2013 Merriam Visitors Guide

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS TO KANSAS CITY

KANSAS

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS TO KANSAS

www.exploremerriam.com

2013 Visitor Guide

Welcome to Merriam

...next door neighbors to Kansas City!

We invite you to explore all there is to see and do in the metro region. Nearby visitor attractions include sports arenas, world-class museums, theaters and performing art centers, riverboat casinos and more!

From delicious foodie finds to one-of-a-kind specialty shopping, Merriam is the ideal place to dine, shop, play and stay while in Kansas City.

Merriam is nestled conveniently along Interstate 35 from 75th Street north to County Line Road. Our city is a convenient Kansas City destination for groups, families, teams or business professionals seeking affordability and accessibility. Home to the everpopular Turkey Creek Festival, award-winning farmer’s market, abundant parks and trails and the brand new IKEA (coming, summer 2014), Merriam is “on the map” with plenty of visitor options for guests of all ages.

Whether you’re visiting for a leisurely weekend, attending a corporate meeting or plan to stay awhile, we are happy to assist with your visitor needs.

Thanks for choosing Merriam!

Connect with us: Merriam Visitors Bureau

913-403-8999 or 866.707.6534 (toll free) www.exploremerriam.com

helpful information Merriam (population 11,003) is located just south of Kansas City in the northeast portion of Johnson County, Kansas. Award winning schools, relatively low crime rate, affordable housing and a reasonable cost of living continually make our area a desirable location for living and working. Visitors will appreciate the convenient accessibility to all major metro attractions, affordable lodging, free parking and favorable amenities Merriam has to offer. Whether you plan to stay the night or make Merriam your forever home, we welcome you!

City of Merriam | 913.322.5500 Merriam Parks & Recreation | 913.322.5550 Merriam Aquatic Center (pool) | 913.322.5518 Merriam Police Department | 913.322.5560 Merriam Fire Department | 913.322.5530 Shawnee Mission School District | 913.993.6200 Shawnee Mission Medical Center | 913.676.2000 JoCo Library (antioch branch) | 913.261.2300 U.S. Post Office (mission, ks) | 913.831.5375 NE Jo Co Chamber of Commerce | 913.262.2141

2013 calendar of events Tim Murphy Art Gallery -

(Irene B. French Community Center, 5701 Merriam Dr.)

ONGOING

This gallery space features free monthly exhibits by local and regional artists. For a complete schedule and hours of operation, visit www.merriam.org/park Merriam Farmers’ Market -

MAY 4 OCTOBER 12

(Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr.)

Shop local and buy fresh at the Merriam Farmers’ Market every Saturday, 7 AM to 1 PM at the Merriam Marketplace. www.merriam.org/park Turkey Creek Festival (Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd.)

MAY 18

JUNE - JULY

Annually held the 3rd Saturday in May, this event offers an arts and crafts show, 5K run/walk, concerts, free kids activities, concessions & more. www.merriam.org/park Music in Merriam Summer Concerts Enjoy live music from local artists all summer long with Merriam’s summer concert series. For a complete schedule of dates and locations, visit www.merriam.org/park Flags 4 Freedom -

JUNE 29 JULY 6

(5740 Merriam Drive)

Over 1,200 American flags will be on display throughout downtown Merriam on the 4th of July (and week prior). www.flags4freedom.org National Ice Cream Day (Vavra Park, 6040 Slater)

JULY 14

Join us for a special party in the park celebrating National Ice Cream Day! This event features free kids activities and FREE ice cream! www.merriam.org/park Turkey Creek Car & Motorcycle Show (Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr.)

SEPTEMBER 14

Held annually the 2nd Saturday in September, this popular event hosts more than 200 hot rods, classic cars, street rods, antique cars and motorcycles. www.merriam.org/park Halloween Happenings -

OCTOBER 24

(Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr.)

Join us for this annual event featuring a costume parade, candy scramble, and many more familyfriendly activities. www.merriam.org/park Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting -

DECEMBER 7

(Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr.)

Join Mayor Sissom as he flips the switch to illuminate the Mayor’s Christmas tree at the Merriam Marketplace. www.merriam.org/park

Find more events at: www.exploremerriam.com

dine...

