fun things to do in kansas city

we have lived in kansas city for over three years now and have explored the city like locals and like tourists! i just read that kansas city is number 10 on national geographics top destinations of 2019!

kansas city is a big spread out city with a lot of suburbs that have their own charm too. located almost in the center of the united states you can get here from anywhere! people might consider kansas city part of the flyover states, but here are some reasons you should add it to your travel list!

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a car is the best way to get around kansas city. you can drive to town or fly into MCI which is northwest of the city. 

i am a warm weather girl so i recommend visiting in the spring, summer, or fall. kansas city can get some mid-west winter weather including snow and ice, so be prepared for that if you travel in the winter. 

eat

kansas city has countless delicious restaurants and we have tried as many as we can! here are some of our favorites. 

bbq

kansas city is known for its bar b que. it has its own style that stands out across the country featuring both beef and pork. there are countless bbq restaurants you can try in kansas city (and we have tried most of them), but here are our favorites. 

joes kc

joes kc, formerly known as oklahoma joes, is located in kansas city, kansas. this is a very popular bbq joint so be prepared for a wait. the food is great and the atmosphere is truly unique. joes kc is located in a functioning gas station! there are a few more locations that have opened in the last few years as well. 

i recommend the burnt ends plate but it’s only available on wednesday and saturday. my next choice is the z man sandwich. we also love their onion rings and fries. both have great seasoning and are delicious.

q39

this isn’t your typical hole in the wall bbq place. the decor and menu seems a little hipster, but with the huge waits and just opening another location the food is great!

i recommend the burnt ends burger and a side of their onion rings!

slaps

this spot is truly unique. they have very sweet bbq sauce that set it apart from other restaurants in kc. they also open at 11 am and once they sell all the meat they’ve cooked for the day it’s gone!

if you want to try this unique spot be sure to get there early. and plan to take it to go. the restaurant does have seating, but it is very small inside with only room for maybe 20 people. 

other food

here are some of our other favorite restaurants that aren’t bbq in kansas city. there is something for everyone, so if you are looking for a specific type of food you are sure to find it here. 

first watch

there are a few locations around town for this breakfast/brunch spot. i love their breakfast tacos and nick loves the french toast! fresh food and healthy options make this a great spot while you’re in town. 

habashi house

there are a lot of restaurants in city market, but habashi house is my favorite. the habashi house is a middle eastern restaurant with delicious gyros and platters. they also have the best hummus i have ever had! 

on weekends when city market turns into a farmers market they also sell fresh baklava and fresh pita bread to go with that great hummus. 

strouds

strouds is a family style home cooked restaurant in kansas city. they are known for their chicken fried chicken. all sides are served family style and there are great cinnamon rolls for dessert!

the restaurant sits out of the way and the main dining room has a lot of windows overlooking beautiful green space with trees and water. 

grunauer

this german restaurant is a special taste in kansas city. they have german beer and food that are really tasty. it is a little nicer than the other spots on our list, but no formal wear required. 

their schnitzel is good and i had a delicious butternut squash pasta one time too. they also have good vegetarian options. 

rancho grande

this is my favorite local mexican spot in kansas city. there are a few locations but we usually go to the one in liberty, a northern suburb. 

they have the best margaritas, but be careful because they are deceptively strong. and delicious! my favorite is their veggie fajitas with chicken added. 

sports

kansas city is a big sports city. depending on what season you are here you have the opportunity to catch one of many games. 

baseball

kansas city is the home of the royals. we were living here when they won the world series a few years ago and the whole town went crazy! the games were long and went extra inning and late at night. still when they finally clinched the win there were people yelling, cheering, and lighting fireworks in the streets!

kauffman stadium is a nice stadium we’ve been lucky enough to visit a few times. we even got to sit in a box with tickets from my work one night. 

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football

kansas city is home of the chiefs. while they haven’t been the best since we lived here, everyone is excited for the 2018-2019 season with mahomes as the quarterback! 

arrowhead stadium shares a parking lot with the royals, both on the east side of town. we haven’t been to a game there, but did get to go to a concert one summer. 

soccer

sporting kc is the major league soccer team that calls kansas city home. we haven’t been to a game yet, but it is on our kc bucket list. 

the crowd is great and even if you don’t like soccer you can have a blast here. 

basketball

every year kansas city hosts the big 12 basketball tournaments. if you are coming to town for a game, make sure you take some time to explore the other attractions kansas city has to offer. 

activities

there is so much to do and see in kansas city. there is truly something for everyone. here are some of the awesome things we’ve done while living here. 

union station

union station is an active train station, but it is so much more than that. the building itself is beautiful and old. in union station there is a science museum that is great for kids as well as a planetarium theater. 

throughout the year there are multiple festivals and events hosted in some of the halls of union station. 

