Fun Things for Families to Do in Kansas City
From historic compages and major museums to exciting shopping, street art, and spirits, KC has much to offer beyond its signature sauce.
share this article
Think of Kansas City and barbecue and blues may come to mind, merely in that location'due south and then much more than in this Cowtown-come-arts-destination than smoked meat and music.
From world-class museums and galleries to impressive theater, trip the light fantastic toe, and opera, the cultural offerings here are on par with much larger cities. And for those who prefer sports to the symphony, there are the Kansas Metropolis Royals and Chiefs. Win or lose, both teams bring much excitement and hometown pride to the city.
Whether you've come to shop the famous Country Gild Plaza, meet some powerful murals, or experience the city'due south vibrant distillery scene, y'all can wait to exist surprised past the Urban center of Fountains. Read on for 8 of the best things to exercise in Kansas City.
ane. Get fountain hopping around town
The City of Fountains Foundation wasn't founded until 1973, but Kansas City'southward love affair with fountains started much earlier. A vision by city leaders in the late 1800s to create "more boulevards than Paris, more fountains than Rome" led to the first few, which were used primarily as watering holes for both residents and animals. As time went on, yet, fountains were installed more as memorials or for beautification of the city and, today, KC is home to more than than 200, 48 of which are open up to the public.
The city'due south oldest working fountain, the Women'southward Leadership Fountain in the Paseo Due west neighborhood, dates dorsum to 1899. More celebrated examples appear in the Country Club Plaza shopping center and dark-green spaces like Kessler Park. For a fun day of fountain hopping, start at the city'due south most recognizable—and almost photographed—one, the Mill Creek Fountain. Built in Paris in 1910, information technology was brought to Kansas City in 1951 and installed in its namesake park.
Afterward, head to Union Station to encounter the towering spouts of the Henry Wollmach Bloch Fountain, which features 232 water jets, so carry on to the Crown Center Square Fountain, where children trip the light fantastic toe in sprays choreographed to recorded performances by the Kansas City Symphony. Finish your exploration at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to view the Fountain Bowl; the oldest fountain with a marble bowl, it dates dorsum to 220 C.E. and was purchased from Italy.
2. Visit one of several world-class museums
For a mid-size urban center, KC has several exceptional museums. Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to encounter the behemothic shuttlecock sculptures on the forepart lawn too equally robust Asian fine art, ceramic, photography, and centuries-old piece of furniture collections, or spend the day at the National World War I Museum and Memorial , t he merely American museum exclusively dedicated to remembering, interpreting, and understanding the Keen War and its indelible affect. Other pop institutions include the American Jazz Museum in the 18th & Vine Celebrated Jazz District and the Negro Leagues Baseball game Museum , which works to preserve and celebrate the rich history of African American baseball and its touch on on the social advancement of America.
3. Shop at Country Order Plaza
Kansas City's premier shopping center, Country Club Plaza is the place to be, whether during the holidays for the Plaza Lighting Ceremony, over the summer for a gondola ride along Brush Creek, or come fall when it hosts the Plaza Art Fair . The xv-block destination, filled with Spanish-inspired architecture, is also an appealing place to store any fourth dimension of twelvemonth. Hither, you'll find high-end stores like Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co., and Charlie Hustle, as well every bit singular boutiques and spots like Made in Kansas City , where you can pick up locally made items like hats, candles, and drinkware.
4. Tour Kansas City's many murals
Kansas Urban center may exist home to some of the Midwest's top museums and galleries, merely much of the city'due south virtually heady art is found on the streets. Kickoff your tour in the 18th and Vine District to view murals that celebrate Kansas City's jazz history, so head to the corner of W 43rd Street and Westport Road to see a new painting of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. End at Due east 17th and Main Streets, where, on the side of Tom's Town Distilling, you'll observe the Chiefs Kingdom Mural honoring the city's championship football team.
five. Visit a distilllery and go a taste of KC cocktail culture
Thanks in function to corrupt political boss Tom Pendergast, Kansas City maintained a thriving drinking scene during Prohibition. Bootlegging flourished and the metropolis was full of speakeasies, gambling dens, and fifty-fifty a cherry-red-light district, earning it the nickname "the Paris of the Plains."
This devotion to good drinks remains today, evidenced by several top-notch distilleries around town. Founded in 1887, J. Rieger & Co. produced more than 100 alcoholic products before being forced to shut in 1919 with the advent of Prohibition. Xc-five years afterwards, it reopened in its original location in the Electrical Park district of the East Bottoms and now distills whiskey, dry gin, wheat vodka, and other spirited products. Open to visitors Wednesdays through Sundays, information technology also offers facility tours, spirit tastings, and the Monogram Lounge, where yous can sip cocktails overlooking the distillery production floor.
Other KC distilleries worth visiting include Hateful Mule Distilling Co. , which makes American agave spirits; Tom's Boondocks Distilling Company , named for Pendergast and habitation to accolade-winning gin, vodka, and bourbon; and Lifted Spirits Distillery , which produces boldly flavored spirits similar green absinthe.
6. Explore the celebrated River Market area
While Kansas Urban center'southward River Market neighborhood is primarily known for its weekend farmers' market place, it's more simply a place to buy fruits and vegetables. Later shopping for produce, plants, and locally fabricated trinkets at Urban center Market , browse the surrounding stores (don't miss Carollo'southward Italian Grocery and Cafeteria , with its homemade sausage, fresh cheese, and olive oil stored in barrels), then take a stroll to Berkley Park and enjoy the views over the Missouri River.
For a window into the past, swing past the old-timey Planters Seed & Spice Co. before hitting the Arabia Steamboat Museum , where you'll find an impressive collection of pre–Civil State of war artifacts. Later, refuel with a cappuccino at City Marketplace Coffee or a sandwich at Pigwich, located within the Local Pig butchery.
7. Odor the flowers at the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden
A gift to Kansas Metropolis from pharmaceutical entrepreneur Ewing Kauffman and his married woman Muriel, this two-acre garden is a gorgeous place to visit. The couple designed the garden to mimic parks throughout Europe, pairing colorful perennial beds and many unique trees with rock walls, brick walkways, fountains, and bronze sculptures past Tom Corbin. Parking and access are gratis, though visitors tin also book prearranged tours to more thoroughly explore the grounds.
8. Shop, consume, and exist entertained at historic Union Station
Built in 1914, this architectural precious stone served equally a working railway station until the 1980s, when it closed after years of neglect. In 1999, however, information technology reopened after a historic renovation that removed more 10 million pounds of droppings and restored the building to its original glory—all 850,000 square anxiety of it. Today, Union Station still serves Amtrak trains, just it also houses archetype restaurants like Pierpont's and Harvey'southward , alive amusement at Metropolis Stage Theatre , a planetarium, a science middle, and more than. While visiting, be sure to also check out the massive chandeliers, 95-foot ceiling, and six-pes-wide-clock in the K Hall.
>>Next: The Afar Guide to Kansas City
Source: https://www.afar.com/magazine/8-best-things-to-do-in-kansas-city
0 Response to "Fun Things for Families to Do in Kansas City"
Post a Comment