Kansas City Classics
City of Fountains, Barbecue Capital of America, jazz and blues… a visit to Kansas City would be incomplete without enjoying some of Kansas City’s sensational signatures and the landmarks that celebrate them.
Start at 18th & Vine with a visit to the American Jazz Museum and enjoy live jazz at the Gem or the Blue Room. Then, take a tour of fountains and barbecue. Kansas City knows barbecue, and that means sweet, tangy sauce dripping from ribs and burnt ends with a slide of slaw and pit beans. Every local has a favorite, from Fiorella’s Jack Stack, to Oklahoma Joe’s to Arthur Bryant’s and Gate’s.
Old meets new in the Kansas City Power & Light District, where the greatest in live theater, concerts and shows come to the Sprint Center, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Municipal Auditorium, the Folly and the Midland. From family shows to ballet, live theater to sports and contemporary music stars from rock to country to classical…you’ll find it all downtown.
Kansas City’s most beloved landmarks are celebrated at MINILAND®, a model city created entirely with LEGO® blocks, inside the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center. Based on the ever-popular LEGO® brick, the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas, including a 4D cinema, workshops, two LEGO®-themed rides and exhibits.
A Royal Experience
What princess hasn’t dreamt of riding in Cinderella’s carriage? Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza offers carriage rides with Kansas City Carriages and Surrey’s Carriage Company. In the evening, the Cinderella carriages are lit to create an extra touch of magic. This is an especially enchanting experience during the holiday season when the Plaza is decorated with 80 miles of lights!
Right in the heart of the Midwest, you will find a beautifully restored 1907 castle. Renee Kelly’s at Caenen Castle (12401 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS, 913.631.4100) is now an event venue and restaurant. The castle boasts a grand staircase, hand-carved European fireplaces, manicured grounds and old world charm. Sunday brunch is offered with children’s meals ranging from $3.50 to $5, and adult fare ranging from $9 to $15. Dinner is offered Wed.-Sat.
At Christmastime, visit Kansas City’s own Fairy Princess! In 1935, Klein’s Department Store celebrated the opening of its new toy department with a Fairy Princess who greeted customers at Christmas. Children would tell the princess what they wanted, and she’d wave her magic wand as a surprise would slide down a chute. She was a Kansas City tradition at Klein’s until the store closed the 1970s. In 1987, the Kansas City Museum brought back the tradition, and now young girls visit her every December!
Kaleidoscope is one of the best FREE family trips in town. Children may create wands, tiaras and royal treasures. One highlight of the trip is making your own jigsaw puzzle and watching it run through the press where the center piece is shaped like a royal crown.
Mystery, Suspense and Intrigue
If you love to play the game Clue, you’ll love exploring these attractions full of suspense and intrigue.
Enjoy an evening of live interactive mystery at one of Kansas City’s murder mystery theaters. The Mystery Train of Kansas City (816.813.9654) serves a delicious dinner between the acts of a fun-filled comic mystery. Each mystery is set aboard an imaginary train with Kansas City as its historical backdrop. Adding to the fun, guests use “bribe bucks” to extract clues from passengers. The Murder Mystery Players have been “killing guests with laughter” for more than 20 years. They offer private parties and public events throughout the year. The Holyfield Winery in Basehor, KS (913.724.WINE) hosts mysteries throughout the fall and winter. Actors, along with randomly selected audience members, play parts as the mystery unravels. Keep an eye out for clues, because the winning sleuth takes home a sparkling prize, courtesy of Holyfield. The Upstairs Tea Room in Weston, MO (816.640.2825) hosts comedy mysteries throughout the year based on actual dining catastrophes encountered by the cast.
The Raven Bookstore (6 E. 7th St., Lawrence, KS, 785.749.3300) is a mystery-lover’s dream. The unique and eclectic shop specializes in mysteries—from Sherlock Holmes to modern cozy mysteries and the newest thrillers. The shop frequently hosts author signings, book readings and discussion groups.
For local mystery fans, Atchison Kansas is an intriguing day trip, with trolley tours through “the most haunted town in Kansas” in the fall, walking tours, cemetery tours and special mystery events throughout the year.
Majestic, Wild and Amazing Animals
Meet exotic animals at the Kansas City Zoo, where Nikita, Kansas City’s resident polar bear, especially loves winter weather. This year, the zoo’s newest attraction is the brand new Sumatran Tiger Exhibit, where the big cats enjoy wide open spaces to roam and play. The zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and the animals are more alert and active in the autumn and winter months when the weather is cool. And an added bonus is that the zoo is less crowded!
