Winter doesn't have to be boring! Have fun with the kids in KC with our ideas from A to Z:
A) Art Paint your own ceramic creations at Ceramic Cafe (913.383.0222). They supply the ceramics, the paints and the brushes … you just supply the creative budding artists!
B) Build an “earthquake proof” Lego tower at Legoland Discovery Center LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com/kansas-city), where you can play with the world’s biggest box of Legos, watch a film in the Lego Studios 4D cinema, enjoy rides and explore a miniature Kansas City in Lego Miniland.
C) Collect money The Money Museum (816.881.2683) is a free museum where you’ll learn how the Federal Reserve Bank works and its role in the U.S. economy. Peek into one of the nation's largest cash vaults, create your own monetary artwork and view coins from each U.S. presidential administration.
D) Deduce clues at the ultimate family-friendly escape room at Tick Tock Escapes. Their Pyramid Paradox room is a favorite with incredible special effects reminiscent of an Indiana Jones film. Teams of six to 10 people are "locked" in a room for an hour, and they solve puzzles trying to figure out how to escape. Each room features a different theme and a different set of puzzles.
E) Eat out KC boasts several super fun restaurants for families, but the ultimate top pick for KC kids is consistently Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant. Model trains deliver burgers and shakes to your table.
F) Find treasure In 1856, the Arabia steamboat was traversing the Missouri River when her paddle wheel caught a tree snag and she sank. The treasure is now on display at the Arabia Steamboat Museum (816.471.1856).
G) Get outside Kansas City is home to many wonderful nature centers. Two favorites: Burr Oak Woods (MDC.mo.gov) offers a large aquarium of Missouri's freshwater fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more. Lakeside Nature Center (LakesideNatureCenter.org) is home to some of the best animal exhibits in the area.
Sledding in Kansas City
H) Hit the hills Weather permitting, take the family sledding! Visit KCParent.com for a list of the best sledding hills in Kansas City!
I) Imagine and play at the Johnson County Museum. Their interactive KidScape exhibit is a child-size village that fosters creative play.
J) Jump to new heights through the Warrior Obstacle Course or Slam Dunk Zone at Urban Air, the ultimate indoor trampoline park with locations in Overland Park and Lenexa (UrbanAirOP.com).
K) Kansas City Zoo visits are especially fun in the winter, as the animals are especially playful, and the zoo isn't crowded. The indoor exhibits at the Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Tropics and Discovery Barn are great on chilly days. Bonus: Weather permitting, enjoy a ride on the carousel or train for more fun.
L) Listen to music Kansas City is known for jazz, and the American Jazz Museum is the perfect place to introduce young music lovers to the local genre. With wonderful hands-on exhibits and listening centers to explore, the museum invites children to enjoy listening to classic jazz, compose their own pieces and learn about the history of 18th and Vine.
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American Jazz Museum
Learn about the history of jazz through fun, interactive exhibits perfect for kids.
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Arabia Steamboat Museum
400 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MissouriThe steamboat Arabia sank in 1856 in the Missouri River and the treasures of the shipwreck and their history are on exhibit.
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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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Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
One of the largest nature centers in the Metro, Burr Oak Woods features hands-on exhibits for children, an aquarium with Missouri fish, live animals and nature trails.
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Ceramic Café
Pottery painting and glass fusing. Walk-ins welcome. Great for birthdays and group events too.
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Children's Mercy Hospital
Every moment with your child is one to cherish. At Children’s Mercy, we fight to give families more of them.
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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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Crown Center Ice Terrace
Enjoy ice skating at Kansas City's original outdoor rink, open annually November-March.
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Family Tree Nursery Liberty
A beautiful, modern garden center in the heart of Shawnee! Since opening it’s doors as Family Tree Nursery in 1981, our Nieman location has grown a loyal customer base with great plants and top-notch customer service.
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Family Tree Nursery Overland Park
What sets Family Tree Nursery apart is our passion for plants. Our bedding plants look better because they’re grown better – we grow almost every bedding plant we sell at our own greenhouses.
