KC Going Places Fall/Winter 2017-18 by KC Parent Magazine

kansas city’s #1 travel guide since 2010

fall/winter 2017-18

kcgoingplaces.com

FINDING KC’S

FOODIE CULTURE VIBRANT, ECLECTIC

CITY DISTRICTS BIGGER & BETTER:

WHAT’S NEW IN KC

500+ ADVENTURES AROUND KANSAS CITY

Please, have a seat.

I prefer to stand.

A collection that speaks for itself.

OPEN DAILY: 10 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4PM, CLOSED TUESDAYS

5235 OAK STREET K ANSAS CIT Y, MO 64112

816.235.8000

TOYANDMINIATUREMUSEUM.ORG

It’s perfect weather to take advantage of the vast selection of indoor family friendly activities available to you, right here in Lee’s Summit. So, what do you say you head out and treat yourself to some good old-fashioned fun? Here are just a few suggestions.

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

06 | Oktoberfest Craft Show The Pavilion at John Knox Village craftpatchshow.com

03 | Holiday Open House Downtown Lee’s Summit downtownls.org

07 | 42nd Annual Fall Festival Missouri Town 1855 makeyourdayhere.com

04 | The Missouri Gourd Society Show Powell Gardens powellgardens.org

14 | 21st Annual Race for the Future 5K Lee’s Summit West High School lsedfoundation.com 20 Jack-o-Lantern Glow Festival 22 Powell Gardens powellgardens.org 21 | Haunted & Historic Spaces Tour Downtown Lee’s Summit downtownls.org 21 | Paranormal Investigation Tour Missouri Town 1855 makeyourdayhere.com 28 | Boos, Barks & Badges Halloween Parade Downtown Lee’s Summit downtownls.org 29 | Missouri Barn Dinner Powell Gardens powellgardens.org

Yours Truly,

11 Holly Festival 12 Bernard Campbell Middle School lscares.com 11 | Forever Evergreens Powell Gardens powellgardens.org 17 | Mayor’s Tree Lighting Howard Station Park downtownls.org 22 | Christmas in the Sky Longview Lake Beach makeyourdayhere.com 22 | Christmas in the Park Longview Lake Campground makeyourdayhere.com

DECEMBER 01 | Craft Patch Craft Show The Pavilion at John Knox Village craftpatchshow.com 02 | Wonderland Workshop: Drop-in Gift Making for Families Powell Gardens powellgardens.org 09 | Natural Holiday Decor Workshop Powell Gardens powellgardens.org

FESTIVALS

& ONGOING EVENTS

Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market Downtown Lee’s Summit Open until November 18 downtownls.org Festival of Lights Powell Gardens December 1 – January 6 powellgardens.org Summit Art Festival Downtown Lee’s Summit October 6 – 8 summitartfest.org

09 | A Christmas Celebration Missouri Town 1855 makeyourdayhere.com

Sylvia Bailey Farm Park Sylvia Bailey Park Open every weekend in October lsparks.net

16 | Making Spirits Bright: Boozy Botanicals, Live Jazz, Holiday Light and Appetizers Powell Gardens powellgardens.org

Fall Harvest Days Paradise Park September 30 – October 28 paradise-park.com

For a complete listing of events, visit lstourism.com.

CONTENTS

FEATURES 8 go see kc

experience the best our city has to offer

16 best fests

our favorite seasonal fairs

18 everything’s up-to-date in kc

newest attractions and exhibits in town

22 brick by brick

discover kc’s signature districts

purchase made-in-kc souvenirs

an oasis in the heartland for chefs

the season’s ultimate mega-fun list

GO PLACES

CREATIVE PLACES

24 shop local kc

26 kc foodie culture

60 make the most of your kc vacay

30 paint, sew, make things 32 culinary experiences 33 art museums

FUN PLACES

HISTORIC PLACES

SCIENCE PLACES

42 history museums

48 science museums 48 zoos, aquariums & farms 49 gardens 50 conservation centers

34 amusement parks, arcades

& entertainment centers 35 children’s museums & indoor play

52 live theater, dance & entertainment

ADVENTUROUS PLACES

38 38 39 40

zip lines, rock walls & obstacle courses trampoline parks & bounce houses wheels, water & sky escape rooms & mystery theater

THEATRICAL PLACES SPORTS PLACES

56 pro, semi-pro & college sports 56 bowling 58 winter sports 59 sports museums/complexes

YOUR STYLE. YOUR TASTE. YOUR LEGENDS. While you’re in Kansas City, make Legends Outlets your fashion and dining destination. With more than 100 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues to choose from, there’s something for everyone!

WEST I-70 & I-435 | KANSAS CITY, KS 10 AM–9 PM MON–SAT | 11 AM–6 PM SUN LEGENDSSHOPPING.COM

editor’s letter

kansas city’s #1 travel guide since 2010

fall/winter 2017-18

kcgoingplaces.com

FINDING KC’S

all and winter: my favorite times of year! Would I rather spend a day at the pumpkin patch making memories with my children or enjoy a brisk winter evening with the famous Christmas lights of the Country Club Plaza? Fortunately, as a lifelong Kansas City resident with an undying passion and love for my hometown, I don’t have to pick! Kansas Citians are proud of our city’s professional sports teams, signature barbecue (Jack Stack will forever get my top vote, but Joe’s Kansas City and Q39 are close runners-up), fabulous architecture, world-class performing arts, eclectic neighborhoods, local artisans and Midwestern hospitality. This autumn, my family looks forward to visiting our favorite pumpkin patches and cider mills. Fall boasts so many terrific festivals that it’s hard to choose a favorite. Apple Fest in Weston, the Plaza Art Fair, Glow: A Jack-O’-Lantern Festival at Powell Gardens and the KC Japan Festival are just a few of my personal favorites. And it wouldn’t be autumn in Kansas City without the American Royal. The annual rodeo, barbecue competition and festival are a Midwest tradition you don’t want to miss. Before we know it, autumn will give way to winter, and that means our favorite holiday traditions, beginning with the lighting of the Country Club Plaza Christmas lights. Then, we make plans to see our favorite holiday shows, The Nutcracker at the Kansas City Ballet and A Christmas Carol at the KC Repertory Theatre. We’re also looking forward to the return of A Charlie Brown Christmas (my all-time favorite) at the Coterie. With beautiful holiday light displays and traditions, Christmas in Kansas City truly is magical. When we’re not enjoying seasonal favorites, we love taking in a First Friday in the Crossroads or Third Thursday at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. We always can find something to enjoy in Kansas City. These are just a few of the things I enjoy about Kansas City. You’ll find many more as you flip through the pages of KC Going Places. We’re glad you’re here to experience the best Kansas City has to offer, and we hope you come to love this city just as much as we do!

FOODIE CULTURE VIBRANT, ECLECTIC

CITY DISTRICTS BIGGER & BETTER:

WHAT’S NEW IN KC

500+ ADVENTURES AROUND KANSAS CITY

Cover art by John Bosley. For great products featuring Bosley’s artwork, check out BozzPrints.com.

KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Kristina Light, Editor

Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com Managing Editor Margaret Sarver Margaret@KCParent.com Editor Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design Kim@KCParent.com Digital Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Advertising Sales Darrell Dean Advertising@KCParent.com Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com Distribution To be added to our distribution list, e-mail Distribution@KCParent.com Local Contributing Writers Margaret Bristow, Kansas City Lauren Greenlee, Olathe Amanda Plunkett Ishmael, Kansas City Karen Johnson, Olathe Jessica Samuel, Kansas City Margaret Sarver, Lenexa Business Office 11936 W. 119th #335 Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone 913.681.5139 fax

Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/KansasCityParent Follow us on Twitter: @KCParent Pinterest.com/KCParent

Member of:

Circulation verified by:

KC Going Places is published 2 times a year by Family Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout the Kansas City area. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect KC Going Places’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. KC Going Places Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All photography and letters sent to KC Going Places will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. KC Going Places often includes websites that may be helpful to our readers. We verify each site prior to publication. However, content changes frequently. We encourage you to use caution and discretion when visiting a website.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Spend a few hours or an entire day

at Union Station! • Internationally Awarded Science City: Daily Demos & Activities • World-Class Traveling Exhibition: Mummies of The World Now - Thru January 1, 2018 •NEW TRAVELING EXHIBITION opens January 2018! • New 4K Planetarium: Explore Our Universe Like Never Before • Extreme Screen Theatre: Full-Length First-Run & Educational Films on Largest Screen in the Midwest • Free Model Train Exhibit: “Best Kept Secret in Missouri” • Year-Round Special Events and Celebrations • Free Award-Winning Union Station History Exhibits • Restaurants, Retail and So Much More!

Plan your visit:

UnionStation.org Proud to be a

Smithsonian Affiliate

GO SEE KC

Go See KC’s Signature Landmarks The Country Club Plaza, with beautiful towers, sculptures, paintings and mosaics inspired by Seville, Spain, is one of the prettiest places in Kansas City and home to many of the city’s most beautiful fountains. A favorite autumn tradition is the Plaza Art Fair, held annually during the third weekend of September. The holiday season is not complete without a visit to the Plaza to enjoy the Christmas lights. Nearby, visit the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. The museum houses a charming world of toys with interactive exhibits that take visitors on a stroll down memory lane. And, be sure to visit Union Station, home to Kansas City’s Science City.

Union Station

Steeped in history, the National World War I Museum and Memorial is America’s only museum dedicated to sharing the stories of the Great War through the eyes of those who lived it. Interactive displays, thought-provoking films and eyewitness testimonies compose one of the largest collections of WWI artifacts in the world. Conclude your tour with a trip to the top of this iconic landmark, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the city’s everchanging skyline. And, make sure to visit the Money Museum, a free museum where visitors leave with a bag of shredded cash.

National World War I Museum and Memorial

Visit Crown Center for many attractions, great shops and restaurants. Kaleidoscope is consistently ranked as one of the best kid-friendly destinations in Kansas City. Imaginations know no limit as kids create jigsaw puzzles, glow-in-the-dark art, crowns and more at this hands-on art center. Sea Life features a walk-through underwater tunnel and an enthralling journey from the fresh waters of the Missouri River to the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean. Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas, including a 4D cinema, classes, an exciting Lego ride and one-of-a-kind Lego exhibits. The Coterie produces professional children’s theater year-round. Legoland Discovery Center 8

KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Go Appreciate the Arts The jewel of downtown is the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Audiences enjoy professional performances from the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, Kansas City Symphony and touring productions. The holiday season brings annual traditions to the stage, including Kansas City Ballet’s Nutcracker and the Kansas City Symphony’s holiday concerts. Throughout the year, both local and traveling productions include professional entertainers, as well as educational programming ranging from comedians to musicians, short plays to lectures. Before the show, enjoy a delicious meal in the Founders’ Lounge, where they offer a three-course menu featuring modern-American cuisine. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Kansas City is home to many remarkable art galleries, with three of her finest open to the public for free! The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of the largest galleries in the United States, maintains a permanent collection representing art from throughout history and around the world. Visitors enjoy the galleries and, on nice days, picnic or stroll the landscaped museum grounds and sculpture garden. For modern art enthusiasts, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit permanent and temporary collections with special events and workshops for families.

Kansas City’s arts, antiques and dining districts roll out the red carpet all month long with special hours, sales and events on weekends. You’ll find a complete schedule of events on KCParent.com when you search “Weekend Guide.” Top picks include First Fridays in the Crossroads, enjoyed by more than 10,000 people who head to the cultural arts district for free peeks at galleries and studios, delicious treats from food trucks and restaurants and intriguing entertainment from street performers. Third Saturday Wine Walk on Delaware is an adult favorite in the River Market. Final Fridays in Lawrence feature hundreds of artists and performers in more than 30 locations— this free event is fun for everyone. First Fridays in the Crossroads KCGOINGPLACES.COM

GO SEE KC

Go on a Historic Outing “The Man from Missouri,” the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman hails from Independence. You can learn about his childhood at the Truman Farm, his humble lifestyle at the Truman Home in Independence and his presidency at the Truman Presidential Library. There, visitors participate in interactive exhibits, including a replica Truman Oval Office; they also explore Truman artifacts and special exhibits. Visit other historic sites including Vaile Mansion, the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, the Jail Museum and the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, many of which host special events throughout the year and are decorated for the holidays. Truman Presidential Library

Local museums and historic sites tell the area’s history through hands-on education. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 in their new home at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, the Johnson County Museum offers innovative, engaging, and challenging programs that will inspire all learners to discover a sense of place and spark excitement about history. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Johnson County brings 1850s farming to life with stagecoach rides, family programs and a working blacksmith shop. Missouri Town 1855 and Shoal Creek Living History Museum are two historic villages teaching pioneer life through fun events, festivals and programs. Shawnee Town 1929 is a village where families explore life in the 1920s firsthand. Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

One of Kansas City’s most famous historic neighborhoods is 18th & Vine. Two museums in the district celebrate the city’s past. You can experience Kansas City jazz and celebrate our finest musicians at the American Jazz Museum and enjoy a live concert at the Gem or the Blue Room. Then, head next door to visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, where you’ll discover the history of American baseball from the African-American perspective, beginning in 1863, and get to know many famous local baseball stars. Measure up against the life-size bronze statues of players in mid-game on the baseball diamond. 10 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Go Outside Meet exotic animals at the Kansas City Zoo at Swope Park, where Berlin the polar bear, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Billy Goats Gruff, Sumatran Tiger Exhibit and the Tropics are favorite attractions. Ride the train, carousel, boat, tram and Sky Safari to enjoy terrific views of the animals. In the fall, enjoy Boo at the Zoo, an annual Halloween event. At Christmastime, visit Santa at the zoo. Year-round check out the zoo’s calendar for special events, including overnights with the penguins and polar bear. Enjoy other attractions at Swope Park, including Lakeside Nature Center and the Battle of Westport Museum. KC Zoo

Meander through one of the area’s botanical gardens. Powell Gardens is home to a beautiful island garden, rock wall garden, conservatory, Heartland Harvest Garden and acres of trails overlooking exquisite flowers, plants and prairie. In the fall, enjoy scarecrows in the gardens, GLOW: A JackO’-Lantern Festival and cooking demos by local chefs. During the holiday season, attend their newest event, Festival of Lights. The Overland Park Arboretum is home to a Monet garden, train garden and beautiful trails to explore. The gardens are glorious with fall foliage, and their holiday luminary walk is a favorite tradition for many families. Overland Park Arboretum

Cedar Cove in Louisburg, KS, is an animal refuge for endangered or rescued big cats. See leopards, cougars, wolves, bobcats, a white tiger, black leopards and caracals. On Saturdays through October, Cedar Cove hosts public feedings of the cats and remains open until 5:00, weather permitting. Also in town, enjoy fresh-made cider at Louisburg Cider Mill, where visitors watch as cider is pressed and cider donuts are made. The mill is also home to a seasonal pumpkin patch and corn maze. On Saturdays through October, visit Powell Observatory for a public stargazing session with one of the largest telescopes in the region.

Cedar Cove KCGOINGPLACES.COM 11

GO SEE KC

Go Create Creative juices flow at Pintervention, the Makery and Pinspire Craft Studios, new local businesses specializing in all those Pinterestinspired projects you want to try, but never get around to creating. For fun, vintage art, connect with friends at Eat, Drink & Stitch, where you can participate in embroidery happy hours, workshops and parties. Restoration Emporium is an eclectic shop selling vintage and repurposed art. They also offer workshops to learn how to paint signs, make wreaths and craft using repurposed materials. The Studio in historic Overland Park is the place for knitting, crochet and needlepoint classes. Pintervention

BYOB paint-your-own-canvas shops are a fun trend across the city; each offers diverse calendars with a variety of masterpieces you can create following simple step-by-step instructions. Thirsty Palette in Leawood is one of our top picks. Customers sign up for a class, bring their own beverage and spend an evening creating a personal work of art to take home and display. Create family keepsakes at Paint, Glaze & Fire, Ceramic Café and more paint-your-own pottery shops. Patrons select and paint their own ceramic masterpieces—anything from piggy banks to plates, mugs to picture frames and many holiday pieces, as well. Ceramic Café

If you love to cook, try a class at Function Junction, a haven for kitchen gadgets and tools, and they offer hands-on workshops to hone your cooking skills. A Thyme for Everything is a quaint shop in Lee’s Summit’s historic downtown shopping district that offers cooking classes for children and adults. For something unique, head to Local Pig, where you can sign up for culinary classes to learn a variety of skills, including the fine art of butchering. To learn the history and techniques behind your favorite seasonings and herbs, take a class at Savory Spice in Brookside. Savory Spice 12 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Go Spend a Day Shopping Head west to Legends Outlets for a day of shopping and local attractions. The shopping center commemorates Kansas celebrities with banners, sculptures and artwork. You even can walk the Yellow Brick Road, a tribute to Kansas’ literary fame in The Wizard of Oz. Play your favorite arcades and enjoy delicious food at Dave and Buster’s. Stay nearby at Great Wolf Lodge, an 84-degree indoor water park and hotel with more than 38,000 square feet of water-packed excitement, including jaw-dropping slides for thrill seekers and zero-depth entry areas for little ones.

Legends Outlets

The Village at Briarcliff in the Northland, with Tuscan-style architecture, offers spectacular views of Downtown Kansas City and an upscale boutique shopping and dining experience. From Nell Hill’s, to Made in KC, Lillian’s and Boutique Collective, the village offers a variety of clothing, decorating and boutique-style shops. Piropos serves authentic Argentinian cuisine, Trezo Mare is a favorite for Italian dining, and you will find plenty of casual dining options as well. With spas, salons, event spaces and even Pinot’s Palette, a painting experience, there is a lot to see and do. Throughout the year, enjoy Ladies Night Out events, Fall Open House, Holiday Open House and shopping specials.

Made in KC

Downtown Lee’s Summit has been awarded the Great American Main Street Award, and it’s easy to see why! This shopping district is one of the most vibrant in the area. Start with a discovery of the area’s history at the Lee’s Summit Historical Society Museum, housed in a 1905 train depot in the heart of downtown. The area offers restaurants ranging from upscale to the local diner. Visit shops and boutiques, including bookstores, hobby shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, cooking stores and more. At Paradise Park in Lee’s Summit, your family will enjoy laser tag, rock wall climbing, miniature golf, the Foam Factory, an escape room, bumper cars, an arcade and more. Downtown Lee’s Summit KCGOINGPLACES.COM 13

GO SEE KC

Go Experience the Seasons Autumn is pumpkin season in Kansas City, and that means a visit to the local pumpkin patch and corn maze for a hayride and hunting in the field to discover the perfect pumpkin. From jumping pillows to zip lines, pumpkin chomping dinosaurs to petting zoos, each patch features unique attractions. Visit KCParent.com for a virtual Pumpkin Patch Guide to discover the coolest attractions at each patch. And visit Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead before it closes for the season in October. The 12-acre park is home to more than 200 farm animals, gardens, a dairy barn, pony rides and much more.

Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins

Christmas in Kansas City wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Fairy Princess at the Kansas City Museum, where children take photos and leave with a special gift. For something more whimsical, visit the City Market for Holidays in Whoville on weekends. Kids make special Seussian crafts and take photos with the Grinch. Local landmarks are aglow with holiday lights from Thanksgiving through Christmas. The Country Club Plaza, Legends Shopping Center, Zona Rosa, Christmas in the Park at Longview, the Lee’s Summit Magic Tree, Sar-Ko-Par Park and Candy Cane Lane are just a few of our favorites. Read our guide to the best Christmas lights in the city on KCParent.com. Fairy Princess at the Kansas City Museum

Winter sports are beloved in Kansas City. You can take a spin on the ice at one of the local outdoor rinks, the Ice at Park Place in Leawood, Crown Center Ice Terrace in Kansas City, the Rink at Burlington Creek in the Northland, Linden Square Ice Rink in Gladstone or the soon-to-be-opened Lea McKeighan Park Rink in Lee’s Summit. Weston’s Snow Creek is a short 45-minute to onehour drive from downtown KC, appealing to skiers and snow boarders alike. You’ll find indoor ice skating rinks and a guide to the best sled hills in Kansas City on KCParent.com. 14 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Crown Center Ice Terrace

Go Have Fun Test your puzzle solving skills at one of the city’s many escape room entertainment venues. You’ll find Exit Room at Paradise Park and Union Station, Breakout KC in the Rivermarket district, the Escape Room, Tick Tock Escape Games and more. Players are given one hour to solve puzzles and unravel codes to escape a real-life scenario. Or, participate in an interactive murder mystery with a live show at a local restaurant courtesy of Mystery Train. Holyfield Winery in Bonner Springs and Belvoir Winery in Liberty also host regular murder mystery events. You’ll find more on KCParent.com. Tick Tock Escape Games

For those who want a daring adventure, head to Go Ape KC, located in Swope Park. This attraction offers treetop and private group adventures. The two- to three-hour obstacle course includes 40 crossings that feature rope bridges, five zip lines, Tarzan swings and net bridges. Urban Air in Overland Park is an indoor trampoline park with special play hours and packages for all ages from toddlers to teens. Jump City in Belton is an indoor playground with moon bounces and inflatables for young children. Rockwall enthusiasts enjoy APEX Climbing Gym, Cave Bouldering Gym and IBEX Gym, each with challenging rock wall courses for every experience level. Urban Air

Enjoy classic fun with a visit to one of Kansas City’s fun centers. Adults enjoy a bit of nostalgia at one of the area’s arcades. A number of local restaurants also feature gaming, including Tapcade, Draftcade, Up-Down Arcade, Pawns & Pints, Throwback KC and Dave & Buster’s. Miniature golf, go-karts and arcades are all the rage at Cool Crest. Aaron’s Fun Center in Belton offers bowling, arcades and miniature golf. Advanced Laser Tag is home to Kansas City’s only two-story laser tag arena. The attraction also has a video arcade area. Main Event boasts three locations with bowling, billiards, laser tag, arcades, obstacle courses and more. Advanced Laser Tag KCGOINGPLACES.COM 15

fall festivals IN KANSAS CITY

FAVORITE

Autumn means fall festivals in Kansas City! From apples to pumpkins, crafts to carnivals, ethnic festivals and much, much more, celebrate everything autumn at a local fair. Visit KCParent.com for a complete guide to festivals in Kansas City. These are some of our annual favorites!

Kansas City Renaissance Festival Weekends Sept. 2-Oct. 15, KCRenFest.com. Pay heed to the exploits of jousting knights on thundering steeds, roam the village shops for unique crafts, delight in comedy, music, magic and more on our 20 stages of non-stop entertainment and feast on delicious food and drinks from the far reaches of the globe!

The Great Pumpkin Fest Weekends Sept. 16-Oct. 29, Worlds of Fun, WorldsOfFun.com. This family-friendly event is all treats and no tricks and features special Halloween-themed activities, plus PEANUTS-themed rides and attractions in Planet Snoopy! Plaza Art Fair Sept. 22-24, Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, MO, PlazaArtFair.com. The Plaza Art Fair encompasses nine city blocks and welcomes a crowd of more than 250,000. Featuring 240 artists, the Plaza Art Fair is a top-ranked, national art event with three live music stages and more than 25 featured restaurant booths.

ry Cousins Carolyn’s Count Pumpkin Patch

Mahaffie Stagec

oach Stop & Fa

Admission:

2 and under FREE Kids 3-12

Mon-Fri Sat-Sun

$11

(includes jumping pillow)

Adults 13-59 $9 Seniors 60+ $7

$13 $11 $9

ALL PRICING INCLUDES TAX

20 Acre Co

rn Maze Incl

25,000 Garden

uded in Adm

ission

Mums in 84 Varie

ties

Small & Large Gr oup Discounts

Birthday Party Pack

ages

U-Pick Pumpkin

s, Flowers and Ve ggies Lots of NEW ATTR ACTIONS Every Year

$2.00 OFF

purchase of $10 or more at the Barnyard Grill. Good every day of the week.

One coupon per order, per customer. Must show coupon on phone or print it out. Offer expires 10/31/17.

CINNAMON STICKS • CIDER SPICES • GIFT BASKETS • CUSTOM OR BASKETS TO GO • HONEY • UNIQUE GIFTS

17701 Holmes Road, Belton MO Mon.- Fri. 12 to 6 pm • Sat.-Sun. 9 am to 6 pm Retail store open every day 9 am to 6 pm www.johnsonfarms.net • 816.331.1067

Only 20 minutes from Kansas City!

❤ Lost Trail

Root Beer

& Soda Flavors!

Great Place To Visit! Our Country Store is open all year.

❤ Natural Cider Old-Fashioned Goodness

❤ Gift Baskets

Wide Selection of Delicious Treats!

Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 6 pm Sunday: 9 am to 6 pm

louisburgcidermill.com 913-837-5202

14730 K68 Highway, Louisburg, KS 66053

❤ Creative Gifts From Our Store & Online! Friends, Relatives, Or Treat Your Boss!

❤ Fresh

Cider Donuts!

• CIDER & SPICE • PEACH BUTTER • HOT’N SPICY SNACK • FRUIT SPREADS •

16 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

DIET ROOT BEER • APPLE CIDER JELLY • APPLE BUTTER • CIDER DONUT MIX • PANCAKE MIX • SPARKLING CIDERS

• MIXES • SEASONING • SPARKLING APPLE CIDER • LOST TRAIL ROOT BEER •

Ciderfest & Craft Fair Sept. 23-24 and

Kansas Chocolate Festival Sept. 30,

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Louisburg Cider Mill, Louisburg, KS, LouisburgCiderMill.com. Enjoy handmade crafts, barbecue, live music, old-fashioned good eats, pumpkins and a lot of other fun activities! Craft fair, fresh cider making, cider donuts, live music, kids activities, hay castle, hayrides and farm animal viewing area.

Kansas Avenue, Downtown Topeka, KS, VisitTopeka.com. Kansas Chocolate Festival is a chocolate-lover’s dream. This is a day to taste, play and explore, plus check out vendors, food trucks, demonstrations, a baking contest and more.

Wild West Days Sept. 23-24, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm, Olathe, KS, Mahaffie.org. Entertainment from the Whip Guy, the Wicked Liars and more! Sample delicious food from the chuck wagons.

American Royal ProRodeo Sept. 29-30, Hale Arena, KC, MO, AmericanRoyal.com. See some of the world’s top cowboys, cowgirls and trick riders, plus the crowd-favorite kids mutton busting! FREE concerts by Travis Marvin and Noe Palma at the Pendleton Whisky Tailgate!

KC Games for Good Oct. 7, KC Games for Good, National WWI Museum and Memorial, KCGamesForGood.org. One-day event includes competitive games for all, a kids scavenger hunt, food and entertainment.

Waterfire Kansas City Oct. 7, Country Club Plaza, WaterfireKC.com. Return to the roots of WaterFire: the lighted braziers along Brush Creek that provide so much pleasure to thousands as they enjoy the view from the banks of the creek and the bridges that cross it. Bring a picnic, dine with some of your favorite Plaza restaurants, enjoy the fire performers and musical accompaniment.

Open Sept.16-Oct. 31 10:00am-7:00pm 7 days a week

Missouri Town 1855 Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music Oct. 7-8, Missouri Town 1855, MakeYourDayHere.com. Skilled interpreters will bring the antebellum living history site to life with the music, dance, games, crafts and delicious foods of 1855. Watch sorghum being harvested, ground and boiled to form exquisite syrup. Skilled crafters and artisans will offer special one-of-a-kind treasures, giving the perfect opportunity to start holiday shopping.

Summit Art Fest Oct. 6-8, Downtown Lee’s Summit, SummitArtFest.org. Explore the Lee’s Summit arts community, along with award-winning artists from across the nation. You’ll also enjoy food, live music and activities for the entire family.

Glow: A Jack-O’-Lantern Festival Oct. 20-21, Powell Gardens, PowellGardens.org. This spooktacular annual festival features a 1-mile path of 750 expertly carved jack-o’-lanterns. The weekend also offers fall hayrides, hands-on activities and food and beverage vendors.

Fabulous Fun on the Farm!! • Company Outings & Birthday Parties • New – Country Carouse l

• Old-fashioned pig races , entertainment & music on weekends • Little Bud’s Railroad: Kansas City’s only farm train • Old-fashioned tractor wagon rides • Pumpkin donuts, homemade fudge and fresh kettle corn • Traditional farm animals • Rocks and mining • 60 acres of pumpkins

Bring in this ad & receive $1 off single admission. Cannot be combined with other offers.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 17

e r o m even everything’s^ up-to-date in kansas city

“e

By Kristina Light

verything’s up-to-date in Kansas City,” or so the song lyrics go. This fall and winter, we’re excited to see big improvements and new additions making our city better than ever.

Worlds of Fun: WinterFest Worlds of Fun (WorldsOfFun.com) welcomed two new unique and thrilling rides in 2017: Mustang Runner, featuring three arms with seven gondolas per arm turning one way while the base of the ride spins the other way, and Falcon’s Flight, “a hair-raising thrill at nearly 100 feet above the

Worlds of Fun Winterfest

18 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

ground.” This winter, the park introduces a new tradition with WinterFest, a holiday themed festival. Seasonal cheer will abound as the celebration surrounds guests with spectacular holiday lights and décor, world-class live entertainment, mouth-watering treats and heart-warming experiences.

Kansas City Ballet: 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Season The Kansas City Ballet (KCBallet.org) is celebrating 60 years of dance! The 2017-18 season promises to bring spectacular world-class ballet to the stage with an unforgettable season

of performances. The season begins with Romeo & Juliet (Oct. 13-22), William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Christmas brings the annual tradition of The Nutcracker (Dec. 7-24). New Moves, showing Feb. 15-18, brings fresh creations to the stage and showcases the company’s new talent. April features the Anniversary Dance Festival, with amazing performances including Diamonds, April 6-8, and The Man in Black, April 13-15. Audiences look forward to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz May 11-20.

Lenexa Public Market The Lenexa Public Market (LenexaPublicMarket.com) opened this autumn, bringing a new and unique concept to Kansas City. With a desire to support local businesses, the 11,000-square-foot food hall and market showcases diverse merchants that offer fresh foods and locally sourced, handcrafted products. The venue is a great place to shop, enjoy a meal, get together with friends and family and support local businesses. In addition to the great shopping and dining spaces, the market also hosts classes and events to learn the art of food preparation and cooking, as well as health workshops.

Legends Outlets: “the Lawn” Legends Outlets (LegendsShopping.com) is transforming the west end of the property into a new community space named “the Lawn.” This winter, shoppers will enjoy parklike features and interactive elements, including a jumbo outdoor LED screen placed on Legends Outlets’ iconic smokestack, and a smaller LED display facing the property’s Civic Courtyard Fountain. The space will be ideal for picnics, screenings and experiences.

Lea McKeighan Outdoor Ice Rink Lee’s Summit Lea McKeighan North Park has long been a favorite for Lee’s Summit residents, and the Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Department (CityOfLS.net) continues to make improvements on the city’s signature park. This season, the city will upgrade the existing skate park, as well as add an outdoor ice skating rink, a summer splash pad and new playground equipment and walking trail.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Through the Eyes of Picasso The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Nelson-Atkins.org) welcomes a new exhibit, “Through the Eyes of Picasso,” opening Oct. 20. The exhibit explores Picasso’s lifelong fascination with African and Oceanic art, uniting his paintings and sculpture with art that had a seminal impact on his own creative exploration. The exhibition features 170 works, including more than 60 paintings, sculptures and ceramics by Picasso alongside more than 20 works of African and Oceanic art that were part of his personal collection—pieces he collected, lived with and kept with him in his studios, many of them featured for the first time in the Americas.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Through the Eyes of Picasso

Kansas City Zoo’s Touch Tank The Kansas City Zoo (KansasCityZoo.org) has introduced amazing improvements annually for the past several years, including Polar Bear Passage, Tiger Trail, Orangutan Canopy, the Tropics, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the African Sky Safari and the interactive Billy Goats Gruff Yard with more than 20 goats enjoying their new playground. Another fabulous addition arrives in 2018: a 20,000- to 30,000-gallon touch tank where visitors will be able to touch stingrays and sharks. The tank will be home to cownose rays, cat sharks and small bamboo sharks.

Coming Soon! Stingrays at The Kansas City Zoo's Touch Tank

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 19

what makes kc

Shuttlecocks at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

hen people ask what they should see or do when they visit Kansas City, what comes to mind? In our fun and family-friendly city, folks can find endless opportunities for good food and entertainment at reasonable prices. Here are a few of our family’s favorites!

cool?

Magnolia Walk and terrace flower beds, cascading lights in the pools of the Island Garden, laser lighting projections at the Meadow and Pavilion and a magical view of the lake with floating trees and sculptures.”

The Kansas City Zoo (KansasCityZoo.org)

Powell Gardens (PowellGardens.org) Powell Gardens is a vast botanical garden that “offers visitors the chance to experience art, nature and culture all in one spot,” according to Kalie Hudson, manager of marketing and sales. This year, Powell Gardens will provide a new, extended holiday offering for the entire family called Festival of Lights. Hudson tells KC Going Places, “From Dec. 1 to Jan. 6, the festival features a fantastic lighting display installed throughout the gardens, a bedazzled 20 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Another favorite is our local zoo. The KC Zoo tells KC Going Places, “The first three October weekends are called Hoots & Howls, and we have all types of activities, like pedal tractors, a hay maze, slitherin’ snake shed, crafts, our carousel turns into the scare-o-cel, and a hayride.” Winter zoo events include Santa Dives, where a dressed-up Santa jumps into the water in the penguin exhibit and swims with the penguins (Nov. 24-26, Dec. 2-3, 9-10 & 16-17) and Winter Wonderland, where the zoo

Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens

turns the Polar Bear Passage into the North Pole and the Helzberg Penguin Plaza into the South Pole. Plus, the lions receive fully decorated Christmas trees complete with wrapped presents underneath.

Nelson-Atkins Museum (Nelson-Atkins.org) A KC favorite with FREE ADMISSION is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Hannah McLain, coordinator of marketing and communications at the Nelson-Atkins, says, “We’re an encyclopedic museum, so in one day you can see works from the Impressionist masters in Europe, to ancient China, to contemporary America, to American Indian and everything in between. And visitors can always go outside to enjoy our 22-acre Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, featuring the works of Henry Moore, Roxy Paine and Robert Morris, to name a few.” Beginning on Dec. 16, you can see “Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity, Treasure of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou.” McLain tells KC Going Places, “This includes the finest jade burial suit in existence. In adjacent galleries will be displayed a selection of 90 pieces from our celebrated collection of early Chinese art from the Shang (16th century—ca. 1046 B.C.E.) to the Han (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) dynasties. The display includes the world-famous jade bi ritual disc and many other exceptional pieces.”

The Coterie (TheCoterie.org) The Coterie, Kansas City’s well-known children’s theater, has two productions coming up in the 2017-18 season. Check out We Shall Not Be Moved, a civil rights history play about the student sit-ins of 1960. This production is for families with ages 11 and older. The production features a forum at the end of the play where audiences will interact with the actors in character—asking questions or discussing the themes of the play. Also, don’t miss A Charlie Brown Christmas, running Nov. 7-Dec. 31.

When asked what makes the Coterie so unique, David Golston, director of marketing and public relations, says, “As a not-for-profit professional theater company, the Coterie seeks to educate, entertain and challenge audiences by opening lines of communication between races, sexes and generations [with its] live stage productions that spark the imagination and ignite creativity.”

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (JoesKC.com) Hungry? Don’t miss our family’s favorite barbecue joint: Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que! Doug Worgul, director of marketing for Joe’s, says, “I think the reason that we’ve been successful is our unwavering commitment to quality and consistency, both in our food and in our customer service. All Kansas City barbecue joints are great. There’s no bad barbecue in Kansas City. Our city is the Barbecue Capital of the World! But I do think that the quality of our food and customer service, and the fact that our original location is in a gas station, have helped us stand out in a very crowded and competitive field.” If you visit, try the Z-Man! It’s the most popular menu item (and my all-time favorite!) Also, Joe’s french fries, hands-down, are the best in the entire world.

Sylas and Maddy’s (SylasandMaddysIceCream.com)

Mesner Puppet Theater (MesnerPuppets.org) Another KC treasure is the Mesner Puppet Theater. Brenda Gray, communications manager, tells KC Going Places, “Our shows are unique because of the quality of our puppets, all made in-house, created by artistic director Mike Horner and founder Paul Mesner. We are great storytellers. As Mike says, ‘As a puppeteer, my job is to bring absurd ideas to life. I ask my audience to accept these absurd ideas and believe the unbelievable, which could be anything from a dog that can talk, dinosaurs who ride rocket ships or a little man made of stinky cheese. Ultimately, I am a storyteller, a storyteller with some incredible tools at my disposal.’” Check out The Dinosaur Show (Oct. 3-22) and Rhymes, Rap, Miss Mary Mack (Feb. 13-March 4)!

Now for dessert! Sylas and Maddy’s is one of KC’s most famous ice cream shops. When asked what makes Sylas and Maddy’s unique, owner Jennifer Shubin says, “We are a family owned and operated business. We make all of our ice cream and homemade waffle cones in house. We have created over 150 flavors with our own unique recipes. We have some very original flavors but we also have the traditional flavors like blackberry and butter brickle that many remember from their childhood.” Shubin also suggests visitors try the Peanut Butter Freak, a peanut butter ice cream with Reese’s peanut butter cups and a chocolate swirl, Da Bomb, which is made of Oreos, chocolate chips and cookie dough, and the watermelon sherbet, which includes an entire cut-up watermelon!

Olathe mom Karen Johnson writes at The21stCenturySAHM.com. KCGOINGPLACES.COM 21

BRICK BY BRICK, CORNER BY CORNER… DISCOVERING KC’S SIGNATURE DISTRICTS

ansas City boasts some of the most intriguing places on earth to visit,

and we’re going brick by brick, corner by corner and district by district to see exactly what this city has to offer.

Power & Light The Power & Light District has more than 50 bars, grills, restaurants and unique shops, all divided among nine downtown blocks. The district is so uniquely organized, with five very different but equally necessary categories: hotels, residential, shopping and services, restaurants and bars and, last but not least, nightlife and entertainment. What makes this district so amazing? It’s simple: Everything is in one place and there’s a new adventure around every corner—literally! Power & Light also is well-lit, hard to miss and has a little something for everybody. If you need something to do, give the Power & Light District a run for your money. I promise you won’t be bored or disappointed. 50 E. 13th St. Kansas City, MO 64106 816.474.0497

22 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Country Club Plaza

Country Club Plaza Like the Power & Light District, the Country Club Plaza is spread across several blocks—15 to be exact. The Country Club Plaza has more than 150 fashion-rich shops and tantalizing restaurants. The Plaza also boasts a number of happy hours and brunches available. One unique feature that differentiates the Country Club Plaza from any other district is the annual events that draw crowds of communities together. The Plaza Art Show attracts talented artists from the Kansas City community and all over the world to have their works viewed and even auctioned. Let’s not fail to mention the Plaza lighting ceremony. Every November, the Country Club Plaza and Kansas City Power & Light team together to give the city a show with lights to celebrate the Christmas season. The Plaza is definitely a Kansas City must-see that always has something new to offer. 4750 Broadway Kansas City, MO 64112 816.753.0100

Kansas City Crossroads District

Power & Light District

Westport District Also known as the “Original Kansas City,” Westport has been a part of Kansas City’s district gang for decades. Westport originally served as a jumping-off point for settlers traveling the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails and was the site of a significant Civil War battle. In addition to its historic value, the district, ranging roughly from 39th Terrace through Southwest Trafficway, offers amazing nightlife. From karaoke bars to piano bars, Westport has a little something different to offer. Kansas City’s finest come to perform their latest mixtapes and newest singles at places like the Riot Room, and food trucks line up to feed the enclosed streets every weekend. A weekend at Westport definitely will leave you revitalized and ready to take on the new week. 4048 Broadway St. Kansas City, MO 64111

Westport District

Kansas City Crossroads District This district is fancied for its creative minds and even more for creative works of art, adorning Kansas City with visual beauty that keeps visitors coming back. The Crossroads District is most popular for its pop-up shops and open art galleries every first Friday of the month. “First Fridays” offer Kansas City local artists an opportunity to post, showcase and even sell their creations. The best part about this starter Friday is that it doesn’t end with art viewings; food, fun and sometimes even live music also fill the streets. Plus, the Crossroads sits just minutes away from another fan favorite mentioned in this lineup. Can you figure it out? Crossroads Community Association Kansas City, MO 64141 816.994.7313

18th and Vine Jazz and Blues District

18th and Vine Jazz and Blues District So much history happened on the corner of these two streets where music legends were born. The 18th and Vine Jazz and Blues District features a number of jazz and blues-inspired attractions. Enjoy live music at bars and grills like the Kansas City Jazz and Blues Juke House and the Blue Room. The Jazz and Blues District also has great museums. One is the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, founded in the 1990s and focused on preserving African American baseball culture. This district

also has some historic barbecue! That’s right, folks, Author Bryant’s is still making taste buds turn with classics like baby back ribs and tasty side dishes like baked beans. This district keeps giving the community a tune to dance to. 1851 The Paseo Kansas City, MO 64108 816.421.4567

Jessica Samuel is a Kansas City writer with a flair for finding fun and unique places to visit. KCGOINGPLACES.COM 23

shop Localkc I love to shop local, and Kansas City is home to many great one-of-a-kind stores I’ve come to love. In no particular order, here is a list of unique, local Kansas City places to shop.

