By The Backseat View
Kansas City wakes you up from the ordinary.
If you dream of a European vacation, come see the 200 fountains in Kansas City, MO. From shopping the breathtaking Plaza to the world-class museums the vibrant city fills you with energy.
The Chiefs are iconic. The Royals are a winning baseball team. So, there are plenty of reasons to come play for a weekend.
This is THE CITY to visit!
I fell in love with Kansas City’s fountains, trendy spirit, and the best barbecue in America. The Midwest town has unlimited nightlife options balanced with a dozen museums and a zoo. Kansas City is one of America’s most underrated cities.
Let’s explore “The City of Fountains.”
Kansas City Travel Guide
Shopping
1. The Country Club Plaza
You can pretend you are in another country, as I did with all the Spanish architecture. The Plaza is high-end, open-air shopping with over 120 stores and a dining atmosphere in the heart of KC. There are over 40 independently owned boutiques but the majority are chain stores. It’s a photo-taking extravaganza with 75 statues, 200 fountains, and unique buildings on every street.
Only Rome has more fountains than Kansas City. Let’s find the local shopping.
2. The City Market
The City Market opened in 1857. It offers shops and boutiques. You can find food from around the world and produce stands. There are over 30 permanent shops open daily and over 150 vendors that arrive on the weekends. The City Market is part of the River Market area of town. This market is historic and I love supporting the locals so let’s visit their neighborhood shops next.
3. Westport
Just north of the Plaza is the neighborhood of Westport known for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The main entertainment venues are filled with locals. It’s KC’s oldest neighborhood and is known as the starting point of the Oregon Trail. You can shop the stores during the day and then bar-hop the pubs and breweries at night. Y’all this is real Kansas City and the vibe is alive with the music and energetic atmosphere.
- The Crossroads is another neighborhood filled with eclectic boutiques and funky street art and galleries. Christopher Elbow Chocolates is the best place to grab a handmade impressive colorful truffle. The “Kansas City, I’m So In Love” street mural is here too. For dinner, plan a reservation at J.Rieger for a restaurant, bar, and speakeasy experience. We can’t leave without finding the Western Auto sign.
- Legends Outlet Shopping Mall has over 100 stores in an outdoor mall environment with a Great Wolf Lodge nearby.
4. Power & Light District
The Power & Light District is home to more than 50 shops, restaurants, and nightlife venues. This is the new downtown area that’s the game-day experience for the Chiefs. The KC Live entertainment venue hosts concerts and performances. Nearby, Slaps BBQ has been rated the best barbecue in town so you need to sample it for yourself. Welcome to the party!
5. Union Station
In Kansas City, the 100-year-old Union Station is so much more than trains. It’s filled with beautiful architecture, restaurants, exhibits, theater, and entertainment options. The stunning chandeliers and 95-foot ceilings make this a stop on everyone’s itinerary. This ceiling is one of my top favorite ceilings in America.
Science City is an interactive science center within Union Station for children.
Kansas City has worked hard to preserve history so, let’s open the doors to their museums.
Museums
6. National WWI Museum
The National WWI Museum holds the most collective WWI objects and documents in the nation. The museum is deeply moving outlining the sacrifice of our nation and filling you with patriotism. The timeline of events and interactive displays bring history to life. The museum is located near Union Station and takes at least 2 hours to tour. There’s a great view over the city and a tower you can pay $20 to climb for even better views. With rented goggles, you can experience 15 minutes of trench warfare.
This is the top attraction in Kansas City.
7. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
I knew this was worth my time when I saw the iconic Shuttlecock on the lawn. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is spectacular and free to wander around for an hour or two. There are over 40,000 works of art and the museum is compared to the MET in New York. Come for the Rembrandt and Monet. You will be surprised by the traditional Western art from Egypt, Rome, and the Middle Ages. The grounds are peaceful and great for a restful afternoon. Rated 2nd best attraction in KC so reserve your time slot entrance online.
- Just a 5-minute walk away is the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
8. Arabia Steamboat Museum
The Steamboat Museum houses 200 tons of cargo from life on the American Frontier in 1856. The boat was found in the mud 130 years after sinking with all the supplies for a frontier town. It’s like paying $20 to walk through a 1856 Walmart for an hour. It’s rated the 3rd best attraction in KC and located near the City Market.
9. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
The Museum of Miniatures is the largest collection in the world of historic toys on display. There are dollhouses on the first floor and historic toys on the second floor to explore for $10/person.
10. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum features a replica field with statues of the best players. It dives into the history of the Negro Leagues. There are tons of exhibits and memorabilia to spend an hour or two learning about the historic players. The museum is alive with memories and forgotten stories for only $10/person.
To delve deeper into African American History, explore the American Jazz Museum. Visit the Quindaro Ruins for an Underground Railroad stop. Discover more at the Underground Railroad Museum. The Underground Railroad Museum is in Kansas City, Kansas, across the river.
