Union Station Kansas City
Kansas City. Home to Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, World Series champion Kansas City Royals, world-famous Kansas City barbecue and world-class family fun!
If you are looking for an incredible weekend getaway, packed with unique and fun family-friendly experiences, look no further than the Crown Center District in downtown Kansas City! It’s the perfect place to relax, unwind and have some fun with your loved ones!
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public transportation
Convenience
Between the Skylink and the KC Streetcar, you can park your car and leave it!
The Skylink connects Crown Center, Union Station and the Sheraton via an elevated pedestrian walkway, completely protected from the elements. In the words of my niece, “You can cross the street without holding hands!” The KC Streetcar runs from Union Station to the River Market with 16 stops in between.
Where Should You Stay?
I highly recommend staying at either the Sheraton Crown Center or the Westin Crown Center. They both have fantastic views of the Kansas City skyline, offer spacious and comfortable rooms and are connected via the Skylink.
The Westin is located above the Crown Center itself, right in the heart of the Crown Center District. It is closer to the activities, shops and restaurants, including Union Station.
The Sheraton is located just north of Crown Center and is a very manageable walk via the Skylink to Crown Center and then to Union Station.
What Should You Do?
The options for fun in the Crown Center area are limitless! Between Crown Center, Union Station and the neighborhoods connected by the KC Streetcar, you will have more than enough to keep you busy!
Crown Center
Crown Center is a bustling shopping center, containing shops and restaurants. One of the local favorites is Fritz’s. This train-themed restaurant delivers burgers and fries to your table with model trains!
Additionally, Crown Center houses the Coterie Theater that offers shows with a young audience in mind. It also offers limited-time attractions throughout the year, so make sure to check out the schedule.
Two major attractions located in Crown Center are Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium. Legoland contains 12 interactive, Lego-themed play zones. Geared for children ages 3-10, the wide range of activities will be enjoyed by the whole family! Sea Life will transport you to an underwater world where you can discover the beauty and wonder of ocean life. Typically, you can purchase tickets to both attractions for a small discount.
Roy Inman
Union Station
Just a short walk on the Skylink will take you to Union Station. Built in 1914, it is a beautiful building with many traces of the Railroad Age. With the historic background and the numerous entertainment opportunities, you can easily spend an entire day here!
Catch a movie at the Extreme Screen Theater or the Gottlieb Planetarium, explore and interact with the scientific world at Science City, enjoy watching the model trains or even learn about a unique subject from a national traveling exhibit.
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Kansas City Power and Light Entertainment District
KC Streetcar
If the weather is nice, plan on a day exploring the KC Streetcar route! Take the Skylink to Union Station and head outside to the Streetcar stop. A streetcar leaves Union Station every 10-15 minutes, so you never have to wait long.
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Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station
Combining interactive astronomy education with spectacular public shows and night sky viewing opportunities, the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium continues to be one of Kansas City's greatest connections to the night sky.
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City Market
Open daily and featuring an eclectic mix of dining, shopping, entertainment, and attractions in a unique open-air setting, the City Market offers visitors a variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, specialty groceries, flowers, and gift items.
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Crown Center
2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MissouriCrown Center is the place for pure entertainment. With exciting events and unique attractions. A center full of locally owned shops and restaurants. And two luxury hotels so you can stay at the center of it all.
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KC Streetcar
30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MissouriThe Kansas City Streetcar is free to ride as it travels the 2 miles through the heart of downtown.
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Kansas City Power & Light District
Between Baltimore and Grand Blvd. and 12th Street and Truman Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64105The Kansas City Power & Light District is a dynamic, nine-block neighborhood in the heart of downtown Kansas City, with more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues! The Power & Light District is the Midwest's premier entertainment
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Kansas City Public Library - Central Branch
The Central Library serves as the main resource library for the system. It houses the major library departments, including: Customer Service, Central Reference, Special Collections, Youth Services, Document Delivery, Collection Maintenance and more.
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LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City offers a fun, highly interactive and educational 2-to 3-hour indoor experience. Based on the ever-popular Lego® brick, Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas.
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Science City at Union Station
Kansas City’s Science Center, Science City at Union Station Kansas City, is a dynamic, hands-on science center featuring nearly 200 individual interactive exhibits and daily programming. Kids of all ages experience the amazing world of science fir...
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Sea Life Kansas City
This aquarium experience will get you up close and face-to-face with amazing underwater creatures such as sharks, octopus, our green sea turtle named Gertrude, stingrays, sea stars, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish! A favorite a...
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Union Station
A place for great adventure. Where Kansas City Connects. All of these phrases – and more – are regularly used to describe Union Station. Visitors of all ages, from all places and for all reasons tie Union Station to special and magical moments.
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Of the 16 platform stops between Union Station and River Market, several that offer great destinations for families! One is at the Kauffman Center. If you are interested in a live show, make sure to see what is playing at the Kauffman Center. It is a beautiful building with an incredible view of the Kansas City skyline. An evening here will certainly not disappoint!
Further down the line is the famous Power & Light District. Known for its nightlife, it is also a fun area to explore during the day. The rooftop of Cosentino’s Market at this stop is a great place to grab some lunch and enjoy KC life.
Another great stop for families is the Downtown Library. If your family loves books, you will love this library!
The streetcar line ends at City Market. The farmers market here on Saturday mornings is an event! The stalls are filled with fresh foods, yummy baked goods and sometimes live entertainment. Some shops and restaurants are open daily, while others are strictly open on Saturday. Additionally, you can tour the Arabia Steamboat Museum and learn some local history!
When you are finished exploring, hop on the streetcar and head back to Union Station!
Tip of the Iceberg
This is just a small sampling of the fun you can have in a weekend in downtown Kansas City!
Joy Oufnac loves vacationing with her husband and four children! She is a travel specialist with 3D Travel Company and would love to help you plan a special family vacation. Contact her at joy.oufnac@3dtravelcompany.com to start dreaming!