Fun inexpensive things to do in Kansas City

[SkcMom]

DH and I are taking our DD to see Jonas brothers in Kansas City. We have decided to turn the one day trip into 4 days. Only been to KC a few times and it was a long time ago. Got a super great deal on a hotel downtown on Priceline so we will be staying in that vicinity. What are some fun but not too pricey things to do there? What about restaurants? We were thinking of Worlds of Fun or Oceans on Fun on one of the days but aren't decided.

 

[MickeyReeds]

We stayed near Country Club plaza (also got a fabulous priceline deal)--anyway, there are lots of great restaurants and shops at Country club plaza--it's nice because you can just park the car and walk around.

Also, we love the Royals baseball games. They have just redone the outfield plaza with lots of kid friendly things and the tickets are very reasonable. You are allowed to bring in your own food and water bottles in soft sided coolers, so we do that with the drink packets--which can save a ton.

There is a jazz museum and a science center that I've heard good things about. I'll bet someone who lives in the area will have tons more ideas! Enjoy!

 

[TGEmpress]

Have fun in my Hometown! I miss it so much! Anywho. Since you are staying downtown I will try to keep ideas in range. A really neat area is the river market - they have the Steamboat Arabia Museum - which although it sounds boring is actually very cool, even for kids.

KC has tried to rehab Union Station several times, this time as an interactive rotating exhibits - sort of like Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry - I don't know what is there right now, but the building itself is pretty cool to check out and is is free to go inside and look around.

While you're there, take the sky walk to Crown Center - it is a small mall but it attached to a very interesting Hotel that has an indoor waterfall - lots to explore there, more displays about KC and what is going on and all free for the looking. Hallmark headquarters are right across the street. They used to have a vistor center, where you got to make a bow - Might be worth asking about. it was always a nice free trip on a hot day.

Right outside the front doors of Crown Center are some fountains that Children are generally playing in - always fun to watch - or join in if you choose. [KC is the city of fountains, I can always say - here is a fountain]

For the most free site seeing, walk around the country club plaza [fountains and architecture], and then drive down ward parkway [some of the most wonderful houses] Even more beautiful at Christmas.

Downtown just got a new district - The Power and Light - I haven't been - from what I understand it is mostly eating and drinking. Other things to check out downtownish would be [if they strike your fancy] the Negro League Baseball Museum and the 18th and Vine Jazz Museum.

Oh my gosh - I almost forgot the most important part - go have real honest to goodness KC bbq. While I could tell you a million off the beaten path places, it is best to start people off with a classic - Gates. Any and every hotel person in town should know how to get you there - its in Midtown.

Now I really want to go home for a bit. If you have any other questions just ask. I am always to promote my home town.

 

[snakenberg]

Hello!

I live in the KC Metro area and although a lot of my suggestions have already been mentioned, I thought of a couple of other items. There is a great WWI museum not far from where you will be staying. World's of Fun is OK, but it is far from a WDW or DL. You might be very disappointed. The Royals stadium is a great time. If you are basketball fans there is the College Basketball Experience in the Power and Light district. If you have a car, there is a new community water park in Gardner, KS. Only $5 to enter and it has several slides, lazy river and is a lot of fun. Gardner is located about 20 miles south of where you are staying. There is also a shopping/restaurant area called the Legends out by the race track. Lots of stuff to do there.

The Country Club Plaza is a very nice area, but expensive shopping. Lots of good food there, but some are very expensive. We personally love Houston's. You can anything from a sandwich to a steak. If you like fried chicken, you must try Stroud's. It is locally owned and is great old fashioned fattening food. There is Oklahoma Joes on Mission Road that serves great BBQ. A lot of people love Gates, but to me it is just OK. The staff yell at you as you enter. To me it is expensive and not that great. You will enjoy the Sprint Center where the concert will be held. The College Basketball experience is also located there.

It is not the most exciting city, but it is home. We like it here. Enjoy your stay!!

 

[Earstou]

Most of my suggestions are not inexpensive...
My kids loved Science City at Union Station. They have rooms or stations were they can try their hands at various things, like a newscaster (then they get to watch the video and see how well they did!), newspaper reporter (they get a copy to take home), archeologist, etc.
http://www.360kc.com/Attractions/Museums/ScienceCityatUnionStation.html

The orginal T-Rex restaurant is in the Legends shopping area, along with a Cabela's that has wildlife displays and lots of native fish.

A Schlitterbahn Water Resort is supposed to open this summer, but no word on the opening date so far.

(Oops, I see that the Rainforest Cafe in KC has closed.)

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

oops

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Kansas resident here

On the Plaza...not easy to find inexpensive things!

Nelson Atkins Museum is free; www.nelson-atkins.org it's the one with the huge badminton birdies on the lawn.

Not free by any stretch is the Melting Pot restaurant - fondue dining experience and right on the plaza www.meltingpot.com sign up for their "fondue club" online and you get something free I think. If you've never been to one it's pretty neat. Like a cooking show at your table.

Worlds of Fun (Worlds of Lines we affectionately call it) is pretty good, as far as regular parks go. It's older, so there are trees=shade, which is always a plus. The nite pass is always a better bet. www.worldsoffun.com

I agree with PP that the Legends is a cool outdoor mall to visit, T-Rex, Dave & Busters, etc. www.legendsshopping.com

Union Station and Crown Center are relatively close by - Fritz's restaurant in Crown center is fun - your food is delivered by overhead toy train! www.crowncenter.com

Gosh...there's so much to do, we've lived here 5 yrs and haven't seen anywhere near everything yet. KC is really a great place - so many nicely done attractions - I think you'll really like it! One thing I noticed when we moved here was everything is so nicely landscaped...oh and so many fountains! We're the City of Fountains officially, I guess...Let me know if I can help more!