5B&Co. Candles 5B&Co. is one of my favorite candle places in KC. I used to love going every time we visited Weston. Happily, they are now in Brookside. The votives are a perfect little size (I love using them in my office), and the scents are awesome. My go-to favorites are the burnt sugar, eucalyptus mint, fresh cut grass and peony. The seasonal scents are worth a special trip in. I love all their fall and Christmas fragrances! 5BAndCoBrookside.com

Three Dog Bakery Three Dog Bakery is like a wonderland for crazy dog people (such as myself). I love visiting Three Dog to pick out new treats for Truman. Their treats are gourmet (think Bichon Biscotti) and are all natural and safe for human consumption as well. I even tasted a bit of Truman’s cake one year and it really was not bad. Speaking of cakes, you can get custom ordered dog birthday cakes, which of course I have to do for Truman every year. This year he requested carrot cake with peanut butter frosting. ThreeDog.com

Pryde’s Kitchen Westport Pryde’s bills itself as the “hardware store for cooks,” and I think that’s pretty accurate. The store boasts aisles upon aisles of fun kitchen stuff. If you love Fiestaware like I do, you’ll find Pryde’s a Fiestaware mecca full of whatever you might need. PrydesKitchen.com

24 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Andre’s Confiserie Suisse If you want the best chocolate/sweets in Kansas City, you go to Andre’s. Seriously, everything at Andre’s is amazing. I love going there for Easter for their marzipan animals, or anytime for some hot chocolate and truffles. They have an amazing restaurant too, so you really can take your time and relax. AndresChocolates.com

Trapp Candles If you’re looking for the highest quality scented candles in KC, I think that award goes to Trapp. Trapp candles are a little more pricey than other candle stores but are totally worth it. Even their votives can fill a whole room with really rich scents. They have some awesome unique fragrances as well, so I’d recommend just making a special visit to their store! TrappCandles.com

Vom Fass I fell in love with Vom Fass when we lived in St. Louis, and I was so excited to see one finally come to Kansas City! Located on the Plaza, the shop offers all kinds of oils and vinegars, as well as a big selection of liqueurs and wines. My favorites are the apple pie liqueurs, nut chocolate liqueur (really good in coffee) and the sour cherry liqueur. You can sample pretty much anything, which I love. VomFassUSA.com

Better Cheddar Better Cheddar is one of my favorite places to visit on the Plaza. It’s a cheese/jelly/preserves/soda store where you can taste-test all sorts of cheeses and dips. I love coming here to get gjetost (our favorite variety) and trying new cheeses. You can get however much you want, whether you’re looking for party size or just a snack size to eat with wine. TheBetterCheddar.com

The West Bottoms The West Bottoms is a treasure trove of vintage, antiques and basically anything else home-decor related that you could imagine. Many stores in the West Bottoms are housed in the giant old warehouses and each one is a bit different. I recommend not going on a First Friday weekend because it’s just so crazy. Most of the stores are open during the other weekends of the month, so you can get all your shopping done with none of the crowds. The shops do have strange hours, so make sure you check their websites, Facebook pages or just call to make sure they’re open. Andrea Plunkett Ishmael is a lifelong Kansas Citian with a passion for shopping local. KCGOINGPLACES.COM 25

e i d o kc fo culture

hat the foodie culture in Kansas City has exploded in recent years is no secret. As the city has grown and been recognized nationally as a hot spot for culture, art and attractions, an explosion of culinary creativity and exploration was sure

to follow. Kansas City truly has become an oasis in the Heartland for both professional and amateur chefs. The metro now overflows several excellent establishments where you can learn to cook or take your culinary knowledge to the next level.

26 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

The Culinary Institute of Kansas City 7920 Santa Fe Dr. Overland Park, KS 66204 913.341.4455 KCCulinary.com For example, at the Culinary Institute of Kansas City in Overland Park, choose from a range of well-curated classes and events. From kids to Pro-Series classes, from flash demos to CookWell! programs and from Pop-Up Lunches to Dinners on Demand, the Culinary Institute covers it all. They even host foodie field trips! Be sure to stop in for the latest (free!) sampling of mouthwatering dishes at the next Local Life Third Fridays in Downtown Overland Park.

L'École Culinaire Kansas City Campus 310 Ward Pkwy. Kansas City, MO 64112 816.627.0100 LeCole.edu/Kansas-City Looking for a degree in the culinary field? Then L’Ecole Culinaire on the Country Club Plaza is the place for you. They also have a wonderful selection of public classes for all ages. Best yet? You can even eat at their restaurant, which features the students’ newest and greatest creations! Bon appetit! For other unique finds, also try: Sur la Table 430 Nichols Rd., Kansas City, MO 64112 816.756.5400 SurLaTable.com

Williams & Sonoma (KCMO & Leawood) Williams-Sonoma.com

Dean & Deluca 4700 W. 119th St. Leawood, KS 66209 913.498.3131 DeanDeluca.com City Market 20 E. 5th St., Suite 201 Kansas City, MO 64106 816.842.1271 TheCityMarket.org

Sur laTable

Next, you’ll need to locally source your quality ingredients for your culinary masterpieces! Thankfully, the locallygrown and organic farming movements really have taken root here. For starters, Kansas City and nearly every city within KCGOINGPLACES.COM 27

The Antler Room: Mediterranean plates 2506 Holmes St. Kansas City, MO 64108 816.605.1967 TheAntlerRoomKC.com Novel: New American 815 W. 17th St. Kansas City, MO 64108 816.221.0785 NovelKC.com

Overland Park Farmers Market

the greater metro area now boast their own farmers markets. Just about any ingredient needed for a gourmet dish can be sourced at one of these outdoor markets—from the simplest to the more exotic. Best of all, most of the vendors selling their produce are from local, or even urban, farms or plots. Many stalls also grow their food or flowers organically or as naturally as possible. By popular vote, the City Market in the Rivermarket area of downtown is the favored choice for gathering the most unique ingredients for creating delicious meals. Hundreds flock here every weekend year-round to buy exotic spices, succulent fruits and vegetables or fresh-baked breads. The City Market is well-known for offering a wide variety of international ingredients and flavors. Some featured international vendors include Al Habashi Market, Beignet, Carollo’s Gourmet Grocery & Deli and Taste of Brazil Market. Another fan favorite, the Overland Park Farmers Market, is visited for its selection of high-quality fruits and vegetables. Overland Park Farmers Market 7950 Marty St. Overland Park, KS 66204 913.895.6353 DowntownOP.org And rounding out the top three, the Brookside Farmers Market is known for its affordable prices and appeal to the youngest chefs-in-the-making: kids! 28 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Brookside Farmers Market 6321 Wornall Rd. Kansas City, MO 64113 913.991.2595 BrooksideFarmersMarket.com A few other establishments worthy of note for their excellent quality are: Cosentino’s (three locations in Kansas City) Cosentinos.com McGonigle's Market 1307 W. 79th St. Kansas City, MO 64114 816.444.4720 McGonigles.com Trader Joe’s (KCMO & Leawood) TraderJoes.com Wondering where foodies like to dine for the latest and greatest in Kansas City cuisine? Every few months, people seem to find a new “it” place. And often, as soon as a new restaurant has become the darling of food aficionados (both amateur and professional), another arises. As of the writing of this article, here’s a highlight of a few of Kansas City’s restaurants of the moment, as well as some classics that continue to prove popular: Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room: New American 1830 Walnut St. Kansas City, MO 64108 816.832.4564 Corvino.com

Krokstrom Klubb & Market: Scandinavian eats 3601 Broadway Kansas City, MO 64111 816.599.7531 KlubbKrokstrom.com Mudbug Mobile Madness: Cajun po’ boys 4702 NE Vivion Rd. Kansas City, MO 64119 816.321.1087 MudbugMobileMadness.com SoT: Cocktails and light bites 1521 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108 816.842.8482 SoTKC.com Vivilore: Sophisticated American 10815 E. Winner Rd. Independence, MO 64052 816.836.2222 Vivilore.com Third Street Social: Classic American 123 SE 3rd St. Lee's Summit, MO 64063 816.384.2123 ThirdStreetSocial.com Renee Kelly’s Harvest: Farm to table 12401 Johnson Dr. Shawnee Mission, KS 66216 913.631.4100 ReneeKellysHarvest.com Each of these featured restaurants varies in price, atmosphere, location and menu, so you’re sure to find something for everyone’s taste! Bon appetit! Margaret Bristow is a Kansas City native with a passion for delicious food and local dining.

Kansas City Metropolitan Area Use this map to help plan your tourism itinerary. Each listing in KC Going Places includes the map coordinates to help you find the nearby attractions! For instance, Kansas City Zoo (p.48) is located at C4 on this map. B

4 5

Check out www.KCParent.com for exact venue locations, interactive maps and more!

*Map not to scale.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 29

• CREATIVE PLACES • CREATIVE PLACES •

CREATIVE PLACES Build-A-Bear Workshop

Harper’s Fabrics & Quilt Co.

Oak Park Mall: 11465 W. 95th St., OP, KS 913.307.0328 B3

7918 Santa Fe Dr., OP, KS 913.648.2739 $$ B5 www.HarpersFabricAndQuilt.com Quilting and sewing classes at local shop.

Zona Rosa: 8640 N. Dixson Ave., KC, MO 816.587.6515 B2 Indep Center: 18813 E. 39th St. S. Indep, MO 816.795.5266 D3 www.BuildABear.com

• FEATURED LISTING • Ceramic Cafe

Touch of Fun Art Studio

LEGEND:

ARTichokes

FREE $ (Under $40 for family of 4) $$ (More than $40 for family of 4)

Location Varies 913.638.7929 $$ www.ArtichokesKC.com Mobile art classes bringing art to the community.

KC - Kansas City OP - Overland Park Indep - Independence Shwn Msn - Shawnee Mission Grid location (C2, D3) refers to map on pg. 29 Note: Remember to call ahead for current hours and directions for each facility.

GO CREATE

Paint, Sew and Make Things Apple Pie Painting Location Varies 913.602.8296 $$ www.ApplePiePainting.com A mobile painting studio that comes to you.

Art House 7526-B NW Prairie View Rd. Platte Woods, MO 816.853.4094 $$ D1 www.ArtHouseKC.com Painting classes and gallery.

Blanc Palette 17 E. Kansas St., #100 Liberty, MO 816.974.7778 $$ C2 www.blancpalette.com/ A painting and wine party experience.

Board & Brush Creative Studio 13970 Santa Fe Trail Dr. Lenexa, KS 913.298.9570 $$ A4 BoardAndBrush.com/Lenexa DIY workshop for creating unique and personalized wood decor projects from scratch.

30 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

See ad on pg. 32 9510 Nall, OP, KS 913.383.0222 $ B5 www.CeramicCafeKC.com Ceramic Cafe is a paint-yourown-pottery and glass fusing studio welcoming all ages. Their helpful staff will guide you through the creative process with techniques and supplies to help even the artistically challenged create a masterpiece they are proud to call their own.

•

Hook Gallery 1409B Westport Rd., KC, MO 816.531.4665 $$ C3 www.HookGallery.com A one-of-a-kind masterpiece made by you.

Kaleidoscope 2500 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.274.8300 Free C3 www.HallmarkKaleidoscope.com Children create their own unique works of art.

KC Art Angels 13416 Santa Fe Trail Dr. Lenexa, KS 816.820.9055 $$ B4 KCArtAngels.com Art classes for all ages including painting, pottery and more.

Eat Drink Stitch

KC Clay Guild

Location Varies $$ www.EatDrinkStitch.com Embroidery happy hours and workshops.

200 W. 74th St., KC, MO 816.363.1373 $ C4 www.KCClayGuild.org Make your own pottery.

Got Art Gallery

KC Sewing Academy

18 SW 3rd St. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.600.5932 $$ D4 www.GotArtGallery.org Painting classes for all ages.

471 SW Ward Rd., Ste. 7 Lee’s Summit, MO 816.607.1360 $ D4 www.KCSewingAcademy.com Sewing classes are offered for students ages 6 years to adults.

Grammy’s Walls of Clay 16625 Midland Dr. Shawnee, KS 913.248.1117 $ A4 www.wallofclay-KC.com Paint your own pottery at this shop.

MOD Gallery 1809 McGee St., KC, MO 816.695.4670 $$ C3 www.artexperience.us Fun night out painting classes.

Grapes & Paints

Moscato’s Masterpiece

7175 W. 95th St., OP, KS 913.314.2650 $$ B5 www.GrapesAndPaints.com A social BYOB painting studio.

20120 B E. Jackson Dr. Indep, MO. 816.756.9463 $$ D3 MoscatosMasterpiece.com A learn-to-paint studio.

• CREATIVE PLACES • CREATIVE PLACES • Paint, Glaze & Fire 12683 Metcalf Ave., OP, KS 913.661.2529 $ B5 www.PaintGlazeAndFire.net Paint your own pottery, make your own mosaics or enjoy the coffeehouse.

Painted Clover 5720 Nieman, Shawnee, KS 913.730.6833 $ B3 www.PaintedClover.com Paint with easy step-by-step instructions.

Pieces of My Art 713 Jesse St., Kearney, MO 816.716.4448 $$ D1 PiecesOfMyArtKC.com Step-by-step painting classes are offered.

Pinot’s Palette 5235 W. 116th Pl., Leawood, KS 913.451.7466 $$ B5 4165 N. Mulberry Dr., KC, MO 816.492.3772 $$ C2 11945 S. Strang Line Rd. Olathe, KS 913.732.3768 $$ A5

6943 Tomahawk Rd. Prairie Village, KS 913.671.1837 $$ B3 721 Wakarusa Dr., Lawrence, KS 785.856.3254 $$ A3 www.PinotsPalette.com An upscale “paint and sip” studio.

Pinspire, LLC 12-1/2 SW 3rd St. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.434.0120 $$ D4 PinspireStudio.com A DIY studio offering Pinterestinspired classes.

Pintervention 14872 Metcalf Ave, OP, KS 913.828.2400 $$ B5 PinterventionKC.com A Pinterest-inspired DIY craft studio.

Potter’s Haven Art Studio 292 SW Blue Pkwy. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.525.9323 $ D4 www.PottersHavenArtStudio.com Paint your own pottery shop.

Potter’s Obsession

The Makery KC

13035 Holmes Rd., Ste. B KC, MO 816.941.2555 $ C5 www.PottersObsession.com A pottery and mosaic teaching studio.

1331 Union Ave, KC, MO 660.864.1039 $$ C3 DIY craft classes are offered.

Primary Colors

1900 S. Broadway Oak Grove, MO 816.525.8088 $$ D4 StainedGlassTeacher.com Stained glass and glass fusing classes.

See ad on pg. 31 11958 Roe Ave., OP, KS 913.669.0501 $$ B5 http://ThirstyPalette.com The Thirsty Palette is Leawood’s trendiest painting party hot spot. Sign up for any future party of a painting that you are interested in. That night, the artist of that painting will guide you and your classmates step by step, shape by shape, to create a nearly identical version of it – but with your own flair of course!

Sunfire Ceramics

Touch of Fun Art Studio

1002 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS 785.749.2828 $ A3 www.SunfireCeramics.com A locally owned pottery painting and glass fusing shop.

11712 W. 95th St., OP, KS 913.609.5057 $$ B4 Painting and art classes for all ages.

109 W. Lexington Ave. Indep, MO 816.254.2106 $ D3 www.PrimaryColorsGallery.com Painting classes and gallery.

Stained Glass Station

• FEATURED LISTING • Thirsty Palette

•

Painting PartyS tudio KAnSAS CiTy’S

Ladies Night | Birthdays | Corporate Events Call 913.669.0501 to Reserve Your Spot Today!

Why People Choose Thirsty Palette n

No painting experience needed

Fully stocked bar for flexible accommodations

Perfect for birthday parties for kids and adults

Fun and flexible for corporate team-building events

Ladies Night Out!!!

Jenny Ball, OWner 11958 Roe Ave. Overland Park, KS 66209 jenny@ThirstyPalette.com

913.669.0501 www.ThirstyPalette.com KCGOINGPLACES.COM 31

• CREATIVE PLACES • CREATIVE PLACES • Zoelee’s Fabrics & Sewing School 1329 NE Deer Valley Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.524.7217 $$ D4 www.Zoelees.com Classes make sewing fun for any age.

Dunn’s Cider Mill 17003 State Hwy. D Belton, MO 816.331.7214 $ C3 MillSite.Homestead.com Seasonal cider mill. Watch as apple cider and donuts are made.

Green Dirt Farm

GO EXPERIENCE FOOD Learn to Cook and Watch As Food Is Made

Chip’s Chocolate Factory

Thirsty Palette

Wine & Canvas

Wine & Design

Location Varies 816.844.5639 $$ www.WineAndCanvas.com Painting parties and classes.

6052 NW 63rd Ter., KC, MO 816.944.0644 $$ C2 217 SE 291 Hwy. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.875.9707 $$ D4 www.WineAndDesign.com Painting parties and classes.

Crown Center: 2450 Grand Blvd., Ste. 239 KC, MO 816.421.0012 Free C3 www.ChipsChocolateFactory.com Visit the shop and factory where KC’s very own KC Fudge was developed more than 30 years ago.

Culinary Center of Kansas City 7920 Santa Fe Dr., OP, KS 913.341.4455 $$ B5 www.KCCulinary.com More than 600 cooking classes offered all year along.

19915 Mount Bethel Rd. Weston, MO 816.386.2156 Free A1 www.GreenDirtFarm.com Tour the farm and learn about grass-fed lambs, sheep, milk and cheeses.

Louisburg Cider Mill 14730 KS 68 Hwy., Louisburg, KS 913.837.5202 $ B5 www.LouisburgCiderMill.com Watch as fresh apple cider and cider donuts are made.

The Roasterie Inc. 1204 W. 27th St., KC, MO 816.931.4000 FREE C3 www.TheRoasterie.com Tour the coffee company and learn about cupping, roasting and blending.

“A NEW great place to create” for Birthday Parties, Field Trips, Scout Groups, Ladies Night Out and so much more! COME SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION:

9510 Nall • Overland Park, KS • CeramicCafeKC.com 32 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

• CREATIVE PLACES • CREATIVE PLACES • Shatto Dairy Farm

KC Strings

9406 N. Hwy. 33, Osborn, MO 816.930.3862 $ D1 www.ShattoMilk.com Tour the dairy farm and watch milk processing and bottling firsthand.

5842 Merriam Dr., Merriam, KS 913.677.0400 $ B4 www.KCStrings.com Group tours of the stringed instrument shop.

Sur La Table

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

430 Nichols Rd., KC, MO 816.756.5400 $$ C3 www.SurLaTable.com Gourmet cooking classes.

Thyme for Everything 229 SE Main St. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.554.3755 $$ D4 www.AThymeForEverything.com Cooking classes taught by local chefs.

Young Chef’s Academy 10082 Woodland Rd., Lenexa, KS 913.764.0077 $ B4 Lenexaks.youngchefsacademy.com Cooking classes offered for kids.

GO TO AN ART MUSEUM

Museums Celebrate the Arts American Jazz Museum 1616 E. 18th St., KC, MO 816.474.8463 $ C3 www.AmericanJazzMuseum.org Learn about the history of jazz through fun, interactive exhibits perfect for kids.

Crossroads Art District Various Galleries in Downtown KC, MO Free C3 www.KCCrossroads.org Offers more than 100 art galleries, plus tour for free the first Friday evening of each month.

Epsten Gallery 5500 W. 123rd St., OP, KS 913.266.8414 Free B5 www.epstengallery.org Innovative art exhibitions and related programming to engage the community through art.

Hallmark Visitors Center 2450 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.274.3613 Free C3 www.HallmarkVisitorsCenter.com Discover the story of Hallmark through interactive displays and fascinating exhibits.

4420 Warwick Blvd., KC, MO 816.753.5784 Free C3 www.KemperArt.org This art gallery features free modern art exhibits.

Leila’s Hair Museum 1333 S. Noland Rd., Indep, MO 816.833.2955 $$ D3 www.LeilasHairMuseum.net Wreaths and pieces of jewelry made of human hair, dating to before 1900.

