Kansas City is home to an abundance of fun and exciting activities for you and your family to enjoy. Whether you are a Kansas Citian or traveling to Kansas City, check out my top things to do in KC this summer!
Kansas City Zoo
KC ZOO is a fun spot for kids! They have different events scheduled on their webpage for both the kids and the adults.😉 Some events happening this June (2022) are Wine Walk for Wildlife, World Oceans Weekend, Locked Zoo, and Jazzoo.
There is a huge Penguin Encounter and you can reserve a special tour. There are also different rides and transportation services inside the zoo. A really unique one is the African Sky Safari. It is a ski lift that goes over the zebras, ostriches, giraffes and rhinos. It’s $6 round trip or $3.5 one way. I took my little cousins on this a few years back and it felt like we were in a movie.🤪
Save on ticket prices when you buy online at least 3 days in advance. Children 2 and under are FREE!! General Admission Tickets - $17-20, Jackson/Clay County Residents are $8.50-10, Zoo Member tickets are $9-10. Also, if you have a Kansas City address, be sure to check your mail, I get several flyers from the zoo with free admission for certain dates!
Sporting Events
Royals Baseball
The K is one of the most fun places to explore with your family especially when it’s beautiful outside (or even hot). The Kansas City Royals website has a ton of different ticket options and events. Behind the fountains and giant score board, there’s mini golf, base running, batting challenges, Sluggerrr’s pitching mound, a carousel and lots more! There are tons of places to eat (including ice cream!) and on Family FunDay Sunday they have face painting plus kids 14 and under can run the bases for FREE after the game! (My assistant is 30 and she still remembers running the bases at the K as a child and how incredibly awesome the experience was.. 10/10 recommend).
You will also want to check out the Royals Hall of Fame that has interactive things for the kids as well as a ton of history for adults. AND don’t forget, most Tuesday night games are “Dollar Dog Night” (God, I love hot dogs) and Friday night games usually end with a firework show!
Monarchs Baseball
The Kansas City Monarchs play great baseball and have fun games along with FREE parking! They have post-game fireworks every Saturday. Prices range from $8 to $26 depending on game day and seating choice. I’ve yet to check out a game, but it’s on my list for this summer! Plus, I’ve heard the drinks are super cheap for a baseball game! (They had me at cheap.) There’s also a new “Legends Club” for special and corporate events if you’re looking to host a group for a fun outing there. Their field is at The Legends in KCK which is a great location for shopping, dining, catching a movie or hitting up Hollywood Casino. This would be a perfect spot for a Kansas City stay-cation for all of my local KC readers. Keep reading to find the best place or your family to stay for either a stay-cation or a fun family get-a-way!
KC Sporting Soccer
After checking out a Monarchs game or spending time at Great Wolf Lodge (mentioned below), you might as well stay in the area and check out a KC Sporting match! Kansas City Sporting is our own men’s soccer club. Ticket prices range from $30-$40 for regular seating, depending on the match. Children’s Mercy Park is a really fun atmosphere. Kansas City’s original soccer club was called “The Wizards” so the fan GA seating is still called “The Cauldron”. The Cauldron is behind the goal and in The Cauldron people stand the entire match, wave flags, bang drums, and just go crazy! So if you love to immerse yourself in soccer matches, The Cauldron is the place for you.
There are different parking options, so make sure to check out their website for parking. Browse their website to find your best food options while at the park, or if you are going to eat before at a restaurant at The Legends.
KC Current Soccer
Kansas City is also home to our very own Women’s Soccer Team, KC Current. Single match tickets start at $15 to $17 to $30, depending on the match and stadium seats. They play at Children’s Mercy Park just like KC Sporting, for now. They are building their own stadium though, which is super exciting and will be located right by the River Market and Berkley Riverfront Park mentioned below!
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is a chain of hotels and Kansas City is lucky enough to have one! Located at the Legends, or Village West, this hotel lodge has a gigantic indoor water park, themed rooms and an arcade. They have MagiQuest for kids to play for a few minutes or all day. You purchase a wand and the game and begin to explore around the hotel for treasure chests to open and crystals glowing bright.
The indoor water park has a four-story water treehouse fort with a giant water bucket that dumps water and makes a big splash! A lazy river, tube rides, lily pads, water basketball, toddler water slides, and lots of big kid water slides as well as a hot tub!
If you’re not looking to stay the weekend, but you still want to check out the waterpark, you can buy day passes here!
