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...
- Add one of Helzberg's "I am Loved" pins (available free at Helzberg locations) 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.
- Send "The Very Best" with a Hallmark Card. The Kansas City based company offers free self-guided tours through the The Hallmark Visitor’s 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 where you can watch a gift bow be made right before your eyes as a free souvenir to take home.
- Make a Valentine at Kaleidoscope. After visiting the Hallmark Visitor’s Center, stop in next door at Kaleidoscope, the FREE art center for children. It's an imaginative world where children can create their own masterpieces with a variety of supplies. February’s materials offer plenty of beautiful valentine inspiration.
- Commemorate your love with a love lock on the Old Red Bridge in Minor Park. "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."
- Split a Skyscraper (a giant milkshake or ice cream soda meant for sharing) at Winstead's - the Plaza location delivers the treat with a jingle!
- Take the family to a Valentine Themed Event in Kansas City. From Daddy / Daughter Dances, to Craft Projects, to Special Shows - there is something for everyone.
- On Valentine's Day, head to the Truman Presidential Library where you can learn about the love between President & Mrs. Truman and the museum's vast collection of love letters the two shared over the years.
- Buy a balloon bouquet from U.S. Toy. Tip: Bring our U.S. Toy coupon when you shop!
- Treat your sweetheart to made-from-scratch personalized chocolates from Laura Little's Candies. They offer free personalization on fudge hearts for your Valentine!
- Make a masterpiece for your special someone at a paint-your-own-canvas shop.
- Serve the kids Shatto Dairy Farm's pink strawberry milk for breakfast. The Missouri dairy farm sells milk at local grocery stores.
- Dine at the Rozzelle Courtyard Restaurant at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of the most romantic settings in the city. Then, enjoy the FREE art gallery and Sculpture Park.
- Watch the "tale as old as time" at the Puppetry Arts Institute where they are showing the Beauty & the Beast puppet show with special guest Belle followed by lemonade and cookies!
- Delight in one of Glace's flavors of gourmet ice cream.
- Buy a box of Russell Stover's chocolates or go all out with gourmet delights from Christopher Elbow. Choose treats from one of these KC Candy Shops.
- Catch a movie at one of the Coolest Movie Theaters in Kansas City.
- Take pictures together at local landmarks - fountains, local galleries, parks, or the "Married Love" statue of Sir & Lady Churchill at the Country Club Plaza.
- Show your KC Love with a Charlie Hustle shirt emblazened 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 T - this is one shirt that will always be in style in our book.
- Cookies from McLain's Bakery in Waldo have been enjoyed by generations of Kansas Citians since 1945! Buy a dozen to share with the family.
- Ride to the top of the Liberty 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.
- Paint pottery together at a local shop.
- Celebrate with chocolate dipped strawberries from Garza's Goodies in Waldo.
- Enjoy decadent Strawberry Hill Povitica Bread, a holiday delicacy for decades.
- Eat heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's where they sell Take 'N Bake pizza or dine-in or order carry-out at Minsky's where they sell the special shapes for holidays.
- Make your own KC Valentine Tradition and tell us all about it in the comments below!