baby’s first summer: in kansas city

Make your baby’s first summer extra sweet with fun-filled memories of enjoying the best the season has to offe r.

Builda sandcastle at a local swim beach. In Kansas, you can enjoy the beach at Lake Olathe Park. The beautiful 170-acre lake is surrounded by a 258-acre community park and is popular for fishing, swimming and boating. Also check out Shawnee Mission Park Lake, Kill Creek Lake, Blue Springs Lake, Longview Lake and Smithville Lake Beach

Admire animals at the Kansas City Zoo. Visits to the zoo are a favorite family summer tradition. Watch the elephants play in their swim hole, feed the camels and goats, pet the stingrays, make silly faces at the monkeys, watch the polar bear and penguins, and imitate animal sounds. Little ones especially love the exhibits in the Tropics and Discovery Barn. Train rides, carousel, Sky Safari, trams and boat rides make the day. Tip: Pack your own picnic when you head to the zoo.

Bounce

and play. Head to Urban Air. On select mornings they open the entire trampoline park just for little ones ages 5 and under during Jumperoo sessions. Children can just jump, bounce and crawl around at their leisure.

Yell

for the Kansas City Monarchs. Sunday games are Family Fundays. Enjoy carnival games, bounce in inflatables, play catch on the field and even more! Children 2 and under get in free.

Splash at a sprayground. Kansas City is home to many wonderful spraygrounds—water playgrounds where tots can play and splash on a hot summer’s day. Check out our online guide to “Kansas City’s Spraygrounds” to find one near you. Our top pick is John Anderson Park, with a great nautical theme and adjacent dry playground. Check out the Water Fun Guide on KCParent.com for a complete list of locations.

Feed the fish at Longview Lake Marina. Take your little one out on the dock in his favorite life jacket to visit the marina’s shop where you may purchase fish food for between 50 cents and $2.50 per bag.

Imagine and play at Crown Center’s FREE Under the Sea Adventure Exhibit. Classic children’s tales come to life when families visit Fairy Tale Village. This interactive exhibit includes a reading area where parents can share their favorite tales with their kids.

Read books. Every local library offers terrific free summer reading programs where everyone can earn prizes for listening to books (infants and toddlers) and reading them (older children). Search “Summer Reading Programs” on KCParent.com for a complete guide to local reading incentive programs for families.

Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park. Perhaps the most beautiful park in Kansas City, Loose Park is home to an amazing rose garden, fountains, ponds and trails for beautiful photo ops, plus a playground and sprayground for fun.

Taste

new foods at the farmers market. Farmers markets are a summer delight with fresh seasonal produce and tasty treats for sale. Many vendors offer samples, so you can try before you buy. Read our guide to Kansas City Farmers Markets on KCParent.com.

Swing and slide at the park. Here are three of our favorites: Meadowbrook Park is home to 80 acres of green space featuring the Treeline Adventure destination playground, a pavilion, pickleball courts, fitness equipment, lakes and more. Antioch Park has several great play areas, including Old Dodge Town, a Wild West village. T.B. Hanna Station includes a new playground with a train theme and splash pad that is inclusive for children of all abilities.

Use your imagination at Science City at Union Station. The Let’s Play exhibit offers a variety of interactive environments designed for young learners 3 and under. Moms can rest easy as little ones explore the Babyscape, Pretend Play, Ramps & Runs and Air Play areas.

Meetanimals on a nature walk at one of Kansas City’s local nature centers. Lakeside Nature Center is home to falcons, owls, eagles, toads, frogs, fish and insects. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center features fish tanks, turtles, bird watching, a giant indoor nature play area, walking trails and an outdoor discovery center. Ernie Miller Nature Center has paved trails through the woods; this a great place for a stroller walk.

Make believe at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. This 3,500-square-foot indoor exhibit is a favorite play area for little ones. Work on the farm, perform at the theater or the puppet show, teach in the school, deliver the mail, care for patients at the hospital or fry up some burgers at the diner.

Enjoy the flowers at the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Gardens. This free, small but exquisite garden near the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (another free outing that is stroller friendly) is the perfect size for a toddler outing.

Ride a pony at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Admission is affordable all week long. This destination is a summer must-see, with a dairy barn, petting zoo, tiny tractor rides and playgrounds. A day of fun is guaranteed.

Kristina Light’s family makes it a summer tradition to build sandcastles at the lake.

Daily

Story Time Visit MyMCPL.org or JoCoLibrary.org to find a complete list of story times.

Indoor Play 9:00, Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter. Enjoy hours of running, climbing, jumping and sliding through incredible play spaces. Independence.kangasplaycenter.com

Visit the Zoo 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. The zoo is open year-round. Pack a picnic and enjoy your favorite animals all summer long. KansasCItyZoo.org

Monday

RoKC Play Lounge 8:00, RoKC Olathe. Children 6 months to 6 years are invited to enjoy a two-hour session at the play lounge while parents participate in rock wall climbing.

Gym for Me Mon. & Wed. (Lenexa Community Center), Tue. (Lenexa Rec Center), 9:00. A place for little ones to run, ride and play. Play items available including riding toys, inflatables and balls. Lenexa.com/preschool

Mom or Dad & Me Bumper Bowling Mon. & Wed., 9:30, Summit Lanes. For just $3 per person, you get a game, shoe rental and drink. SummitLanes.com