Nearby, be sure to spend an evening at Topgolf, an entertainment complex for golf enthusiasts.

Independence is rich with history as the starting point of the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails and home of President Harry S. Truman. You can learn about his humble lifestyle at the Truman Home in Independence and visit the newly renovated Truman Presidential Library. Visit other historic sites including Vaile Mansion, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, the 1859 Jail Museum and the National Frontier Trails Museum. A unique destination, the Puppetry Arts Institute offers puppet shows and puppet-making workshops. Another favorite for history buffs is a ride with Pioneer Trails Adventures, which offers you the chance to take a mule-drawn wagon ride through the historic square while hearing stories of the city’s history.

Nature lovers enjoy a visit to Powell Gardens, home to a beautiful island garden, rock wall garden, conservatory, Heartland Harvest Garden and acres of trails with magnificent flowers, plants and prairie. Enjoy seasonal festivals and special exhibits at this botanical garden. During the holiday season, attend the Festival of Lights, a magical holiday event. On your way, stop at Cockrell Mercantile Company, a quaint mini-village of boutique shops where you’ll find special items for the home and kitchen. For a free outing, visit Burr Oak Woods Nature Center where you can walk miles of trails.

Downtown Lee’s Summit is home to shops and boutiques, including bookstores, hobby shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, cooking stores and more. The city’s quaint weekend farmers market is a favorite for locals. Visit Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, in Lee’s Summit (additional locations available across the metro), or K1 Speed, a world-class indoor go-kart track. Or entertain the gang at Main Event in Independence, where you can enjoy arcades, bowling, billiards, laser tag, obstacle courses and more. All year long, you may enjoy Independence Community Ice, an indoor ice-skating rink, and live shows at Cable-Dahmer Arena.

Visit Crown Center in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, for many attractions, great shops and restaurants. Throughout the year, enjoy free hands-on exhibits for children. Families enjoy skating at the Ice Terrace, the city’s original outdoor rink, throughout the winter. The Coterie produces professional children’s theater year-round. Kaleidoscope is a free kid-friendly art center where imaginations know no limits as kids create their masterpieces. Sea Life features a walk-through underwater tunnel and an enthralling journey from the fresh waters of the Missouri River to the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean. Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas, including a 4D cinema, classes, an exciting Lego ride and one-of-a-kind exhibits.

Spend a day at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, exploring the interactive displays, thought-provoking films and eyewitness testimonies that help guide visitors through one of the largest collections of WWI artifacts in the world. Then take a tour to the top of this iconic landmark, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. One of the most notable landmarks you’ll see is Union Station, home to Science City with great hands-on science exhibits for children, and Gottlieb Planetarium, one of the largest 360-degree domed screens in the Midwest. Nearby, make a stop at the Money Museum, a free museum where visitors leave with a souvenir bag of shredded cash.

At Union Station, you may board the KC Streetcar for a free ride from the iconic landmark to City Market with many stops along the way. Nearby, visit the National Archives of Kansas City that offers the free exhibit, “We, the People,” and staff on hand to assist with research projects. Enjoy lunch at a variety of restaurants nearby. For barbecue try Jack Stack, for Italian eat at Lydia’s, and if you’re dining with kids, enjoy Fritz’s where trains deliver food to your table. Want to eat locally grown food? Try Unforked, or for steak try Pierpont’s. These are just a few favorite restaurants in the area.

Visit Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri’s gem of a green space that is even larger than New York’s Central Park. Meet exotic animals at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium where you can enjoy the new world-class aquarium featuring thousands of animals. Be sure to visit the camel feeding deck and Polar Bear Passage, touch stingrays and explore the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Billy Goats Gruff, Sumatran tiger exhibit, Australia and the massive Africa exhibit. Ride the train, carousel, boat, tram and Sky Safari to enjoy terrific views of the animals. Another favorite attraction at Swope Park is Lakeside Nature Center, a free nature center with exhibits.

The Country Club Plaza, with beautiful towers, sculptures, paintings and mosaics inspired by Seville, Spain, is one of the prettiest places in Kansas City and home to many of the city’s most beautiful fountains. The holiday season is not complete without a visit to the Plaza to enjoy the Christmas lights. Nearby, visit the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. The museum houses a charming world of toys with interactive exhibits that take visitors on a stroll down memory lane. Also, take some time to visit the free Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden where something is always in bloom.

Kansas City boasts many remarkable art galleries, with some of the finest open to the public for free! The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of the largest galleries in the United States, maintains a permanent collection representing art from throughout history and around the world. The Sculpture Garden on the lawn is a favorite place for outdoor photos and a walk through art history. For modern art enthusiasts, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits permanent and temporary collections with special events and workshops for families.