Kansas City, Missouri has been called the Heart Of America. That nickname is fitting
seeing as how this city is the nation's most centrally located major metropolitan area.
With its historic architecture, world-class restaurants and shops, street art, craft spirits,
and major museums, Kansas City has so much to offer.
When you think about Kansas City, the first things that might come to mind are Barbecue
and blues songs, but there is so much more to the City of Fountains than just smoked
meat and music. Kansas City has a little bit of something for everyone. From galleries
to theaters to science centers to sports arenas, Kansas City is jam-packed full of sights and
attractions that everyone in your family will likely appreciate.
Whether you've come to shop at the famous Country Club Plaza or to experience the city's
bustling distillery scene, you can expect more than a few surprises when you visit.
Keep watching to discover the many great things to do in Kansas City.
Check Out The Cities Renowned Fountains
Founded in 1973, the City Of Fountains Foundation was formed to celebrate Kansas City's love
affair with fountains.
Back in the late 1800s, Kansas City's leaders envisioned that their city would have 'more
boulevards than Paris and more fountains than Rome'. The first fountains built were used
primarily as watering holes for both citizens and animals. As the years rolled on, more
fountains were installed to serve as memorials and for the beautification of the city. In
modern times, Kansas City hosts more than 200 fountains. 48 of these are open to the
public to appreciate.
The oldest functioning fountain in the city, the Women's Leadership Fountain, located in
the Paseo West neighborhood, was built in 1899. A few other notable fountains can be
found in the Country Club Plaza shopping center and at green spaces like Kessler Park.
If you want to spend the day fountain hopping, you should start at the city's most iconic
one, the Mill Creek Fountain. Built in Paris, France in 1910, this fountain was transported
to Kansas City in 1951. From there you can head on over to Union Station where you will
find the Henry Wollmach Bloch Fountain which features 232 water jets. Then, you can hop
on over to the Crown Center Square Fountain which is featured in choreographed performances
by the Kansas City Symphony.
Wrap up your day of exploration at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art where you will find the Fountain
Basis, the world's oldest fountain with a marble bowl. The fountain dates back to 220
A.D. And was acquired from Italy.
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Kansas City's many museums, distilleries, and shops.
Shop Till You Drop At Country Club Plaza
A day at Kansas City's highly-celebrated and popular shopping center, Country Club Plaza
should definitely be on your itinerary. During the holiday season, the Country Club Plaza
hosts the annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony. During the summer months, you can take a gondola
ride along Brush Creek, and in Autumn it hosts the Plaza Art Fair.
This 15-block shopping complex is filled with Spanish-inspired architecture and is an excellent
spot to shop any time of the year. You'll find high-end stores like Michael Kors, Tiffany
& Company, and Charlie Hustle as well as independent shops like Made in Kansas where you can find
locally produced items like hats, candles, and ceramics.
Children's Peace Pavilion
This family-friendly, hands-on museum is a great place for your children to learn all
about the concept of peace. The museum features 25 child-oriented, interactive learning activities
that encourage kids to implement conflict resolution strategies and techniques while
learning communication and stewardship skills that are invaluable to their daily lives.
Kansas City Streetcar
This 2.2-mile streetcar route is completely free to ride. It connects visitors with some
of Downtown Kansas City's most vibrant districts and popular tourist destinations. The route
makes 16 stops throughout the Crossroads Arts District, Power & Light District, and River
Market. Make sure you check out each of these destinations as they are each interesting
and entertaining in their own ways.
To guide you in your adventures, tune into a series of free audio tours provided by the
Jackson County Historical Society that will educate you about the history of several Downtown
Kansas City sites.
Take A Tour Of Kansas City's Many Murals
Kansas City is home to some of the Midwest's top-rated museums and galleries, but it also
has a thriving and vibrant street art scene. If you want to take a tour that will show
off some of the best murals in the city, you should probably start in the 18th and Vine
district to view murals that celebrate Kansas City's jazz history.
After appreciating what that neighborhood has going for it, head on over to the corner
of West 43rd Street and Westport Road to feast your eyes on a newly painted piece featuring
the likeness of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Wrap up your tour at
East 17th and Main Street where you will find a mural called the Chiefs Kingdom Mural on
the side of Tom's Town Distilling that honors the city's championship football team.
