Kansas City, Kansas, or simply KCK, may be one of the most underrated Midwest cities. This city of over 150,000 is vibrant and full of beautiful parks, delicious foods, and fun activities. With so many exciting things to do in Kansas City, Kansas, you will fall in love with this city in no time and leave wanting to come back for more. In this blog post, I’ve compiled a list of the best 8 things to do in KCK when visiting the city.
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Where is Kansas City, Kansas?
Kansas City, Kansas is located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers.
What’s the Difference between Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO?
While the two cities share the same name, Kansas City, KS (KCK) and Kansas City, MO (KCMO) are two separate incorporated cities. However, they both make up the greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. While this post focuses specifically on activities in Kansas City, KS, I highly recommend exploring both sides.
Best Places to Stay in Kansas City?
Whether you choose to stay in KCK or KCMO, you’ll have excellent hotel and lodging choices available, and be close to all of the incredible things to do in Kansas City (Kansas). I stayed on both sides of the river during my visit to Kansas City.
On the Kansas side, I stayed at the Residence Inn Kansas City – Overland Park and loved it. The rooms were spacious and the free breakfast was a huge perk. I also worked remote for a few days and had plenty of space and great connection.
When I ventured across the river to the Missouri side of Kansas City, I splurged and stayed at the the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. My mom was traveling with me and so was my dog Willow. The hotel was so nice and very dog-friendly. While I was in the area for a conference, I definitely took a few breaks for the pool. The fitness room is incredible as well. As the name implies, the hotel is attached to the Crown Center shopping plaza which is full of stores and restaurants galore.
Additional Kansas City Hotels:
Things to Do in Kansas City
Eat your Way Along the KCK Taco Trail
Save room for tacos! Checking out almost 60 local taquerias on the re-launched KCK Taco Trail is a must-do when visiting the city. While the taco trail is ongoing, use the mobile passport (sign up here) to check into the taquerias and earn points toward prizes. The ultimate prize is a Taco Trail t-shirt. You have until April 15, 2024 to complete the Taco Trail for prizes.
Local favorites like Amigos Grill and Cantina, El Camino Real, El Jefe, and Las Palmas Restaurant are on the trail. You can feel good knowing you are eating some amazing food and supporting the local restaurant community.
Catch a Race at the Kansas Speedway
NASCAR fans will love catching a race at the Kansas Speedway which is home to a 1.5-mile tri-oval track that has seen some of the best names in the sport and houses almost 50,000 fans. The speedway held its inaugural NASCAR race on September 30, 2001 where Jeff Gordon sped to victory.
Aside from races, the Kansas Speedway also houses concerts and other various events throughout the year so even if NASCAR racing is not your thing, there’s certain to be an event for you at the Speedway.
Single-race tickets are available through the Speedway for as low as $49 and general parking at the track is always free. Premium parking can be purchased for $5.
Enjoy a Shopping Spree at Legends Outlets
Do you love shopping at a stellar price? Head to the only designer outlet center in the entire state. You’ll find over 100 stores like Kate Spade, J. Crew Factory, and Finish Line. Along with shopping, Legends Outlets also have numerous delicious restaurants like Dave and Buster’s, Longhorn and Yardhouse.
Legends Outlets is so large and impressive. It feels like you are at a luxury mall as you are walking between the stores. Consider making a stop at Legends Outlets prior to heading a KC Monarchs Game at Legends Field or a Sporting KC Game at Children’s Mercy Park.
Tour Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center
KCK has a rich ethnic heritage and you can learn all about the diverse history of the city at the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center.
The museum and cultural center is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Tours can be booked hourly from 12-3pm and are $10 for adults 12 and older and $5 for kids ages 6-12. There is also a Tea Room that is open for reservations the first weekend of every month from March to September. Book your advanced tickets at their website here.
As an added bonus this unique spot can be rented out for events, and the view across from the museum and cultural center is a prime spot for photos of the cityscape.
Attend a Kansas City Monarchs Game
Baseball fans will enjoy heading to Legends Field to catch a Kansas City Monarchs game. The Monarchs play in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League and play 100 games throughout the season. In 2021 the Monarchs even won the American Association Championships.
Tickets vary in price depending on the day and time, but are super affordable. Some games have tickets for under $10 a game – what a steal and the perfect outing for the entire family! The Monarchs’ schedule runs May through September so there’s plenty of time to grab a ticket and enjoy a fun outing to the ballpark.
See the City from Above at Zip KC
If you’re looking for a thing to do in Kansas City that will get your adrenaline rushing, head to Zip KC for an adventurous zipline tour. The zip line facility is located right outside of KC in the wooded area of Bonner Springs and provide a perfect activity for friends, a group of colleagues, or even for a date night.
There are several tours to choose from including the Hike and Zip which includes four ziplines, the Tower Tour which consists of five ziplines, and the Sunset Date Tour if you’re looking for a little more romance. Tours start at $69.99 per person and for safety reasons require that each person ziplining weigh between 70 and 275 pounds.
Visit Kaw Point Park
Kaw Point Park is the perfect spot for those looking for a peaceful location surrounded by natural beauty. The park is located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers and is 10 beautiful acres full of history. I learned during my visit that so much cleanup has been done in recent years to make the park the wonderful place it is today, and several events are even held here throughout the year.
In 1804, The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived to Kaw Point and camped in the area while preparing for the next trek in their journey. Today, the park is open to the public daily from 7am to 10pm and provides beautiful views, a riverfront trail, and informative markers laying out the history of the area. Whether you are looking for a peaceful escape from the city or to learn more about the history of the area, Kaw Point offers a little something for everyone.
Take a Walking Tour with Urban Hikes KC
Perhaps the best way to see and learn about Kansas City is with Urban Hikes KC, a local walking tour company. Guided tours are 4-5 miles in length and will take you through KCK (and KCMO), showcasing the unique history and must-see spots of the city.
Pick from tours like the Strawberry Hill and Downtown KCK Urban Hike, Quindaro Ruins Urban Hike, and the Urban Coffee Hike. I did the Strawberry Hill and Downtown KCK hike and my favorite part of the tour was how you got to connect with the local community and learn about all the awesome businesses in the area. The tour speed was a great pace and was very engaging. Most tours begin at $38 and last between three and four hours.
Final Thoughts:
KCK is an underrated Midwest destination that definitely deserves a visit (or two or three!). You’ll find so many things to do in Kansas City from outdoor adventures to museums, and everything in between. All-in-all, the food is great, the people are so nice, and the city is fun – what more could you ask for?! As always, let me know if you have any questions or are looking for KCK suggestions.
