Four Fabulous Seasons

Kansas City Monarchs Spring

CITY OF FOUNTAINS Kansas Citians know our home as the City of Fountains, but you may not know that our first fountains were not for ornamental purposes. They were rather utilitarian, to provide water for horses, dogs and birds. The city’s first fountain was built in 1904 at Fourth & Minnesota for horses and dogs. It featured a large pedestal and a granite basin, and the water spewed from the mouths of lions into a taller bowl where people could get clean water as well. Since that time, it is said we have added more fountains than Rome. Find a map to local fountains at KCFountains.com.

FARMERS MARKETS Kansas City is home to more than 30 farmers markets. They range from small markets selling exclusively organic produce to the City Market with more than 140 local vendors. You can purchase fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, homemade soaps, baked goods and even live animals. If you are new to the world of the farmers market, this simple guide will get you started: Search Farmers Market Guide on KC Parent.com.

BARBECUE You know it’s spring in Kansas City when the aroma of barbecue fills the air. It’s hard to resist the temptation to pick up ribs at Fairway Market when driving along Ward Parkway, or a weekend stop at one of our favorite barbecue joints. Enjoying barbecue is part of our city heritage. In 1908, Kansas City’s king of barbecue, Henry Perry, sold a slab of pork ribs for 25 cents in the 18th & Vine neighborhood. Since that time, our city has created an art form, developing the best sauces and smoking the tastiest meats in the United States. According to the Kansas City Barbecue Society, we have more barbecue restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States.

BASEBALL Since 1969, Kansas Citians have been cheering for the Royals who’ve won two World Series Championships. You can also catch a game with the Kansas City Monarchs (part of the American Association of Baseball), now at home in Kansas City, KS. The team, formerly the T-Bones, rebranded in a partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and celebrates part of Kansas City’s rich baseball history.

RIDE A ROLLER COASTER Worlds of Fun is home to seven world-class roller coasters, including one of the tallest, longest and fastest roller coasters in the world. This thriller is the Mamba and boasts a first drop of 205 feet! The Patriot is a giant inverted coaster with four inversions that carries riders at a top speed of 65 mph. Enjoy a thrill as the entire family rides together on the Spinning Dragons, where the cars freely rotate along the track. Or ride the classic wooden roller coaster, the Timber Wolf. Young children enjoy Planet Snoopy with great rides for kids, and the theme park boasts dozens of thrill rides and attractions for guests of all ages.

WILD WATER FUN Splash into summer fun at Kansas City’s premier outdoor water park! With waves of fun from mild to wild, Oceans of Fun offers an amazing time for everyone in the family. Extreme waterslides appeal to thrill-seekers, and kiddos love the pint-sized slides, geysers and fountains at Crocodile Isle. Float along the Caribbean Cooler lazy river and catch some waves at the fan favorite Surf City Wave Pool. One of the newest attractions is Riptide Raceway, the world’s longest mat racing waterslide. From five stories high, racers will speed down 486 feet in enclosed, winding tubes and around a 360-degree loop before an epic splashdown finish. Visitors to Oceans of Fun enjoy Worlds of Fun admission for the price of one ticket.

ANIMAL ADVENTURES The Kansas City Zoo is better than ever! We’re big fans of the African Sky Safari (a ski lift styled ride above Africa offering great views of the animals), the train, boat and carousel rides and the world-class animal exhibits. The Elephant Expedition, Camel feeding station, Discovery Barn, Australia exhibit, Helzberg Penguin Plaza and Polar Bear Passage are just a few of our favorite attractions at the zoo. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is another favorite outdoor attraction. The petting zoo and farm offers fantastic educational attractions for the family. Pony rides, wagon rides, miniature tractors, an old-fashioned school, mining camp, gardens and farm animals are just part of the fun. SPEND A LAZY DAY AT THE LAKE A day at the lake is a quintessential summer pastime, and Lake Olathe is one of our favorite local lakes with a beautiful swim beach and inflatable aqua park. For landlocked Midwesterners, it’s great to have a place where you can build sandcastles, swim with the family and jump into the water from a giant floating playground. Lake Olathe Park visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and pedal boats at the marina. The upper lawn at the lake is surrounded by landscaping and a small stream with a water feature flowing into a waterfall before ending in a pond.

A STROLL THROUGH THE GARDEN Flowers are blooming! Powell Gardens, Loose Park’s Rose Garden, Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden and the Overland Park Arboretum are just a few of our favorite places to enjoy the blooms. Discover Kansas City’s local nature centers and gardens using our interactive Going Places Guide to Kansas City on KCParent.com.

SUMMER FESTIVALS From trendy boutique shopping to old-fashioned county fairs, ethnic festivals with delicious delicacies and local barbecue festivals ... there is something for everyone! Some of our favorites include Celebration at the Station, Great Balloon Glow, Strawberry Festival, Festival of Butterflies, Waterfire, Grand Carnivale at Worlds of Fun, Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, Jazzoo, Fourth of July festivals, Missouri State Fair, Ethnic Enrichment Festival and more.

