Straddling the border between Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City is full of fun and diverse activities for the entire family. Check out this list of things to explore in the metro area!
Visit an art museum
Kansas City is home to several top notch art museums, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Union Station
Though still a working train station, Union Station is so much more! This building is also home to the incredible, interactive Science City, a movie theater, escape room, rotating exhibits, and more! Make sure to check out the model train exhibit while you’re there.
First Friday
If you happen to be in town during the first weekend of the month, make sure to check out all the special First Friday events located in the Crossroads and West Bottoms. Gallery exhibits, antique shopping, food trucks, music, shopping discounts, and more!
Haunted Houses
Fall in Kansas City is haunted house season. Housed in huge, historic warehouse buildings these are spook houses like you’ve never experienced before. The Beast, Edge of Hell, and Macabre Cinema are some of the most popular.
If you’re looking for more authentic haunts, Kansas City has those too. Check out these historic properties with haunted histories.
City Market
Open year round, City Market is a foodie’s dream. Home to specialty shops and restaurants, the market boasts a huge farmers market during the warmer months as well.
Arabia Steamboat Museum
Step back in time and explore these 19th century artifacts recovered from the cargo hold of a sunken steamboat at the Arabia Steamboat Museum.
WWI Museum and Memorial
The WWI Museum and Memorial is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of WWI artifacts in the world.
Eat BBQ
Coated in spices, slow smoked, and served with a tomato based sweet and spicy sauce…Kansas City is home to its very own style of barbeque. So it’s no wonder that trying some local BBQ is high on most people’s list when they visit the area. This site offers a pretty comprehensive list of barbecue places in the metro area. If you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry. There are a couple places in town that cater to you too! Check out the blog post on Vegetarian BBQ Options in Kansas City.
Distillery/Brewery/Winery Tours
Alcohol has always been part of Kansas City’s past. The town didn’t even shut down completely during Prohibition! Today, Kansas City is home to a wide variety of distilleries, breweries, cider houses, and wineries. Many of which offer tours and tastings.
Kansas City Zoo
The Kansas City Zoo is home to a wide selection of animals and provides education experiences for all ages.
SEA LIFE Aquarium
Looking for an undersea adventure? The Kansas City Aquarium allows kids and adults alike to explore the wonders of the ocean.
Catch a show
Kansas City is home to a plethora of incredible theater and music venues. From the big venues such as the Sprint Center or Starlight to small theaters and clubs, you’ll always find something going on. There’s far too many resources to list here, but a quick search should give you lots of options. Though, if Broadway is your thing (like it is mine!), both Broadway KC and Starlight have musical series.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum celebrates the accomplishments of famous African American players of America’s favorite pastime.
Watch a game
No matter your favorite sport, you’re likely to find a game to watch in Kansas City. The city is home to major teams such as the Chiefs, the Royals, and Sporting KC.
Hallmark Visitors Center and Kaleidoscope
The Hallmark Visitor’s Center free exhibit explores the history and art of the greeting card. If you have the kids with you, make sure to stop at Kaleidoscope and let them create a one of a kind art project to take home.
Legoland Discovery Center
Kids can build to their heart’s content at the Legoland Discovery center.
The Money Museum
Ever wonder what a million dollars looks like or how much a gold bar weighs? You can find out at the Money Museum located at the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. Guests even get to take home their own bag of (shredded) money.
National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
Celebrate being a kid…or a kid at heart. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures hosts one of the largest collection of miniatures and historic toys in the world.
See the fountains
Did you know that Kansas City is home to more than 200 fountains? Earning it the nickname “City of Fountains.”
Enjoy street art, sculptures, and murals
Practically everywhere you look, there’s sculptures, street art, and murals waiting to be discovered. This list is a great starting point.
National Frontier Trails Museum
Located at the jumping off point for three of the main western trails, the National Frontier Trails Museum highlights the struggles, hopes, and dreams of settlers headed west.
College Basketball Experience
A museum like no other, the College Basketball Experience is a high energy, fully immersive experience. Come ready to play!
American Jazz Museum
Located in Kansas City’s historic Jazz District, the American Jazz Museum explores the musical style through interactive exhibits and films.
National Archives in Kansas City
Libraries and archives often get overlooked as attractions, but they offer some of history’s greatest documents for viewing. At the National Archives in Kansas City, this includes the original Brown v Board of Education documents.
National Airline History Museum and TWA Museum
Celebrate air travel at both the National Airline History Museum and the TWA Museum (conveniently located next to each other).
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
For some quality outdoor family time, consider the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Kids can play, feed baby goats, and learn about life on a farm.
Shoal Creek Living History Museum
Ever wonder what life was like in the past? The Shoal Creek Living History Museum has preserved village life from the 19th century and lets visitors experience what life was like in historic Kansas and Missouri.
Take a walk through a park
Kansas City has lots of fabulous parks to explore. This list offers some of the best to choose from.
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun
For an adrenaline rush, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun offer plenty of thrills.
Truman Library and Museum
Learn more about President Truman by visiting the Truman Library and Museum.
