Get Your Weekly Top Events Here

KC Parent

MenuClose

Free (or cheap!) Winter Family Fun

By |

Looking for KC family fun on the cheap? Celebrate the winter season with these free and cheap Kansas City area ideas!

  1. Watch fish in the aquariums atCabela’sorBass Pro.

  2. A visitMahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farmis especially fun on snowy Saturdays when horse-drawn sleigh rides are offered—weather permitting.

  3. Tour theRoasterieand learn about coffee.

  4. Explore theNelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

  5. Visit the animals indoors atLakeside Nature Center.

  6. Step back in time at theLanesfield School Historic Site.

  7. Go on a hike atBurr Oak Woods Nature Center.

  8. Take a winter hike atErnie Miller Nature Center.

  9. Visit theNational Archives of Kansas Cityand explore their free exhibits.

  10. Get free money at theMoney Museum.

  11. Learn about nature at theMartha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary.

  12. When temps are warmer, visit a new park! Find a list of great parks all over Kansas City at KCParent.com.

Comfy Cozy Winter

By |

Cabin fever seems to be a common winter ailment, but you can ward off the malady by truly enjoying the best of winter. Make this winter a cozy, comfortable, peaceful time and enjoy the best of the season with your family.

Curl Up with a Good Book


Screen-free family time is important. Choose a new book to read aloud as a family.

Out & About:

In addition to many marvelous libraries, Kansas City is also home to several charming bookshops. For more than 40 years, Rainy Day Books (2706 W. 53rd St, Fairway, 913.384.3126, RainyDayBooks.com) has been the neighborhood bookstore for all ages, instilling a love of reading in the community. The cozy shop is quaint and ideal for scouring shelves on the hunt for the perfect new book to enjoy. In Downtown Lee’s Summit, KD’s Books (241 SE Main St., Lee’s Summit, 816.525.1366) is a locally owned bookshop specializing in children’s volumes. We love the quaint shop’s atmosphere and the staff’s helpfulness-they’re always ready to guide your family to the perfect book to enjoy together.

At Home:

Choose a book to read aloud as a family that also has been shown as a film. Read the book, then watch the movie and compare the two. You can choose from an array of new and classic books to enjoy as a family.

Toasty Warm Socks


Warm socks are a comfy winter essential we often take for granted. Brighten your winter mood with a new pair of socks.

Out & About:

Learn to knit your own socks. The Studio Knitting & Needlepoint (TheStudioKC.com) offers a range of classes for beginning and experienced needle artists. They also offer video tutorials. Knitting, crochet and needlepoint classes are offered, including classes to knit your very own pair of socks. Not only will you be fashionable, but you can take pride in your newfound skill.

At Home:

Socks are iconic in history, literature, and even in films. President George H.W. Bush was famous for wearing colorful statement socks, even wearing book-themed socks at the funeral of his beloved Barbara to commemorate her advocacy for literacy. “I’m a self-proclaimed sock man,” the former President once wrote in an email. “The louder, the brighter, the crazier the pattern – the better.” If you love crazy socks too, you can host an at-home crazy sock party with your own family. Make sock shaped sugar cookies (use that stocking cutter from your Christmas stash) and let everyone decorate their cookies with wild designs. Play Twister, freeze tag, or indoor snowball fight in socks. And, enjoy some family reading time. For younger kids, read Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Socks, The Missing Sock, by Jason Thurston, or Sigfried’s Smelly Socks by Len Foley. You could even show a movie where socks are central to the plot. We all teared up a little when a sock set Dobby free in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone remembers the witch’s striped socks in The Wizard of Oz. And many parents recall the retro Tom Cruise flick (for a grown-up home date night), Risky Business, when dancing across the floor sock footed made Tom a household name.

Comforting Candles


Lighting candles at the dinner table or as you’re reading creates a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

Out & About:

Embers Candle Bar (EmbersCandleBar.com) is a pour-your-own candle studio. You choose from their selection of containers to fit any style or budget. They also sell room sprays and diffusers. Select the scent that makes you think of comfort, relaxation, warm memories or romance from their library of 63 single scents. You’ll find everything from traditional scents like lavender and vanilla to dream fragrances like baked bread or leather. They also offer seasonal selections. If you like tapered candles, we love rolling beeswax candles with the kit from Waxing Moonshine on Etsy.com. The kit comes with your colored or natural beeswax sheets, wicks and instructions for a simple, but elegant candle.