8 ART WALLS

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 4525 Oak St., KC, MO 816.751.1278 Free C3 www.Nelson-Atkins.org The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is Kansas City’s favorite free attraction.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art 12345 College Blvd., OP, KS 913.469.3000 Free B5 www.NermanMuseum.org This 41,000-square-foot museum is the largest contemporary art museum in the four-state region.

The Rabbit Hole 1520 Clay St., Ste. B5, North KC, MO 816.492.7915 B3 www.RabbitHoleKC.org The world’s first Explorastorium, an interactive museum based on children’s books is in development and open for special events.

Stocksdale Art Gallery 500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 816.781.7700 Free D1 www.Jewell.edu/Art Regional and national artists are featured at William Jewell’s campus art gallery.

UMKC Gallery of Art 203 Fine Arts Building 5015 Holmes St., KC, MO 816.235.1502 Free C3 info.umkc.edu/gallery The gallery features temporary exhibits on 20th century American and European art.

Kansas City is known for many things: our jazz, our barbecue and sports. But we locals know our city is beloved for its art. From vibrant arts districts, to world-class galleries, to an eclectic live music scene, our city is a mecca for arts and culture. One of the newest trends in urban art is the onset of locally inspired murals on city walls. Your visit to KC wouldn’t be complete without a photo in front of one of our “art walls.”

1 2

#KC Loves mural: 1720 Main, KC, MO. This wall is located on the top level of a parking garage.

3 4

Luv Midtown KC mural: 3945 Main St., KC, MO in the heart of midtown.

5 6 7 8

Kansas City Royals mural at the corner of Oak & 17th Street, KC, MO in the Crossroads.

Crafted in Kansas City mural: 2626 Guinotte Ave., KC, MO. In the East Bottoms outside the Urban Provisions General Store.

Kansas City I’m So In Love mural: 1919 Baltimore Ave., KC, MO. This mural is in the heart of the Crossroads, a perfect addition to your First Friday experience.

Power & Light District mural: 1100 Walnut St., KC, MO in the KCP&L District. Lewis & Clark Expedition mural: 115 W. 15th St., KC, MO in the River Market. Giant Bookshelf mural: Central Library Parking Garage 14 W. 10th St., KC, MO.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 33

• FUN PLACES • FUN PLACES • FUN PLACES •

FUN PLACES Dave & Buster’s

Jaegers Paintball Park

The Legends at Village West: 1843 Village West Pkwy. KC, KS 913.981.6815 $ A3

9300 NE Underground Dr. KC, MO 816.452.6600 $ C2 www.Jaegers.com Underground paintball field and laser tag is set in one of KC’s oldest limestone mines.

6811 W. 135th St., OP, KS 913.249.3900 $ B5 www.DaveAndBusters.com Arcade games, shuffleboard and billiards.

Draftcade 7260 NW 87th St. MO, KC, MO 816.759.3474 $$ B2 Arcade restaurant and bar for adults.

Drop Zone Paintball Paradise Park

LEGEND: FREE $ (Under $40 for family of 4) $$ (More than $40 for family of 4) KC - Kansas City OP - Overland Park Indep - Independence Shwn Msn - Shawnee Mission Grid location (C2, D3) refers to map on pg. 29 Note: Remember to call ahead for current hours and directions for each facility.

GO PLAY

• FEATURED LISTING • Advanced Laser Tag

See ad on pg. 41 2026 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe, KS 913.254.9678 $ B4 www.AdvancedLaserTag.com Kansas City’s original twostory laser tag attraction! The high-tech laser tag system uses radio transmitters in each pack providing real-time status to a central game computer. Also enjoy a high-tech video arcade, prize counter, small snack bar, party room, and an observation deck to watch the action live!

•

Chuck E. Cheese

Amusement Parks, Arcades and Entertainment Centers

10510 Metcalf Ln., OP, KS 913.648.4920 $ B4

Aaron’s Family Fun Center

18701 E. 39th St., Indep, MO 816.254.6300 $ D3

17070 Aaron Ln. Belton, MO 816.322.0488 $ C5 AaronsFEC.com Play outdoor miniature golf and enjoy indoor bowling, outdoor go-karts and volleyball.

1224 N. 1st Rd. Overbrook, KS 785.841.1884 $ A3 www.DropZonePaintball.com Outdoor paintball fields offer excitement.

Family Golf Park 1501 NE 40 Hwy. Blue Springs, MO 816.228.1550 $ D3 www.FamilyGolfPark.com Outdoor miniature golf, arcade, bumper boats and party facilities.

Gamer’s Quest 10344 Mastin St., OP, KS 913.730.0199 $ B4 www.GamersQuest.net A virtual reality gaming arcade.

High Performance Paintball

15225 W. 134th St., Olathe, KS 913.390.0815 $ A5 www.ChuckECheese.com Pizza, arcade games and indoor amusement rides.

1500 Sandy Links Ln. Harrisonville, MO 816.868.5675 $ C5 http://highperformancepaintball.net Outdoor paintball field with 10+ acres and three varying paintball fields and terrain.

Cool Crest

Howl-in-One Mini Golf

10735 E. US Hwy. 40, Indep, MO 816.759.2634 $ D3 www.CoolCrest.com Miniature golf, video games, go-karts and more!

Great Wolf Lodge: 10401 Cabela Dr., KC, KS 913.299.7001 $ A3 www.GreatWolfLodge.com Outdoor miniature golf.

34 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Main Event 11950 S. Kansas City Rd. Olathe, KS 913.768.4444 $-$$

8081 NW Roanridge Rd., KC, MO 816.281.2020 $-$$ B2 4600 S. Cochise Ct. Independence, MO 816.350.1000 $-$$ D3 www.MainEvent.com Bowling, billiards, laser tag, ropes obstacle course, video games and more.

Martin City Paintball 13501 Holmes Rd., KC, MO 816.885.2134 $ C5 www.martincitypaintball.com Six unique outdoor paintball fields.

Novastar Gaming Center 2701 S. 47th St., KC, KS 913.703.6682 $ A3 www.NovaStarGaming.com PC gaming center.

• FEATURED LISTING • Paradise Park

See ad on pg. 36 1021 NE Colbern Rd. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.246.5224 $ D4 www.Paradise-Park.com Paradise Park is Kansas City’s premier family destination, offering family fun & adventure, unique attractions, educational and discovery play, and professional development opportunities in a wholesome, safe, clean and friendly environment! Favorite attractions include the Children’s EduTainment Center, go-karts, rock wall, arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, escape room, miniature golf, miniature bowling, batting cages and more.

•

• FUN PLACES • FUN PLACES • FUN PLACES • Parkville Mini Golf 7 W. 1st St. Parkville, MO 816.505.9555 $ B2 www.ParkvilleMiniGolf.com Outdoor miniature golf course is set on the Missouri River bluffs.

Power Play Shawnee: 13110 W. 62nd Ter. Shwn Msn, KS 913.268.4386 $ B3 North: 509 NW Barry Rd., KC, MO 816.268.4386 $ C1 www.PowerPlayKC.com Rides, laser tag, whirly ball, arcade games, bowling, go-karts and more.

Smiley’s Golf 10195 Monticello Ter., Lenexa, KS 913.782.1323 $ B4 www.SmileysGolf.com Outdoor miniature golf features beautiful gardens and fun hazards.

SoPro Gaming 9240 Metcalf Ave., OP, KS 913.703.5183 $ B4 SoProGaming.com Social professional gaming center.

T3 Arcade 9720 Quivira Rd., Lenexa, KS 913.492.3900 $$ B4 T3Aracade.com Restaurant with virtual reality, new and vintage arcade games, pinball machines, skee-ball alleys, Nintendo 64 and other patio games.

Tapcade 1701 McGee St., #200, KC, MO 816.492.6577 $$ C3 TapcadeKC.com Restaurant and bar with arcade games for adults.

Up-Down KC 101 Southwest Blvd., KC, MO 816.982.9455 $$ C3 www.UpDownKC.com Arcade and bar with a retro vibe for adults.

• FEATURED LISTING • Worlds of Fun

See ad on pg. 35 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. KC, MO 816.454.4545 $$ C2 www.WorldsOfFun.com Kansas City’s amusement park with 235 acres of family rides, thrill rides and waterslides, including seven world-class rollercoasters and Oceans of Fun, the city’s first waterpark. Your senses come alive as you enter the gate, the sights and sounds take over, and the little ones in your family take your hand. Breathtaking views from towering coasters, hair-raising thrill rides and a Planet Snoopy kids area that is the playground for new memories. 2017 introduced new rides and an all new WinterFest event.

•

GO LEARN THROUGH PLAY

Children’s Museums & Indoor Playgrounds for Children Children’s Peace Pavilion 1001 W. Walnut St., Indep, MO 816.521.3033 Free D3 www.cofc3.org/kidpeace/default.asp Children’s museum designed to teach concepts of peace.

Exchange City & EarthWorks 8300 NE Underground Dr. KC, MO 816.659.854 Free C2 www.ExchangeCity.org Children learn social studies firsthand as they participate in hands-on activities. Call to book tours.

Irene B. French Community Center Indoor Playground 5701 Merriam Dr., Merriam, KS 913.322.5550 $ B3 www.Merriam.org Enjoy Step 2 climbers, Little Tikes riding toys and more.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 35

• FUN PL ACES • FUN PL ACES • FUN PL ACES • • FEATURED LISTING •

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center See ad on pg. 50 2475 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.471.4386 $$ C3 www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City offers a fun, highly interactive and educational 2- to 3-hour indoor experience. Based on the ever-popular Lego® brick, Legoland Discovery Center provides a range of interactive play areas, including 4D cinema; master classes from the Lego Master Model Builder; exciting Lego rides, such as an interactive and immersive ride called Kingdom Quest. Also enjoy the popular Miniland exhibit designed to reflect the iconic buildings and skyline of Kansas City.

•

Lenexa Community Center “Gym for Me” Program” 13420 Oak St. Shwn Msn, KS 913.477.7100 $ B4 www.ci.Lenexa.ks.us Preschool toys and activities keep little ones busy. Call for schedule.

Little Monkey Bizness

Shawnee Civic Centre

12219 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Shwn Msn, KS 913.631.7000 $ B3 ShawneeMission.MonkeyBizness.com A full-service coffeehouse overlooking a nearly 4,000-squarefoot play area for kids.

Open Gym 13817 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 913.631.5200 $ B3 www.CityOfShawnee.org Enjoy climbing toys, toddler sports, ride-on toys, etc. Call for schedule.

Matt Ross Community Center Indoor Playground

Sylvester Powell Community Center Indoor Playground

8101 Marty St., OP, KS 913.895.6350 Free B4 www.OPKansas.org Three-story “jungle” playground entertains with slides, tunnels and swings.

6200 Martway Mission, KS 913.722.8200 $ B3 www.MissionKS.org Families enjoy inflatables, tricycles, gym mats and more. Call for schedule.

Parkside Coffeehouse 8839 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 913.393.3000 Free B4 http://www.foundrychurchkc.com/ facility/coffeehouse Coffee shop for parents and indoor play for tots! Gym, indoor playground equipment and ride-on toys.

Toddler Town Roger T. Sermon Community Center: 201 N. Dodgion Ave., Indep, MO 816.325.7370 $ D3 www.ci.independence.mo.us Fall and winter indoor play center with educational fun for toddlers.

Westport Roanoke Community Center Midtown Play Place 3601 Roanoke Rd., KC, MO 816.784.5200 $ C3 http://kcparks.org/facility/ westport-roanoke-community-center/ Enjoy the indoor playground, blocks, gym mats and toys. Call for schedule.

Wonderscope Children’s Museum 5700 King St. Shawnee, KS 913.287.8888 $ B4 www.Wonderscope.org Hands-on children’s museum for little ones with a variety of interactive exhibits.

Visit www.KCParent.com for a look at the calendar year-round event guide.

Family Time 8 FREE

Adventure Attractions with Purchase of a Private Room for 8!

Not valid w/ any other discounted offer. Exp.4/30/18

PA W.

R A D I SE - PA R K

.CO

1 FREE Adult Discovery Play Admission

With purchase of a child admission. Not valid w/ any other discounted offer. Exp. 4/30/18

$5 OFF Indoor/Outdoor M ADVENTURE

Not valid w/ any other discounted offer. Exp. 4/30/18

1021 NE Colbern Rd. • Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 • 816-246-5224 36 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

kansas city’s most beautiful

Natural Wonders

The Flint Hills

ansas City gets due credit for being both the barbecue and jazz capital of the world. But one of the hidden gems of KC’s landscape is the land beneath its feet, offering a topography as diverse as the people that call the city home. With four distinct seasons, KC’s environs get an ongoing facelift with the change in temperature. Rolling hills, cascading waterfalls and vast prairieland all eagerly await explorers, just a stone’s throw from the iconic downtown scene. Check out some of our favorite local natural wonders, perfect for exploring this fall and winter.

Cave Spring Tucked away in the crossroads of Raytown and Kansas City lies a quirky park with a unique past. Freestanding stone chimneys, a waterfall and a cave are distinguishing features and historic

landmarks of this 39-acre park. Once owned by President Harry Truman’s maternal grandfather, the park (also known as William M. Klein Park) is now owned by Jackson County, while operated by a 250-member Cave Spring Association. Previously a watering hole for the Santa Fe Trail pioneers, Cave Spring morphed into a golf course and cabin resort during the Depression Era. Nowadays, visitors can enjoy nature center exhibits, four miles of walking trails, a water garden, campground and educational programs.

fishing lakes can be enjoyed within the region. Most impressive is the Flint Hills Discovery Center, located in Manhattan, KS. All senses are engaged through its immersive theater experience, where wind blows through guests’ hair while smoke from a prairie fire rolls along the floor. Throughout its interpretive and interactive exhibits, visitors will discover the rich ecosystem and cultural history that make the Flint Hills such an endearing place of yesteryear and today.

The Flint Hills

Freelance writer and boy mom Lauren Greenlee enjoys exploring natural wonders with her family. She resides in Olathe.

Just a few hours’ drive from the KC metro area lies the largest tallgrass preserve in the continental United States, the Flint Hills. This prairieland oasis gets its name from the rocky soil that makes it impossible to plow yet ideal for growing grass and wildflowers. It’s estimated that this region, a venerable stretch of land that encompasses more than four million acres, has more than 10 million people pass through it annually. Equally impressive, more than a million head of cattle claim these grazing grounds as home. A cornucopia of color, the Flint Hills showcases more than 800 varieties of wildflowers that bloom well into mid-September. As the seasons turn, so does the pageantry of colors, making it worth a visit in any weather. Multiple scenic byways, nature trails and

did you know? The Kansas City area boasts more than 125 hiking and walking trails and this is one of the best times to head out to enjoy them. Discover great local trails when you search “Trail Treasures” on KCParent.com.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 37

• ADVENTUROUS PLACES • ADVENTURO

ADVENTUROUS PLACES The Cave Bouldering Gym

ROKC

3150 Mercier St., #641a, KC, MO 816.569.5792 $ C3 www.TheCaveBouldering.com Kansas City’s only dedicated bouldering gym is now open.

1501 Howell St. North KC, MO 816.843.7652 $ D2 www.ClimbKC.com Indoor rock wall climbing facility.

Emerald City Gymnastics 9063 Bond, OP, KS 913.438.4444 $ B4 www.EmeraldCityGym.com/rockwall Monster Mountain is 5,000 square feet of vertical and horizontal indoor climbing.

Go Ape 7331 Oakwood Dr., KC, MO 800.971.8271 $$ C4 www.GoApe.com Exhilarating outdoor adventure course.

IBEX Climbing Gym 801 NW South Outer Rd. Blue Springs, MO 816.228.9988 $ D3 www.ClimbIBEX.com Challenge yourself on the 32-foot walls, lead cave and bouldering area.

iFLY Kansas City Timber Ridge Adventure Center LEGEND: FREE $ (Under $40 for family of 4) $$ (More than $40 for family of 4)

GO UP

KC - Kansas City OP - Overland Park Indep - Independence Shwn Msn - Shawnee Mission

APEX Climbing Gym

Grid location (C2, D3) refers to map on pg. 29

Zip lines, Rock Walls, Obstacle Courses and Sky Diving

7200 W. 106th St., OP, KS 913.283.7341 $ B4 ApexClimbingGym.com Climbing gym with Warped Wall and other Ninja Warrior inspired obstacles.

Note: Remember to call ahead for current hours and directions for each facility.

38 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

10975 Metcalf Ave., OP, KS 913.305.4359 $$ B5 www.IFlyWorld.com Indoor skydiving adventure.

KC Timber Challenge 12829 Loring Dr. Bonner Springs, KS 913.747.5053 $$ A3 www.KCTimberChallenge.com A one-of-a-kind natural 5K obstacle course.

North KC Community Center Climbing Wall 1999 Iron St. North KC, MO 816.300.0531 $ C2 www.NKCCC.org Try the 25-foot indoor climbing wall.

Timber Ridge Adventure Center 12300 S. Homestead Ln. Olathe, KS 913.764.7759 $$ A5 www.JCPRD.com Outdoor recreation activities, including a ropes course, zip line and climbing tower.

Zip KC 12829 Loring Rd. Bonner Springs, KS 913.302.8881 $$ A3 www.ZipKC.com A zip line adventure under trees and through trees to an awaiting 45-foot tower.

GO JUMP

Trampoline Parks and Bounce Houses Cosmic Jump 12025 S. Strang Line Rd. Olathe, KS 913.397.7700 $ www.CosmicJump.com Indoor trampoline park.

Fun Run 1919 Industrial Dr., Liberty, MO 816.781.0386 $ D1 www.FunRunKansasCity.com Inflatable obstacle course, dual lane slide and bounce houses offer active fun.

Jump City 8020 E. 171st St., Belton, MO 816.425.4966 $ C3 www.JumpCityKC.com Indoor inflatable play facility and birthday party venue.

OUS PL ACES • ADVENTUROUS PLACES • Pump It Up 7230 W. Frontage Rd. Shwn Msn, KS 913.236.7867 $ B3 www.PumpItUpParty.com Have fun in gigantic, inflatablefilled arenas for open play.

Sky Zone 2801 NE McBaine Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.457.0068 $ D4 6485 Quivira Rd., Shawnee, KS 913.213.5900 $ A4 www.skyzone.com/kansascity Sky Zone is the original indoor trampoline park, bringing unmatched, out-of-this-world and high-flyin’ FUN.

• FEATURED LISTING • Urban Air Trampoline Park

wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, warriors course and an indoor playground for kids of all ages. Conveniently located at 143rd & Metcalf, it is the perfect venue to host kids’ birthday parties, as well as church and corporate events.

•

GO FOR A RIDE

Wheels, Water and Sky Ambiance on the Water 200 Ward Pkwy., KC, MO 816.365.7101 $$ C3 www.AmbianceOnTheWater.com Enjoy a ride aboard one of two custom designed boats for a romantic tour of the Plaza River Walk.

Belton, Grandview and KC Railroad

See ad on pg. 39 14401 Metcalf, OP, KS 502 E. Walnut St., Belton, MO 800.960.4778 $$ B3 816.331.0630 $ C5 www.UrbanAirOP.com www.BeltonRailroad.org Overland Park’s newest indoor Train rides will appeal to the trampoline park, with more entire family. Some trips include than 35,000 square feet of hot dog trains, ice cream rides indoor fun,goingplaces.pdf complete with 1 9/12/15 4:40 PM and more.

CMY

Go Ape Treetop Adventure

Blue Springs Lake Marina 1700 NE Bowlin Rd. Blue Springs, MO 816.795.1112 $$ D4 www.MakeYourDayHere.com Pontoon boat rental.

Extreme Grand Prix Family Fun Center 6731 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, MO 816.286.4156 $ C3 www.ExtremeGrandPrix.com Indoor kart racing with high performance European karts of 45 mph.

Hot Expectations Balloon Company 11915 W. 143rd Ter., Olathe, KS 913.897.1030 $$ A5 www.KCBalloonRides.com Hot air balloon tours of Kansas City.

KC Copters 12921 W. 151st St., Olathe, KS 913.440.9499 $$ A5 www.KCCopters.com Helicopter tours of Kansas City.

SEND YOUR KIDS FLYING Open Jump • Ninja Warrior Course • Indoor Playground • Dodgeball • Parties + More

www.urbanairop.com

Urban Air Trampoline Park 14401 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS 66223 +1 (913) 730-8622 KCGOINGPLACES.COM 39

• ADVENTUROUS PLACES • ADVENTURO

KCParent.com

25 ways to make the most of your stay in Kansas City—with a little help from KCParent.com

KC Northern Railroad 6060 NW Waukomis Dr. KC, MO 816.746.5663 $ B2 www.KCNRR.com Three 16-inch gauge trains restored and operated by volunteers run on a half-mile track through tunnels.

