Top Things to Do in Kansas City, Missouri | Midwest Living
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Top Things to Do in Kansas City, Missouri

The state’s second-largest metro has way more to offer than just its famed jazz and barbecue. See our guide for recommendations on what to do, where to eat and where to stay.

Do

Arabia Steamboat Museum Well-preserved cargo recovered from a steamboat that sank in 1856 gives insight into life in that era. 1856.com

Arrowhead Stadium Come to watch the National Football League’s Chiefs. The 2015 World Series champions Royals play in neighboring Kauffman Stadium. chiefs.com

Boulevard Brewing Company Forty-five-minute tours end with tastings of one of the Midwest’s largest lines of specialty beers. boulevard.com

The College Basketball Experience Practice your free throw, passing and slam-dunk skills, plus learn about legendary coaches and players.

Country Club Plaza High-end stores, restaurants and some of Kansas City’s signature fountains (one modeled after a 14th-century fountain in Seville) fill this Spanish-style shopping district. countryclubplaza.com

Country Club Plaza

Crossroads Arts District Outdoor murals reflect the creative spirit of this area, which has more than 250 galleries, restaurants and shops. Find letterpress cards at Hammerpress and leather goods at Foxtrot Supply Co. kccrossroads.org

Crown Center Kids dig creating crafts with Hallmark materials in Kaleidoscope, as well as visiting the Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center. crowncenter.com

Kansas City Zoo See nearly 1,700 animals, including 60-plus penguins, a sea lion show and a lively gang of orangutans who show off painting skills. kansascityzoo.org

Kansas City Zoo

Kansas City Zoo

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Two venues offer world-class acoustics for productions from the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. kauffmancenter.org

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art This free museum packs a lot into a relatively small space. The artistry continues at Cafe Sebastienne. kemperart.org

National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Peer at tiny masterpieces and vintage toys among the collection of 72,000 objects. toyandminiaturemuseum.org        

National World War I Museum and Memorial Exhibits at the nation’s leading World War I museum reveal the high cost of a war often overshadowed by World War II. theworldwar.org

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Learn about racial segregation’s effect on America’s pastime and see tributes to players. nlbm.com

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art A 22-acre sculpture park acts as prelude to the museum’s global collection. nelson-atkins.org

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Power and Light District The downtown entertainment area pulses with energy from bars, clubs, restaurants, shops and theaters. powerandlightdistrict.com

River Market Kansas City’s oldest neighborhood has ethnic grocers, shops and loads of restaurants, plus it hosts a farmers market on weekends. kcrivermarket.com

The Roasterie Take a factory tour or sign up for a class to learn about the cupping, roasting and blending process for their coffees. theroasterie.com

Taste of Kansas City Food Tours Between bites, get the lowdown on 1930s Missouri political boss Tom Pendergast’s bootlegging and the Crossroads Arts District renaissance. tasteofkansascityfoodtours.com

Union Station A 1914 depot houses shops, Science City, a planetarium, traveling exhibits, a stage and movie theater. Pierpont’s at Union Station serves steaks and seafood in an upscale turn-of-the-century ambience. unionstation.org

Union Station

Union Station

Westport Since 1850, Westport has been known as a resupply spot; these days visitors hit the neighborhood’s cafes, galleries and boutiques. westportkcmo.com

Worlds of Fun One ticket grants entry to both the theme park and Oceans of Fun water park. worldsoffun.com

Eat

The Antler Room The husband-and-wife team of Nicholas and Leslie Goellner create memorable small plates with local and global influences in their intimate West Bottoms spot. theantlerroomkc.com

BBQ The town has too many barbecue joints to list, but here are a few to whet your appetite: Arthur Bryant’s, BB’s Lawnside BBQ, Char Bar, Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Gates Bar-B-Q, LC's Bar-B-Q and Q39. 