Sea Life Aquarium, one of Kansas City’s newest must-see attractions, features a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel and an enthralling 2-3 hour journey from the fresh waters of the Missouri River to the deep, dark abyss of the Atlantic Ocean.
Children are captivated by dinosaurs, and T-Rex Café (1847 Village West Pkwy., Kansas City, KS) brings them to life in an unforgettable dining experience! The restaurant is home to giant robotic dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures dwelling among waterfalls, live aquariums and ice caves.
Cedar Cove in Louisburg, KS, is an animal refuge for a variety of endangered or rescued big cats. Tour Cedar Cove where you will see leopards, cougars, wolves, bobcats, a white tiger, black leopards and caracals. On Saturdays through October, Cedar Cove hosts public feedings of the cats and remains open until 5:00, weather permitting.
Art Exploration
Explore art from around the world at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of Kansas City’s FREE treasures. For added fun, check KCParent.com for a Nelson-Atkins scavenger hunt the kids will love!
For modern art enthusiasts, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit permanent and temporary galleries with special events and workshops for families.
Missouri was home to many famous artists, and you can tour their homes today. The Thomas Hart Benton Home and the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, former home of artist George Caleb Bingham, are two museums sharing the personal histories of two of Missouri’s most influential artists.
The Kansas City Crossroads District is an eclectic and artistic neighborhood with unique art, boutiques and locally-owned restaurants. On the first Friday of each month year-round, local galleries, retailers and artists feature free exhibits to peruse. Enjoy entertainment and art as you stroll through the galleries and shops in the heart of the city.
Snow and Ice
Sledding, skiing, skating, sleighs… let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Kansas City boasts many terrific sledding hills all across the Metro! Over the years, our loyal readers have shared their favorites, and you can learn about them on www.KCParent.com!
Take a spin on the ice at one of the local outdoor rinks, The Ice at Park Place and the Crown Center Ice Terrace. You will also find many terrific indoor rinks open year-round. Or head to the Independence Events Center, where you can watch the Missouri Mavericks Central Hockey League ice hockey team compete in one of winter’s most exciting sports.
Sleigh bells ring at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, where you can enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides on snowy Saturdays throughout the winter. The historic site offers tours and programs all year, including stagecoach rides and a working blacksmith shop.
If you’re craving snow, but can’t find any locally, you don’t have to drive to Colorado to enjoy snow skiing. Weston’s Snow Creek is a short 45-minute to one-hour drive from downtown KC, appealing to skiers and snow boarders alike.
Vroom, Vroom, Vroom!
Adrenaline junkies love to cheer for their favorite drivers as the Kansas Speedway hosts NASCAR races. The Speedway offers many experiences adding to the entertainment for families, whether you purchase a pit pass or scanners to track cars throughout the race.
Kansas City is also home to the Harley Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations Plant, one of only a few in the nation. Behind-the-scenes tours are offered to visitors 12 and up to watch the assembly of a V-Rod from start to finish.
If old-fashioned rail travel is more your speed, visit the Midland Railway in Baldwin City, KS for the annual autumn Maple Leaf Festival rides or Christmas rides with Santa. Or, embark on a trip aboard the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad, where families delight in ice cream social rides, the Pumpkin Express and Santa’s Express.
Treat the kids to fun at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant, where model trains deliver lunch to your table! Or, spend a day at Union Station, where you can ride the rails with Amtrak or enjoy the history of trains at the KC Rail Experience.
Plane lovers enjoy the Airline History Museum, featuring many historic airplanes including the famous Lockheed Constellation 1049 Super G. Year-Round Amusement
Race go-karts outdoors at Cool Crest or Paradise Park, where you can also enjoy miniature golf, arcades and more. Or go indoors to put the pedal to the metal and race your loved ones at Sadlers. This track is home to go-karts imported from Germany that allow racers to reach speeds of 45 mph. Couple dinner with games at Dave & Buster’s arcade restaurant, where you’ll find everything from classic to interactive to video.
CoCo Key Water Resort offers a wonderful 55,000-square-foot indoor water park with a wading pool, slides, fast tube rides, activity pools and more! Play for a day or stay overnight at the Holiday Inn (where CoCo Key is located).
Zonkers is a fun-filled indoor amusement park for young children. Kids love the snake roller coaster, carousel, train, kiddie rides, arcades and inflatables. Speaking of inflatables, you’ll find many more great indoor play places in our online guide.