Downtown Days in Lee’s Summit Summer

APPLE PICKING Autumn and apples … the two go hand in hand, and this fall you can create family memories as you pick apples at a local orchard. Check out one of our top three favorite Missouri apple orchards: Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch in Kearney, Weston Orchard and Johnson Farms in Belton. Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch is home to a variety of animals including miniature horses. Their Keebler Village playground features terrific tree houses kids love to explore, and the patch offers jumping pillows and other attractions to enjoy, including a train ride. Weston Orchard takes families on hayrides and offers jumping pillows, a petting zoo and a variety of fun play spaces and fabulous photo ops. Johnson Farms is a beautiful agritourism site with a nice orchard and tons of fun during pumpkin season. Their pig races, goat play yard, petting zoo and variety of play spaces are always tons of fun.

PUMPKINS Autumn isn’t complete without a visit to a pumpkin patch. Corn mazes, trains, play spaces, hayrides, corn cribs, carousels, zip lines, rides, concerts, ponies and pumpkins are just a few of the enticements Kansas City’s pumpkin patches have to offer visitors. In addition to the farms listed for apple picking, we also love Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch and Louisburg Cider Mill’s pumpkin patches. Carolyn’s is one of the biggest patches in the metro and has been enjoyed by generations of families. Their famous pumpkin donuts, fabulous petting zoo, jumping pillows, train, pig races, carousel and fall fun play spaces create a carnival atmosphere the entire family loves. Check out the KC Pumpkin Patch Guide on KCParent.com to discover the best patches in town.

AUTUMN AT THE ZOO We love visiting the Kansas City Zoo on a fall day when the air is crisp and the animals are playful. This fall, experience GloWild and see the zoo in a whole new light with a unique and immersive nighttime experience. GloWild will illuminate the Kansas City Zoo with custom handmade lighted sculptures. Also in October enjoy Hoots and Howls at the Zoo and Boo at the Zoo. Visit KansasCityZoo.org for more information.

FALL FESTIVALS Autumn means fall festivals in Kansas City! Enjoy food, crafts, rides, barbecue and more. Some of our favorites include Lenexa’s Spinach Festival, Missouri Town 1855’s Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Shawnee Town 1929 Fall Festival, KC Zoo Run, Great Pumpkinfest, Plaza Art Fair, Louisburg Ciderfest, Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest, Kaw Valley Farm Tour, Weston Applefest, Miami County Fall Farm Tour, Enchanted Forest and more. Find them all in our Festival Guide on KCParent.com.

RIDE THE RAILS Enjoy an autumn-themed train excursion with the entire family. On weekends, enjoy rides aboard the Belton, Grandview & KC Railroad. Call for more information: 816.331.0630.

GloWild at the Kansas City Zoo Fall

Crown Center Ice Terrace Winter

ICE-SKATING Enjoy skating at one of Kansas City’s outdoor rinks. The Crown Center Ice Terrace (2425 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 816.274.8411) is located in the heart of downtown. Enjoy an entire day of shopping and dining at Crown Center or treat the kids to Legoland or Sea Life. During the holidays, enjoy the view of the mayor’s Christmas tree illuminated in holiday splendor. The Rink at Zona Rosa (8731 N. Stoddard Ave., Kansas City, MO, 816.208.3690) is the Northland’s newest ice rink. Zona Rosa is one of the city’s premier shopping destinations. Additional outdoor rinks: Summit Ice: 120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO, 816.249.2600. Linden Square Ice Rink: 602 NE 70th St., Gladstone, MO, 816.423.4200. The Ice at Park Place: 11549 Ash St., Leawood, KS, 913.663.2070. The Rink at T.B. Hanna Station: 214 S. Washington St., Raymore, MO.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Kansas City sparkles in holiday splendor with magnificent displays across the metro! Explore some of our favorites. Legendary Christmas: Legends Outlets Kansas City (1843 Village West Pkwy., Kansas City, KS, LegendsShopping.com). Unique lighting display on a 45-foot holiday tree created by a world-renowned technology-driven holiday lights team, all synchronized to music. Winter Magic: Located at 8400 Blue River Rd., Kansas City, MO. Enjoy one of the most fantastic of drive-thru holiday events in Kansas City. Crown Center Mayor’s Christmas Tree: Crown Center Square (2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, CrownCenter.com). The 100-foottall tree is adorned with 7,200 lights. Christmas in the Park: Longview Lake Park (I-470 & View High Drive, Kansas City, MO, 816.503.4800). With more than 500,000 lights, 175 animated figures and splashes of Christmas color, this is an enchanting drive-thru winter wonderland. Country Club Plaza Holiday Lights: Country Club Plaza (Info Center: 4745 Central, Kansas City, MO, CountryClubPlaza.com). Enjoy more than 80 miles of illuminated strings of bulbs. Find even more displays using our guide to the Best Christmas Lights in KC on KCParent.com.