Blue Bird Bistro This cheerful cafe just west of Crossroads puts locally sourced organic ingredients to tasty use. bluebirdbistro.com

Blue Bird Bistro

Blue Bird Bistro

Bluestem Choose a three-, five- or seven-course meal with inventive dishes such as house-made ricotta cappelletti with rabbit and Parmesan mousseline. bluestemkc.com

Classic Cup Cafe Country Club Plaza shoppers nosh on fluffy buttermilk pancakes, Thai chicken pizza and bread pudding with caramel sauce. classiccup.com

Corvino Supper Club and Tasting Room Live music every night amps up the energy. Try shareable plates at the Supper Club or a chef’s menu with wine pairings in the Tasting Room. corvino.com

Eggtc Start the day with a veggie-filled Garden of Eden Frittata or crepes with salmon and goat cheese. eggtckc.com

EJ’s Urban Eatery The classic Southern “Meat & Three” gets a modern update (smoked pork belly, bacon jam) at this West Bottoms lunch and brunch spot. ejsurbaneatery.com

The Farmhouse Simple farm-to-table brunches and dinners star in the River Market neighborhood. eatatthefarmhouse.com

Glace Artisan Ice Cream Ingredients like dark chocolate, bananas and salted pretzels swirl together in fresh ice cream. glaceicecream.com

Gram and Dun Specialty beers pair well with starters of hand-cut potato chips served with three ketchups and meals of mac ’n’ cheese with burnt ends. gramanddun.com

Happy Gillis Cafe and Hangout The owners admit they kinda like beer; you’ll kinda love meals here in the Columbus Park neighborhood. happygillis.com

La Bodega The only place in town for Spanish tapas and cuisine is always packed. Diners especially love the three paella dishes. labodegakc.com

Lidia’s Kansas City North of Union Station, PBS TV chef Lidia Bastianich lends her name (and her recipes) to a menu of authentic Italian fare. lidias-kc.com 

McCoy’s Public House In the Westport neighborhood, its patio is the place to dine on burgers, oven-fired pizzas and beers brewed on-site. mccoyskc.com

Michael Smith You can easily drop a bundle at the James Beard Award-winning chef’s restaurant, but the eight-hour pork roast and risotto are worth it. Or go next door to Smith’s less pricey Extra Virgin. michaelsmithkc.com

Oddly Correct Don’t even think about asking for sugar at this minimalist coffee-purist mecca near Westport. But you can nibble on house-made biscuits while sipping your excellent cup of black coffee. oddlycorrect.com

Port Fonda Chef Patrick Ryan, a James Beard Award semifinalist, serves bold, rustic Mexican cooking in Westport. Options like a salsa tasting and Bloody Maria bar let you experiment. portfonda.com

Port Fonda

Port Fonda

PotPie It’s hard to choose from among classic potpies and entrees like pan-seared scallops at this cozy Westport restaurant. kcpotpie.com

The Rieger Hotel Grill and Exchange A sedate place for dinner hides an old-school speakeasy in its basement. theriegerkc.com

Rye Midwest classics such as pork chops, fried chicken and pie star at the Plaza spot, the newest of three restaurants run by James Beard Award-winner Colby Garrelts and his wife, Megan, a James Beard semifinalist. ryekc.com

Thou Mayest Coffee roaster meets innovative cocktail bar in this artsy Crossroads spot. Sip the beverage of your choice on the plant-filled patio or inside among vintage Americana decor. thoumayest.com

Westport Cafe and Bar The black-and-white checkered floor and brick walls create a casual space for impressive French-inspired food. westportcafeandbar.com

Winstead’s The landmark diner serves the same classic steak burger it has since it opened its doors on Country Club Plaza in 1940. eatwinsteads.com

Stay

21c Museum Hotel History and art blend at the 120-room boutique lodging that was once home to the Savoy Hotel and Grill. A $50 million renovation preserved features like a stained-glass dome and added an art museum. 21cmuseumhotels.com 

Crowne Plaza Kansas City Near the Power and Light District, this sleek place is central to everything. ihg.com/crowneplaza

The Fontaine Hallway tiles signed by celebrity guests hint at the stylish accommodations. thefontainehotel.com

The Fontaine

The Fontaine. Photo courtesy of The Fontaine

Hotel Phillips Original Art Deco details and helpful staff make the 20-story downtown hotel sparkle. hotelphillips.com

Jefferson House Bed and Breakfast Three spacious rooms offer a quiet retreat (and a European-inspired breakfast) in a historic Westside neighborhood home near downtown. jeffersonhousekc.com

Raphael Hotel Opened in 1928, this boutique hotel in Country Club Plaza mimics an elegant English manor. raphaelkc.com

Southmoreland on the Plaza The 1913 Colonial Revival’s 12 rooms and a suite bear names of famous locals. southmoreland.com

For information: Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association visitkc.com

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