Kansas City, Missouri, is an underrated city in the center of the US. I never hear of people visiting the city, and many people don’t even know where it is. But, I think everyone should give this fun, vibrant, and historic city a chance since there’s so much to do here. Here’s my ultimate travel guide to Kansas City, Missouri!
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Things to do in Kansas City
First, the fun stuff! There are a lot of things to do in Kansas City, but these are the best places that you shouldn’t miss!
National WWI Museum and Memorial
The National WWI Museum ranks as KC’s top attraction, and it’s no wonder why!
This museum is the only one in the country dedicated to highlighting the war and the people whose lives it affected. It also has one of the largest collections of artifacts from the war.
There are films, stories, and interactive exhibits that people of all ages will learn from and enjoy.
In addition to the museum, there is a 217 foot tall memorial above the museum that you can go to the top of. A ticket to the top costs a few dollars and is separate from the museum ticket. Or, you can get a combined ticket for a discount. A ticket to the top of the memorial is worth adding to your museum ticket!
Address: 2 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO 64108
The Power & Light District
The Power & Light District is the most fun place to go in downtown Kansas City. It’s the entertainment and nightlife hub of Kansas City, with more than 50 restaurants, bars, and shops.
Whether you are looking to eat, drink, or enjoy live music, there’s something for everyone in this area. And with so much to do, you can eat and drink here every night and always try something new.
Here are some of the highlights of the Power and Light District:
- T-Mobile Center: An arena for live sports and entertainment
- Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland: A massive, modern theatre for live shows and music.
- PNC Plaza: A plaza surrounded by restaurants with outdoor seating and seasonal events
- KC Live!
KC Live! is an entire outdoor block full of entertainment in the center of the Power & Light District. There are bars, restaurants, lounges, a massive tv for sports, Howl at the Moon piano bar, and a full concert stage with huge shows and events throughout the year.
City Market
The Historic City Market is one of the highlights of my trip to Kansas City. The market is open every day all year long, with a farmers market on Saturdays and Sundays.
The market has more than thirty shops every day, including flowers, clothing, jewelry, delis, butchers, and bakeries. And, there are restaurants and cafes so you can enjoy some locally made food after you shop.
As for the farmers market, vendors come from all over the Kansas City area to sell their fresh food, baked goods, handmade items, and more.
Union Station
You may be wondering why you would visit a train station, but Union Station is actually one of Kansas City’s most historic places. And, it has a lot more to offer than a few train platforms!
First, you should walk around the station and admire the incredible architecture. Union Station opened in 1914, so there’s over a century of history to explore.
And there’s fun stuff too! There are 6 major attractions in Union Station that are great for families and adults alike.
- Science City: A science museum with more than 300 exhibits and events.
- Planetarium: A theater with educational shows and night sky viewings
- Model Trains: More than 8,000 square feet (almost 750 square meters) of model trains are on display, thanks to KC’s biggest model train enthusiasts.
- City Theatre: A live performance venue with shows for all ages.
- Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre: The screen at this theater is 5 stories tall and has shows daily.
- Exhibitions: There are special exhibitions held at Union Station on changing topics. The current exhibition is on Auschwitz, until March 20, 2022.
After enjoying all these attractions, you can eat and shop at one of Union Station’s many stores and restaurants.
Where to Eat BBQ in Kansas City
Kansas City is known for its delicious BBQ! And, to pair with the BBQ, there’s lots of delicious, gooey Mac & Cheese!
Here are the top 5 BBQ restaurants in KC from Southern Living:
- Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque
- Danny Edwards BLVD BBQ
- Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue
- Gates Bar-B-Q
- Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
I didn’t eat any BBQ when I was in Kansas City (I don’t like BBQ. I know, weird.), but I ate plenty of Mac & Cheese 🙂
If you love BBQ, be sure to check out one of these places when you’re in town!
Bars, Breweries, & Wineries in Kansas City
I love trying breweries and wineries when I travel, and Kansas City, Missouri was a great place to do so. It’s a fun way to meet people and get to know the place you’re visiting better. Here are my recommendations for the best breweries, wineries, and bars in Kansas City.
Taps on Main
Taps on Main is a fantastic place for beer lovers. At Taps on Main, there are 40 beer taps with craft beer from Kansas City and other breweries in the US.
You get a card linked to your table’s tab, and you pour your own beer. You can pour as much or as little of each beer as you want.
Want to sample an ounce of every beer? Go ahead!
Want a full glass of one beer? You can do that too!
They also have a full bar if you want a more common beer or something other than beer.
Plus, they have a full food menu with delicious mac & cheese, sliders, and more.
Address: 1715 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Boulevard Brewing
Boulevard Brewing Co. is hands down the best brewery in Kansas City. They have many Boulevard beers on tap in the Beer Hall. And above the beer hall is the Rec Deck, a fun game area with shuffleboard, foosball, a bar, and a great view of downtown KC.