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Family Tree Nursery Shawnee
A beautiful, modern garden center in the heart of Shawnee! Since opening it’s doors as Family Tree Nursery in 1981, our Nieman location has grown a loyal customer base with great plants and top-notch customer service.
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Federal Reserve Bank & Money Museum
Tour Kansas City’s Federal Reserve Bank and learn about the U.S. Monetary System. Children can make their own money and leave with a shredded souvenir!
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Great Plains SPCA
GPSPCA provides lifesaving services for approximately 6,000 animals annually in the greater Kansas City area. Great Plains SPCA exists because of our caring Kansas City community and generous donors.
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Jason Dailey
Johnson County Library - Central Resource Branch
Johnson County Library provides access to ideas, information, experiences and materials that support and enrich people's lives.
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Johnson County Museum staff, 2020
Johnson County Museum
Featuring award-winning long-term and changing exhibitions as well as public and school education programs, the Museum is a great place to spend the day learning about our county’s history and having fun in our hands-on exhibit spaces.
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TriggerPhoto Getty Images/iStockphoto
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 Zoo & Aquarium
Explore the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, with nearly 10,000 animals on 202 acres, it's the most affordable family fun for kids of all ages! Travel all over the world without ever leaving Kansas City.
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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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Lakeside Nature Center
Enjoy an incredible place to enjoy learning about local native wildlife, including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, turtles, fish and invertebrates.
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M) Marvel at miniatures The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is home to dollhouses, miniatures and toys from yesteryear. One of the most fascinating exhibits requires visitors to look at artwork on a grain of rice through a magnifying glass. The miniature detail in so many pieces throughout the museum is intriguing and delightful.
N) Nose-to-nose views of historical U.S. aircraft include the first Lockheed Constellation ever restored, a Martin 404, a DC-3 and a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar at the Airline History Museum.
O) Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails The trails played an integral part in shaping Kansas City. At the National Frontier Trails Museum (816.325.7575), you can participate in interactive exhibits as you learn about Western expansion. The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop features tours of the farm home and Santa Fe Trail stagecoach stop, as well as actual stagecoach rides.
P) Planetarium shows The Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station offers spectacular presentations featuring starry skies. Programs specialize in interactive astronomy education, public shows and telescope viewing opportunities.
Kansas City's Central Library
Q) Quell your curiosity spending a day among the shelves at the local library looking for new books and exploring sections of the library you’ve never explored before. Increase your chances of making a new discovery with a visit to a new branch.
TriggerPhoto Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kansas City Streetcar Public Transportation
R) Ride the streetcar Explore downtown aboard the free Kansas City Streetcar and participate in our free KC Streetcar scavenger hunt.
S) Spread some joy by purchasing a plant to give to a loved one for Valentine’s Day, or just because. Check out Family Tree Nursery for a great selection of plants, trees, greenery, shrubs and more!
Nicole Bissey
T) Take a spin on the ice Our two favorite outdoor rinks are open for the season. Crown Center Ice Terrace (816.274.8411) is open through March 13. The Rink at Zona Rosa (816.208.3690) is open daily through February for public ice-skating, pond hockey, special events and more. For more local rinks, search Winter Sports on KCParent.com.
U) Underwater exploration Walk through an underwater tunnel at Sea Life Kansas City. Enjoy up-close views of more than 5,000 sea creatures.
V) Volunteer Help with Harvester’s Food Pantry, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Great Plains SPCA or another local organization through your house of worship or school. Giving back to the community is an important part of growing up.
W) Walk around Legends Outlets. Shop, take in a movie, eat dinner and learn about local legends with their outdoor sculptures celebrating famous local heroes. Be sure to head to their website (LegendsShopping.com) to download a fun family scavenger hunt!
X) eXplore Try something new from the Kansas City calendar on KCParent.com.
KC Kids Eat Free
KC Kids Eat Free
Y) Yum Check out our Kids Eat Free Guide and take the family out to eat.
Z) Zero The number of days you’ll be bored with all these ideas!
Kansas City mom Kristina Light hopes for some snowy February days.