Kansas City on Repeat: 12 Ideas for a Second (or more!) Visit
If you live in the Midwest, chances are you’ve been to Kansas City, Missouri at least once. It might be time for another visit! Kansas City is one of those surprising places you can visit again and again and find something new and wonderful each time.
Many people just pop in to see a Chiefs or Royals game and leave the next day. But there is much more to this culturally, historically, and gastronomically rich city.
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Shop, Stroll, and Eat at Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza is a sprawling, open-air dining and shopping district in the heart of Kansas City. The iconic fifteen-block Plaza is more than a century old and is filled with Seville-inspired statues, fountains, mosaics, flower gardens, and architecture. (In fact, Kansas City has more fountains than any other city in the US!) It is a pleasure just to stroll through the area in any season.
Between Thanksgiving and (roughly) Valentine’s Day, thousands of strings of lights are hung on every dome, tower, and window in the entire Plaza, and are then illuminated at a festive ceremony that has been held every Thanksgiving evening since 1930. Today, it is said to be one of the most spectacular lighting displays in the country.
Independent specialty shops dot the streets, including The Better Cheddar, a delightful food specialty store, vintage sports shop Charlie Hustle, and KC Style Haus, with an ever-changing and diverse collection of goods from local artisans. High-end shopping includes dozens of national chains such as Coach, Lululemon, West Elm, and Swarovski.
Hungry? Abundant dining options range from a quick bite to fine dining. For a real treat, choose a locally owned restaurant such as The Classic Cup Cafe for breakfast or lunch, Jack Stack BBQ, farm-to-table eatery Rye, or legendary JJ’s Restaurant. Many well-known chains are available too, such as Steak Shack, PF Chang’s, and Cooper’s Hawk.
Soak Up Some Culture at the Nelson-Atkins & Kemper Contemporary Art Museums
Located less than a mile from Country Club Plaza, the Nelson-Atkins Museum is recognized as one of the finest art museums in the United States. Admission is free, although an online reservation is necessary. (Some special exhibits have a fee.)
The museum’s permanent collection contains more than 40,000 artifacts, including galleries of ancient, African, Asian, European, American Indian, American, and modern art, in addition to architectural, oceanic, and photographic art – and this is just to name a few.
Outside, the museum has a large sculpture garden featuring 80+ works, including the iconic Shuttlecock series (left) and one of Rodin’s Thinkers.
Just a few blocks walk from the Nelson-Atkins, mostly along a lovely path, is the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the first and largest contemporary art museum in Missouri.
The intimate, inviting museum features select works from the permanent collection of about 1,500 pieces, displayed on a rotating basis. A variety of special exhibitions and projects include both emerging and mid-career artists, as well as artists from underrepresented groups.
You ought not leave the museum without visiting its Oil on Linen café (even if you don’t want a refreshment). Frederick James Brown’s floor-to-ceiling display of more than 100 paintings, titled History of Art, was commissioned by the café and has been installed in its gallery since 1994. Brown’s extraordinary work pays tribute to the artists who influenced him, including nods to such greats as Picasso, da Vinci, Van Gogh, O’Keeffe, Degas, and Chagall.
Visitors are also treated to an outdoor garden with sculptures such as Crying Giant (below).
The icing on the cake? Admission to the Kemper Museum and all special exhibits is always free.
Meander Through Eclectic Shops and Enjoy the Nightlife in Westport
Westport is a historic, vibrant neighborhood in Kansas City, located about a mile north of Country Club Plaza. It was the city’s original entertainment district and features a lively mix of trendy boutiques with new and vintage items, popular locally-owned eateries, and renowned, diverse nightlife spots where all the cool kids go! Nightlife is so popular here that some streets are shut down on weekend nights, creating large pedestrian-only areas to extend the parties outside.
These days, however, we middle-aged folk focus more on daytime activities. One place worth the trip to Westport on its own is Pryde’s Kitchen & Necessities. Pryde’s, open since 1968, is an unusual triangular building with 10,000 square feet on three levels. Every nook and cranny is stuffed with kitchen items you didn’t even realize you needed.
Accept a friendly offer for a beverage when you walk in the door, and then spend an hour or more wandering through the staggering array of cookware, cutlery, bakeware, gadgets, small appliances, gift items, and unique home accessories. You don’t need to break the bank to bring home a treasure. There are tons of inexpensive yet interesting items.
Visit Union Station & Crown Center
Built in 1914, Kansas City’s Union Station is a massive 850,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts landmark and was once the third-largest passenger train station in the country, hosting as many as 271 trains in a day. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Because of the highway system and increasing use of air travel, passenger rail travel declined sharply, and Union Station closed in 1983.
Kansas City residents would not accept the closure. Thanks to a bi-state (Missouri & Kansas) voter-approved sales tax and private donations, $250 million was raised to return the station to its former glory; it reopened in 1999. Amtrak passenger rail service returned in 2002. Additionally, more than 100 freight trains use the surrounding tracks daily.
