Things to do in Kansas City

A world-class art museum with free admission and the famous giant shuttlecocks on its lawn.

America's official WWI museum, crowned by the Liberty Memorial tower with sweeping skyline views.

A gloriously restored 1914 rail palace packed with Science City, blockbuster exhibits and a planetarium.

202 acres of wild encounters in Swope Park, plus the stunning Sobela Ocean Aquarium.

KC's classic theme park: 100+ rides including the Mamba and Prowler coasters, plus Oceans of Fun waterpark.

200 tons of pristine 1856 frontier cargo, dug from a steamboat buried 45 feet under a Kansas cornfield.

The world's only museum devoted to the Negro Leagues, in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.

The world's largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and antique toys, pure wonder at any age.

A free, frequent streetcar linking River Market, Power & Light, Crown Center, Union Station and the Plaza.

Go behind the scenes at the Midwest's beloved craft brewery, then sip a Wheat on the rooftop beer hall.

KC's historic public market since 1857, farmers' stalls, global eats and riverfront charm.

Legendary burnt ends and the Z-Man sandwich, served from a working gas station. Worth every minute in line.

A shimmering architectural icon hosting symphony, opera, ballet and touring acts under two soaring shells.

A 75-acre urban oasis with a rose garden of thousands of blooms and Civil War history underfoot.

Fifteen blocks of Seville-inspired towers, fountains, and mosaics, America's first suburban shopping district, glowing since 1923.

In the historic 18th & Vine district, hands-on exhibits trace Charlie Parker, Ella, and Duke, with live sets in the museum's own Blue Room club.

Hallmark's 85-acre downtown campus packs an aquarium, LEGOLAND, free kids' art studio, and a winter ice rink into one walkable complex.

Freshly reimagined after a $29M overhaul: the atomic bomb decision, a recreated Oval Office, and Truman's grave in the courtyard.

The legendary 18th & Brooklyn temple of KC barbecue, burnt ends piled on white bread, sauce with grit, and a line worth standing in.

Broadway under the stars since 1950, a nearly 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre in Swope Park hosting touring musicals and big-name concerts.

Always-free contemporary art in a striking Gunnar Birkerts building, guarded by a giant Louise Bourgeois spider.

Nine blocks of bars, restaurants, and free outdoor concerts at KC Live!, downtown's after-dark headquarters next to T-Mobile Center.

A small Kansas city along the Kansas River known for its outdoor amphitheater and agricultural heritage.

Missouri River town famed as the starting point of the Pony Express and where outlaw Jesse James was killed.

A free downtown Kansas City museum where visitors can see a working cash vault and lift a real gold bar.

Aerial sightseeing flights over the Kansas City skyline and riverfront.

Kansas's third-largest city, home to Kansas Speedway, the Legends shopping district, and Sporting KC's stadium.

A restored 1860s stagecoach stop in Olathe where costumed interpreters run a working farm and stagecoach rides.

A small Missouri county seat with a historic courthouse square and a state park nearby.

One of the largest public genealogy research libraries in the country, free to use, in Independence.

The Kansas state capital, home to the domed Capitol building and several museums.

A historic Kansas City suburb and hometown of President Harry S. Truman.

A Missouri River metro known for jazz and barbecue history, hundreds of fountains, and a walkable downtown.

A Kansas City-area county along the Missouri River, home to the region's international airport.

A west-central Missouri college town home to the University of Central Missouri, near Whiteman Air Force Base.

The official state tourism office, promoting travel and trip planning across Kansas.

Indoor LEGO-themed family attraction with rides, play zones and a 4D cinema at Crown Center.

A restaurant, sports bar, and arcade in the Village West district of Kansas City, Kansas, with dining and hundreds of games.

A Kansas City area tour operator offering walking, streetcar, and bus tours covering local history, gangster lore, and food.

Lecompton, Kansas museum run by the Lecompton Historical Society covering the town's role in the Bleeding Kansas territorial era.

A 100 percent estate grown vineyard and tasting room in the hills north of Kansas City.

Interactive downtown Kansas City attraction with basketball skill games and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.