From Jazz to Baseball: 15 Things to do in Kansas City

Look no further if you want world-class BBQ. Throughout their magnificent city, Kansas City features renowned cooks in this profession. There’s something for everyone at Jack Stack Barbecue Freight House, SLAP’s BBQ, and the smokehouse bbq. So, take a minute to sample the local delicacies and marvel at the talent of these grill masters.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures features the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures, as well as one of the most extensive collections of ancient toys now on display.

From the 18th century to the present, the toy collection illustrates society’s cultural values, technological advancements, and the hopes and dreams of generations of children. Toys from the Attic: Stories of American Childhood, an award-winning exhibit, focuses on the impact toys have in providing comfort and developing skills.

Architectural works, room settings, fine art, decorative art, tools, equipment, and scale figures are all part of the miniature collection. Within the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in Kansas City, tourists can peek into Louis XV’s study at the Palace of Versailles or a Boston Beacon Hill mansion.

Admission is $8 for adults ages 18 to 64, $7 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for ages 6 to 17 and college students (with ID), $5 for home-school students (free for adult chaperone), and free for children under the age of 5. More details about the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures’ collections can be found at www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org

Boulevard Brewing Company is the 12th biggest craft brewery and the 18th largest operating brewery in the United States, according to 2014 sales volume. Boulevard Brewing Company, founded in 1989 in Kansas City, Missouri, is pushing the boundaries of beer by blending time-honored practices with cutting-edge technology. Their mission is simple: to produce fresh, flavorful beers using the finest ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques.

The bustling River Market is centered on City Market, which dates back to 1857 and is home to worldwide cafes, gourmet grocery shops, and indie boutiques surrounded by pavilions housing a weekend farmers’ market. The Arabia Steamboat Museum, located nearby, showcases artifacts recovered from a ship that sank in the Missouri River in the mid-nineteenth century. Berkley Riverfront Park’s waterfront is lined with wide trails for strolling and riding.

Kauffman Stadium, sometimes known as “The K,” is a baseball stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. It is the home of the Major League Baseball team, the Kansas City Royals. It is part of the Truman Sports Complex, along with the nearby Arrowhead Stadium, which is home to the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs. Unlike many other stadiums erected in the 1960s and 1970s, the Royals’ home has remained one of the most beautiful stadiums in baseball.

Fans from Missouri, Kansas and other states now go to Kauffman Stadium to experience Kansas City Royals baseball, as well as views of the fountains beyond the outfield fence and the Midwest scenery. There is plenty of parking around the stadium, and supporters may access it through a variety of entrances. Once inside, spectators may access the club and upper floors via circular ramps and escalators.

The American Jazz Museum has interactive exhibits and educational events, as well as the Blue Room, a live jazz club, and the Gem Theatre, a modern 500-seat performing arts center. Jazz superstars like Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, and plenty of others defined the sounds of the 1920s and 1940s at this museum.

The American Jazz Museum presents the best local and national acts in an intimate, creative, smoke-free setting, as well as a variety of activities and venues where people can experience live jazz music.

Adult admission is $10, $9 for seniors aged 65 and older, $6 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children under the age of 4. To find out about upcoming live events, go to www.americanjazzmuseum.org

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a one-of-a-kind attraction in Kansas City, serving as a time capsule of life on the American frontier in the mid-nineteenth century. From fine porcelain and carpentry tools to children’s toys and the world’s oldest pickles, it houses the world’s largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts.

Adult admission is $14.50, $13.50 for seniors aged 60 and above, $5.50 for children ages 4 to 14, and children under the age of 3 are free. To schedule your visit and discover more about the Arabia’s Story, go to www.1856.com

The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art welcomes tourists of all ages to enjoy artistic creations dating from 5,000 years ago to the present. With a campus that features the original Nelson-Atkins Building, the Bloch Building expansion that opened in 2007, and the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, the museum exhibits over 42,000 works of art. African, American, and Southeast Asian art exhibits can all be found in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.

To learn more about The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art’s current exhibitions, go to www.nelson-atkins.org

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is a privately funded museum aimed at preserving the history of African-American baseball in the United States. With informative placards and interactive exhibits, the museum historically recounts the evolution of the Negro leagues. Its walls are covered with photographs of players, owners, and executives from the Negro National League, which began in 1920 and ended in 1962, as well as the Negro American League.

The Field of Legends is an outstanding feature of the museum, and it is only accessible at the end of the tour. Tourists can stroll onto a field with twelve bronze statues of Negro league figures that are near life-size.