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union station is also where there are rotating travelling exhibits. we have seen some of the coolest things here including bodies the exhibition, lego art of the brick, mummies, dinosaurs, and giant insects. these exhibits are usually here for about 3 months at a time and are a little on the expensive side. 

west bottoms

the west bottoms is an area of downtown that has been revamped. full of large old warehouse and factory buildings these buildings now hold antique and boutique shops. 

on the first weekend on the month during warmer months this area hosts first fridays. the streets are shut down and the sops are open late. food trucks and musicians fill the streets and it is great to walk around and admire the local crafts. the shops are open other weekends as well, just without all the other activities. 

the plaza

the plaza is an upscale are of downtown. it is full of shops and restaurants. it also has unique architecture and beautiful buildings. 

at christmas the plaza is lined with lights and a beautiful sight to see. 

city market

this is one of my favorite places in kansas city. city market is adjacent to downtown. it is a city block surrounded with shops and restaurants and an open courtyard inside. on saturdays and sundays the interior is lined with local farmers, artists, and vendors. we love to buy produce from here and stop for lunch and some hummus at the habashi house. 

power and light

if you are looking for nightlife in kansas city the power and light district is where you want to be. another large city block surrounded by bars and restaurants there is an open covered courtyard where you can take your drinks and walk around. 

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in the summer there are free country concerts on thursdays here put on by one of the radio stations. throughout the years there are concerts and other attractions. it is also right across the street from the sprint center.

there is even now a late night cookie and ice cream shop, insomnia cookies, for your late night sweet tooth. 

concerts

kansas city has a lot of concert venues. we have been to many at multiple locations. some of our favorites included randy rogers band at the crossroads, kenny chesney and miranda lambert at arrowhead stadium, dierks bentley, dixie chicks, and amy schumer at the sprint center (all separate shows), and countless free shows at power and light. 

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kansas city has a big country music following but they also have countless other concerts and genres. 

world war 1 museum

kansas city boasts the united states only world war 1 museum. it is a very well put together museum and has a memorial tower that you can ride to the top of for a great view of the city skyline. 

kansas city zoo

when the weather is nice the zoo is a great place to spend half a day or more. it is a very spread out zoo so be prepared for some walking! you can bring in your own drinks and snacks to help save some money. 

my favorite part is the kangaroos. they aren’t enclosed by a fence so it seems like you could just go hang out with them. they lay there just like people chilling out. 

crown center

crown center is another offshoot of downtown. here you will find the hallmark store and other shops and restaurants. 

crown center is also where the aquarium and lego land are. the aquarium is small and more geared to younger kids. you can get a joint ticket to lego land, but they won’t let just adults in there. 

in the winter crown center has an outdoor ice skating rink that is a lot of fun. in the summer this area has some fountains kids can play in. it’s not very far from union station and you could walk between them if you wanted.  

nelson atkins museum

kansas city has a nice art scene. this museum is free to visit. you will just have to pay for parking. there is also a great restaurant in the museum. 

we’ve been 3 times in our years here and still haven’t seen it all. there are also sculptures on a large lawn. this lawn is perfect to enjoy sunny days. 

up down

this bar is a lot of fun! it is a bar that serves some pizza, but the main attraction is a lot of vintage video games. they have everything from pinball and pacman to donkey kong and mario. games are 25 cents and they have daily specials. 

my favorite time to go is right after work on fridays when they open. the first 100 people in get free tokens that can keep you busy for an hour or so. one trip there we even learned my mom is a pinball master!

boulevard brewery

we can’t talk about things to do in kansas city without mentioning boulevard. this local brewery is known across the mid-west. 

tours are free and include samples during the tours and one free beer from the bar once the tour is over. they have a great bar area where the tours end and you can have a few drinks after the tour. 

boulevard also has a hall in the brewery you can rent out for special events. people have had weddings, company parties, and much more there. they were setting up for a wedding one time we took a tour. 

summary

there is so much to do in kansas city that we have just scratched the surface. 

follow us on social media to stay up to date on all our adventures! facebook, instagram, twitter, and pinterest are great places to get travel and adventure inspiration!

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what is your favorite thing to eat or do in kansas city that we’ve missed?