Have fun at the concert

 

[slightly_obsessed]

There are plenty of things to do in KC!

Someone mentioned the fountains at Crown Center, which is a ton of fun. It's probably not more than a 10 minute drive from downtown. Also at Crown Center is Kaleidoscope, which is put on by Hallmark, and is free. I used to do this when I was a kid. I am not sure how old your DD is, but my nieces (7 and 8) loved it. you can check it out at at hallmarkkaleidoscope.com/. There is also a free Lego exhibit going on past Labor day at Crown Center (crowncenter.com). Science City at Union Station is very cool too. There is a Narnia Exhibit there right now and I think there is an IMAX. Union Station is only a couple blocks from Crown Center and the WWI Museum (I saw someone else already mention that), so it's all within walking distance. Check the visitkc.com website too... there are a lot of two for one specials, including for Union Station and Science City.

Someone mentioned the Country Club Plaza; which is neat to walk around. Buca di Beppo's is an awesome family style Italian Place, but there is also Cheesecake Factory, The Melting Pot and dozens of other great places to eat... but you have to try Winsteads! It's an awesome burger place on the east side of the Plaza. Your DD would probably get a kick out of the Skyscraper Soda. A couple blocks away is the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art - it's also free and there are great photo ops by the giant Shuttle Cocks! (I have to admit, they've grown on me over the years).

There's the Harry S. Truman Museum, although I haven't done that in years, so I can't remember if it was good or not. We've also got a Zoo and I second the Steamboat Arabia and River Market

You'll get to see the Power and Light District - it's right across from the Sprint Center where the concert is. You can eat there if you want before hand, but I'd say get there early. We do have our own Raglan Road at P&L (same owner as in WDW) if you want that.

There is so much to do, I'm sure you'll have no problems filling your time! I KC (can you tell?)

Have fun!

Rachel

p.s. I agree with the person who said World's of Fun is only ok, unless you like Roller Coasters; then it's pretty good!

 

[sahm1000]

I'm going to agree with several of the previous posters on things. Crowne Plaza is fun and you have to check out Fritz's. It's good food (nothing fancy - burgers, french fries and shakes) and pretty inexpensive. Gates BBQ is famous in KC and so is Arthur Bryant's - both are critically acclaimed (strangely enough since they are BBQ). And Stroud's is unbelievable! My mouth is watering thinking about their fried chicken!

I love walking around the Country Club Plaza, even if you're not shopping, it's beautiful location and area. The zoo is fun but it's not the best zoo around. The Royals games are fun and I think they have $1 nights where the hot dogs and sodas are cheap. If you're planning on checking out the area try Overland Park. There is a great park/petting zoo there called Deanna Rose on 135th St. and it's free!

Have a great visit!

 

[wickywinn]

My sister lives up the hill from the Plaza so we're there quite often with the kids. I know mine always ask to go to Fritz's, as someone else mentioned. They love ordering their meals on the red phones and watching the trains overhead delivering your food. Not to mention it's the price of a fast food meal. There's also a Crayola Cafe there as well. And yes, Kaleidoscope is also a big hit and free! Great Wolf Lodge is there as well although I see you already have your hotel stay. In the winter until mid March, I believe, they actually have skiing slopes nearby with manmade snow. Awesome!

 

[jls886]

I grew up in Kansas City and still live here and I agree with almost everything that has already been mentioned! My sister and I used to love going to Kaleidoscope in Crown Center, its free and has tons of stuff to do.

As far as a really fun place for your DD to eat, I would definitely agree with Fritz's. It is in Crown Center, which is at about 25th and Grand, so just a few blocks south of downtown. A train comes around and delivers your food, my sister and I used to love going to the original location as kids!

For barbeque, no question...Oklahoma Joes! It has been on Food Network numerous times and was just listed as one of Anthony Bourdain's "13 Places to Eat Before You Die." It is located at 47th and Mission, just east of the Country Club Plaza.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We've only lived here for a year, but we have quickly fallen in love with this great town! I'm not sure how old your dd is, but the T Rex cafe might be fun for her. If you want something completely free and are willing to drive about 20 minutes outside of KC, then head over the the Deana Rose Farmstead in Overland Park. It has beautiful gardens, animals, hay rides, fishing. They do charge for the pony and hay rides though. I think it's $3.

 

[OnePrincess]

I've lived in the KC Metro area my whole life. I really can't add anymore since you've already gotten some really great responses. I just have to say that I agree with what everyone has mentioned. My daughter and nephews love going down to Fritz's.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Cheaper than the Royals and more fun in my opinion is the T-Bones Semi pro baseball team. They are located at the Legends in Wyandotte county and lots of fun and really inexpensive. There are lots of great restaurants in the Legends area as well as Bass Pro Shop that is fun to look in and a nice shopping are. We live near KC (about 30 miles) and head there for most everything.

 

[jedijill]

For barbeque, no question...Oklahoma Joes! It has been on Food Network numerous times and was just listed as one of Anthony Bourdain's "13 Places to Eat Before You Die." It is located at 47th and Mission, just east of the Country Club Plaza.

I just moved to Denver from KC and I miss Oklahoma Joe's terribly. I love it far and away more than Arthur Bryant's and Gates'. Thank goodness I can use seeing my family as an excuse for the real purposes of my pilgramages back to KC for OKJoe's.

Jill in CO (who could really go for a brisket sandwich and fries right now!)

 

[Ms. Belle]

There is an Apple Store in the Plaza My 15 year old can spend hours in there.

 

[SkcMom]

OMgosh you guys! Thanks so much! There is no way we will be able to do all of that!! Lol!! I so appreciate all of the ideas on restaurants and activities. It sounds like we will have to make more than one trip!