KC Going Places is a product of Family Media Group’s family of magazines and it resides on KCParent.com. We have limited page count in the magazine, but unlimited space online—so you’ll find even more great ideas to enhance your time in Kansas City when you visit KCParent.com. Look for these great pieces: 1. Fall Festival Guide 2. Ultimate Christmas Guide 3. Pumpkin Patch Guide 4. 50 Ideas Under $5 to Explore Kansas City 5. Trick or Treat Guide 6. Top Picks for Fun Every Month 7. Animal Outings 8. Calendar of Events 9. Watch It Made Tours 10. Virtual Going Places Guide 11. Local Attractions and Show Reviews 12. Kids Eat Free Guide 13. Day Trips from KC 14. Midwestern Waterfalls 15. Coupons for Local Attractions 16. Great Date Nights 17. Apple Picking in Kansas City 18. Favorite Fishing Spots 19. Thrillseekers: Adventures in Kansas City 20. Camping Missouri and Kansas 21. KC Streetcar Scavenger Hunt 22. Indoor Fun Guide 23. Great Giveaways 24. Be sure to subscribe to the FREE eNewsletter on KCParent.com for great ideas weekly. 25. And, follow Kansas City Parent Magazine on Facebook for up-to-date info!

40 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

6141 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, MO 816.353.7568 $ C3 Race slot cars on a 1/24th scale quarter-mile drag strip, and a 155-foot Blue King road course.

KC Fun Trolley Tours

Richard Petty Driving Experience

Tours Board at Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.500.5417 $$ C3 www.KCFunTours.com Tour the popular sights and local favorites aboard an authentic trolley.

400 Speedway Blvd., KC, KS 913.328.3300 $$ A3 www.DrivePetty.com High-speed racing venue where visitors can drive or ride along in an authentic NASCAR vehicle.

Kill Creek Park Marina Pumpkin Patch Guide

Raytown International Raceway

11670 Homestead Ln., Olathe, KS 913.312.8847 $$ A5 www.JCPRD.com Kayak, canoe, pedal boat rental.

Lake Jacomo Marina 7401 W. Park Rd. Blue Springs, MO 816.795.888 $$ D4 www.MakeYourDayHere.com Pontoon boat, bass boat, canoe, pedal boat and kayak rental.

Leavenworth Trolley Tour 320 S. Esplanade Leavenworth, KS 913.682.1023 $ A1 www.VisitLeavenworthKS.com Tour Leavenworth and learn its history.

Longview Lake Marina 9898 Longview Rd., KC, MO 816.966.0131 $$ C5 www.MakeYourDayHere.com Pontoon boat rental.

Midland Railway 1515 W. High St., Baldwin City, KS 913.721.1211 $ A5 www.midlandrailway.org Take a 20-mile round trip from Baldwin City via Norwood, KS, to Ottawa Junction, KS.

Old World Balloonery 11640 Cody St., OP, KS 913.338.2628 $$$ B5 www.OldWorldBalloonery.com Hot air balloon tours of the city.

River’s Edge Aviation 500 NW Richards Rd., KC, MO 816.590.4033 $$$ C3 www.RiversEdgeKC.com Helicopter tours of the city.

Shawnee Mission Park Marina 7900 Renner Rd. Shawnee, KS 913.888.4713 $$ D4 www.JCPRD.com Fishing boat, canoe, pedal boat rental.

Wyandotte County Lake Marina 9100 Leavenworth Rd. KC, KS 913.573.8327 $$ www.WYCOKC.org Fishing boat rental.

GO SOLVE

Escape Rooms and Mystery Theater Breakout KC 114 W. 3rd St., #101, KC, MO 816.945.2633 $$ C3 www.BreakoutKC.com You have 60 minutes to break out from a real life escape room, cracking codes.

Clue Pursuit 3953 Broadway, KC, MO 913.982.1076 $$ C3 www.CluePursuitLive.com Clue Pursuit is proud to have been the first escape room in Missouri.

OUS PL ACES • ADVENTUROUS PLACES • The Dinner Detective 1301 Wyandotte St., KC, MO 866.496.0535 $$ C3 TheDinnerDetective.com/Kansas-City Live mystery comedy theater.

Escape Artist KC 408 E. 18th St., KC, MO 816.472.6699 $$ C3 www.EscapeArtistKC.com Uncover clues and crack codes to allow your group to solve the puzzle.

Escape Room 511 W. 4th St., KC, MO 816.656.5158 $$ C3 1st Floor Union Station 30 W. Pershing, KC, MO 816.656.5158 $$ C3 www.EscapeRoomKC.com A live escape game where you have 60 minutes to solve a mystery.

The Exit Room 304 SW Market St. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.434.5808 $$ D4 www.TheExitRoomKC.com

Your team of players will have exactly one hour to complete a mission or task giving you the key to escape.

The Great Escape Quest 1502 Main St., Grandview, MO 816.844.9030 $$ C5 TheGreatEscapeQuest.com Interactive escape room to solve unraveling clues as you go.

Kansas City Gangster Tour Tours Board at Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.471.1234 $$ C3 www.TheKCTours.com Call to schedule a tour. The Gangster Tour puts you hot on the trail of this city’s most notorious Goodfellas.

Mastermind Escape Games 7810 W. 151st St., OP, KS 913.827.0999 $$ B5 MastermindEscapeGames.com An interactive escape room game.

Mystery Comedy Dinner Playhouse Various locations, KC, MO 816.333.5999 $$ C3 www.MysteryComedy.com Live mystery comedy theater is performed at various locations in KC.

Mystery Train Various locations 816.813.9654 $$ C3 www.KCMysteryTrain.com Interactive mystery dinner theater enjoyed by teens and adults.

Novus Escape Room 4142 Main St., KC, MO 816.982.9775 $$ C3 NovusEscapeRoom.com Character-based escape room providing a challenging mystery to solve.

Old School Escape 116 W. 4th St., Cameron, MO 816.558.2623 $$ D1 OldSchoolEscape.com Live escape room game experience.

• FEATURED LISTING • Tick Tock Escape Games

See ad on pg. 41 6398 College Blvd., OP, KS 913.396.9144 $$ B5 www.TickTockEscapeGames.com An hour of fun where anyone can be the one who “gets it” and solves the next clue to save the day and escape the room. Quality and creativity separate Tick Tock® from the crowd. Using sound, technology and other special effects, they bring your game to life in an immersive experience you won’t soon forget.

•

Trapped KC 618 SW 3rd St., Ste. E Lee’s Summit, MO 816.457.7410 $$ D4 www.TrappedKC.com Clues are hidden throughout the room that will need to be cracked and assembled to escape before the time’s up!

Birthday Celebrations for Teens and Adults Family Fun / Fun with Friends

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 41

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES •

HISTORIC PLACES

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

GO BACK IN TIME

History Museums and Tours 1827 Log Courthouse 107 W. Kansas Ave., Indep, MO 816.325.7111 Free D3 www.VisitIndependence.com Learn about the slave-land dispute and westward expansion issues.

1859 Marshal’s Home and Jail Museum 217 N. Main St., Indep, MO 816.252.1892 $ D3 www.JCHS.org One-room schoolhouse, marshal’s home, 1859 jail and museum.

Airline History Museum 201 NW Lou Holland Dr., KC, MO 816.421.3401 $ C3 www.AirlineHistory.org A collection of photographs and artifacts.

Alexander Majors Home 8201 State Line Rd., KC, MO 816.461.1897 $ C4 www.WornallMajors.org Alexander Majors was one of the founders of the Pony Express. The home was built in 1856.

Amelia Earhart Birthplace 223 N. Terrace St., Atchison, KS 913.367.4217 $ A1 www.AmeliaEarhartMuseum.org Tour the birthplace and childhood home of Kansas’ famous female aviator.

42 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Arabia Steamboat Museum

Berlin Wall Monument

400 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.471.1856 $$ C3 www.1856.com The steamboat Arabia sank in 1856 in the Missouri River, and the treasures of the shipwreck and their history are on exhibit.

Grove of Regiments on Bundel Road, Fort Leavenworth, KS 913.682.4113 Free A1 www.VisitLeavenworthKS.com The monument memorializes the historic barrier that separated West and East Berlin during the Cold War.

Atkins-Johnson Farm & Museum

Bingham-Waggoner Estate

6607 NE Antioch Rd. Gladstone, MO 816.453.3276 $ C2 www.AtkinsJohnsonFarm.com The museum depicts farm life in the mid-1800s.

313 W. Pacific Ave., Indep, MO 816.461.3491 $ D3 www.BWEstate.org The 1855 museum depicts the history of George Caleb Bingham.

Battle of Westport Memorial

Black Archives of Mid-America

4000 Baltimore Ave., KC, MO 913.345.2000 Free C3 www.BattleOfWestport.org The center of the main battlefield is located at present-day Loose Park.

Battle of Westport Museum 6601 Swope Pkwy., KC, MO 913.345.2000 Free C3 www.BattleOfWestport.org The museum depicts the history of the famous Civil War battle in western Missouri.

Belton Historical Society & Museum 512 Main St., Belton, MO 816.331.1905 $ C5 www.BeltonHistoricalSociety.org View artifacts preserving the history of Belton.

Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum 220 Ferrel St., Platte City, MO 816.431.5121 $ A1 www.BenFerrellMuseum.com This 1881 home is a replica of the Missouri Governor’s Mansion. County historical archives and exhibits are housed here.

1722 E. 17th Ter., KC, MO 816.221.1600 Free C3 www.BlackArchives.org Collections featuring the works of black artists, writers, musicians and leaders.

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center 3700 Blue Pkwy., KC, MO 816.513.0700 Free C3 www.brucewatkinscenter.com This museum is a tribute to the legacy of Kansas City’s early African-American pioneers.

Burnt District Museum 400 E. Mechanic, Ste. 203 Harrisonville, MO 816.380.4396 $ C5 www.CI.Harrisonville.MO.US Civil War museum with exhibits including a diorama of the Battle of Morristown, timelines, photo archives and more.

Clay County Courthouse 11 S. Water St., Liberty, MO 816.407.3250 Free D2 www.Circuit7.net A self-guided tour tells the history of Clay County, including stories of Jesse James.

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES • Clay County Museum

Ensor Park and Museum

First City Museum

14 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 816.792.1849 Free D1 www.ClayCountyMuseum.org A museum where the James Gang carried out the first daylight bank robbery, and Civil War soldiers once marched.

18995 W. 183rd St., Olathe, KS 913.592.4141 $ A5 www.ensorparkandmuseum.org A seasonal museum devoted to the teacher, craftsman and amateur radio operator and his influence.

743 Delaware St. Leavenworth, KS 913.682.1866 $ A1 www.FirstCityMuseums.org Exhibits highlight the history of Kansas’ first city.

Excelsior Springs Historical Museum

107 Osage St., Sibley, MO 816.650.3278 $ D2 www.MakeYourDayHere.com Osage Indian history and early military history are depicted through exhibits and special events.

C.W. Parker Carousel Museum 320 S. Esplanade, Leavenworth, KS 913.682.1331 $ A1 www.FirstCityMuseums.org Tour the museum to learn the history of the carousel and enjoy a ride as well!

Dillingham-Lewis Home 101 SW 15th St. Blue Springs, MO 816.224.8979 Free D4 www.BlueSpringsHistory.org Tour a 20th-century pioneer home to see how early settlers in Jackson County lived.

101 E. Broadway St. Excelsior Springs, MO 816.630.0101 Free D1 www.ExSMO.com View historic records and artifacts and learn the history of Excelsior Springs.

Federal Reserve Bank & Money Museum 1 Memorial Dr., KC, MO 816.881.2683 Free C3 www.KansasCityFed.org Tour Kansas City’s Federal Reserve Bank and learn about the U.S. monetary system.

Fort Osage

Frontier Army Museum 100 Reynolds Ave. Fort Leavenworth, KS 913.684.3767 Free A1 www.FFAM.us Learn about the history of the frontier Army from 1804 to 1916 and Fort Leavenworth from 1827 to the present.

Grandview Historical Depot Museum 1205 Jones St., Grandview, MO 816.761.6271 $ C4 www.Grandview.org The museum, housed in a caboose, preserves Grandview history.

Grinter Place State Historic Site 1420 S. 78th St., KC, KS 913.299.0373 Free A3 www.KSHS.org A step back to the days of frontier life along the Kansas and Missouri border.

Harris-Kearney House 4000 Baltimore Ave., KC, MO 816.561.1821 $ C3 www.WestportHistorical.com Tour the 1855 house that served as a hotel in old Westport and stands as one of Kansas City’s oldest landmarks.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 43

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES • • FEATURED LISTING • Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

See ad on pg. 45 500 US Hwy. 24, Indep, MO 816.268.8200 $ D3 www.TrumanLibrary.org The exhibits in the library’s museum emphasize the life and times of Harry S. Truman and the Truman presidency. Among the permanent exhibits are a mural painting in the entrance lobby, “Independence and the Opening of the West,” by Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton; a reproduction of the Oval Office as it was during the Truman administration; and the office which Truman used in his retirement years.

•

Herbert Bonnell Museum 20755 Lamar Rd., Weston, MO 816.992.0102 Free A1 www.WestonMo.com Tour an 1874 working farm and explore the museum.

Historic Liberty Jail

Jesse James Bank Museum

216 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 816.781.3188 Free D1 www.LDS.org Discover the history of the jail and learn the story of Joseph Smith, a Mormon leader.

103 N. Water St., Liberty, MO 816.736.8510 $ D2 www.ClayCountyMo.gov Visit the site of the first U.S. daylight peacetime bank robbery.

Historic Pharis Farm 20611 EE Hwy., Liberty, MO 816.736.8500 $ D2 www.ClayCountyMO.gov Learn about the Pharis farm of 1836.

Irish Museum & Cultural Center 19 W. Linwood Blvd., KC, MO 816.474.3848 Free C3 www.IrishCenterKC.org Discover Kansas City’s Irish history.

Jackson County Historical Society Archives Jackson County Courthouse Main & Maple Independence, MO 816.461.1897 Free D3 www.JCHS.org

Jesse James Farm & Museum 21216 James Farm Rd. Kearney, MO 816.736.8500 $ D1 www.ClayCountyMO.gov Tour the Jesse James home and learn about the famous outlaw and pre-Civil War history in northern Missouri.

John Wornall House Museum 6115 Wornall Rd., KC, MO 816.444.1858 $ C4 www.wornallmajors.org The 1858 museum offers special events and programs telling the history of Kansas City during the Civil War.

Johnson County Kansas Archives 19310 W. 159th St., Olathe, KS 913.715.0400 Free A5 www.archives.JoCoGov.org Archives of Johnson County, KS, history are open to visitors.

• FEATURED LISTING • Johnson County Museum

See ad on pg. 47 8788 Metcalf, OP, KS 913.715.2550 $ B4 www.JoCoGov.org Newly opened, the museum shares local history through galleries and public programs. The 1950s All-Electric House is the signature museum exhibit. KidScape, the renowned children’s interactive experience, is being updated and enlarged. At KidScape, kids learn through play about the past. An 1870s farmstead introduces kids to life on the farm. Time travel to 1900, where kids sell fruits and vegetables at the City Market, perform for an audience at the theater and teach at the school.

•

The 2017-18 Season of Inspiration The 2017-18 Season of Inspiration For dates and locations: For dates and locations:

www.storlingdance.org www.storlingdance.org 44 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Farm Fresh History Since 1858!

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES • Kansas City Historic Garment District Museum 801 Broadway, KC, MO 816.474.2112 Free C3 www.KCGarmentMuseum.org The museum tells the story of Kansas City’s garment factories from the 1920s through the 1980s.

KCMO City Hall 414 E. 12th St., KC, MO 816.513.1313 Free C3 www.KCMO.org Tour Kansas City’s City Hall and learn about the inner workings of the city government.

Kansas City Museum 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KC, MO 816.483.8300 $ C3 www.KCMO.gov KansasCityMuseum The museum is currently under restoration. Enjoy restoration tours of the mansion.

• FEATURED LISTING • KC Rail Experience

See ad on pg. 7 Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.460.2020 $ C3 www.UnionStation.org Experience a hands-on journey through the fascinating history of the American railroad. Rail travel has united Americans from coast to coast, shaping the destiny of the Kansas City region and the nation. This exhibit shares the sights and sounds from the golden age of rail travel, including a locomotive simulator that offers an engineer’s view of the rails.

•

Korean War Veterans Memorial Kansas City Washington Square Park: Pershing & Main, KC, MO Free C3 www.MoKoreanWarMemorial.org A memorial dedicated to the memory of those who served during the Korean War.

Korean War Veterans Memorial Overland Park

Leavenworth National Cemetery

11902 Lowell Ave., OP, KS Free B5 www.KWVA.org The KWVA Memorial features an engraved wall honoring the fallen and missing soldiers of the Korean War.

150 8th St., Leavenworth, KS 913.758.4105 Free A1 www.Cem.VA.Gov This historic cemetery is the burial site for many soldiers, beginning with the Civil War.

Korean/Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Lee’s Summit Railroad Museum

Wyandotte County Park: 91st Street & Leavenworth Road, KC, KS 913.596.7077 Free A2 www.WyCoKCK.org America’s first dual war memorial is dedicated to veterans of both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Lanesfield School Historic Site 18745 S. Dillie Rd., Edgerton, KS 913.893.6645 Free A5 www.JoCoMuseum.org The Lanesfield School Historic Site is a tribute to rural schooling.

• FEATURED LISTING • See ad on pg. 3 220 SE Main St. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.287.4477 Free D4 www.LeesSummitHistory.net Displays include a re-creation of the Vogue Theater, a WPA kitchen, information on local musical families the Brownings and Methenys and an exhibit on the Border War, including Lee’s Summit’s notorious resident Cole Younger. Much more can be found at the museum, including a gift shop and research room.

•

There’s more to discover in Kansas City than great museums and barbecue! Sponsored by the Truman Library Institute, the nonprofit partner of the Truman Library

Visit and learn more about your family history.

THE BUCK STOPS HERE« – HARRY S. TRUMAN

• ACCESS FAMILY HISTORY • FREE ACCESS TO BOOKS AND RECORDS • FREE ONLINE GENEALOGY TOOLS • FREE CLASSES • FREE WI-FI AND PUBLIC COMPUTERS • FREE PARKING • ORAL HISTORY RECORDING EQUIPMENT • PATRON LOUNGE WITH VENDING MACHINES • FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL STAFF 15 minutes east of Downtown Kansas City off I-70

3440 S. Lee's Summit Rd. Independence, MO 64055

Open daily!

midwestgenealogycenter.org HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM « OPEN DAILY / Minutes from Downtown Kansas City « MEMBERS VISIT FREE / Join at TrumanLibraryInstitute.org

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 45 Truman_KCGoingPlaces_Spring2016.indd 1

4/15/2016 4:36:07 PM

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES • National Frontier Trails Museum

Raytown Historical Society and Museum

318 W. Pacific Ave., Indep, MO 816.325.7575 $ D3 www.CI.Independence.MO.us/NFTM Features the history of the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails.

9705 E. 63rd St., Raytown, MO 816.353.5033 $ C3 www.RaytownHistoricalSociety.org Museum features a general store, Raytown history and traveling exhibits.

• FEATURED LISTING • The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

Vaile Mansion

See ad on pg. 2 5235 Oak St., KC, MO 816.235.8000 $ C3 www.ToyAndMiniatureMuseum.org The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures features exhibits and interactives of antique toys and fine-scale miniatures. The museum educates, inspires and delights adults and children through its collections. The innovative and engaging exhibits are fun for all ages. Throughout the year, enjoy special events including hands-on workshops, holiday events and special tours.

•

FEATURED LISTING National WWI Museum and Memorial

•

Legler Barn Museum

Missouri Town 1855

14907 W. 87th St. Pkwy. Lenexa, KS 913.492.0038 Free A4 www.LenexaHistoricalSociety.org The site displays changing exhibits on local history.

8010 E. Park Rd. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.503.4860 $ D4 www.MakeYourDayHere.com Missouri Town is a reconstructed 1850s farming community.

Lone Jack Battlefield Museum

Mount Gilead Church & School

301 S. Bynum Rd., Lone Jack, MO 816.697.8833 Free D5 www.HistoricLoneJack.org Enjoy this museum and battlefield tour of the Battle of Lone Jack.