At Home:

Turn out the lights and light the candles. Host a tech-free dinner for the family. No screens, no electric light-just enjoy a candlelight dinner together talking and sharing ideas. The meal doesn’t have to be fancy; in fact, the simpler the better. The goal is simply to shut out distractions and spend some time truly together.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors


Winter can be beautiful. Nature is quiet and serene, and the outdoors is begging to be explored.

Out & About:

Visit one of the city’s many nature centers and explore their paved trails. Listen for birds, look for nests, watch for animal tracks and enjoy the quiet. Some of our favorites include:

  • Burr Oak Woods (1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, 816.228.3766)

  • Cave Spring Nature Center (8701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.358.CAVE)

  • Anita Gorman Discovery Center (4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO, 816.759.7300)

  • Ernie Miller Nature Center (909 N. Hwy. 7, Olathe, 913.764.7759)

  • George Owens Nature Park (1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence, 816.325.7115)

  • John Barkley Visitor Center (7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, 913.888.4713)

  • Lakeside Nature Center (4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.513.8960)

  • Prairie Oak Nature Center (14701 Mission Rd., Leawood, 913.681.0902)

  • Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Center (407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, 816.781.8598)

  • Overland Park Arboretum (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, 913.685.3604)

  • Parkville Nature Sanctuary (12th & East streets, Parkville, MO, 816.741.7676)


At Home:

Spend some time bird watching on the deck. View the night sky through a telescope. Light a fire in the firepit and make s’mores. Go sledding, make snowmen and snow angels, and play in the snow. Take a walk in your own neighborhood. Don’t let the cold temps keep you inside. The winter offers so much to enjoy outside all season long.

Warm Drinks


Hot tea, cocoa, cider, coffee €¦ sipping warm drinks can warm the soul on a cold winter’s day.

Out & About:

Kansas City is home to several tea rooms, each with a distinctive personality. This can be a fun outing for a group of friends. Heirloom Bakery & Hearth (MO, 816.492.7259) in Brookside is beloved for made-from-scratch bakery items, perfectly complemented by a warm drink. Greenwood Country Tea Room (816.537.8434) is housed in a local antique store in the heart of Greenwood’s downtown boutique and antique shopping district. Country Keepsakes Tea Room (816.348.7888) is a charming little restaurant in the heart of downtown Belton.

Make to Enjoy at Home:

Enjoy creative family time and take the kids to a paint-your-own pottery shop where they can paint their own personal mug to enjoy cocoa and cider at home. Ceramic Café (CeramicCafeKC.com) hosts family events including story times, pizza and painting, and other specials throughout the year. They also sell at-home art kits so you can pick up projects to paint or make at home and then return to the shop where they will fire them in their kiln. After painting your own personal mug, make some homemade cocoa to enjoy with popcorn and a family game or movie night.

Kristina Light ranks winter as her second favorite season, and she’s hoping for a nice pleasant snowfall and a bit of sledding this year.

Winter in the Woods

By |

For many families, outdoor fun comes to a screeching halt in the winter months … with a few exceptions for sledding when flurries hit the metro. Science shows that fresh air, exercise and time spent in nature are always good for us—any time of year. This winter challenge your family to enjoy the great outdoors even when it’s a bit chilly. We enjoy nature walks any time of year, and these are a few of our favorite ways to experience nature in the winter.

Before Your Winter Nature Walk


Your time outdoors will be more fun if you’re prepared. Consider the amount of time you expect to spend outdoors and prepare accordingly. If you’re taking a 15- to 30-minute walk in the neighborhood, a water bottle and basic winter layers will do. If you’re planning a longer nature walk or hike, you might want to bring snacks and really layer up. Some of our preparation tips:

  • Make Trail Mix: My girls love a trail mix bag. I set out favorite ingredients and they make their own bag of goodies. Granola, mini pretzels, cereal, nuts, dried fruits, coconut, sesame seeds and even some sweet treats (limited) make a tasty snack to take along.