Aftershock Bar & Grill

5240 Merriam Drive • 913-384-5646

bilski’s bar & grill

5831 Merriam Drive • 913.831.2337

Bob Evans Restaurant

5870 Antioch Road • www.bobevans.com

Caribou Coffee

8722 Shawnee Mission Parkway • www.cariboucoffee.com

Carmen’s Cocina

5816 Merriam Drive • 913-432-5855

chili’s grill & bar

5880 Antioch Road • www.chilis.com

china garden buffet

5860 Antioch Road • 913-831-6888

Denny’s

9001 Shawnee Mission Parkway • www.dennys.com

EL Pulgarcito

5921 Merriam Drive • www.facebook.com/ElPulgarcitoKS

Georgetown Pharmacy soda shop

5605 Merriam Drive • www.ghccusa.com

hurricane allie’s

5541 Merriam Drive • 913-217-7665

International House of Pancakes

8701 W. 63rd Street • www.ihop.com

JACK IN THE BOX

9101 Johnson Drive • www.jackinthebox.com

KC’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

10201 W. 47th Street • www.kcsbar.com

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

8805 Shawnee Mission Parkway • www.krispykreme.com

Long John Silver’s

9900 W 63rd Street • www.ljsilvers.com

QT Kitchen

9025 Johnson Drive • www.quiktrip.com

Quizno’s Subs

5620 Antioch Road • www.quiznos.com

sonic drive-in

5440 Merriam Drive • www.sonicdrivein.com

Starbucks

5800 Antioch (inside Hen House Market) • www.starbucks.com

Taco Bell

8800 Shawnee Mission Parkway • www.tacobell.com

wendy’s

10006 W. 75th Street • www.wendys.com

Winstead’s

8817 Shawnee Mission Parkway • www.winsteadskc.com

shop...

Merriam Town Center (Antioch & Johnson Drive)

Includes: Bob Evans, Chili’s Grill & Bar, China Garden, Cinemark Theatre, Cute Nails, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Eyemasters, Famous Footwear, Gamestop, General Nutrition Center (GNC), Good Feet Store, Great Clips, Hen House Market, Home Depot, Marshall’s, Mattress Firm, Office Max, Old Navy, Party City, PetSmart, Quizno’s Subs, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and Weight Watchers.

Downtown Merriam (Merriam Drive & Johnson Drive)

Includes: Bilski’s Bar and Grill, Carmen’s Cocina, El Pulgaricito, GuitarLamp.com, Hurricane Allie’s, Inner Wisdom Wellness Center, K.C. Strings Violin Shop, Merriam Feed Store, Pet Care, Suburban Rod & Custom Classics, True Auto Parts, Watts Up, Irene B. French Community Center, Merriam Marketplace, and more.

Russell Stover Candy Store (10100 W. 63rd Street)

Find all of your favorite Russell Stover Candy favors plus several new features, including: fresh handmade confections such as chocolate caramel apples, nut clusters, and peanut butter cups; frozen custard made fresh each day; fully equipped espresso bar; many flavors of silky handmade fudge; and exclusive packaging and select Russell Stover flavors that can be found nowhere else.

Strawberry Hill povitica (7226 W. Frontage Road)

With time-honored recipes established in the late 1800s by Eastern European immigrants, these authentic swirled dessert breads are steeped in history and tradition. Each deliciously dense bread is handrolled and filled in the Merriam bakery. Stop by to experience the magic that goes into making the world-famous Strawberry Hill Povitica and sample various flavors of the delectable swirled bread.

IKEA Merriam -- COMING SOON (I-35 & Johnson Drive)

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishing retailer, will begin construction in 2013 and anticipates a store opening in the second half of 2014. The new store will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 450-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a “Children’s IKEA” area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store.

regional shopping:

Bass Pro Shop (12051 Bass Pro Drive, Olathe, KS) Cornith Square (83rd & Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS) Country Club Plaza (4750 Broadway, Kansas City, MO) Crown Center (2405 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO) Great Mall of the Great Plains (151st & I-35, Olathe, KS) Leawood Town Center (5000 W 119th Street, Leawood, KS) Legends Outlet Kansas City (1843 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS) Oak Park Mall (11149 W. 95th Street, Overland Park, KS) Prairie Village Shopping Center (71st & Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS) Zona Rosa (8640 N. Dixson Ave, Kansas City, MO)

play...

