Kansas City, Missouri, is a fun, exciting, and an amazing place to visit on vacation! Kansas City, the largest city in Missouri, was founded in 1838. Originally known as the Town of Kansas, 20 years later the city became known as Kansas City. The home to the Kansas City Royals baseball team, and the Kansas City Chiefs football team, both teams are often seen fighting for their championships. This is also an excellent town with lots of enjoyable things to do and a safe, fun place for the kiddos! It’s a 4 hour drive from St. Louis, 8 hour drive from Memphis (450 miles), an 11 hour drive to Mt. Rushmore (725 miles), 8½ hours from Chicago (530 miles) and 8½ hours from Dallas (500 miles).

Toto, I have a feeling that we’ve made it to Kansas.

Top 11 Attractions

1. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – This extravagant city is home to one of the finest general art museums in the United States of America. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the 2013 certificate of excellence winner from TripAdvisor, because of their 33,500 works of beautiful art on display. With more than 14 different collections available, there is something to interest everyone. They also offer classes for different age ranges to help you learn about the beautiful art on display, or help you create your own masterpiece. There is something for everyone at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Admission is free of charge.

2. Schlitterbahn – We consider Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City to be the best water park in the nation. It first opened in 1979 to later expand as The Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort with three waterparks, Schlitterbahn West and Schlitterbahn East over 40 rides, 17 slides, nine tube chutes, uphill water coasters, and three lazy rivers. America’s first family of waterparks You will be very impressed with this waterpark and you won’t want to go home. Experience next generation attractions that Schlitterbahn has invented to let you have more fun than ever before. General admission is $36.99 for adults (Save $5 when you buy online) and $28.99 for children (Save $1 when you buy online).

3. The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts – If you love watching beautiful performing arts come alive in front of you, then the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts is for you. Watching world famous acts such as musicians, singers, and musicals is amazing enough to give anyone chills. The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts has something for everyone, and is dedicated to allowing all patrons enjoy the show to the fullest. Why don’t you also use this opportunity to learn something new with the classes available for various age ranges? As you can tell, there is never a dull moment at this beautiful attraction.

4. The Steamboat Arabia Museum offers a new insight on what is was like to be on the crew of Steamboat Arabia. This beautiful museum offers countless exhibits on displays that can be viewed on your own, as well as amazing guided tour for the family, youth, or adults. You will also be able to see a 171-foot long replica of the Arabia. This remarkable museum also offers several scrumptious dinner selections from a fabulous diner. Therefore, what are you waiting for? Go visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum today! Admission is $14.50 for adults and $5.50 for children.

5. The Kauffman Stadium is home to the Kansas City Royals. Many of their games are played right here in Kansas City at the Kauffman Stadium. Over 70,638,469 fans have rooted for the home team in this stadium since it was opened in 1973, so it is very history packed. This beautiful stadium can hold up to 27,000 people at one time, and most of their games are sold out! Part of the original cookie-cutter stadiums built during the late 1960s and early 1970s, this stadium is one of only two that was built using this blueprint that still has a major league team today.

 6. Kaleidoscope – This breathtaking city is also home to the Hallmark Kaleidoscope Children’s Museum. This award-winning museum is guaranteed to keep your children entertained for hours. Check out all of the amazing exhibits for endless exploration and learning, and while you’re there go check out the forty five minute art class for the little ones! Your little one will love being able to make all sorts of cool and creative things to be able to take home and play with for years to come. Little ones love the creativity and freedom that Kaleidoscope offers free of charge!

 7. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – If you are a baseball fan, then the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is for you! This amazing museum offers a new insight on what it was like to be on a Negro Leagues Baseball team in the 1880s through the 1960s. This exciting museum is equipped with lifestyle exhibits, sculptures, a timeline of African American history highlighting incredible moments in baseball, and many other exciting exhibits. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is sure to be an amazing area for any baseball fan. There is also classes available to learn more about the exciting African American baseball history. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children.

8. The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Garden is part of the Kauffman Legacy Park in the middle of Kansas City. This beautiful 2- acre garden is full of beautiful flowers, and plants to awe over. The garden also offers a Green Garden with an amazing water fountain. It also offers four other gardens to excite visitors, both young and old. Admission is free of charge.

9. Leila’s Hair Museum – Visit the world’s only hair museum! Don’t expect to find prehistoric curling irons or Dolly’s wig collection in this joint. What you will see here in Independence, which is right outside of Kansas City, is real hair fashioned into the coolest art around! Leila Cohoon, a retired hairdresser, has lovingly collected 600 hair wreaths and more than 2,000 pieces of human hair jewelry, some of which date back to the 18^th century. One pair of wreaths features strands from two sisters whose heads were shaved upon entering a convent. Michael Jackson, Queen Victoria, and four presidents have also made contributions to this beloved museum. This museum made a spot on our list of the 27 Coolest Museums In America. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

10. The Midland by AMC is where the best concerts take place in the Kansas City area! This beautiful venue is full of the best excellent bands that intrigue anyone’s music interests. The Midland by AMC is also available to rent for birthday parties, weddings, reunions, or whatever the reason maybe. It is guaranteed that whoever comes to this amazing place will love it! Therefore, what are you waiting for buy your tickets today?

11. Starlight Theatre – Come check out the Starlight Theatre to watch the best musicals, concerts, plays, and Broadway shows at the amazing Starlight Theatre. If you love theatre, then this is the place for you! Starlight Theatre never has a dull moment with all of the amazing performances they hold nightly. There is always something for everyone in your family to enjoy! This outdoor theater holds 7,958-seats and features its own outstanding self-producing theater company.