15918 Plattsburg Rd. Kearney, MO 816.736.8500 Free D1 www.claycountymo.gov/historic Tour a one-room schoolhouse where school continued to meet through the Civil War, and a historic church.

See ad on pg. 43 100 W. 26th St., KC, MO 816.888.8100 $ C3 www.TheWorldWar.org Through original objects and documents, video, re-created trenches and interactive tables, the museum shares a comprehensive history of the First World War with visitors. Limited-run exhibitions tell newly curated stories of the Great War, often drawing from the museum’s comprehensive archives of more than 75,000 objects and documents.

The Museum at Prairiefire

Oxford Schoolhouse

5801 W. 135th St., OP, KS 913.333.3500 $ B5 www.MuseumAtPF.org The museum showcases world renowned exhibits.

Ironwoods Park: 14701 Mission Rd., Leawood, KS 913.339.6700 Free B5 www.Leawood.org/Parks Living history programs where children experience the oneroom school day of pioneers.

• FEATURED LISTING • Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm

See ad on pg. 44 1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS 913.971.5111 $ A5 www.mahaffie.org Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm offers a unique hands-on experience for visitors of all ages, focusing on 1860s farming, frontier life and stagecoach travel, while preserving the nationally significant Mahaffie story. Mahaffie is the last remaining stagecoach stop open to the public on the Santa Fe Trail. Visitors tour the historic home, blacksmith shop and farm.

National Agricultural Hall of Fame 630 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, KS 913.721.1075 $ A3 www.AgHallOfFame.com Learn about agriculture in the Heartland.

•

46 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

•

Pioneer Trails Adventures 217 N. Main, Indep, MO 816.254.2466 $ D3 www.PioneerTrailsAdventures.com Enjoy a mule-drawn covered wagon ride as you learn about the city’s history and famous citizens.

Rice-Tremonti Home 8801 E. 66th St., Raytown, MO 816.358.7423 $ C3 www.Rice-Tremonti.com Visit the oldest standing frame house in Jackson County, MO.

Rosedale Memorial Arch 35th Street & Booth, KC, KS 913.677.5097 Free B3 www.WyCoKcK.org Arch was built in 1923 to pay tribute to WWI veterans.

Shawnee Indian Mission 3403 W. 53rd St. Fairway, KS 913.262.0867 $ B3 www.KSHS.org Learn the history of the Shawnee and early Johnson County, KS.

Shawnee Town 1929 11501 W. 57th St. Shawnee, KS 913.248.2360 $ B3 www.ShawneeTown.org Shawnee Town 1929 is a museum and historic town.

Shoal Creek Living History Museum 7000 NE Barry Rd., KC, MO 816.792.2655 $ C1 www.KCMO.org A village of more than 20 authentic 19th-century buildings. Hands-on history is taught through programs and events.

Strawberry Hill Museum 720 N. 4th St., KC, KS 913.371.3264 $ B3 www.StrawberryHillMuseum.org This Queen Anne-style 1887 home tells the story of immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Thomas Hart Benton Home 3616 Belleview Ave., KC, MO 816.931.5722 $ C3 www.MoStateParks.com Tour the home of one of Missouri’s most famous artists.

• HISTORIC PLACES • HISTORIC PLACES • Truman Courtroom and Office Jackson County Courthouse: 112 W. Lexington, Indep, MO 816.881.3000 $ D3 www.JacksonGov.org Tour the office and courtroom used by Mr. Truman in his early years of elected politics. Remodeled office opening soon.

Truman Farm Home 12301 Blue Ridge Blvd. Grandview, MO 816.254.9929 $ C5 www.NPS.gov/HSTR Built in 1894, this was Harry Truman’s childhood residence from 1906 to 1917.

Truman Home 219 N. Delaware, Indep, MO 816.254.9929 $ D3 www.NPS.gov/HSTR Tour the home of President and Mrs. Truman where they lived.

UFDC Doll Museum

Veterans Memorial Park

Weston Historical Museum

10900 N. Pomona Ave., KC, MO 816.891.7040 $ B1 www.UFDC.org Museum features exhibits on dolls from around the world and throughout history.

1025 S. Harrison, Olathe, KS 913.971.8563 Free A5 www.OlatheKS.org/ParksRec/ This 4-acre park honors the men and women who served America in the Armed Services.

Charles Evans Whittaker

Veterans Park

601 Main St. Weston, MO 816.386.2977 Free A1 www.WestonHistoricalMuseum.org The Weston Historical Museum has preserved local artifacts to enjoy today.

U.S. Federal Courthouse 400 E. 9th St., KC, MO 816.426.3963 Free C3 www.GSA.gov/portal/content/101540 Tour the Federal Courthouse and learn how the judicial branch of government works.

Center & Pawnee St., Gardner, KS 913.856.7535 Free A5 www.GardnerKansas.gov The park features a veteran’s memorial, as well as park facilities: playground, trail, basketball court, etc.

U.S. National Archives

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

400 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.268.8000 Free C3 www.Archives.gov The collections include historical, diplomatic, genealogical and military documents, artifacts and exhibits.

Broadway & W. 42nd Street KC, MO 816.561.8387 Free C3 The memorial includes a wall with the names of 336 area veterans killed or missing in action.

Vaile Mansion 1500 N. Liberty St., Indep, MO 816.325.7430 $ D3 www.VaileMansion.org Guided tours are offered of the 1882 Victorian mansion.

Watkins Woolen Mill 26600 Park Rd. N., Lawson, MO 816.580.3387 $ D1 www.WatkinsMill.org Tour the home, visitor’s center, farm and brick mill and see how workers turned fleece into fabric.

Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum 631 N. 126th St. Bonner Springs, KS 913.573.5002 Free A3 www.WYCoKCK.org Hands-on exhibits and artifacts depict the history of Wyandotte County and Native Americans.

Visit www.KCParent.com for a look at the calendar year-round event guide.

VISIT TODAY! Stop in and experience the history of Johnson County and enjoy interactive play in KidScape! JOHNSON COUNTY MUSEUM

8788 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66212 jocogov.org/museum 913-826-ARTS Mon-Sat 9AM-4:30PM Bob Greenspan Photography

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 47

• SCIENCE PLACES • SCIENCE PLACES •

SCIENCE PLACES LEGEND: FREE $ (Under $40 for family of 4) $$ (More than $40 for family of 4) KC - Kansas City OP - Overland Park Indep - Independence Shwn Msn - Shawnee Mission Grid location (C2, D3) refers to map on pg. 29 Note: Remember to call ahead for current hours and directions for each facility.

GO EXPLORE

Science Museums American Royal Museum 1701 American Royal Ct. KC, MO 816.221.9800 $ C3 www.AmericanRoyal.com Museum is dedicated to agriculture, show animals and petting zoo.

• FEATURED LISTING • Gottlieb Planetarium

See ad on pg. 7 Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.460.2020 $ C3 www.UnionStation.org The Gottlieb Planetarium’s 360-degreed domed screen and advanced projection system immerse visitors in an experience that is simultaneously entertaining and informative. From a regular presentation about the solar system to the occasional special musical collaboration, the planetarium dazzles with one of the largest dome experiences in the Midwest.

•

KU Natural History Museum 1345 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 785.864.4450 $ A3 www.NaturalHistory.KU.edu Four floors of exhibits help you explore the life of the planet.

Moon Marble 600 E. Front St. Bonner Springs, KS 913.441.1432 Free A3 www.MoonMarble.com Watch marble making, learn marble games and visit the store with old-fashioned toys.

Powell Observatory 26500 Melrose St., Louisburg, KS 913.837.5305 $ B5 www.ASKC.org Powell Observatory is home to the largest telescope in a fivestate area.

• FEATURED LISTING •

Science City at Union Station See ad on pg. 7 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.460.2020 $ C3 www.ScienceCity.com Hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits ranging from dinosaurs to outer space, music to optical illusions, medicine and weather. Housed in Union Station, a popular destination drawing tourists who marvel at the Grand Hall’s 95-foot ceiling and 3,000-pound chandelier.

•

GO SEE ANIMALS

Zoos, Aquariums and Farms

• FEATURED LISTING •

Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary and Educational Center

Sea Life Kansas City

48 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

See ad on pg. 49 3783 Hwy. K68, Louisburg, KS 913.837.5515 $ B5 www.SaveOurSiberians.org A preserve for tigers and a refuge for big cats that are abandoned, neglected or whose owners are unable to care for them. On Saturday evenings (summer – autumn) watch as the big cats are fed by trained staff. Special events and tours are offered through the year.

•

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead 13800 Switzer, OP, KS 913.897.2360 Free/$ B5 www.OPKansas.org 12-acre park with farm animals, a dairy barn, a fishing pond, horse-drawn wagon rides, pony rides and more.

• FEATURED LISTING • Kansas City Zoo

See ad on pg. 68 6800 Zoo Dr., KC, MO 816.595.1234 $ C4 www.KansasCityZoo.org Visitors love the Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, world-class African exhibit, venturing to Australia and the Tropics exhibit. Live animal feedings and shows are offered daily, and watching elephants paint, sea lions train and the bird show are a few favorites. The zoo also hosts family friendly weekends with character visits, holiday specials and workshops to educate visitors on the animals. Visit the zoo website for great events all year long.

•

Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure Fleming Park: US 40 & Woods Chapel Road Blue Springs, MO 816.503.4800 Free D4 www.JacksonGov.org View the 110-acre enclosure where elk, buffalo and deer roam freely.

Screamin’ Oaks Farm 18171 W. 198th St. Tonganoxie, KS 913.845.2775 $ A3 http://screaminoaksfarm.blogspot.com/ Tours are offered of this working farm where children can learn about animals and farming firsthand.

• SCIENCE PLACES • SCIENCE PLACES • • FEATURED LISTING • Sea Life Kansas City

See ad on pg. 50 2475 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.471.4386 $$ C3 VisitSeaLife.com This aquarium experience will get you up close and face-to-face with amazing underwater creatures such as sharks, octopus, our green sea turtle named Gertrude, stingrays, sea stars, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish! A favorite attraction is the Interactive Rockpool Experience, where you are able to touch animals like sea stars and sea urchins with the help of a Sea Life Educator!

•

GO VISIT GARDENS Botanical Gardens and Learning Gardens

Beanstalk Children’s Garden 6917 Kensington, KC, MO 816.931.3877 $ C4 www.KCCG.org Children’s garden features educational programs on gardening and nutrition.

Kauffman Memorial Garden 4800 Rockhill Rd., KC, MO 816.932.1200 Free C3 www.PowellGardens.org Free 2-acre public garden with serene and tranquil spaces in the heart of the city.

Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden 51st Street & Wornall Road KC, MO 816.513.7500 Free C3 www.KCMO.org KC’s rose garden features hundreds of roses with a fountain.

Linda Hall Library Urban Arboretum 5109 Cherry St., KC, MO 816.926.8753 Free www.LindaHall.org Urban garden on UMKC’s campus features a butterfly garden.

Savor beautiful gardens, including a Monet garden and a children’s garden.

Overland Park Arboretum 8909 W. 179th St., OP, KS 913.685.3604 Free-$ www.OPKansas.org

Science City at Union Station

Powell Gardens B5

1609 NW US Hwy. 50 Kingsville, MO 816.697.2600 $ D5

www.PowellGardens.org With special exhibits, performances, drop-in activities, acres of gorgeous gardens and the nation’s largest edible landscape, you can tailor a visit based on your own interests.

An Educational Experience for All Ages!

Cedar Cove is a non-profit, educational sanctuary dedicated to the care & preservation of large cats and other endangered species while educating the public on their behavior and importance, the threats they face in captivity as well as the wild, and the impending danger of extinction.

Public Feedings Every Saturday! Hours:

Kalyana

Summer (Apr - Oct) Sat: 10am - 5pm* Sun: 10am - 3pm

Winter (Nov- Mar) Sat: 11am - 3pm* Sun: 11am - 3pm

*Feeding times on Saturday: Summer: 4 p.m. / Winter: 2 p.m. Sunday: Summer: 2 p.m. / Winter: 2 p.m.

Admission:

Adults: $8.00 Kids 4-12 & Seniors: $6.00 Kids 3 and under are free!

Location:

3783 K-68 Hwy, Louisburg, KS 66053

Phone:

(913) 837-5515 or (816) 739-0363

(see website for map & directions)

Kimar

www.saveoursiberians.org KCGOINGPLACES.COM 49

• SCIENCE PLACES • SCIENCE PLACES • GO EXPERIENCE NATURE

Cave Spring Historic Site & Nature Center

Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center

8701 E. Gregory Blvd., KC, MO 816.547.9679 Free C4 www.CaveSpring.org Visit the nature center and hiking trails.

Conservation Centers

4750 Troost Ave., KC, MO 816.759.7300 Free C3 www.MDC.mo.gov Explore the nature center, hiking trail, special programs and more.

Burroughs Audubon Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary 7300 SW West Park Rd. Blue Springs, MO 816.795.8177 Free D4 www.Burroughs.org A library and bird watching center complete with guides to identify local birds, binoculars and great viewing areas.

Burr Oak Woods Nature Center

Ernie Miller Nature Center 909 N. Hwy. 7, Olathe, KS 913.764.7759 Free A5 www.ErnieMiller.com The nature center features animals native to Kansas, hiking trails and educational programs.

F. L. Schlagle Library 4051 West Dr., KC, KS 913.299.2384 Free A3 www.KCKPL.org Nature library offers trails, nature art gallery, bird watching and classes.

George Owens Nature Park

1401 NW Park Rd. Blue Springs, MO 816.228.3766 Free D3 www.MDC.mo.gov Features hands-on exhibits, an aquarium, animals and nature trails.

1601 S. Speck Rd., Indep, MO 816.325.7115 Free D3 www.GeorgeOwensNaturePark.org Enjoy programs for children, fishing dock and trails.

KANSAS CITY

LEGO® NINJAGO® Days September 23-24 September 30-October 1 October 7-8

Homeschool Week September 25-29

Scout Month

October 1-31

John Barkley Visitor Center 7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS 913.888.4713 Free A4 www.JCPRD.com Local and national parks exhibit, fishing and trails are available to visitors.

Kemper Outdoor Education Center 8201 Jasper Bell, Blue Springs, MO 816.229.8980 Free D4 www.JacksonGov.org See reptile displays, rock and fossil exhibits and a natural resource library.

Lakeside Nature Center 4701 E. Gregory Blvd., KC, MO 816.513.8960 Free C4 www.LakesideNatureCenter.org An incredible place to enjoy learning about local native wildlife.

Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary 407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, MO 816.781.8598 Free D1 www.NatureSanctuary.com

Brick-Or-Treat October 21-22

LEGO Star Wars Days November 11-12

Teacher Appreciation Weekend

November 17-19

Holiday Bricktacular 50 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Parkville Nature Sanctuary 12th Street & Highway 9 Parkville, MO 816.741.7676 Free B2 www.ParkvilleNatureSanctuary.net Explore the nature sanctuary and hiking trails.

Prairie Oak Nature Center 14701 Mission Rd. Leawood, KS 913.681.0902 Free B5 www.Leawood.org/parks The nature center features hands-on activities and several live animals.

Prairie Park Nature Center 2730 Harper St. Lawrence, KS 785.832.7980 Free A3 www.lawrenceks.org/lprd/ppnc Investigate animal exhibits including reptiles, birds and mammals.

t info, For even sit our i please v es! websit

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 16-17

Provides engaging hands-on environmental and natural science education.

Teacher Appreciation Weekend

Homeschool Week

November 17-19

Sharks After Dark

December 16-17

September 25-29

Sharky Santa at SEA LIFE

October 6

Scout Month October 1-31

Underwater Pumpkin Carving October 21-22

DINNER

AND A

SHOW

ENJOY DINNER AND A LIVE SHOW AT ONE OF KANSAS CITY’S PREMIER THEATERS. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

The Coterie is Kansas City’s professional children’s theater, located on the first floor of Crown Center. From Sept. 19 to Oct. 22, watch We Shall Not Be Moved, as you are invited to take a seat at a whites-only lunch counter with a group of four freshmen from A&T College in North Carolina who launched a youth-led movement for African Americans to receive equal service by challenging racial injustice. From Nov. 7 to Dec. 31, A Charlie Brown Christmas is back by extraordinary popular demand. The beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage as your favorite characters come to life. Imaginary Friends: Legend of Sinnissippi Park is on stage Jan. 23-Feb. 11. A world premiere production with magic and wonderment, the play begins with 13-year-old Jack McCall’s learning some very bad news about his health. Reality blends with fantasy as Jack becomes convinced he needs to find his way back to the magical park and the imaginary friends from his childhood. Crown Center is home to many fantastic restaurants, but all-time faves for the kids will always be Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant where trains deliver food to your table, d’Bronx, the New York-style delicatessen and pizzeria, and Unforked, a fast-causal restaurant serving food using local, organic ingredients as much as possible. The Kansas City Repertory Theatre performs on two stages, one on the UMKC campus near the Country Club Plaza and the other in the Kansas City Power & Light District. Both shopping districts are home to dozens of excellent restaurants appealing to any palate. Between the Lines is showing Sept. 8-Oct. 1, the story of 17-year-old Delilah

The Coterie’s A Charlie Brown Christmas McPhee, whose life is turned upside down by her parents’ divorce. Fences, Oct. 13-Nov. 5, the winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for best play that same year, is set in 1950s Pittsburgh against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America. A Christmas Carol, Nov. 16-Dec. 24, is one of Kansas City’s favorite holiday traditions. The production, back for its 36th season, presents a ripping good telling of the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Jan. 26-Feb. 18, was winner of the 2015 Tony Award for best play and tells the story of 15-year-old Christopher, a boy with an extraordinary brain who is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped for dealing with everyday life. Enjoy the Kansas City Ballet’s performances at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Romeo and Juliet, Oct. 13-22. Dec. 7-24, enjoy the annual holiday tradition of The Nutcracker and New Moves, Feb. 15-18. Los Tules, one of the most authentic and delicious Mexican restaurants in town, is across the street. And for upscale dining, you can enjoy brunch or dinner next door at the elegant Webster House. Little ones will delight in Theatre for Young America’s live plays at Union Station. The upcoming season includes Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat (Oct. 17-Nov. 11), Raggedy Ann and Andy’s Christmas Adventure (Nov. 28-Dec. 30), The Toughest Kid in the World (Feb. 1-7), Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (Feb. 13-March 24) and more. Stop in at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a treat before or after the show! KCGOINGPLACES.COM 51

• THEATRICAL PL ACES • THEATRICAL PL ACES •

THEATRICAL PLACES Carlsen Center at JCCC

Dramatic Truth Ballet

12345 College Blvd., OP, KS 913.469.4445 $$ B4 www.JCCC.edu Concerts, ballet, live theater, puppet shows and performances from around the world grace the Carlsen Center stage.

10510 Grandview Rd., KC, MO 816.767.9222 $ C4 www.DramaticTruth.org Local Christian ballet troupe performs live shows for the whole family.

Christian Youth Theater Various locations 913.681.3318 $ www.CYTKC.org CYT is an after-school theater arts program for children ages 5-18.

City Theatre of Independence iLuminate at JCCC

GO SEE A SHOW

Live Theater, Dance and Entertainment Avila College Goppert Theatre 11901 Wornall Rd., KC, MO 816.501.3699 $$ C5 www.Avila.edu Students offer live theater performances.

Barn Players Community Theatre 6219 Martway, Mission, KS 913.432.9100 $ B3 www.TheBarnPlayers.org Enjoy live community theater performances.

Bell Road Barn Players David Theater at Park University: 8700 NW River Park Dr. Parkville, MO 816.587.0218 $ B2 www.BellRoadBarn.com Live community theater performances.

Big Creek Country Show 110 Veterans Pkwy. Pleasant Hill, MO 816.524.6856 $$ A5 www.BigCreekCountry.com Country musicians and comedians offer shows for the family.

Blue Springs City Theater 2000 NW Ashton Dr. Blue Springs, MO 816.228.0137 $ D3 www.BlueSpringsCityTheater.com Live community theater.

52 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

201 N. Dodgion, Indep, MO 816.325.7370 $ D3 www.CityTheatreOfIndependence.org Live community theater for all ages includes children’s shows.

Comedy City 3600 Broadway, Ste. 107 KC, MO 816.842.2744 $ C3 www.ComedyCity.cc Improv comedy shows are geared for the entire family.

Coterie Theatre

Excelsior Springs Community Theatre Various performance locations in Excelsior Springs, Richmond and Liberty, MO. 816.637.3728 $ D1 www.ESCTheatre.org Live community theater for all ages includes children’s shows.

Folly Theater 300 W. 12th St., KC, MO 816.474.4444 $$ C3 www.FollyTheater.com Live theater and music performances entertain at this venue.