  • Design Your Own Scavenger Hunt: Let each member of the family contribute to a hunt list suggesting three to five things you should try to find on your walk. These can include animal prints, squirrels, birds, particular trees, pinecones, feathers, rocks, a creek, pond, nest and shapes in clouds. Let your kids brainstorm for other ideas.

  • Bundle Up: I purchase inexpensive packs of hand warmers at the local box store and keep them in my van for our winter adventures. For longer walks, I have my kids wear layers, including cuddle duds (think modern long underwear under jeans) and their coats, hats and gloves. We always bring water bottles—remember sunglasses, too.

  • Pack a First Aid Kit: I keep a complete kit in my van and a small kit to take in a backpack with basic bandages and such. For tips on building a family first aid kit, visit RedCross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html.


Where to Go


I am partial to trails near lakes, ponds and streams. I especially like wooded trails, and my youngest daughter loves trails covered in fallen leaves … the “sound is so satisfying,” she says. Some of our favorites include:

  • Shawnee Mission Park (7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, JCPRD.com/facilities/facility/details/Shawnee-Mission-Park-14). The park features a 120-acre lake, mountain bike trails, hiking trails and paved nature trails. It is ideal for short walks or long hikes.

  • Blue Springs Lake (1500 NE Bowlin Rd., Blue Springs). This park is home to a 720-acre lake. Their most scenic trails are the Lake Vista Trails (MakeYourDayHere.com/DocumentCenter/View/946/Lake-Vista-Trail?), a 5-mile scenic loop around the lake with bridges, hills and woods.

  • Watkins Mill State Park (26600 Park Rd. N., Lawson, MO, MoStateParks.com/park/watkins-mill-state-park). The trail around the 100-acre lake is paved and ideal for walking or biking. The park is also home to an antebellum historic home and woolen mill you may tour.

  • Ernie Miller Nature Center (909 North, KS-7, Olathe, JCPRD.com/328/Ernie-Miller-Park-Nature-Center). Visits to the nature center are always fun for children who enjoy seeing the animals and exploring the hands-on exhibits. There are numerous trails to enjoy around the nature center, through the woods and near the creek. You can easily choose shorter or longer routes according to your time.

  • Cave Spring Nature Center (8701 E. Gregory Blvd., Raytown, CaveSpring.org). The trails around the 39-acre park are known for the cave, the old hedge trees and the ruins of old pioneer shelters where you’ll find multiple chimneys, the only surviving landmarks of former homes.


On the Hike


Turn your outing into a memorable experience by adding a little fun.

  • Participate in the scavenger hunt you planned ahead of time.

  • Take photographs along the way.

  • Bring nature journals and record your findings. The Nature Journal for Little Explorers by the Monkey & Bean Book Company, Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find? by Storey Publishing, and Interactive Hiking Journal for Kids: Hiking Games, Scavenger Hunts, Sketch Spots and More for Nature Exploration by Stacey Bressler are three of my favorites. You may also bring blank notebooks and pencils.

  • Letterbox. Letterboxing, not to be confused with geocaching (though undeniably similar), is a super-fun, free hobby for all ages. You can find letterboxing hobbyists online offering simple tutorials and tips. Visit a website likeAtlasQuest.comto find clues to the nearest letterbox in your neighborhood or out on your adventures. Once you find the location, search for the actual letterbox (often a small tin containing a stamp and a log book). You will use the stamp to mark your own personal logbook, and then you stamp the book in the box (you may use a homemade stamp, a purchased stamp or a thumbprint). When you start exploring the hobby, you’ll find fun in the creation or selection of your own signature stamp and logbook and the adventure of discovering new places. Metro area adventurist Alexis Webb Bechtold has localized letterboxing for Kansas Citians with a hometown hunt. Her series, theCuriosity Passport KC, is all about inspiration and discovery, leading explorers to 24 artistic, off-the-beaten-path sites in the area where you’ll discover many hidden gems. VisitCuriosityPassport.comfor all the information you need to begin your adventure.


After Your Trip


Good hikers know you should leave only footprints and take only photographs. These are some fun nature-friendly ways to capture the memories of your time in the great outdoors:

  • Make a scrapbook with memories of your hikes.