11. The Money Museum
The Money Museum walks through the history of currency and its impact on the country. The museum is free, a 30-minute stop, and part of the Federal Reserve Bank. The highlights are a vault with 40 million in cash, and watching the printing, processing, and shredding of money.
Whew, I told you the city has history, now, let’s explore the entertainment options.
Entertainment
12. Arrowhead Stadium
The KC Chiefs need no introduction to their home in Arrowhead Stadium. Tours of the stadium are offered on Fridays and Saturdays running around $30 and lasting an hour. The Chiefs fans are a loyal group so tailgating is an unbeatable game experience. Kauffman Stadium (baseball) is adjacent with an underground tunnel connecting the two.
13. Kauffman Stadium
Who doesn’t love a major league baseball game? So, come cheer on the Kansas City Royals. Tours of the stadium are offered year-round.
14. Kauffman Performing Arts Center
This building is stunning so you can’t miss this architectural landmark. The Kauffman Center is home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, and the Kansas City Symphony.
15. The KC Zoo & Aquarium
The zoo is large at over 200 acres so give yourself three hours to tour. Over 10,000 animals including penguins, polar bears, gorillas, and tigers call the zoo home. The zoo does not offer animal encounters but has a tram, skylift, boat, and carousel rides. General admission is $22/person.
16. Legoland Discovery Center
The Legoland tickets start at $20 per person and it’s the second highest-rated attraction for kids. The Legoland Centers are always smaller than I expect them to be and this one is no exception. If your kids love Legos, then go see the Legos.
17. Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun
The amusement park has been providing family fun for 50 years. There are seven roller coasters, dozens of thrill rides, and a massive waterpark. This is the region’s best amusement park with day tickets around $40.
18. The KC Public Library
The library made the outside look like classic books so stop by and enjoy the unique architecture.
19. Hallmark
There’s a Hallmark Visitor Center that walks you through the past since this is the home of Hallmark.
20. Ameristar Casino
We stayed at the Ameristar Casino because the rooms were cheap. It’s for the older crowd that enjoys a night of gambling. Located seven miles east of downtown, it’s off the beaten path for the other activities.
Kansas City Itinerary
Honestly, I didn’t leave enough time in Kansas City. Two days wasn’t enough for all the city holds. We combined Kansas City with Bentonville, Arkansas for a road trip.
I’ll give you a glance into my weekend in Kansas City!
Day 1
We flew into the Kansas City International Airport. My first stop was also my favorite shopping at the Plaza with all the fountains. We have friends that live here so I had amazing tour guides.
Nearby, the Nelson Museum was our next stop for more impressive art than I was expecting to see. We explored the Crossroads neighborhood. Then finished the day off with the Z-man at Joe’s barbecue. If you are looking for a sunset view over Downtown, try The Scout Statue area. For nightlife head to the Power & Light District.
Day 2
Day 2 opened with the WWI Museum for a walk through history, then to Union Station. Next, find the Library to see the books lining the street. Finally, finishing the day exploring in the Westport neighborhood. Ice cream is a part of vacation so make time for Betty Rae’s Ice Cream.
Day 3
On Day 3, browse the City Market and visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum. Afterward, head home or, in our case, drive three hours to Bentonville, AK.
Route 66 runs toward Bentonville, so we had to drive it, just to say we did. We drove through the Kansas section of Riverton and ended in Baxter Springs with the arched bridge. The Tri-state markers are always a stop for me. There are two markers with Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Then, there is an Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri marker.
Where to stay
First, there are two Kansas Cities which is confusing. There’s Kansas City, MO, and Kansas City, KS. Kansas City, MO is home to the Chiefs and this post. During your stay, you will jump back and forth across the river. Make sure your hotel is where you want it. I stayed at the Ameristar Casino, only because it was $75/night.
- Hotel Phillips by Hilton has a good location near the Power & Light District for those football game trips. The 1930s hotel with a speakeasy in the basement is impressive.
- Ambassador Kansas City is located inside a charming 1906 bank building also in the Power and Light District. This fancy Marriott hotel also allows pets.
Best BBQ recap!
- Joe’s- just wait in the LONG line
- Q39
- Arthur Bryant’s
- Jack Stack
One thing is for sure, this won’t be your last trip to Kansas City. Thank you for reading my Top Things to Do in Kansas City Travel Guide.
Check out my Bentonville, AR review of the trendy up-and-coming city. If you love hockey, live music, and history then visit my Top Things to do in Nashville. Horse racing, cave exploring, and ARK touring are all a part of my Kentucky Travel Guide road trip.
Y’all know I couldn’t leave Kansas without finding the TIN MAN!
Discover Pittsburgh’s Top 17 Activities. Visit professional sports teams and the world’s largest Bicycle Museum. Enjoy the National Historic Amusement Park and a dozen other award-winning museums. All this is in a city filled with bridges crossing three rivers.
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