The admission fee for adults is $10, $9 for seniors, and $6 for children under the age of 12. The Horace M. Peterson III Visitor Center and the Changing Gallery, on the other hand, are free to visit. More information about The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum can be read at www.nlbm.com

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the artifacts, history, and human stories of World War I, and it houses the most varied collection of World War I objects and documents. With a vast collection of images, weaponry, and other objects, the museum takes visitors on an amazing adventure through a transformative period and reveals incredible stories of courage, honor, patriotism, and sacrifice. The Main Gallery section stands out among the range of exhibits, providing a detailed history of the First World War through actual artifacts and documents, video, reconstructed trenches, and interactive tables.

General admission includes the Main Gallery, Exhibit Hall, Memory Hall, and Ellis Gallery, and cost $18 for adults, $14 for seniors, $14 for military, and $6 for children ages 6 to 18. It is free for children under the age of 5. Visit www.worldwar.org  to find more about the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

Worlds of Fun, a 235-acre amusement park with seven roller coasters and three water attractions, is also adjacent to Oceans of Fun, a water park. Scandinavia, Africa, Europa, the Orient, Americana, and Planet Snoopy are among the five major sections of Worlds of Fun. Theme-related thrill rides, such as Autobahn, attractions like Worlds of Fun Village, shops, shows, and restaurants are all named after the area.

Oceans of Fun, on the other hand, is a fine addition to Worlds of Fun, featuring coasters like Shark’s Revenge and cool pools like Monsoon and Caribbean Cooler.

Daily tickets start at $35, and an $89 Gold Season Pass for 2021 allows you to visit as many times as you like. Learn more about the wide variety of attractions available at www.wordsoffun.com.

The Union Station Kansas City, which has been in operation for over 100 years, was formerly a train station but is today considered an architectural masterpiece. Shopping, unique exhibits, live concerts, and other activities are accessible at this attraction. At Union Station Kansas City, tourists can visit popular attractions like Science City, which has over 300 interactive exhibits.

Visitors and guests are welcome to visit and explore the historic Union Station Kansas City at no admission cost.  Visit www.unionstation.org  to learn more about the beautiful spots in the area.

This is the perfect two-story indoor LEGO playground for the entire family to enjoy. Adults and children can surround themselves with millions of LEGO Bricks at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City, take flight on Merlin’s Apprentice, blast skeletons on the Kingdom Quest riding experience, and see their favorite characters in the LEGO 4D Theatre.

It is worth mentioning that adults must be accompanied by at least one child aged 17 or younger when visiting the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City.

The price of a single-day ticket is $21.99 per person, which includes FREE VIP Photo Downloads. To learn more about the fascinating LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City, go to www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/kansas-city/

Create your own virtual marine creature that comes to life in front of your eyes in a digital sea by combining imagination and creativity. Doodle Reef is a fun-filled adventure for all ages at SEA LIFE Kansas City, the city’s only aquarium. Turtles, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, and seahorses are among the species you will see.

Admission is $20 for people over the age of 13, $16 for children aged 3 to 12, and free for children under the age of 2. To learn more about SEA LIFE Kansas City’s exhibitions, go to www.visitsealife.com/kansas-city/

The 202-acre Kansas City Zoo is home to over 1,700 animals representing over 200 species and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Stingray Bay, and Sea Lion Splash are just a few of the attractions at the Kansas City Zoo. The seven continents are represented at the zoo by the Africa, Australia, Tiger Trail, KidZone, and The Valley-themed sections.

The daily admission fee for individuals aged 12 and older is $18, $16 for seniors aged 55 and above, and $16 for children between the ages 3 and 11. Children under the age of 2 are admitted free of charge. Visit www.kansascityzoo.com  for a printable map of exhibits and show schedules ahead of your visit to the zoo.

With 100 boutiques, 30 restaurants, and Spanish-inspired architecture, wander 15 blocks of shopping and dining in the heart of Kansas City. The Country Club Plaza is home to numerous fountains as well as vintage clothing such as T-shirts and wool hats. Designer labels like Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Kendra Scott may be of particular interest to tourists. Enjoy delicious fried chicken and hand-selected steaks grilled over pecan and white oak at nearby restaurants within the plaza.

The Country Club Plaza is free to access. The Plaza garages are open and parking is free. For additional information about their retail, restaurants, and local events, go to www.countryclubplaza.com