The Hitchhikerâs Guide to KC
We head to KC about twice a year and always come back with new things that we have seen or places weâve eaten at. Hereâs a few of our favorites.
Thereâs more than shopping here. Down on first floor is a free traveling kids area. These are normally geared up for the 3-9 year olds and should be 30-45 minutes if you take your time.
On first floor is the food court. Go to Fritzâs (http://www.fritzskc.com). It is a train-themed burger joint that has your food shuttled on lofted trains that drop your order right at your table (see video on their web site). Kids love it!
Technically part of Crown Center but you have to walk about a block
This is a free-for-all, highly stimulating craft zone. Kids get all of these Hallmark leftovers (ribbon, yarn, cardstock, etc.) and get to paint, draw, stamp, color, etc. There is a puzzle-maker, a black-light room, etc.
You have to RSVP for a session. No charge but need to get a session reservation.
Sessions last 45 minutes. You can leave early but you canât stay longer
This is a 10-45 minute tour depending upon your crew. It is adjacent to Kaleidoscope so if you have a reservation there, this is a good time filler
Kids can make a Christmas bow with the bow machine
Interactive kiosk lets you try on âvirtualâ funny hats and e-mail the picture. Kids dig this.
Lego Land Discovery Center
Part of Crown Center complex
Kids up to teens love this.
There is the Legos to play with (regular Legos, Duplos, etc.) as well as rides, and a movie theatre with 3-4 different shows on a rotation. There is also a room with Lego creations of all of KC (land marks) and tons of Star Wars creations. Really cool!
There is a retail Lego store that actually has some of the best prices you can find (weâve compared many times).
There is a Master Builderâs class that we like to do. Itâs 15-30 minutes and you get to build a very unique creation exclusive to Discovery Centers. The class is free (beyond the $$ admission). Once you complete the build, you return the kit to the leader and receive a certificate that allows you to buy the manufactured kit in the retail store. Itâs about $5 or so but only available to those who have completed the class and the proceeds go to charity.
Part of Crown Center complex
We went once. If youâve been the aquarium at Henry Doorly, then this will be a bit of a disappointment. It is still a good aquarium but not the same caliber as the Omaha zoo
I think we were there for 1-2 hours but I may be wrong.
You can get a combo pass for Lego Land and Sea Life and save a couple bucks
There is a skywalk connecting Crown Center to Union Station. You can also park at Union (free I think) and walk the other ways
There are a few things to do that donât cost but unless there is a traveling exhibit (weâve seen fashion shows, city-wide science fair, etc.) this is maybe an hour or so of fun
There is a model railroad exhibit that is pretty cool
The Regnier Extreme theatre (basically an âI-Maxâ Â but it isnât called that) that plays first-run movies. If you go to the first show the tickets are pretty cheap. They have a great deal on pop/popcorn as well which includes free refills
There is a planetarium for a fee as well. Itâs been years since weâve been there
Science City (in Union Station)
Fun for all ages. Stuff that older kids and adults will like as well as youngâuns. We usually spend 2-3 hours here but weâre museum freaks
If you have a Morrill Hall family membership ($50/year), you get into Science City for free (which has an admission of $13.50 for adults and $11.50 for kids or a total of $38.50 for a family of 3). You also get free membership to the Omaha Childrenâs Museum as well. See www.friendsofthemuseum.org for more details on this membership
Fiorellaâs Jack Stack Barbecue (enough said)
Cheesecake Factory (ok. Now enough said)
Weâve also eaten at Tomfooleries. It was OK but I probably wouldnât recommend it unless I had exhausted a few other places
This is located by Crown Center
This is the KC Federal Reserve. They have a small (20-45 minute) tour of a small part of their facility. You get to see pallets of money being moved around as well as educational exhibits. At the end, you get a free bag of shredded money.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Modern art
Close to Country Club Plaza
$8 to park in the garage (some free street parking is available if you want to walk)
We spent 6 hours there and saw maybe half of the museum
There is a 22 acre sculpture garden with some cool stuff including a glass maze (yeah a real maze!)
They have a mobile app or free iPads they loan so you can listen to certain displays (audio). The iPad app also has maps and lets you create guided tours by theme, by type, etc. It was well done.
 Places we've visited but haven't blogged about them yet
Steamboat Arabia museum (www.1856.com)
There are also some places we havenât visited yet but will some day
KC Zoo - Â Kind of hard to drive past Omaha to this
Oklahoma Joeâs Barbecue
City Market (downtown) (http://thecitymarket.org)
National WW I museum (also at Crown Center)
Wonderscope (Shanwee, KS) - Childrenâs museum
Deanna Rose Farm (petting zoo) - Olathe or Overland Park
Lastly, be sure to check out the official KC Visitorâs Bureau site at www.visitkc.com. Enjoy!
http://themovingmom.com/2016/01/11/top-places-to-take-your-kids-in-kansas-city/
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