Gem Theater 1616 E. 18th St., KC, MO 816.474.8463 $$ C3 www.AmericanJazzMuseum.com The Gem Theater features everything from films and live theater productions to dynamic live jazz performances.

Crown Center: 2450 Grand Blvd., Ste. 144 KC, MO 816.474.6552 $ C3 www.CoterieTheatre.org The Coterie is among the top five theaters serving families and young audiences in the United States, according to TIME magazine.

Jewish Community Center of Greater KC

The Culture House

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Various performance locations 14808 W. 117th St., Olathe, KS 913.393.3141 $ A5 www.CultureHouse.com Live shows including musicals, dance and theater. Also home to the Storling Dance Theater. See ad on pg. 44.

5801 W. 115th St., Ste. 101 OP, KS 913.327.8000 $$ www.JCCKC.org Live theater and music performances entertain the whole family.

1601 Broadway, KC, MO 816.994.7200 $$ C3 www.KauffmanCenter.org Home to resident organizations the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, Kansas City Symphony and other programming.

• THEATRICAL PL ACES • THEATRICAL PL ACES • • FEATURED LISTING • Kansas City Ballet

See ad on pg. 54 Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity: 500 W. Pershing, KC, MO Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: 1601 Broadway, KC, MO 816.931.2232 $$ C3 www.KCBallet.org Kansas City Ballet offers an eclectic repertory from the traditional classics to exciting contemporary ballets.

•

KC Chamber Orchestra Various performance locations 816.960.1324 $$ C3 www.KCChamberOrchestra.org Classical music is performed by KC’s chamber orchestra.

KC Friends of Alvin Ailey 1714 E. 18th St., KC, MO 816.471.6003 $$ C3 www.KCFAA.org Professional dance group features ballet, modern and jazz dance.

KC Improv

KC Starlight Theatre

Lee’s Summit Symphony

7260 NW 87th St., KC, MO 816.759.5233 $$ B2 ImprovKC.com Live improv comedy theater.

4600 Starlight Dr., KC, MO 816.363.7827 $$ C3 www.KCStarlight.com Get into the spirit with starry nights, great food and the best Broadway entertainment.

Lee’s Summit High School: 400 SE Blue Pkwy. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.401.5251 $ D4 www.LSSymphony.org Classical symphony entertains with live performances.

• FEATURED LISTING • KC Repertory Theatre

See ad on pg. 53 Spencer Theatre 4949 Cherry St., KC, MO 816.235.2700 $$ C3 Copaken Stage 1 H&R Block Way, KC, MO 816.235.2700 $$ C3 www.KCRep.org Kansas City Repertory Theatre pursues theatrical excellence and advances the art form. KC Rep builds community by connecting people through productions and programming that educate, entertain, challenge and inspire including the annual production of A Christmas Carol as well as new and classic works of theater.

•

KC Symphony Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: 1601 Broadway, KC, MO 816.471.0400 $$ C3 www.KCSymphony.org Enjoy professional live classical symphony.

Liberty Performing Arts Theatre 1600 S. Withers Rd., Liberty, MO 816.439.4362 $$ D1 www.LPAT.org The entire family can enjoy live theater performances.

Lied Center of Kansas

KC Young Audiences 3732 Main St., KC, MO 816.531.4022 $ C3 www.KCYA.org Live music, dance, drama and poetry entertain patrons ages 5 and up.

Kick Comedy Theater 4010 Pennsylvania Ave., KC, MO 816.806.4000 $$ C3 Live improv and sketch comedy shows.

1600 Stewart Dr., Lawrence, KS 785.864.2787 $ A3 www.lied.ku.edu/ World famous live entertainment with theater, concerts and shows.

Lyric Opera Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: 1601 Broadway, KC, MO 816.471.4933 $$ C3 www.KCOpera.org Attend live professional opera performances.

Featuring a

NEW ADAPTATION

by KCRep Ar

tistic Direct

ERIC ROSENor

WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL! Based on the New York Times bestseller by JODI PICOULT and SAMANTHA van LEER!

celebrating 37 season s!

What happens when the line between fiction & fantasy becomes blurred with reality?

SEP 8 - OCT 1 • SPENCER THEATRE

Kansas City’s favorite HOLIDAY TRADITION, (Closer to Dickens’ original text, with brand new scenes!)

NOV 17-DEC 24 • SPENCER THEATRE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT KCREP.ORG OR CALL 816.235.2700

KCRep is the professional theatre in residence at UMKC KCGOINGPLACES.COM 53

• THEATRICAL PL ACES • THEATRICAL PL ACES • that appeal to all ages. They perform locally and tour to schools, performing arts centers, churches, synagogues and regional theaters across the nation.

•

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre 3614 Main, KC, MO 816.569.3226 $ C3 http://MetKC.org A not-for-profit professional theater providing a full season of shows for the public.

Midland Theatre KC Repertory Theatre

Martin City Melodrama 702 Blue Ridge Blvd. Grandview, MO 913.642.7576 $ C5 www.MartinCityMelodrama.org Live Vaudeville-style theater is sure to leave the entire family laughing!

• FEATURED LISTING • Mesner Puppet Theater

See ad on pg. 55 1006 Linwood Blvd., KC, MO 816.756.3500 $ C3 MesnerPuppets.org Mesner Puppet Theater is an award winning, professional puppet theater that produces plays for young audiences

1228 Main St., KC, MO 816.283.9900 $$ C3 www.MidlandKC.com Live theater, concerts and other performances entertain guests.

Miller-Marley School of Dance 10448 Mastin St., OP, KS 913.492.0004 $ www.MillerMarley.com Local youth offer live dance performances.

Music Hall 301 W. 13th St., KC, MO 816.513.5000 $$ C3 www.KCConvention.com Host to live theater in Kansas City since 1936, this facility is known for bringing world-class shows and entertainment.

Musical Theater Heritage Crown Center: 2450 Grand, KC, MO 816.221.6987 $ C3 www.MusicalTheaterHeritage.com MTH presents classic musical theater and revue performances.

New Theatre Restaurant 9229 Foster St., OP, KS 913.649.7469 $$ B4 www.NewTheatre.com Live dinner theater features famous stars in each performance.

Northland Symphony Orchestra Park Hill South High School: 4500 NW River Park Dr. Riverside, MO

ENROLL NOW CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-18

Photography: Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios

ENHANCE POISE, FOCUS AND RHYTHM WITH THE REGION’S MOST RESPECTED PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING DANCERS

BOLENDER CENTER 500 W. Pershing Kansas City, MO 64108 Union Station

Pershing

Nall Ave.

I-3 5

Broadway

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS! 94th Terr.

JOHNSON COUNTY 5359 W. 94th Terr. Prairie Village, KS 66207

W. 95th St.

SPACE IS LIMITED — ENROLL TODAY! 816.931.2299 | KCBALLET.ORG/SCHOOL

54 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

DAYTIME & AFTERNOON ACADEMY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

• THEATRICAL PL ACES • THEATRICAL PL ACES • Oak Park High School: 825 NE 79th Ter., KC, MO 816.316.0477 $ B2 www.NorthlandSymphony.org Enjoy notable symphony performances.

Olathe Civic Band Various locations 913.669.3388 Free-$ B3 www.OlatheCivicBand.org Live musical performances for the community.

Olathe Civic Theatre 500 E. Loula Olathe, KS 913.782.2990 $$ B4 www.OlatheTheatre.org Live community theater is produced for the entire family.

Piccadilly Puppets Various locations 913.837.3544 $ www.Piccadilly-Puppets.com Touring puppet company performs shows across the KC metro area.

Puppetry Arts Institute

Stanfords Comedy Club

Trilogy Cultural Arts Centre

11025 E. Winner Rd., Indep, MO 816.833.9777 $ D3 www.Hazelle.org Enjoy live puppet shows, make your own puppets and tour the museum.

1867 Village W. Pkwy, D-201 KC, KS 913.400.7500 $$ B5 www.StanfordsComedyClub.com Relaxed venue with adultoriented comedy acts.

12480 S. Blackbob, Olathe, KS 913.254.4444 $ A5 www.TrilogyCulturalArts.com Live theater, dance and musical performances.

Quality Hill Playhouse

Stone Lion Puppet Theatre

303 W. 10th St., KC, MO 816.421.1700 $$ C3 www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com Live music concerts range from classical to jazz.

Various locations 816.221.5351 $ www.StoneLionPuppets.org Live puppet shows are tailored for children.

Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park

Storybook Theatre

7710 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS 913.236.1237 $ A4 www.TheatreInThePark.org Live outdoor theater is performed for the entire family every summer.

Sprint Center 1407 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.949.7100 $$ C3 www.SprintCenter.com Multi-use indoor arena in the Power & Light District.

Various locations: Lee’s Summit area 816.204.5702 $ D4 http://AGDT.blogspot.com Public performances are held seasonally.

UMKC Conservatory of Music James C. Olson Performing Arts Center: 4949 Cherry St., KC, MO 816.235.2900 $$ C3 www.Conservatory.UMKC.edu Live musical performances entertain the entire family.

UMKC Theatre 4949 Cherry St., KC, MO 816.235.6222 $$ C3 www.UMKC.edu/Theatre UMKC college students offer live theater performances.

Theatre for Young America

Youth Symphony of KC

Union Station: 30 W. Pershing Rd., KC, MO 816.460.2083 $ C3 www.TYA.org Theatre for Young America provides family shows all year.

Various performance locations 290 W. 18th St., KC, MO 816.897.0577 $$ C3 www.YouthSymphonyKC.org Area youth offer live classical music performances.

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 55

• SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS

SPORTS PLACES MU Athletics 1 Champions Dr. Columbia, MO 800.228.7297 $$ D3 www.MUTigers.com College teams for the University of Missouri, including basketball, football, baseball, cross country, track and field.

Missouri Mavericks 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy. Indep, MO 816.252.7825 $$ D3 www.MissouriMavericks.com KC’s minor league ice hockey team offers family excitement.

Sporting KC 1 Sporting Way, KC, KS 913.387.3400 $$ A3 www.SportingKC.com Cheer for KC’s outdoor soccer team.

KC Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium

GO TO A GAME Pro, Semi-Pro and College Sports KC Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium: 1 Arrowhead Dr., KC, MO 816.920.9300 $$ C3 www.KCChiefs.com Cheer for KC’s professional football team.

KC Comets

KU Athletics

19100 E. Valley View Pkwy. Indep, MO 855.452.4625 $$ D3 www.CometsIndoorSoccer.com Kansas City’s indoor soccer team.

1450 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 785.864.2700 $$ A3 www.KUAthletics.com College teams for the University of Kansas, including basketball, football, baseball, cross country, track and field.

KC Royals Kauffman Stadium: 1 Royal Way, KC, MO 816.921.8000 $$ C3 www.Royals.MLB.com Visit the K to watch KC’s professional baseball team.

KC T-Bones Community America Ballpark: 1800 Village West Pkwy. KC, KS 913.328.2255 $ A3 www.TBonesBaseball.com The T-Bones are Kansas City’s independent professional baseball team.

56 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

Kansas Speedway 400 Speedway Blvd., KC, KS 913.328.3300 $$ A3 www.KansasSpeedway.com NASCAR races, car shows and classic car races offer plenty of excitement.

Lakeside Speedway 5615 Wolcott Dr., KC, KS 913.299.9206 $ A3 www.LakesideSpeedway.net The half-mile dirt track is part of NASCAR’s weekly racing series.

UMKC Kangaroos Various locations $$ C3 www.UMKCKangaroos.com College teams include basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, cross country, track and field and volleyball.

GO BOWLING Aaron’s Family Fun Center 17070 Aaron Ln., Belton, MO 816.322.0488 $ C5 www.AaronsFEC.com

AMF Strike ‘N Spare Lanes: 13001 E. 40 Hwy., Indep, MO 816.356.1900 $ D3 Pro Bowl Lanes: 505 E. 18th Ave., KC, MO (This location also offers miniature golf.) 816.221.8844 $ C3 College Lanes: 10201 College Blvd., OP, KS 913.451.6400 $ B4 www.AMF.com

PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • Diamond Bowl

Sterling Bowl

218 N. Osage St., Indep, MO 816.252.8003 $ D3 www.Diamond-Bowl.com

11216 US 24, Sugar Creek, MO 816.252.2111 $ D3 www.SterlingBowl.com

Gladstone Bowl

Summit Lanes

300 NW 72nd St. Gladstone, MO 816.436.2695 $ C2 www.GladstoneBowl.net

803 SW Oldham Pkwy. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.524.3322 $ D4 www.SummitLanes.com

KC Bowl

Ward Parkway Lanes

8201 State Ave., KC, KS 913.299.1110 $ A3 www.KCBowl.com

1523 W. 89th St., KC, MO 816.363.2700 $ C3 www.WardParkwayLanes.com

Lunar Bowl 2001 NW 7 Hwy. Blue Springs, MO 816.220.7722 $ D3 www.LunarBowl.com

GO SWIM

Indoor Pools & Aquatic Centers

Mission Bowl ‘N Olathe

Belton Parks Community Center

1020 S. Weaver St. Olathe, KS 913.782.0279 $ A5 http://missionbowl.com/

16400 N. Mullen Rd. Belton, MO 816.348.7400 $ C5 www.BeltonParks.org

Olathe Lanes East

Blue Valley Rec Aquatic Center

303 N. Lindenwood Dr. Olathe, KS 913.764.4568 $ A5 www.OLEast.com

6545 W. 151st St., OP, KS 913.685.6000 $ B5 www.BlueValleyRec.org

Park Lanes

Centennial Pool Plex

Family Fun Center 7701 Renner Rd., Shwn Msn, KS 913.248.1110 $ A4 www.ParkLanesKC.com

2401 NW Ashton Dr. Blue Springs, MO 816.228.0188 $ D4 www.funattheblue.com

Pinstripes

CoCo Key Water Resort

13500 Nall Ave., OP, KS 913.681.2255 $ B5 www.Pinstripes.com In addition to bowling, enjoy bocce and bistro.

Adam’s Mark Hotel & Conference Center: 9103 E. 39th St., KC, MO 816.737.0200 $$ C3 www.CocoKeyKansasCity.com A 55,000-square-foot indoor water park.

Premier Bowling & Recreation Center 11400 E. 350 Hwy., Raytown, MO 816.356.5955 $ C3 www.PremierBowl.com

Retro Bowl 906 W. Liberty Dr., Liberty, MO 816.781.1998 $ D2 This location also offers batting cages, billiards and more.

Harrisonville Recreation Center

KC YMCA

2400 Jefferson Pkwy. Harrisonville, MO 816.380.8980 $ C5 www.CI.Harrisonville.MO.us

Henley Aquatic Center 18200 E. MO 78 Hwy. Indep, MO 816.521.5377 $ D3 www4.Indep.k12.mo.us/Henley/

Locations with Indoor Pools www.KansasCityYMCA.org Atchison Family YMCA: 321 Commercial, Atchison, KS 913.367.4948 $ A1 Blue Springs Family YMCA: 2251 S. 138th St. Blue Springs, MO 816.224.9620 $ D4

Jewish Community Center of Greater KC

Bonner Springs Family YMCA: 410 N. Bluegrass Dr., # B Bonner Springs, KS 913.422.9348 $ A2

5801 W. 115th St., OP, KS 913.327.8000 $ B5 www.JCCKC.org

Miami County Family YMCA: 300 11th St., Osawatomie, KS 913.755.3622 $ A5

KC MO Parks & Rec

Olathe Family YMCA: 21400 W. 153rd St., Olathe, KS 913.393.9622 $ A5

Community Centers with Indoor Pools Gregg/Klice Community Center: 1600 John “Buck” O’Neil Way KC, MO 816.784.1135 $ C3 Southeast Community Center: 4201 E. 63rd St., KC, MO 816.513.0631 $ C3 Tony Aguirre Community Center: 2050 W. Pennway, KC, MO 816.784.1300 $ C3 www.KCMO.org

Paul Henson Family YMCA: 4200 W. 79th St. Prairie Village, KS 913.642.6800 $ B4 Platte County Comm Center North: 3101 Running Horse Platte City, MO 816.858.0114 $ A1 Platte County Comm Center South: 8875 Clark Ave., Parkville, MO 816.505.2622 $ B2

Gladstone Community Center 6901 N. Holmes St., KC, MO 816.423.4200 $ C2 www.Gladstone.mo.us

Great Wolf Lodge 10401 Cabela Dr., KC, KS 913.299.7001 $$ A3 www.GreatWolf.com Enjoy a four-story interactive tree house, winding lazy river and numerous water slides.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 57

• SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS Providence YMCA/ Ball Family Center: 8601 Parallel Pkwy., KC, KS 913.378.9622 $ A2 Red Bridge Family YMCA: 11300 Holmes Rd., KC, MO 816.942.2020 $ C5

Legacy Park Community Center 901 NE Bluestem Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.969.1550 $ D4 www.CityOfLS.net

Liberty MO Community Center 1600 S. Withers Rd., Liberty, MO 816.439.4360 $ D2 www.CI.Liberty.MO.us

Matt Ross Community Center 8101 Marty St., OP, KS 913.895.6350 $ B4 www.OPKansas.org

Olathe Community Center and Stagecoach Park 1205 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS 913.971.8563 $-$$ A5 www.olatheks.org/parksrec/ olathecommunitycenter

Park Hill Aquatic Center 8152 N. Congress Ave. KC, MO 816.359.4080 $ B1 www.Parkhill.K12.MO.us

Roeland Park Aquatic Center

Rink Ratz

Winnwood Skate Center

4843 Rosewood Dr. Roeland Park, KS 913.432.1377 $ B3 www.RoelandPark.net

513 SW Keystone Dr. Blue Springs, MO 816.229.7793 $ D4 www.rinkratzsk8.com

4426 NE Winn Rd., KC, MO 816.452.1171 $ C2 www.WinnwoodSk8.com

Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center

River Roll Skate Center

GO ICE SKATE & SKI

6200 Martway St., Shwn Msn, KS 913.722.8200 $ B3 www.SylvesterPowell.com

4720 NW Gateway Ave. KC, MO 816.587.0131 $ C2 www.RiverRoll.com

The View

Skate City Overland Park

13500 Byars Rd., Grandview, MO 816.316.4888 $ C5 www.Grandview.org

10440 Mastin St., OP, KS 913.888.6668 $ B4 www.SkateCityKansas.com

GO ROLLER SKATE B & D South Skate Center 13903 E. Noland Ct. Indep, MO 816.252.1084 $ D3 www.BandDSouth.com

Landmark Skate Center 701 SE Oldham Ct. Lee’s Summit, MO 816.524.2000 $ D4 www.Landmark2Skate.com

Northland Rolladium 1020 Kent St., Liberty, MO 816.792.0590 $ D2 www.SkateLiberty.net

Skate City Legends

Centerpoint Community Ice 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy. Indep, MO 816.442.6100 $ D3 www.IndependenceEventsCenter.com Enjoy year-round skating at the indoor ice rink.

Crown Center Ice Terrace

7838 Washington Ave. KC, KS 913.788.7788 $ A3 www.SkateCityLegends.com

2450 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.274.8411 $ C3 www.CrownCenter.com Kansas City’s only public outdoor ice skating rink opens for its 41st season in November.

Skate City Shawnee

The Ice at Park Place

9800 W. 62nd Ter. Shawnee, KS 913.262.0711 $ B3 www.SkateCityShawnee.com

11565 Ash St., Leawood, KS 913.663.2070 $ B5 www.ParkPlaceLeawood.com The Ice at Park Place is the only outdoor ice rink in Johnson County.

Wheel Thing Skate Center 1719 Metropolitan Ave. Leavenworth, KS 913.682.7677 $ A1 www.RollinFun.com

KC Ice Center 19900 Johnson Dr. Shawnee Mission, KS 913.441.3033 $ B3 www.KCIceCenter.com An indoor ice skating rink.

Linden Square Ice Rink NE 70th & N. Cherry Gladstone, MO 816.436.2200 $ C2 www.Gladstone.mo.us The outdoor rink is a synthetic ice surface accommodating between 100 and 120 skaters at once.

Line Creek Ice Rink 5940 NW Waukomis Dr., KC, MO 816.513.0760 $ C2 www.KCMO.org Indoor ice skating rink offers family fun.

Rink at Burlington Creek 6109 NW 63rd Ter., KC, MO 816.249.2600 $ B2 www.KCIce.net Outdoor ice skating rink in the Northland.

Crown Center Ice Terrace 58 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • SPORTS PL ACES • Snow Creek Ski Area 1 Snow Creek Dr., Weston, MO 816.640.2200 $$ A1 www.SkiSnowCreek.com Snow Creek features man-made snow and snowboarding and skiing lessons.