You can also tour the brewery, learn about beer and beer-making through their exhibits, and shop for canned beer, boulevard merch, and more in the shop.
The brewery is located just west of the WWI Museum and southwest of downtown. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink after exploring KC’s historic attractions.
To get to Boulevard from downtown KC, take the Streetcar as far south as possible to the Union Station stop, then walk 10-15 minutes west.
Address: 2534 Madison Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
KC Wineworks
KC Wineworks has the cutest tasting room in downtown Kansas City. They serve wine by the glass or bottle and have wine tastings available at the bar.
There are also occasional events with wine tastings, wine and cheese nights, and more.
Address: 1829 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Tom’s Town Distilling
Tom’s Town Distilling is a highly rated distillery that makes gin, vodka, and bourbon, as well as canned cocktails with their spirits.
In the over 100-year-old tasting room, you can enjoy Tom’s spirits and cocktails plus a whole food, beer, and wine menu. They also offer tours so you can learn about their spirits, the distilling process, and enjoy a tasting.
The distillery is next door to Taps on Main, so it makes for a perfect area to do some bar hopping and try some new beers and spirits.
Address: 1701 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108
International Tap House
The International Tap House, aka iTap, is another great place for craft beer lovers. They have an extensive draft list and hundreds of bottles available from breweries worldwide.
There are multiple iTaps in the US, but the Kansas City “Crossroads” located is in the heart of downtown.
Address: 403 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
If you want some delicious food to go with your beer, you can bring your own food or order for delivery.
Mission Taco Joint is right next door to the downtown listed above, and they have amazing tacos that you can order to the tap house. When your order is ready, they’ll bring it over to the tap house for you, and you just grab it off the shelf.
Streetcar Grille & Tavern
Finally, if you want a simple bar, Streetcar Grille & Tavern is on Main St. This is a classic sports bar with a chill but classier vibe where you can catch the local KC sports team playing on TVs by the bar.
They have specials on certain days, brunch on weekends, and a full food menu and drink menu the rest of the week.
Address: 1580 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Entertainment in Kansas City: Shows & Sporting Events
Outside of the Power & Light District (with the T-Mobile Center and KC Live!), there are a few places to see live entertainment.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll be able to see a professional sports game or a show. The main reason I planned to travel to Kansas City, Missouri was for a baseball game!
- Baseball at Kauffman Stadium: The Kansas City Royals play here from April to September every year.
- Football at Arrowhead Stadium: The Kansas City Chiefs have games between September and January.
- Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: This music center has two performance halls with music, opera, theater, and dance performances.
The two professional sports stadiums are about 8 miles southeast of the city. If you are going to a game, you can take a bus or drive.
The Kauffman Center is a few blocks southwest of the Power and Light District. If you take the KC Streetcar, go to 16th Street and head two blocks west.
How to Get Around Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is a small city compared to many other highly visited cities in the United States, which makes it easy to get around. And, lots of the best transportation methods are free or cheap!
KC Streetcar
The best way to get around downtown Kansas City is with their FREE KC Streetcar! It spans 2 miles of downtown, mainly along Main St. There are 16 stops that will bring you to most of the places in this article, including Union Station, the Power and Light District, and the City Market.
You can find everything you need to know about the KC Streetcar here.
Other Public Transportation
There are two other easy-to-use public transit methods in KC.
First, Kansas City has a bike-sharing program called RideKC Bike. There are standard pedal bikes and e-bikes. You can pay for bikes by the minute or get a day or month pass.
And you can learn more about the bike share program here.
Or, you can take a bus around. The buses connect downtown to other areas around Kansas City, so you can take the Streetcar to a bus and vice versa.
The bus information and routes can be found here.
Walk
Walking is another excellent way to get around the city if you are going east or west away from Main St. There are some small hills depending on where in the city you are, but they are manageable for most people.
Uber
Ubers are another great way to get around Kansas City. They are relatively cheap compared to other cities in the US.
If you don’t have a car and don’t want to take a bus, you should Uber if you are going somewhere outside of downtown Kansas City, like a sporting event.
Where to Stay in Kansas City
If you plan to travel to Kansas City, Missouri, and spend most or all of your time downtown, I would highly recommend staying within a 1-1.5 mile radius of the Power & Light District.
This isn’t an exact radius or recommendation. Still, if you stay close to the district, which is essentially the center of downtown, you can walk or take the Streetcar almost everywhere.
I stayed at an Airbnb on the corner of E 10th St. and McGee St., and it was a great location.
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Enjoy Kansas City, Missouri!
Not enough people travel to Kansas City, Missouri. There are so many fun attractions, entertainment, and nightlife that everyone will have a great visit. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below 🙂
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All information is current as of publication. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect travel, and all destinations have different rules and restrictions in place. The pandemic may also affect the opening times of the attractions and establishments listed. Please do independent research before traveling anywhere, and consider the risks involved.