LIVING HISTORY The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm is one of our favorite local history sites. The staff and volunteers bring history to life with annual events celebrating Christmas, teaching families how early pioneers survived winter and offering horse-drawn sled rides on snowy days!

HIT THE SLOPES Head to Weston, MO, for skiing and snowboarding at Snow Creek Ski Resort (816.640.2200). In early winter, the facility offers snow skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing and lessons for beginners. The most daring experience at Snow Creek is tubing at Tornado Alley. Slide down a 700-footlong slope and then jump onto a special conveyor carpet “twister” for a ride back up!

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS Kansas City celebrates Christmas in style! Professional live shows, living Nativities, outdoor holiday festivals and local traditions can all be found at KCParent.com/christmas-in-kc.

Must-See Museums

Kansas City Museum Photo by Margaret Bristow

Kansas City has an abundance of outstanding museums to visit, but here are some not to be missed!

National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

First established in 1982 as the Toy and Miniature Museum, this national gem is located on the University of Missouri Kansas City campus and contains more than 33,000 square feet of childhood nostalgia. Recently remodeled and expanded, this fun museum houses the largest collection of fine-scale miniatures in the world. The craftsmanship and intricate, detailed work involved in making these tiny, exquisite masterpieces ignite the imagination of young and old alike. National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Photo by Margaret Bristow

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site

This museum also houses an exceptional toy collection—one of the largest in the nation and one that spans the centuries from the 1700s to the present day. Visitors can take a wellcurated, interactive journey through childhood, culture and the toys that defined each generation. The toy exhibit is educational, entertaining and handson. The doll and doll house collections are especially impressive. Visitors can see examples of dolls, their clothing and accessories and how they changed through time. The museum has dozens of well-preserved and well-loved doll houses on display—and they range in size from the miniscule to the magnificent. The attention to detail in every room is remarkable—hours could be spent looking at all the clever details. The curators of this collection have created a truly special place for children and adults to learn—or reminisce—about the past and the origins of beloved playthings.

Living History Museums

Shawnee Town 1929 offers a great calendar of events planned for the year. Just a few options to choose from are the History on Tap lecture series for adults that takes place in Town Hall. In the town farmhouse, you can enjoy varying period food preparation demonstrations throughout the year, and weekly, on summertime Tuesdays and Thursdays, the always popular Time Travelers Children’s Program engages youngsters. Bring the kids and learn a new period craft or participate in a farm chore or special event! In the summer, they also offer the musical outdoor series Jammin’ on the Green.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site is another great living history museum. Mahaffie offers a plethora of programs for all ages. Visitors can take a ride on a real stagecoach and relive the days when the farmstead was a stop along the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails to the West. Guests can also watch the blacksmith at work or sample a meal that would have been prepared for stagecoach passengers in the cool basement kitchen that doubled as a dining hall. Be sure to check out the Calendar of Events on their website!

Kansas City Museum

Originally built as an opulent residence by the influential Long family in 1907, Corinthian Hall opened in 1940 as a museum dedicated to showcasing the history of Kansas City. The newly renovated museum reopened recently in 2021 with four floors of exhibits, galleries and art installations, as well as a café and a revamped soda fountain in the basement. Step back in time to what the mansion looked like when the Long family lived there. Explore an exhibit tracing the history of Kansas City from its earliest beginnings to the present. And, take in the spectacular view of the Kansas City skyline from the lawn before leaving—the museum sits atop a hill overlooking Kessler Park and Cliff Drive.

University of Kansas Natural History Museum

There is so much to explore on the four floors of this fascinating museum! A working biodiversity research center on the University campus, this museum has been popular with schoolchildren on field trips for several generations. Discover something exciting or unusual on every floor, from the fossil of a T. rex, to rocks that glow in the dark and even a live bee colony! Younger children will love Bugtown, a cute playroom where they can view and learn about different insects. The large-scale animal habitat panorama is usually the first stop for most visitors and is most impressive in its size and scope. Throughout the museum, there are hands-on learning stations for visitors to explore a topic or subject more in depth. Children can also complete a fun and educational scavenger hunt and receive a prize upon completion.

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

In the summer of 2021, the Truman Library reopened after a major renovation and upgrade. The focus of the updated museum is on a cinematic immersion into U.S. and world history. Tru History is a soundand-light theater production that relates some of the most dramatic chapters of history from WWI to the Cold War in a new and exciting medium. The new exhibitions also include more than 230 artifacts (including some never before seen from the Korean War) and hundreds of documents, letters and facsimiles. Other new features include a 14-foot interactive globe, a roleplaying Cold War game and new exhibits on Truman’s family life and legacy.

While you’re in Independence, another must-visit museum is President Truman’s longtime home, now the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.

Margaret Bristow is a Kansas City native with a passion for local history and sharing that history with her family.