GO LEARN ABOUT SPORTS Sports and Motorsports Museums Armacost Car Museum 4200 E. 135th St., Grandview, MO 816.763.9683 $$ C5 www.PetersonCarMuseum.com Two floors of restored vintage cars in a space available for special events.

College Basketball Experience 1401 Grand Blvd., KC, MO 816.949.7500 $ C3 www.CollegeBasketballExperience.com Hands-on exhibits place visitors in game-like situations.

Harley-Davidson Assembly Plant 11401 N. Congress Ave., KC, MO 816.270.8023 Free B1 www.Harley-Davidson.com Tour the factory and watch the assembly of Harley-Davidson motorcycles firsthand.

Kansas City Auto Museum 15095 W. 116th St., Olathe, KS 913.322.4227 $ B5 www.KansasCityAutoMuseum.com A new museum honoring Kansas City’s automotive manufacturing and collector community.

•

FEATURED LISTING Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

•

See ad on pg. 67 1616 E. 18th St., KC, MO 816.221.1920 $ C3 www.NLBM.com Founded in 1990, the 10,000-square-foot Negro Leagues Baseball Museum preserves the rich history of African-American baseball. Experience a tour of multimedia displays, museum store, hundreds of photographs and artifacts dating from the late 1800s through the 1960s. Through educational

programming and innovative exhibitions, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum preserves the history of African-American baseball.

•

Royals Hall of Fame Kauffman Stadium 1 Royal Way, KC, MO 816.921.8000 $ C3 http://KansasCity.Royals.MLB.com An education and entertainment venue that includes artifacts, photos and videos tracing the history of Royals baseball.

GO PLAY SPORTS

Sports Complexes, Batting Cages and Golf 68’s Inside Sports 11301 W. 88th St, OP, KS 913.888.9247 $ B4 www.68InsideSports.com Indoor batting cages offer fun and practice.

Blackbob Batting Cages 14570 W. 151st St., Olathe, KS 913.254.7409 $ A5 http://blackbobpark.com/ Outdoor batting cages and outdoor miniature golf.

Blue Valley Rec Batting Cages 9701 W. 137th St., OP, KS 913.685.6030 $ B5 www.BlueValleyRec.org Hit at outdoor batting cages.

Canyon Farms Golf Club 18145 W. 87th St. Pkwy. Lenexa, KS 913.529.2235 $ B4 www.CanyonFarmsGolfClub.com Enjoy outdoor batting cages.

Drive5 12140 W. 135th St., OP, KS 913.897.4667 $ http://drive5sports.com/ State-of-the art basketball, volleyball and gym facility.

Fieldhouse of Blue Springs 425 NE Mock Ave. Blue Springs, MO 816.229.1314 $ D3 www.BlueSpringsGov.com Indoor batting cages, indoor black light miniature golf, throwing tunnels and more.

Snow Creek Ski Area

KC Sports Lodge

Mid-America Sports Complex

19310 E. 50th Ter. Independence, MO 816.795.7171 $ D3 www.KCSportsLodge.com The 70,000-square-foot facility offers youth and adult indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball and flag football.

20000 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 913.826.2900 $ A4 www.JCPRD.com Outdoor batting cages offer up fun and practice.

Mac-N-Seitz Baseball & Softball

5757 NE 96th St., KC, MO 816.734.9595 $ C1 www.ShoalCreekDrivingRange.com Visit the outdoor batting cages and golf course.

13705 Holmes Rd., KC, MO 816.942.9992 $ C5 www.Mac-n-Seitz.com Two major league-size infields, two full-size bull pens, indoor batting cages and more.

Martin City Sports Complex 1 E. 135th St., KC, MO 816.941.9000 $ C5 www.MartinCitySports.com Batting cages, as well as driving range, miniature golf, volleyball, paintball and more.

Shoal Creek Driving Range & Batting Cages

Tom Urquhart’s School of Baseball 7875 Mastin Dr., OP, KS 913.385.2255 $ B4 www.385ball.com Indoor pitching tunnels, batting cages and field.

Topgolf 10611 Nall Ave., OP, KS 913.562.9713 $-$$ B4 www.Topgolf.com Features 102 bays over three floors, an amazing rooftop terrace, lively bars and a golf game concept that is sure to blow you away!

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 59

a ys t o w g ma in z a

Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue

the most of your kc vacay Make the most of your time in Kansas City with these favorite local experiences: aste-test burnt ends and ribs at Kansas City’s signature 8 Taste-test freshly grown foods at Powell Gardens’ 1 Tbarbecue restaurants and find your favorite. Heartland Harvest Garden or enjoy their annual

Visit 40 acres of sunflower fields at Grinter Farms in Lawrence. This spectacular autumn experience offers breathtaking views of acres upon acres of sunflowers.

coasters and thrill rides at Worlds of Fun during 3 RtheideGreat Pumpkin Fest and Halloween Haunts in the fall, and the all new WinterFest over the holidays.

Glow: A Jack-O’-Lantern Festival in October and Festival of Lights in December and January. ang out at Topgolf, where you can challenge your 9 Hfriends and family to addictive point-scoring golf games. the National World War I Museum and Memorial 10 Visit and grab a free family guide at the entrance. End your trip with photos at the top of the tower.

Get an amazing view of the city from the River Observation Tower, where you can gaze out over the vast Missouri River.

ide the free KC Streetcar and fall in love with Kansas 5 RCity. Stop in the KCP&L District and buy a picnic from Consentino’s Market, then head to the Rooftop Park on top of the store for a great view of the city.

6 Learn to sky dive at iFly KC. xperience the renewing beauty in every season of the 7 EMonet Garden at the Overland Park Arboretum. 60 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

ake a day trip to Weston, MO, and ride bikes or walk 11 Tthe trails at Weston Bend State Park.

the Harley-Davidson Factory and watch as a 24 Tour motorcycle is assembled from start to finish.

ack a picnic and head to Independence to explore 12 PWaterfall Park.

one of the area’s prettiest main streets with 25 Satroll day of shopping and dining in Downtown Lee’s Summit.

Learn about jazz through interactive exhibitions and films, visual arts exhibitions at the Jazz Museum.

as you discover toys from times gone by 26 Rateminisce the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. iscover the mystery of mummies at Union Station 27 Dwith their most recent exhibit. Then, visit Science City and ride the sky bike. ake a tour of the more than 200 fountains that 28 Tembellish beautiful Kansas City. ide the new Country Carousel at Carolyn’s Country 29 RCousins Pumpkin Patch.

13 14 Play in KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. atch as apple cider and cider donuts are made from 15 Wscratch at Louisburg Cider Mill. 16

Shop at Crown Center and visit nearby Kaleidoscope, Legoland, Sea Life and the Coterie.

17 Visit the big cats at Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary. elight in decadent artisan chocolates from 18 DChristopher Elbow. pend the night at the Kansas City Zoo, where 19 Sthey offer overnights in the penguin and polar

15 the Kansas City Ballet at the Kauffman Center 30 Watch for Performing Arts. et lost in the new glass labyrinth on the lawn of the 31 GNelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

bear exhibits. lay at a local pumpkin patch. You’ll find the best 20 Ppatches on KCParent.com.

21 Experience pioneer life at Missouri Town 1855. ake a photo with the giant spider on the lawn of the 22. TKemper Museum of Contemporary Art Downtown Kansas City and take photos 23 Explore with public art on display.

22 KCGOINGPLACES.COM 61

tour of the Kansas City, MO, City Hall and go 38 Ttoakethea roof for amazing views of downtown. eed elk, bison and deer at the Native Hoofed Animal 39 FEnclosure in Fleming Park. elebrate African American baseball history at the 40 CNegro Leagues Baseball Museum. earn about Kansas City’s origins on a tour of the John 41 LWornall House Museum or Alexander Majors House.

32 the Midwest Genealogy Center, the 32 Explore largest free-standing public genealogy library in the United States.

33 Relive the 1920s at Shawnee Town 1929. ide go-karts, climb a rock wall and play at 34 RParadise Park. 34

atch a retro flick on the big screen at the Alamo 42 WDrafthouse Cinema. indow shop and take photos at the Country Club 43 WPlaza, then top off the day by sharing a skyscraper (GIANT ice cream soda) at Winstead’s.

44 Discover Kansas City’s rich history aboard the trolley. augh at the live improv comedy at Improv KC or 45 LComedyCity.

ick the perfect pumpkin and watch the pumpkin 35 Pchomping dinosaur at Johnson Farms. ide the rails with the Belton, Grandview & KC 36 RRailroad or the Midland Railway, enjoying autumn scenery or Santa rides. hoop and holler for your favorite rider at the 37 WAmerican Royal Rodeo. 62 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

46 Shop and dine at the Legends Outlets. McGonigle’s ribs. Since 1951, the market has 47 Savor been selling some of the tastiest meats in the city. heer for the Royals and the Chiefs at Truman Sports 48 CComplex. ake a free trip to the Money Museum and leave with a 49 Tbag of shredded cash. isit KCParent.com and search our calendar for 50 Vmore ideas all year long!

Traditions

Five Can’t-Miss KC Christmas

Sugarplum Fairies Dancing in Your Head Every year, the Kansas City Ballet (KCBallet.org) brings their world-class production of The Nutrcacker to stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (Dec. 7-24). The classic Victorian-era story by E.T.A. Hoffman features Clara, the Prince and Dr. Drosselmeier completely reimagined with exquisite costumes by Holly Hynes, grand sets by Alain Vaës and captivating choreography by artistic director Devon Carney.

300,000 Christmas Lights

Country Club Plaza Christmas lights

A Nighttime Fairyland Starting in September, workers begin installing thousands of lights. Then, in the middle of the night before Thanksgiving, they secretly test the lights to ensure every bulb is bright. On Thanksgiving Night, the magic begins as Kansas City’s “nighttime fairyland,” as it was known in the 1930s, comes to life! Kansas City’s landmark Country Club Plaza (CountryClubPlaza.com), opened in 1922, is perhaps most famous for its Christmas lights. The tradition began on Christmas Day 1925, when Charles Pitrat, the maintenance supervisor for the Nichols Company, decorated the Mill Creek Building with a single strand of lights and a few small trees. Every year, Pitrat added to the display, and now the Plaza boasts more than 80 miles of lights. You can enjoy the Country Club Plaza Christmas lights every evening Thanksgiving through mid-January.

Bah! Humbug! The Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep.org) brings Kansas City’s favorite holiday tradition back for its 37th season, with an all-new adaptation by KC Rep artistic director Eric Rosen! Enjoy A Christmas Carol (Nov. 17-Dec. 24), the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the curmudgeonly businessman who requires the intervention of a few spectral guides to understand the true meaning of Christmas and life, as it comes to the holiday stage.

Take the family on a magical journey through 300,000 lights and more than 175 animated displays on a drive through Christmas in the Park, Kansas City’s own winter wonderland. This free holiday tradition accepts donations benefiting 39 local charities. The lights are lit the night before Thanksgiving with Christmas in the Sky, a fireworks extravaganza, and they remain lit every evening through Dec. 31. Your ride begins at the Frank White Jr. Softball Complex, 3901 SW Longview Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO.

Kansas City’s Own Fairy Princess In 1935, Kline’s Department Store of downtown Kansas City celebrated the grand opening of their Toyland. Santa came to other stores. Kline’s wanted to do something original to attract visitors, so they introduced the Fairy Princess. For 25 cents, children visited the princess, telling her their Christmas wishes. Then she waved her magic wand, making a surprise gift appear! Over the years, gifts were presented sliding from chutes, appearing on revolving turntables, hiding in fairyland trees or magically opening trunks. The tradition continued, at just 25 cents, until Kline’s closed in 1970. The Fairy Princess returned in 1987, when the Kansas City Museum brought her back for Christmas. You can visit the Fairy Princess on weekends in December at the Kansas City Museum (KansasCityMuseum.org). KCGOINGPLACES.COM 63

Tour the Town

four fun ways to see and learn about kc

hile not born in Kansas City, I’ve lived here for almost 30 years and consider it home. And although I know a lot about the city, its history and traditions, I was in for a treat (and great learning experience) when I took on this article. Whether a native or visitor to our fair city, read on for four great ways to learn more about Kansas City.

Kansas City Fun Tours Cost: $20/adult, $10/children 2-12 Time: 75 minutes KCFunTours.com

Barley Bus Tour Cost: $65 Time: 4-5 hours BarleyBus.com The Barley Bus Tour began in late 2015 and offers tours Friday-Sundays to local wineries, breweries and a distillery (a Prohibition distillery tour is in the works). Visitors can stick to either wine or beer—or mix it up. I prefer wine more than beer, so I signed up for a Saturday afternoon winery tour. The bus meets guests at Ollie’s Local, a restaurant in the Union Hill neighborhood. (Side note: The menu and food here look ah-ma-zing! You could easily plan your tour so you can enjoy a meal here before or after.) We boarded the comfortable bus (it was a full ride) and made our way to our first stop, KC Wineworks in downtown Kansas City. The owner greeted us, gave us generous samples throughout our stay and a behind-the-scenes tour. It was informative and tasty! Our next stop took us to Excelsior Springs (the bus has bottled water for guests and coolers to store purchases) to Fence Stiles Winery. We again were met by the owner and made our way to the tasting room at this beautiful and picturesque stop. During our stay we tasted wines, enjoyed a snack, visited the vineyard and tested grapes for ripeness, and listened to live music. Our final stop landed us in Liberty at Belvoir Winery. We tasted their wines and explored the grounds before heading back to Ollie’s. I asked one of the owners (our guide for the day), Todd, what percentage of locals vs. tourists they have on their tours. He says when they started, they were about 70 percent tourist and 30 percent local, but recently those numbers have flipflopped. I highly recommend a Barley Bus tour as a way for visitors to see parts of the city they may not otherwise see and learn about our local wines and beers. And for locals, this is a perfect opportunity for a date or a get-together with friends. 64 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

You can’t miss the trolleys in front of Union Station, and the Kansas City Fun Tour begins in front of the iconic building. Note that you can park in front of Union Station, close to where the trolley loads and unloads. It will cost around $5, and pay boxes are located at the entrance to Union Station. (I typically park in the garage and it took me a minute to find the pay stations. I thought entrance meant parking entrance; it means building entrance.) Guests can pre-purchase their tickets on the website or buy them from a Fun Trolley host the day of. Take note that the tour is seated on a first come, first served basis. The afternoon I rode, the bus was full, so I’d advise an early arrival. The trolley is airconditioned; however, on a very hot KC day, it can be a tad warm. Snacks and drinks are allowed on the trip. During the tour you’ll be taken to several areas in Kansas City, including Crown Center, Power & Light District, City Market, the Plaza and Westport. You’ll leave your tour with a long list of places to visit during your stay. Our guide for the tour was informative and threw in a lot of stories and anecdotes that gave the tour a personal feel. Even as a longtime Kansas Citian I learned a few interesting tidbits (I never knew where the “Chiefs” name originated), and this tour will be appreciated most by visitors to our city. I asked my 12-year-old for a two-word review of our trolley ride, and she said, “Very informative!” It’s a good way to start your time in Kansas City. It provides a nice overview of the town and will help you create an itinerary for the rest of your visit.

Taste of Kansas City Food Tours

KC Barbecue Tours Cost: $65 (the Original,) $70 (’Cue and Brew) Time: 3-4 hours KCBarbecueTours.com

Cost: Several tours to choose from, $54-$77 Time: 3-3.5 hours TasteOfKansasCityFoodTours.com My husband and I joke that when we travel, we invest a large amount of our research and budget for the trip in food. We enjoy a good meal and like trying local spots. I have not, until this point, researched food tours for when we travel. That’s about to change. The Taste of Kansas City Food Tour has shed a new light on a fun and affordable way to sample local food and learn about the city. The tour I took (Crossroads Cultural & Culinary Walking Tour) meets in front of Grinders, a place I frequent for their live music out back. After introductions (the majority of the attendees were from out of town), we went in and dined on pizza while learning the history of Grinders and a bit about the Crossroads. Our second stop took us next door to Thou Mayest, a really neat place that you need to check out if you like coffee or drinks, because they offer both. For our next stops, we walked a bit and learned a bit along the way. Rebecca, owner of Taste tours and our guide for the day, sprinkled some history and stories throughout our tour that were both informative and interesting. We stopped at six places total during our tour and tried food or drink (or both!) at each stop. The tastings were spread out nicely so that I never felt stuffed but certainly had a good amount to eat. The day of our tour was a hot one. Rebecca was very conscious of the heat and made sure we walked in the shade as often as possible and stayed hydrated throughout. I was very impressed with how she took care of her guests. If you like to eat and you like learning about Kansas City, this tour is for you. I highly recommend it for both native Kansas Citians, as well as visitors. You’ll eat, learn and enjoy!

Meeting at the granddaddy of KC barbecue, Arthur Bryant’s, this tour starts off with barbecue, throws in some history and ends with barbecue. In between, you’ll learn more about Kansas City and eat more barbecue. Board the bus in the original Bryant’s parking lot (not inside, where I went. You’ll notice a pattern of me with directions…I am often lost). After a brief overview of our day and history of Bryant’s, along with a description of what we’d be eating, we went inside and enjoyed what I would consider a meal. Our day included stops at four restaurants: Arthur Bryant’s, LC’s, Danny Edwards and Gates. In between the first two and last two stops, we visited Original Juan, where sauces of all kinds are produced and sold. Our guide for the day, Arlin, and our driver, Barry, were gracious, fun and informative. In between stops, Arlin provided loads of facts and stories about Kansas City and its history. You’ll not only learn about barbecue, but also all about KC—double bang for your buck! I was most impressed that at each stop we sampled different dishes. The day wasn’t filled with just ribs and beans, but also burnt ends, brisket, turkey, sausage, slaw, fries (and some more beans). Come with an appetite—you will eat, and eat well. We took the Margaret Sarver lives stop. in Lenexa with her family and enjoyed Original Tour, which included water at each You are more about the city she calls home while researching welcome to purchase learning soft drinks or adult beverages (coolers can be brought on thethis bus)article. at any stop. I highly recommend this tour for locals and visitors alike! While no children were on our tour, I asked Arlin whether Margaret Sarver lives in Lenexa with her family and they got many kids, and she said they certainly did, of all enjoyed learning more about the city she calls home while ages. If looking to see KC and eat barbecue, take this tour. researching this article. You will have fun and leave full!

KCGOINGPLACES.COM 65

how well do you know

kansas city 16. DOWN PHOTO CLUE: This is the ____ Center.

ACROSS 2 In October 1977, McDonald’s served their first ____ Meals for children in Kansas City. 3 The mascot for the University of Kansas. 6 Kansas City is famous for this type of food. 7 Largest greeting card company in the world. 8 Walt Disney’s Laugh-O-Gram studios, based in Kansas City, is where he fed a mouse that inspired this character. 9 Independence was the head of the California, Santa Fe and ____ trails. 11 People picnic at Loose Park and enjoy this garden. 13 ___________ Hill Bakery makes povitica bread and is named for the area where it started. 14 This 1,805-acre park is larger than NYC’s Central Park. 16 Take this 2.2-mile round trip ride through downtown. 17 Winners of the 1985 and 2015 World Series. 18 Kansas City’s nickname: ____ of the Plains.

DOWN 1

Tallest roller coaster at Worlds of Fun.

4 A Farewell to Arms was written in Kansas City by this author.

5 Former SNL cast member and movie star who started his comedy career at KC’s ComedyCity.

8 Kansas City’s international airport.

15 This landmark is modeled after the architecture of Seville, Spain. 16 Photo Clue: This is the _________ Center.

66 KC GOING PLACES | FALL & WINTER 2017

ACROSS: 2) Happy 3) Jayhawk 6) barbecue 7) Hallmark 8) Mickey 9) Oregon 11) Rose 13) Strawberry 14) Swope 16) streetcar 17) Royals 18) Paris

12 The wife of the U.S. president from Missouri.

DOWN: 1) Mamba 4) Hemingway 5) Sudeikis 8) MCI 10) polar bear 12) Bess 15) Plaza 16) Sprint

10 This type of animal, Berlin, is at home in an arctic exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

Zoo Fun all year long!

Over 200 acres of adventure filled with more than 1,700 animals to explore. Travel all over the world with a trip to the Kansas City Zoo.

Visit Today!

OPEN DAILY | kansascityzoo.org | 816.595.1234 The Kansas City Zoo, a private, non-profit organization is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, partially funded by the Zoological District in Jackson and Clay Counties in MO, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.