  • Create a story of your adventures. When my girls were little, we loved glamping at a campground with cabooses every autumn; now we visit a favorite state park every fall. The caboose campground was home to a scarecrow in a fake jail setting. The girls concocted stories that he was the “Marshmallow Man” known for stealing marshmallows from campers. At Echo Bluff, our new annual tradition, there is a herd of wild mustangs. The girls tell stories of the horses, giving them names and legends. We do the same on many of our local hikes. When you discover the ruins of an old cabin, or footprints, or other clues in the woods of what may have happened before, use these discoveries to create stories together.


I hope your family enjoys making memories together in the great outdoors this winter! Visit KCParent.com for more ideas and chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/KansasCityParent. We’d love to see your family hiking photos and your ideas for fun in the outdoors this winter!

Kristina Light loves taking her girls on long walks to see beautiful sites… and they like it too (even if some might claim they wish some of the walks were shorter).

Say “I Love You” Kansas City Style

By |

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, surprise your loved ones with a bit of amore, Kansas City style! These are our favorite ideas for couples and families…

  1. Snap a Pic with Hartley’s Heart in Downtown Lee’s Summit (pictured) near 3rd and Douglas. The iconic heart commemorates Dale Hartley, the owner of Hartley’s Furniture Store (no longer in business) and one of Downtown Lee’s Summit’s founders. The heart has come to symbolize the district. Downtown Lee’s Summit is the perfect place to spend an afternoon shopping, dining, and enjoying one of America’s best Main Streets. 

  2. Attach one of Helzberg’s “I Am Loved” pins (available free at Helzberg locations, Helzberg.com) to a card or package. The pins have been a Helzberg Kansas City tradition since they were first announced in the Kansas City Star in a 1967 ad campaign.

  3. Send “the very best” with a Hallmark Card. The Kansas City-based company offers free self-guided tours through the Hallmark Visitors Center (2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.3613), where you’ll learn the history of Hallmark and watch the production processes of Hallmark cards on factory machines. And don’t leave without pressing the button to watch a gift bow made right before your eyes as a free souvenir to take home.

  4. Commemorate your love with a love lock on the Old Red Bridge in Minor Park (KCParks.org/attraction/old-red-bridge-love-locks/). “The placing of love locks is a custom whereby couples affix a padlock to a bridge, fence, gate or similar fixture, so pronouncing their unbreakable and everlasting love. The Old Red Bridge is adjacent to the new bridge located on Red Bridge Road between Holmes and Blue River Road in south Kansas City.” 

  5. Split a Skyscraper (a giant milkshake or ice cream soda meant for sharing) at Winstead’s (WinsteadsSteakburger.com). The Plaza location delivers the treat with a jingle!

  6. Take the family to a valentine themed event in Kansas City. From craft projects to special shows-there is something for everyone on our Kansas City calendar.

  7. Treat your sweetheart to made-from-scratch personalized chocolates from Laura Little’s Candies (LauraLittleCandy.com). They offer free personalization on fudge hearts for your valentine!

  8. Make a masterpiece for your special someone at a paint-your-own-canvas shop or ceramics shop – all in our Going Places Guide.

  9. Serve the kids Shatto Dairy Farm’s pink strawberry milk or baby blue cotton candy milk for breakfast. The Missouri dairy farm sells milk at local grocery stores. ShattoMilk.com

  10. Take a Photo in front of a KC Art Wall… many show love and make the perfect backdrop for your KC Valentine pix!

  11. Kids love Lego and Lego bricks can spell I love you! Head to Legoland Discovery Center at Crown Center where you can build Lego valentines, race cars, ride theme-park style rides and watch Lego films at their 4D theater. 

  12. Delight in delicious ice cream. Local ice cream shops serve up amazing gourmet flavors and we’ve rounded up the best in our Guide to KC’s ice cream shops!

  13. Buy a box of chocolates from a local company. Go classic with Russell Stover (RussellStover.com) or splurge with gourmet delights from Christopher Elbow (ElbowChocolates.com). 

  14. Take pictures together at local landmarks: Fountains, local galleries, parks or the “Married Love” statue of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill at the Country Club Plaza. 

  15. Show your KC love with a Charlie Hustle (CharlieHustleShop.com) shirt emblazoned with a huge heart and the letters “KC.” The style became extra popular during the 2014 World Series when Paul Rudd was photographed sporting the tee and enjoyed a resurgence with the 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series Championship. This is one shirt that will always be in style in our book.

