Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tailgate, devour BBQ, visit art museums and listen to lots of jazz when tackling the best things to do in Kansas City. Joe's Kansas City Barbecue is a common recommendation for a reason: it is the best thing to do in town.
There are three locations, but you definitely want to go to the original one on 47th, which used to be a gas station. Order The Z-Man, fries and a half rack of ribs, to be split with a friend. Do not deviate from the plan! It's more of a city all its own.
Walk, shop, eat and see some beautiful fountains and classic European architecture, as well as more than 30 statues, murals, and tile mosaics. The Plaza is a must-see when visiting KC, especially during the holidays, when it's decked out in twinkling lights.
This little craft-brewery-that-could is now one of the largest in the Midwest. Be on the lookout for various events like Boulevardia, when the brewery hosts a block party with some pretty major headliners. Before bars-slash-gaming-centers became all the rage on the coasts, homegrown versions of these crossover concepts were already taking root locally.
The Super Bowl champions rule over one of the loudest stadiums in all of sports. Regardless of your team loyalty, enjoy a beer and brat in the parking lot, and introduce yourself to this long-standing KC football tradition. Tens of thousands of passionate partiers show up hours before kickoff.
Will you be among them? Tickets might be slightly more expensive these days, so that tailgate might be the better way to take in the city's various charms anyway. Known for the giant Shuttlecocks installation out front go on and take a selfie , the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art houses nearly 40, works of art.
Home to ancient and contemporary collections and an extensive collection of Asian art, the Nelson is regarded as one of the best museums in the country, and admission is free.
Just look for the pyramid-shaped building with a four-story spider statue out front. While not much can outshine the Nelson-Atkins, just a short walk away is the much more intimate Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, which boasts a collection of modern and contemporary works, and hosts exhibitions, installations, film and video series, lectures, concerts, workshops, and other creative programs. City Market is also referred to as River Market, so don't let the names throw you off.
A Kansas City staple since , City Market is always packed with people — and for good reason. During the summer, there is an extensive events calendar with live music and festivals. On weekends, there is a popular Farmers Market, and you can shop antiques and collectibles at the Vintage Sale on Sundays.
Built in , this architectural masterpiece is a sight to behold. Marvel at the Grand Hall's foot ceiling, three 3,pound chandeliers, and the six-foot-wide clock. Home to traveling national exhibits, 3D movies on the Extreme Screen, Science City an interactive science center , a permanent KC Rail Experience exhibit and a planetarium, Union Station has something for everyone in the family.
Book a boozy brunch at Harvey's , if you want to feel like you're traveling back in time while enjoying a round of mimosas. Learn about the birth of jazz in Kansas City through interactive exhibits, including listening stations and custom mixing boards. Among the historic artifacts from the height of jazz's popularity are collections of photographs, sheet music and posters.
A great attraction to see before a live show. The Jones sisters, Deborah and Mary, grew up learning all the secrets to making great BBQ from their father and have taken their secret family sausage recipe to unparalleled levels of fame. You'll undoubtedly recognize them from their stand out episode on Queer Eye. Baseball fans are going to be flocking to Kauffman Stadium, often referred to as The K, when traveling to Kansas City.
The stadium is home to the Kansas City Royals, and you need to catch a game here. Within the stadium, you will find the Water Spectacular, which is a fountain and waterfall display that you must see.
It is feet wide and the largest privately-funded fountain in the world. You can get up close and personal to see this water show from many different angles.
Be sure to grab a hot dog and beer while at The K. There is even a path that lets you walk around the entire stadium so that you can see it all. The streetcar travels 2. There are sixteen different stops along the route. Riding the streetcar and getting off at a random stop will lead you to a fun adventure in Kansas City. You could eat at a random place and then find a fun way to spend your afternoon. On the other hand, you could simply go for a ride on the streetcar and then return to your destination.
The atmosphere at City Market is delightful. The delicious smell in the air and the friendly faces of all the vendors will make you want to spend your entire day walking through each of the aisles. The market was started back in , which means that it is filled with a rich history.
Farmers come from all around the region to bring unique, high-quality goods. There are also more than 30 specialty shops that surround City Market. City Market is the perfect family-friendly activity.
Everyone will be able to find a delicious treat or a cute knick-knack to bring home with them. The market is open on Saturdays as well as on certain Sundays and Wednesdays. The parking of the place is pretty convenient, spanning up to five levels, with the total space adding up to sq. One of the most-visited entertainment hubs in the area, visiting it is a perfect way to wind down the day in Kansas City.
Sea Life is a beautiful aquarium in the downtown area. It is highly immersive, where one a thick wall of glass separates you from the wonderful world of underwater. Visitors can look and study over sea creatures, all resting in thirty impressive displays, including the ones with sharks, the gliding stingrays and the octopus.