Featuring a grand hall with soaring 95-foot ceilings, three dramatic chandeliers, a 1,000-pound clock suspended from the ceiling, and abundant marble and limestone, Union Station is a feast for the eyes. There is no cost to go in and take a look around. It is also an entertainment destination, with shops, restaurants, a community theater, a movie theater, Science City, a Planetarium, and changing special exhibits.
About a half mile away, the Crown Center is connected to Union Station by an elevated, climate-controlled pedestrian walkway. The center is one of the most popular family attractions in Kansas City.
In addition to dozens of shops and restaurants, the Crown Center offers much to explore. From Legoland to live theater to the Sea Life Aquarium to the Museum of BBQ to an outdoor ice skating rink, there is more than enough to fill a day. If you want to make a weekend of it, the Westin Kansas City and Sheraton Kansas City hotels are both attached by a pedestrian walkway, making any bad weather inconsequential.
Tour the World War I Museum and Take In the Views from Liberty Tower
The National WWI Museum houses the most diverse collection of World War I artifacts and documents in the world. Seriously! One might expect a museum of such caliber to be in Europe or Washington, D.C., rather than in the Midwest. The passion of Kansas City residents at the end of World War I led to this extraordinary memorial.
Determined to honor the men and women who died in the war, city leaders raised an astonishing $2.5 million in a mere 10 days in 1919. (The equivalent of about $40 million today.) In 1926, the Liberty Memorial was completed. By 1994, however, it had begun to deteriorate and had to be closed. Between the City, the state of Missouri, and the US government, $102 million was raised to restore and expand it.
The memorial re-opened in 2006 as the National World War I Museum and Memorial. In 2014, it was recognized by Congress as a national memorial with the same distinction as the WWII and Vietnam Memorials on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It attracts more than a million visitors each year.
Upon entering the museum, visitors walk over the Paul Sunderland Bridge, a glass bridge with a field of 9,000 red poppy flowers beneath it, a symbol of remembrance – one flower for every 1,000 combatant deaths during the war.
The Main Gallery features a series of rooms in chronological order. They feature fascinating artifacts, recordings, videos, propaganda posters, newspaper articles, uniforms, and weapons, along with detailed information, including personal stories. In addition, one room houses a Renault FT-17 tank, and life-sized displays of trenches on each side of the war.
The experience is an emotional one.
When visiting the museum, don’t miss the chance to go to the top of the adjacent Liberty Memorial Tower, a soaring 217-foot limestone tower completed in 1926 to honor World War I service members. Four Guardian Spirits, each 40 feet tall, watch over the Memorial from the top of the Tower. They are named for the virtues they represent: Honor, Courage, Patriotism, and Sacrifice.
The view of the Kansas City skyline from the top is incredible. At night, the Flame of Inspiration “burns” at the top of the tower and can be seen for miles around. (It is actually not a flame but rather special effects using lights and steam.)
TIP: A small elevator and then a narrow, steep set of stairs lead to the top, and sometimes substantial lines form. Going early or late in the day, or on a weekday, is recommended.
Explore Art Galleries and Local Restaurants in the Crossroads Art District
Just south of downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads Art District is known for its industrial brick warehouses, which are now home to many hundreds of local artists and independent studios. It is among the most concentrated gallery districts in the country.
The area also features innovative and acclaimed independent restaurants, casual street food, and craft beverage establishments.
The Crossroads District hosts First Friday, a huge street festival, on the first Friday evening of each month, year-round. It attracts thousands of people. Galleries stay open late, food trucks line the streets, local artists set up tents and along the alleyways to display their work, and musicians and street performers provide entertainment.
Catch Some Entertainment and Go Clubbing in the Power & Light District
If you’re with an adults-only crowd, you might want to check out the Power & Light District, the modern king of Kansas City nightlife. At its center sits the KC Live! Block, a two-story open-air courtyard covered by a year-round canopy. This central plaza features a performance space for touring acts and local bands.
The plaza has an enormous 39′ wide screen upon which live sporting events and more are displayed. A rare policy allows adults to openly carry alcoholic drinks (in plastic cups) between the many surrounding bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.
Visitors can sing along to audience-led musical comedy at the dueling piano bar Howl at the Moon, get their country on at PBR Big Sky with line dancing and mechanical bull riding, or pop into beer halls, dance clubs, or upscale cocktail bars. The nearby T-Mobile Center hosts concerts and sporting events, after which the streets flood with thousands of people seeking to party the night away.
Discover the History of Jazz in the 18th & Vine Jazz District
The 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City is recognized as one of the 5 points of origin of jazz music, along with Basin Street in New Orleans, Beale Street in Memphis, 52nd Street in NYC, and Central Avenue in Los Angeles. Famed jazz artist Charlie Parker grew up just a few blocks away.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s, live jazz was available in the 18th & Vine district in as many as 100 different venues. In addition to Parker, many other music legends clamored to perform there, including Louis Armstrong, Bennie Moten, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Tommy Dorsey, and Hot Lips Page.
The American Jazz Museum is a tribute to the music genre of jazz, the musicians who created it, and its impact on Kansas City and the rest of the world. This perfectly sized museum has interactive displays showcasing some of the great musicians who have played in the city. Don’t miss the exhibits where you can experiment with melody and harmony, and try your hand at mixing music.
