All About KC is the newest feature on KCParent.com. You ask and we answer your questions about Kansas City! From Family Fun in KC, to Date Night ideas, to the Best Places to take out-of-town guests, to inside tips on local attractions and restaurants, we have the answers! Submit a question for All About KC here.
- Q: Where can eat the best pizza in Kansas City?
- Q. We're looking for wheel chair accessible outings in Kansas City.
- Q. Where can I take a two-year-old on field trips this winter?
Q: Where can we eat the best pizza in Kansas City? ~ Tom
A: I have several favorites and all for different reasons! These are my Top Picks and why I love them:
- Best "By the Slice" and Best NY Style: D'Bronx Deli and Pizzeria (3 locations: Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd, KCMO. 7070 W. 105th St. OPKS. 3940 Bell, KCMO.) If you love New York Style Pizza, this is the place! We love to buy a pie to take home after a day of play at Crown Center, Union Station, and Kaleidoscope.
- Best Budget Friendly: CiCi's Pizza Buffet (Cici's boasts many locations across the metro, click here to find one near you!). CiCi's All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Buffet is $4.99/adults, $2.99/ children 10 and under, and FREE for children 3 and under (with paying adult). They keep the pizza hot, offer a variety of toppings, and the kids are thrilled to finish the meal with dessert pizza!
- Best Live Music and Grown Up Pizza: Minsky's (Minsky's boasts many locations across the metro, click here to find one near you!). Delicious pizza and amazing calzones! Minsky's is great for the whole family, but I list it as "grown up" because it doesn't feature giant dinosaurs, video games, or pizza with frosting as trademarks to lure you in... they just serve fabulous pizza! The City Market Location features live music on weekends.
Q: We work with special needs adults and we're looking for great outings they can enjoy. Some of them use wheel chairs. Any ideas? ~ Doug
A: KCParent.com features an "accessibility" search both the Calendar and Going Places, our database of great sites to see in KC! Both of these features are great assets to plan your field trips. I also wanted to list a few of our favorites when site seeing with friends and family who utilize wheel chairs. Five Favorites:
- Nature Centers: We have your Complete Guide to Kansas City Nature Centers here. They offer terrific exhibits and programs on nature and conservation throughout the year for all ages. Most of them feature paved trails that are great for exploring. Burr Oak Woods is outstanding, with miles of beautiful trails, terrific exhibits and FREE nature films on Sundays as well.
- Bowling: AMF Bowling Allies provide ramps, making bowling fun and accessible from a wheel chair! This is especially great on a cold day! See AMF Bowling for locations and hours.
- Movies: Okay, you're probably thinking this isn't very creative, but here's the catch... did you know that Trail Ridge Cinema is just $2.50/ticket? Or that the theater at the Noland Fashion Square Cinema is just $2/ticket. You won't see first run films, but you can enjoy a super discounted rate.
- Museums: Three favorites for us are the Toy & Miniature Museum (5235 Oak, KCMO. 816.333.9328), Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (FREE, 4525 Oak, KCMO. 816.751.1278), and Johnson County Museum (FREE, 6305 Lackman, Shawnee, KS. 913.715.2550). All three are accessible and all three work well for a game of I Spy, a Scavenger Hunt (search "Nelson Scavenger Hunt" on KCParent.com to find our favorite), and story telling.
- Outdoor Shops: Bass Pro Shops (18001 Bass Pro Dr., Independence, MO, or 12051 Bass Pro Dr. Olathe, KS) and Cabela's (10300 Cabela Dr., KCKS) offer animal exhibits and aquariums, as well as nature demonstrations, that make a day of shopping fun.
Q: Where can I take my 2 year old on a great outing this winter? ~ Clare
A: I have three preschoolers, and we've found several favorites. Three lists to get you started:
- Guide to Indoor Playplaces in Kansas City
- Guide to Kansas City Nature Centers
- Story Time for 0-3 Year Olds in Kansas City
- Kaleidoscope (2500 Grand, KCMO). Kaleidoscope is a magical hands-on art experience for children provided by Hallmark. When I describe it to friends I tell them to imagine Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory transformed into a child’s art room. Kaleidoscope offers Free Family Sessions during the week for walk-in visitors, or you may call to schedule a group tour. Best for grade school students and younger. Call 816.274.8301 for Family Session hours.
- Paradise Park Children's Edutainment Center (1021 NE Colbern Rd., Lee's Summit, MO). Paradise Park's Edutainment Center is a hands-on Children's Museum. A few of the features: Ball Pit and Tunnels, Child-sized town with grocery store, bank, restaurant, and library, Art Center, Water Play, Health exhibits, special workshops and classes, and more! Call 816.246.5224 for hours and prices.
- Wonderscope Children's Museum (5700 King, Shawnee, KS). Wonderscope is a hands-on Children's Museum perfect for preschoolers! Features include: Water play, golf ball "race tracks", miniature grocery store, art center, hands-on lego exhibit, and more. Wonderscope also offers special programs in conjunction with Gymboree, children's musicians, and Theater for Young America. Call 913.287.8888 for hours.
- Johnson County Museum's KidScape Exhibit (6305 Lackman, Shawnee, KS). This is a hands-on "miniature city" for preschoolers. Children can pretend to be doctors in the imaginary hospital, put on a show on the stage complete with costumes and props, miniature golf inside, build roads at the City Hall, or make crafts and play pretend. The exhibit is FREE and the museum provides special programs with children's concerts, story telling, and puppet shows throughout the winter as well! Call 913.715.2550 for information.