  16. Cookies from McLain’s Bakery in Waldo (McLainsKC.com) have been enjoyed by generations of Kansas Citians since 1945! Buy a dozen to share with the family.

  17. Ride to the top of the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and take a photo together. With an amazing view of the city skyline, this location is one of the city’s most popular spots for marriage proposals.

  18. Enjoy decadent Strawberry Hill Povitica Bread (Povitica.com), a holiday delicacy for decades.

  19. Eat heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy’s (PapaMurphys.com), where they sell take ‘n bake pizza. Or dine in or order carry-out at Minsky’s (Minskys.com), where they sell the special shapes for holidays.

  20. Buy a balloon bouquet. Head to your local grocer or Dollar Tree for a Valentine balloon bouquet.

  21. Make your own KC valentine tradition and share it with us on the KC Parent Facebook page at Facebook.com/KansasCityParent.


Kristina Light has been collecting “I Am Loved” pins since her grandmother began the tradition when she took her shopping as a girl. Now, she continues the tradition with her daughters.

10 Family-Friendly Films with Irresistible Love Stories

By |

  1. Lady and the Tramp Disney’s 1955 classic has been winning the hearts for generations. Dish up some spaghetti and delight in the Victorian-era tale about two charming dogs.

  2. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Charles Schulz’ Peanuts films are holiday staples. This lesser-known classic is sure to tug at your heartstrings this February.

  3. Enchanted This Disney musical isn’t afraid to laugh at the most iconic heroines from beloved classic fairy tales. Amy Adams’ portrayal of Giselle, the loveable fairy-tale princess who magically lands in New York City, is charming.

  4. Beauty and the Beast Whether you choose Disney’s animated ’90s classic or the new live action version, this “tale as old as time” is perfect for a family movie night. Serve some gray stuff (it’s delicious) and enjoy this favorite film. Tip: You’ll find the recipe at Family.Disney.com/recipe/beauty-and-the-beast-food-grey-stuff.

  5. Winnie the Pooh, a Valentine for You Winnie holds a special place in our family memories. The delightful bear and his pals from the Hundred Acre Wood learn what love really is all about.

  6. Cinderella We’re partial to Disney’s original animated masterpiece. The transformation of the dress is one of the prettiest pieces of animation ever created, and Jaq and Gus are delightful.

  7. The Princess Bride This epic comic adventure you remember from your childhood is a perfect film to share with your own kids. Remember to recount the tale of your “mawwage” as you do.

  8. Disney Nature’s Bears: The story of the Alaskan brown bear Sky and her unwavering love for her cubs is a beautiful depiction of parental love that is truly perfect for the whole family.

  9. The Sound of Music Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical is a tale of family love, courage and strength that inspires us still today.

  10. Parent Trap We enjoy both the Hayley Mills and the Lindsay Lohan versions of this comedic story of identical twins helping their parents rekindle a love that is lost. In the process, the two sisters who started as enemies become best friends.

5 Favorite Online S.T.E.A.M Resources

By |

  1. Kansas City Zoo Animal Cams: The Kansas City Zoo animal cams show the zoo’s all-star animals at play (and sometimes at sleep) 24/7. The penguin cam is our favorite, but the polar bear cam and giraffe cams are pretty special too! KansasCityZoo.org/animal-cams

  2. Nelson-Atkins at Home: From online galleries to art lessons and inspiration for your own artistic creations, the Nelson at Home is an extensive resource to cultivate your love for art. Nelson-atkins.org/nelson-atkins-at-home

  3. Cool Science Experiments: Steve Spangler is known for bringing super cool science to late night television and wonderful STEM products kids love. You’ll find great ideas for at-home experiments at YouTube.com/user/TheSpanglerEffect.

  4. Paper Airplanes: Have fun with engineering and hold at-home contests for paper airplane speed, distance and design. For patterns, seeFoldNFly.com.

  5. Crafts: For simple craft ideas using things you already own, check out TheBestIdeasForKids.com. They have seasonal ideas as well as year-round crafts.

Still can’t get enough of KC fun?

Get even more with our weekly eNewsletter—packed with can’t-miss events, exclusive giveaways, and local family fun. Join 51,000+ KC parents who already subscribe!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.