The attached, atmospheric Blue Room is a cozy jazz club with frequent local and national concerts, many of them free. They also host Jazz at Noon concerts two Tuesdays per month. In the summer, there are free outdoor concerts, complete with food trucks and an outdoor bar.
If you have an extra hour or so, consider stopping by the Negro League Baseball Museum, housed in the same building as the Jazz Museum. It is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of African-American baseball and its impact on the United States.
The self-guided tour includes a compelling film narrated by James Earl Jones, then follows a timeline of African American baseball history with text panels, hundreds of photographs, and artifacts. The centerpiece is the “Field of Legends”, with life-sized bronze statues of some of the greats positioned on a mock baseball diamond.
See a Live Performance at the Starlight Theater
The delightful Starlight Theater is an 8,000-seat outdoor performance venue in Swope Park, a few miles southeast of the Country Club Plaza. Built in 1950, the Starlight is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Kansas City. It hosts concerts and touring Broadway shows, as well as community and educational programs.
The expansive 16-acre grounds are beautifully manicured with paths, flowers, fountains, and a themed garden titled the “Walk of Stars,” honoring the extensive list of legendary performers who have appeared at the theater.
With a great sound system, abundant high-quality food and beverage options, great seats at all levels, an uncrowded feel, and usually-free parking, the Starlight is tough to beat as a performance venue!
In addition to the Starlight Theater, Swope Park, one of the largest city parks in the country, is also home to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, hiking trails, golf courses, and the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park. One could easily make a day of it before heading to a show in the evening!
Get Yourself Some of That Famous Barbecue
Kansas City has scores of wonderful restaurants. But what this city is known for is uncontested: Barbecue. There is no shortage of opportunity to taste some of that smoky goodness in every corner of the city. Some locally owned and loved choices near the above areas include:
Jack Stack Barbecue in Country Club Plaza is part of a beloved, local, family-owned chain with 6 locations.
Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, 2 miles west of the Plaza, across the border into Kansas, was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain.
Char Bar, in Westport, pictured to the left. It features a huge outdoor area with games & pickleball.
Q39 Between Westport & Crossroads, offering “chef-focused “competition-quality” barbecue with high-quality ingredients.
Jack Stack Freight House, in Crossroads, is housed in an 1887 railroad building with 25′ ceilings.
Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue in the 18th & Vine Jazz District is a legendary place where presidents and movie stars have visited.
Indulge in Other Excellent (Non-Barbecue) Eateries
Let’s face it, one can only eat so much barbecue. When you’re ready for a change of pace, Kansas City has lots to offer. Consider these delicious, locally-owned restaurants:
Affäre (Crossroads) Outstanding upscale German restaurant offering seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and craft cocktails.
The Antler Room (just east of Crown Center) Constantly changing seasonal small-plates menu dipping into Mediterranean, East Asian, and Midwestern cuisines.
JJ’s Restaurant (Country Club Plaza) Refined, traditional American fare including steak and seafood. Renowned rack of lamb and French Onion soup.
Kata Nori (Crossroads) Seafood shipped fresh from Japan and served as inventive handrolls, crudos, and small plates. Guests sit at a U-shaped counter and get to see the chefs in action. (For more details, check out our full article on this unique place.)
Le Fou Frog (Just north of Power & Light) Intimate, unpretentious French bistro with warm, knowledgeable staff who sometimes break out in song! Standouts include escargot, steak tartar, and Dover sole fileted at the table.
Rye (Country Club Plaza) Modern comfort food in a stylish, comfortable, urban-farmhouse atmosphere. Excellent fried chicken.
Where to Stay
Country Club Plaza
For lodging at the Plaza, it is hard to beat The Raphael, an elegant boutique hotel right at the base of the Plaza, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tasty hotel restaurant, Chaz, features live jazz every evening. Particularly during the holiday season, try to reserve a room overlooking the illuminated Plaza.
Other well-located and well-reviewed options at Country Club Plaza include the Hampton Inn and Aloft by Marriott.
Crossroads Art District
The Crossroads Hotel is a luxury, industrial-chic hotel with exposed brick, steel beams, and reclaimed wood floors. Embracing the spirit of the district, the open atrium showcases rotating works by local artists. The hotel features a rooftop bar and an Italian restaurant.
Other good options in the area include Hotel Indigo and a Residence Inn.
Near/In the Power & Light District
Just a 2-minute walk from the Power & Light District is the Hotel Kansas City. Built in 1922, the gorgeous lobby features wrought-iron chandeliers, dark wood, and leather and velvet seating. James Beard-nominated chef Johnny Leach presents seasonal menus at The Town Company, and old-time-supper-club-vibed Nighthawk offers elevated bar food and live music. Even the handsome Lobby Bar serves an impressive spread, including the popular steak frites.
The upscale Hilton President Kansas City is the only hotel actually located inside the District, and is a short walk from everything in the area.
Are you interested in more cultural attractions? Kansas City is spoiled for choice! Just click below.
If you’re continuing your travels in the Midwest, take a look at our articles on nearby cities:
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