Restaurants

Arthur Bryant’s BBQ dates back to the 1920s, by Charlie Bryant. When Charlie Bryant passed away Arthur Bryant became the next newest owner. When Arthur Bryant took over the restaurant he changed the location just four blocks away from the Municipal stadium which is the home of the Kansas City Blues. Named by Playboy Magazine as the single best restaurant in the world, many historians trace the history of Kansas City barbecue back to this location. To eat at a famous history filled, fun, and exciting place, look no farther than Arthur Bryant’s BBQ.

Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant – Open since 1954, this place features miniature trains that carry dishes to the table. They do not have waiters. Delicious burgers and onion rings are sure to keep the kids full and satisfied, although I don’t think people necessarily come here just for the food!

 T-Rex Cafe– Eat, shop, explore and discover at T-REX Cafe, which transports you to a prehistoric world filled with fun animatronic dinosaurs and delicious entrées cooked in the Kitchen of Fire. Unearth the past in our educational Paleo Zone, and enjoy the wide array of merchandise found in our Dino Store. Also, visit the first-ever Build-A-Dino by Build-A-Bear Workshop, where you can make your own dino friend. It is owned by Laundrys, who also owns the Rainforest Cafe.

Buca di Beppo – Owned by Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo specializes in immigrant Southern Italian food. Vintage photographs cover the walls, in fact each restaurant is said to have more than 2,500 pictures. The food is served family style, where each item is shared among the dinner party. A select number of locations have a lunch menu, with individual-sized portions. All restaurants have a Pope table, a large table in a room to iteself, with a bust of the pope in the center. Most locations also have a room right across from the kitchen, where you can watch them cook – chefs even come over and talk to you and even let you sample dishes.

The Cheesecake Factory – Since first opening in Beverly Hills in 1978, these restaurants have become well known for their fun atmosphere, huge portions and more than 200 menu selections to choose from. They offer 50 cheesecakes and specialty desserts, with some that are only offered seasonally. These include: Key lime cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Cookie – Dough cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake (available from October – holidays), Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake, and after thanksgiving they even have a peppermint Bark Cheesecake!

Quite the variety if I must say so myself!

Shopping

Country Club Plaza offers fifteen blocks of fun and exciting shopping opportunities with boundless amounts of stores. The Plaza is always updating with new stores, and has everything from clothing to accessories to toys to food. The Country Club Plaza offers many types of stores such as specialty stores, clothing stores, health and beauty stores, interior decor stores plus lots and lots more. There is definitely something for everyone at this huge shopping plaza. The Country Club Plaza is also very close to several hotels.

Transportation

Kansas City is home to two airports, Kansas City International and Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport allowing easy access in and out of the city. The Metro Area Express, known as MAX, runs into 69 different counties in Missouri and Kansas. The Amtrak station in Kansas City services up to 1,000 passengers a day. Numerous taxis and limousine companies also enable travelers easily to move around in the city. Some cars can be rented straight from your hotel, while some hotels offer shuttles around the town. If you enjoy biking, then over 90 bikes are available for rent from Kansas City B-Cycle.

Hotels

The Great Wolf Lodge – While the Great Wolf Lodge was not quite right for our family, it may be perfect for yours! They feature a massive 84-degree indoor water park with over 38,000 square feet of water-packed excitement, including jaw-dropping slides for thrill seekers or zero-depth entry areas for little ones. Grab a wand and battle a dragon in MagiQuest or get an ice cream-themed manicure in Scooops Kid Spa before gathering your family in our Grand Lobby for nightly fireside Story Time.

The CoCo Key Water Resort – Located at the Holiday Inn Sports Complex Hotel. This water park is much more affordable, with hotel and water park passes starting at $149 a night and day water park passes are often just $15 a person.

The Ralphel Hotel, Autograph Collection:This award winning Ralphel Hotel is definitely one to check out while in Kansas City. The Ralph Hotel, Autograph Collection offers free Wi-Fi in each room making it easy to keep updated on what is going on back home. Other benefits of this beautiful hotel include an onsite barber/beauty salon, newspaper delivered to the room, and an amazing fitness center. This hotel is also family friendly, and staffed with the nicest people around. The location is perfect for many Kansas City activities including Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, and the Kansas City Zoo.

Hampton Inn-Country Club Plaza: The Hampton Inn Kansas City is located within walking distance of the Kansas City Country Club with over 130 shops just waiting for you to explore them. If you are on the run, then stop by and grab a complimentary On the Run Breakfast Bag on your way out to go explore this exciting city! This hotel offers 203 guests rooms so everyone will find one that fits their needs. This hotel also comes equipped with a free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, a fee indoor heated pool plus lots more.

Ambassador Hotel Downtown Kansas City is truly a gem! The room is truly breathtaking and listening to your favorite music and staying connected is easy with the complimentary with an  iHome. This amazing hotel also has complimentary transportation within a five-mile radius to make traveling around town even easier. This hotel is even friendly to your family members who are furry! Business people will love the complimentary business center.

Southmoreland on the Plaza is an amazing bed and breakfast just one and a half blocks from Country Club Plaza where you will find the best shopping experience Kansas City has to offer, along with one of the best water fountains in the United States, and a great opportunity to people watch. Southmoreland on the Plaza welcomes its guests with complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres. Southmoreland is over 100 years old, and has been successful ever since becoming a bed and breakfast. This beautiful bed and breakfast also has elegant venues available for social gatherings like weddings.

The Su Casa Bed and Breakfast is definitely fun and exciting! With several animals on the land such as ponies, donkeys, llamas, goats and geese, you are also welcome to bring dogs and horses. This farm home also has a fun and exciting in-home theatre free for all guests to enjoy. Enjoy the family style breakfasts at this bed and breakfast often serving sweet potato pecan pancakes and omelets made with garden fresh ingredients. Located near Overland Park, most Kansas City locations can be reached within 15 minutes.

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