The aquarium provides a Touchpool Experience, where one can actually touch the creatures — you can definitely hold a crab in your finger or stroke a starfish.
The Sea Life also has a Sea Turtle Rescue Center, where not only can you interact with the rescued turtles but also learn more about these beautiful creatures.
It was built as a tribute to Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, who believed true joy is hidden in the opportunities one can share with others. It is a botanic garden, spread over two acres of land, surrounded by limestone walls, interspersed with brick paths, six mesmerizing fountains and comfortable seating arrangement.
There are more than varieties of perennial plants and trees as well as annual beds that hold different species seasonally.
The garden organizes tours for groups of ten or more; you will have to arrange it beforehand though. The Vaile Mansion is a stunning structure, dating back to the 19th century.
It was built in for Colonel Harvey Vaile and his wife, Sophia. The original construction spread over on a space of acres and had a vineyard, an apple orchard, a wine processing plant and a huge wine cellar. It is constructed mainly in red brick, with limestone mouldings, slate shingles on the mansard roofs, and bracketed cornices.
The property now sits on 5. Located on the southern banks of Missouri River, is Berkley Riverfront, a seemingly extending green space of the city, decorated with many exciting cultural and relaxing facilities. Opened to the people in , it spreads over 17 acres and is situated between the Kit Bong Bridge and Heart of America Bridge.
Formerly, it was a landfill for construction trash and also the site of a company specializing in sand and gravel. The decision to transform the land was a perfect one, as now, space has over trees, a small Amphitheatre and long esplanade. Kansas City has a list of beautiful children-friendly places and parks, including the amazing Penguin Park.
The visitors loved it so much that other animals were created to accompany this penguin, such as elephant, giraffe and kangaroo.
The area then officially became Penguin Park in The Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a wildlife preservation and education site, founded by the City of Parkville and their group of volunteers. It is a beautiful natural place, spreading over acres of area, dispersed with hiking trails all over.
A beautiful riverfront park was developed on this point, before giving it the name of Kaw Point Park. The park is characterized by wooded trails and wildlife, with wildflowers dispersed all over the place.
The park is known to host a number of events, including the annual paddle-craft race. This area was then transformed, in the early 20th century, in a acre park, equipped with different facilities and promising good times. People crowd over here to admire the commemorative statues such as the Hiker, the Scout and The Pioneer Mother Memorial — and learn history through them.
The park has a three-acre lake, a dam, a large playground, numerous tennis courts, swimming pool, an off-leash dog park, skate park and an exercise trail, to name just a few of the attractions.
It has a rich history, shaping the cathedral into what it is today. The cathedral has a gold-leafed dome as well as unusual but beautiful interiors, decorated with religious artworks. The stage of this cathedral is located in the middle of the hall, which is an adequately lighted place, filtering in from the beautiful and tall stained windows.
It is a sprawling structure, with vibrant colours and beautiful architecture that brings peace to the visitors as soon as they step inside. While Kansas City might not be primarily known for its nightlife, there are many clubs, bars and live music places that can easily give you a best, fun nightlife experience.
It is known for its amazing night concerts, with many local talents featuring frequently. The menu also offers traditional Irish items and drinks, which you can enjoy with local Irish music or local DJ tunes. You can explore more to check the other equally amazing places. Arrowhead Stadium is one of the amazing stadiums in the NFL. Opened for play in , a variety of changes had been introduced to the place, so as to keep its appeal intact, including replacing the Astroturf playing field and the seats.
Also known as the loudest stadiums in the NFL, it is built in such a way so as to give the audience the best view of the game as possible. A , sq. CBE also has the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, which is the ultimate place to learn about college basketball legends and the history of basketball.
It is made in a way for the fans to enjoy basketball as well; there are so fun activities for you to do, including broadcasting from ESPN-U, having fun at a full-court press and slam dunking. This attracts top drivers from across the world all year round, in turn attracting a global crowd to visit the Kansas City. The American jazz museum is a historic landmark in Kansas City which showcases the rich cultural and musical past of the city.
The blue room is a working jazz club situated inside the museum where you can hear some of the best music the locals have to offer as well as the Gem theatre which is a performing arts center. Some of the most popular dishes here are the full slab of ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, a Z-man sandwich and the lavish cowboy dinner. Lakeside Nature Centre is a beautiful addition of Swope Park, sworn to protect the wildlife and environment.
One of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centres in the whole of Missouri, the centre currently houses around 75 animals, including turkey vultures, racoons, hawks, barred owls, raptors and Kestrel falcons, to name a few. One of the sweetest and unique additions to this list of animals is the box turtle, Wilma, who is said to be around 80 years old. The centre, along with the hiking trails and picnic pavilion, also provides a dedicated wooded area on rent, for business and corporate events as well as receptions.
It is one of the exclusive family destinations, where all of the activities available can entertain the whole of the family at the same time.
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