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
From 9-5 you can learn and explore at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Kids can feed kids (baby goats, see what I did there?) from a bottle, use an old fashioned cane pole to fish in the pond*, play on the playgrounds, and learn all about farm animals! They have live cow milking sessions twice a day and a pretend training cow for kids to practice on. *Purchase animal feed there and goat feeding is $1 and a $3 fishing fee.
Admission is $3 per person for ages 3 and up. Ages 2 and under get in free. However, admission is free after 2pm Monday through Thursday, except on holidays. Bring extra cash incase you want to go on a Wagon Ride ($3 per person) or purchase animal feed, etc.
Enjoy concessions at the farm with incredibly reasonable prices and a super kid friendly menu. You can bring in children snacks and water, but nothing else.
Liberty Memorial
Kansas City is home to an excellent National WWI Museum and Memorial. The Liberty Memorial -WWI Museum has tickets ranging in prices from $12-$18 for general admission tickets. You can get Tower tickets for $5 and check out the 360* view of our Kansas City Skyline! There is an elevator and then 45 stairs to the top. Combo tickets also range from $12 for kids 6-18 to $20 for adults. Children under 6 are free.
The Liberty Memorial has various events and exhibitions. May 19-30 2022, the traveling Vietnam Tribute Wall will be on the Southeast Lawn of the Museum and Memorial. The Liberty Memorial is rich in history and architecture.
The Liberty Memorial is open from 10-5 in the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) closed on Mondays outside of summer time. They also have a World War I themed cafe open from 11-2.
I go here 2-3 times a week for photos session on the lawn. This is the perfect spot for pictures as there are so many different settings all in one place! This is also a great spot for an outdoor walk or run if you’re downtown and looking to get outside.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is located in the heart of the Jazz District at 18th and Vine. This is a great museum for all ages to visit and see. According to their website, it is the world’s ONLY museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of our country. Definitely a must-see in KC. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (65+), $6 for kids age 5-12 and kids 0-5 are free.
Union Station and Science City
This is really two different things to do in one listing. Union Station is a GORGEOUS 1914 building and train station that hosts various traveling exhibits, restaurants, and educational things to do. The planetarium, a theater district with live theatre and giant screen movies and Science City being one of the major exhibits! Union Station was almost demolished after sitting vacant in the 80s, but luckily in 1996 renovation began and was completed in 1999. It has been bustling ever since. It is open from 6am to 12am. Check out their website for parking details. If you park in their parking garage it’s free for 30 minutes but you do have to pay after - $5 for up to 4 hours.
Science City is one of the most popular attractions for young explorers! It is really SO COOL and I cannot recommend it enough if you have kids who love to explore. I went on a couple field trips there back when I was teaching. This interactive, engaging attraction has exhibits and educator-led programs and activities. There are more than 50 hands-on environments to discover, from stations focusing on energy to animals, even the solar system and more!
It’s open Tuesday- Saturday 10am-5pm. Sundays Noon-5. Prices are General Admission and $15.50, Union Station members are free.
Fritz’s
Fritz’s is THE restaurant to go to with kids! Or if you’re a single gal like me and it’s close to the school you work(ed) at and you love milkshakes and burgers.😂😂 ANYWAY, your kids are offered train conductor hats when you walk in, you order your food through the old school telephone (like I had on my wall growing up) and a train delivers your food to you when it’s ready! You just have to experience it. It’s pretty fun and the burgers and shakes are pretty good! Trains are zoomin’ around to keep your kids entertained. I definitely suggest getting the “fring” (fries and onion ring side) and a chocolate milkshake. Now I’m hungry again. There are a few locations in Kansas City (I frequented what I believe to be the original in KCK off of 18th street) with varied hours so make sure to check out their website so you can pick the location best for you!
Crown Center - Fountains
For those of you who don’t know, Kansas City is known as the “City of Fountains” and Crown Center Fountains is a fun, fun, fun spot to experience that joy! There are 49 water jets and 48 water shooters that go up to 60 feet in the air. They have dancing water shows, but you’re not allowed to play in the fountains during the water shows. Weekday shows are at noon and on the hour from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Weekend shows are on the hour from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is also a 10 p.m. show on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is a ton to do at Crown Center. There is shopping (check out my prints hanging in the Hallmark store), dining (there’s a Fritz’s here), and lots of events, sometimes even live theater. Make sure to check out their website for when you’re visiting so you can see if there are any upcoming events!
The Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza is a fun place to walk around and shop and my favorite place to happy hour. There are a variety of shops and restaurants. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10am-7pm and Sunday Noon to 6pm. There are several free parking garages as well as free street parking or paid valet parking depending on where you want to eat. There is lots of architecture to enjoy as you walk around as well as cool bridges going across Brush Creek.
Nelson Atkins
The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic on the lawn or go in and browse the art. Tickets are free, however, you do need to reserve a ticket online as they are still limiting capacity. They have a really cool glass maze on the front lawn or you can just enjoy the giant shuttlecocks and watch your kids run and play!
Meadowbrook Park - Prairie Village
Meadowbrook Park has huge trees, lakes, and walking trails. You can get food and drinks there as well whether it’s a food truck or at The Market at Meadowbrook (one of my favorite places to meet clients for coffee). There are two good-sized playgrounds and the local kids in the area helped select the design for the new playground in 2017.
There are over three miles of paved walking trails as well as 3 lakes full of fish. Be sure to get a fishing permit and state fishing license before fishing as it’s required to fish there. You can check out their permit page here. There are also 8 pickleball courts. They are non-reservable and available for open play (when not in use for park programming). This would also be a great park to host a birthday or family get-together with three different park shelters and lots of green space.
Blackhoof Park - Lenexa
Blackhoof Park is beautiful and so nature-y. It is a larger park and has a lot of walking trails. There are two shelters you can rent if you want to have a special occasion and there are two playgrounds near the two shelters along with beautiful views of Lake Lenexa. I discovered this place a few years back when I was looking for a location in the area for a photo session. I now use this location all the time. Even in the winter, it is still very photogenic!
Oak Shelter playground is accessible and inclusive. Their website describes it as a “play set for ages 2–5 includes slides, monkey bars, tot swings and bridges. Two different play areas are available for ages 5–12 that have slides, climbing areas, spinners, bridges, hanging zip line, swings, monkey bars and rings.”
Stone Wall Shelter playground has a view of the lake. It is more for ages 5-12 and has climbing boulders and slides. There are two tot swings and two school aged swings.
Zona Rosa
Zona Rosa has so many events happening this summer! From concerts to festivals to outdoor movies in North Park, there’s something for the whole family here. Not only is this a great place to shop, eat and happy hour (highly recommend checking out 54th Street’s newly renovated restaurant including their amazing patio with fire pits, pickleball courts and lots of tvs to watch any game or sporting event) there’s also a ton of things going on all summer long.
May 7th - Strawberry Swing, 10am - 4pm: Maker’s, Food Trucks, Family friendly games
May 22nd - USAF Heartland of America Band Performance, 12:30 - 1:30pm
Thursdays in June - Coffee Club, 9am-11am: Kids play in the all-new splash fountain and playground while adults can sip on coffee and enjoy the morning.
June 3rd - 5th - Festa Italiana - Celebrating Italian Traditions and Italian-American culture with amazing food and entertainment.
Friday’s & Saturdays - Concerts in the Park, 6:30pm-8:30pm: see schedule here
Third Friday’s - Summer Movies at North Park, Movies are every third Friday of the month from June through September. Movies will start at dusk or approximately 9pm. June 17: Encanto, July 15: The Sandlot, August 19: Space Jam, September 16: Shrek
City Market - River Market
When I lived downtown and before I worked basically every weekend🤪 I would always look forward to going to the Farmer’s Market in the Historic City Market every Saturday. The farmer’s market is open all year long but from April to October, they’re open Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 8am to 3pm. I would suggest going early (y’alll know I didn’t wake up early to go😂 more like 11am) or at least around noon or before to beat the afternoon heat and before vendors start running out of their goods for the day.
Berkley Riverfront Park
Another beautiful park located just north and east of the River Market. This park is perfect for pics (how I judge parks these days🤪) running along the Missouri River with a cool view of the picture-esque Kit Bond Bridge. In the summer of 2018, fitness courts including scabable equipment with wheelchair accessibility was added to Berkley Riverfront Park next to the sand volleyball courts. If you’re interested in sand volleyball, they actually have a sand volleyball league that runs from June 20th - October 15th or you can play sand volleyball on one of the 6 courts (first come, first serve) on Saturdays or Sundays 3pm - 10pm.
Kansas City is and always will be one of my favorite places and I’m so grateful to get to live here! Whether you’re planning a visit or you live here too, I hope you enjoy my recommendations and don’t forget to tag me in your photos when you check them out!😁 ..and please feel free to share with me some of your favorites as I always love finding new things to do.
Here’s to a beautiful summer!!
Molly
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