J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, by Henri-L
When you want to add something extra to your KC visit, consider one of these great bonus excursions!
- Independence Center’s District Jungle offers the ultimate indoor adventure with ropes courses, arcades, toddler play spaces and rides.
- When we’re looking for indoor adventure, rock wall climbing is a favorite. RoKC is a longtime KC favorite with locations in North KC, Downtown and now Olathe.
- Design your own custom donut at Donutology in Westport. Mix and match flavors and toppings in this custom donut laboratory.
- The 58-foot-tall Russell and Helen Means Observation Tower is opening soon at Kill Creek Park. The steel behemoth will offer visitors amazing views from the Kansas Speedway to KU. This Instagram-worthy destination is a must for photographers.
- Eat the ultimate Kansas City concoction at Betty Rae’s, an ice creamery offering an original frozen confection incorporating famous Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que into one of its many amazing made-from-scratch ice cream flavors.
- Read KC Parent magazine each month for more ideas to enjoy with your family.
- Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains, boasting more fonts than any city other than Rome. Learn the story behind our beloved fountains when you search “Fountain History” on KCParent.com.
- Head to Made in KC, where all products are locally made. Buy a terrific local souvenir created by a local artisan.
- Jazz is the music of the city. Visit the American Jazz Museum, listen to live performances at the Blue Room, the Gem Theatre or a local club like Green Lady Lounge and experience the city’s music firsthand.
- The Midwest Genealogy Center is a free research facility through the Mid-Continent Public Library system. With thousands of resources and expert research librarians there to assist, you’ll discover new secrets about your ancestors.
- Visit Louisburg and tour Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary, which cares for real big cats. On Saturday evenings, attend one of the big cat feeders and keeper chats to learn more about the facility.
- Meet an alpaca face-to-face at Manna Meadows, an alpaca farm in Bonner Springs. Take a guided tour of the working farm.
- Made-from-scratch European sweet bread is the specialty at Strawberry Hill Povitica, the long-established Kansas City-based Slavic bakeshop with an open kitchen.
- Watch as greeting cards and wrapping paper are made at the Hallmark Visitors Center, a favorite free attraction, then participate in hands-on fun as you make a souvenir gift bow with the push of a button. Next door, you can visit Kaleidoscope, a free hands-on art center for children that regularly offers family sessions.
- Carousels were once made in Kansas, and now you can visit the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum. Learn about C.W. Parker, the founder of a carousel factory in Leavenworth, and ride an authentic 1913 carousel.
- Quench your thirst at the Roasterie, where coffee is an artform. Take a 45-minute tour and learn all about their cupping, roasting and blending processes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the factory and experience a manual coffee brewing demonstration.
- Kansas City is a better place to live because of those who give back. There are many great places to volunteer your time. Harvesters collects food for families in need. Historic sites offer volunteer programs. Wayside Waifs and KC Pet Project offer great volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. The Kansas City Zoo offers a VolunTeen program. Choose something you’re passionate about and find ways to help others.
- Bite into the city’s signature burnt ends at one of our best barbecue restaurants … Joe’s KC, Jack Stack, Q39, LC’s, Arthur Bryant’s, Gates or another local joint.
- Explore the ruins of early pioneer cabins at Cave Springs, a 36-acre urban nature center and historic site.
- Giant sunflowers greet thousands of visitors every autumn at Grinter Farms where acres of the beautiful yellow flowers bloom in the heart of Kansas.
- Hook a fish at Lake Olathe, one of the area’s newest lakes where you may enjoy boating, kayaking or a day catching “the big one.”
- Imagine you’re in outer space as you walk a scale model of the solar system on a quest to see the entire Voyage Exhibition, along Baltimore Avenue in Downtown KCMO. Follow a 1-mile path through the Crossroads District, ending in front of historic Union Station, to discover our solar system from the sun to Pluto.
- Lace up your ice skates this winter and enjoy the city’s outdoor rink at Crown Center’s Ice Terrace.
- You’ll get nose-to-nose views of historic U.S. aircraft, including the first Lockheed Constellation ever restored, a Martin 404, a DC-3 and a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, at the Airline History Museum.
- Wind your way through a corn maze. Discover local corn mazes in the Pumpkin Patch Guide on KCParent.com.
- Yell and cheer for Sporting KC, KC Mavericks, Royals and Chiefs as a fan of our city’s sports teams.
- Subscribe to the eNewsletter on KCParent.com for our top-pick events every weekend and fabulous giveaways!