Explore The Historic River Market Neighborhood
The River Market area is best known for hosting its weekend farmer's market, but it's more
than just a great place to purchase some produce. After shopping for locally produced goods
and trinkets over at City Market, mosey around the surrounding stores. Be sure to make a
stop at Carollo's Italian Grocery and Deli to try a sampling of their house-made sausage,
fresh cheeses, and olive oil which is stored in rustic wooden barrels. From there you can
saunter on over to Berkley Park where you can enjoy unparalleled views overlooking the
Missouri River.
For a bit of a history lesson, stop by the quaint Planters Seed & Spice Co, before checking
out the excellent Arabia Steamboat Museum where you'll find a fairly extensive collection
of pre-Civil War artifacts, photos, and documents. If you work up a bit of an appetite, grab
lunch over at Pigwich, a great little sandwich shop located inside the Local Pig butchery.
Travel Back In Time At Union Station
This 850,000 square feet architectural wonder built in 1914 served as a working train station
until the 1980s when it closed down after decades of neglect. In 1999 it reopened after
being renovated and more than 10 million pounds of debris were removed. Today, Union Station
has been restored to its original condition.
Amtrack still continues to operate trains out of the station, but it also is home to
outstanding restaurants such as Pierpont's and Harvey's. You can find live entertainment
at the City Stage Theater, and there is also a planetarium and science center worth visiting.
Make sure that you remember to look up to see Union Station's massive chandeliers, 95-foot
ceiling, and giant six-foot clock in the Grand Hall.
Stop And Smell The Roses At The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden
Donated to the city by the pharmaceutical magnate Ewing Kauffman and his lovely wife
Murial, this two-acre garden is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon or have a relaxing
picnic. The couple designed the garden to resemble parks found throughout Europe. They
paired vibrantly colored perennial flower beds with many diverse species of trees. Stone
walls, brick paths, fountains, and bronze sculptures by Tom Corbin add an extra layer
of aesthetic flair to the ornate grounds. Visiting the garden is free but you can also
take a guided tour for an additional charge.
Treat Your Taste Buds With A Craft Cocktail
During the era of prohibition, Kansas City's lively drinking scene was maintained thanks
partly to the corrupt political boss Tom Pendergrast. Bootlegging was a flourishing business and
the city was replete with many speakeasies, illegal gambling dens, and it even had its
very own red-light district.
Kansas City's dedication to good drinks remains to this day. World-class distilleries can
be found all over town and there are plenty of bars where you can wet your whistle.
Founded in 1887, J. Rieger & Company produced more than 100 varieties of alcoholic beverages
before closing their doors in 1919 when prohibition began. A little less than a century later,
it reopened in its original locale in the Electric Park district and now produces whiskey,
gin, vodka, and other spirits.
Open yearlong to visitors from Wednesday through Sunday, J. Rieger & Co. also offers an informative
facility tour, spirit tastings, and the Monogram Lounge. There you can sample the distilleries
wares while overlooking the distillery production floor.
A few other Kansas City distilleries worth making stops at are Mean Mule Distilling Company,
Tom's Town Distilling Company, and Lifted Spirits Distillery.
Educate Yourself At A Top-Tier Museum
The National World War I museum is acclaimed for being one of the best of its kind in the
nation. The museum is housed in a modern building with a glass walkway over a field of red poppies
that serve as a reminder of the combat that took place in the trenches in the first world
war. A lot of people overlook this museum but it's definitely one of the best in the
city.
Sports fans will appreciate Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Back in the
day, baseball was racially segregated and there were African American-only teams such
as The New York Black Yankees. This museum tells the story of what it was like back when
the sport was segregated and its eventual integration as the civil rights movement progressed.
Music lovers absolutely must visit the American Jazz Museum where visitors can learn about
the history of jazz music and its various styles, instruments, and famed musicians that
once called Kansas City their home. One of the most noteworthy jazz players, Charlie
Parker, actually lived and performed in the same neighborhood. The museum is stylishly
adorned on the outside and features tons of interactive displays and exhibits inside.
There is so much to love in Kansas City and it won't take you long to discover that. Kansas
City is full of pleasant neighborhoods and districts that effortlessly charm travelers
in search of culture, cuisine, and entertainment. Spend just a few days in this brilliant city
located on the western edge of the state of Missouri and you'll be hooked.
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