Tim Murphy Art Gallery (5701 Merriam Drive)

Located inside the Irene B. French Community Center on the 3rd level, the Tim Murphy Art Gallery features monthly exhibits by local and regional artists. All exhibits are free to the public. For more information, gallery hours, and schedule of upcoming exhibits visit www.merriam.org/park.

CINEMARK THEATRES (5500 Antioch Road)

Offering 20 screens at Merriam’s Town Center, the Cinemark is a great place to catch all the latest movies!

KC SKATEPARK (9701 W. 67th Street)

Largest indoor facility in the Midwest dedicated to skateboarding.

The park features over 22,000 square feet of ramps, boxes, rails, bowl areas and a street course. Open seven days per week with special open skate sessions and kid camps. Lessons and private sessions also available.

Merriam Aquatic Center (6040 Slater)

Dive into the Merriam Aquatic Center, open seasonally, Memorial Day to Labor Day, for a fun summer cool-down!

Merriam Parks (Open sunrise to sunset daily)

Antioch Park (6501 Antioch Road) Brown Memorial Park (5040 Booker Drive) Campbell Park (9674 W. 61st Street) Chatlain Park (6300 Carter Avenue) Quail Creek Park (7024 Grandview Avenue) Turkey Creek Streamway Trail (Approx. 4 miles from 75th St. to Antioch) Vavra Park (6040 Slater) Waterfall Park (5191 Merriam Drive) Werner Park (5740 Merriam Drive)

Pump It Up! (7230 W. Frontage Road)

The premier children’s birthday party place. From indoor, gigantic inflatable filled arenas, to private party rooms, Pump It Up of Shawnee Mission is a great place to host all your events including private team parties, fundraisers, field trips that can be customized for your group, and more!

SKATE CITY (9800 W. 62nd Terrace)

Discover Kansas City’s best place to roller skate! Skate City offers fun for all ages. Visit during public skate sessions or arrange for private parties.

Nearby Area attractions in the metro

Whatever your reason to visit, you’ll find a huge selection of places to go and things to do in nearby Kansas City including worldrenowned shopping at the Country Club Plaza, Crown Center and Legends Outlet Kansas City; popular attractions like LegoLand & SeaLife KC, the Kansas City Zoo, Kauffman & Arrowhead Stadiums, Kansas Speedway, National WWI Museum, Worlds & Oceans of Fun, countless museums, and much, much more!

where to stay...

Comfort Inn

6401 East Frontage Road | 913.262.2622

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Comfort Inn® I-35 in Merriam is the best deal around, located just minutes from Kansas City’s most popular attractions!

Drury Inn

9009 Shawnee Mission Pkwy | 913.236.9200

Staying at the Drury Inn Merriam means comfortable rooms, award-winning service, an outdoor pool and a stunning amount of free extras.

hampton Inn & SUITES

7400 West Frontage Road | 913.722.0800

Whether you’re here to explore the vibrant downtown of Kansas City (just 15 minutes away), or on business in Merriam, you can count on the Hampton Inn & Suites to offer you a clean and comfortable base with great amenities for work and relaxation.

Extended Stay America

6451 East Frontage Road | 913.236.6006

Welcome to Extended Stay America! Our hotel is designed especially for longer stays with studio suite rooms featuring a fully-equipped kitchen.

Quality Inn

6601 East Frontage Road | 913.262.4448

A great central location, exceptional accommodations and affordable rates make the Quality Inn hotel the perfect place for both business and leisure travelers.

Walnut grove RV Park

10218 Johnson Drive | 913.262.3023

Located in a quiet residential suburb of Kansas City, the Walnut Grove RV Park is just a short distance to all of KC’s main attractions. Amenities include showers, restrooms, full hook-ups, laundromat, general store, pump station, and 30/50 amp sites.

Visit www.exploremerriam.com for special offers.

meet...

Merriam offers a variety of flexible venues to suit the needs of small to medium sized meetings and events. With over 500 hotel rooms to meet your housing requests, we are happy to assist you with both meeting space requirements and overnight accommodations.

Contact us today at 866.707.6534 to discuss meeting in Merriam‌ next door neighbors to Kansas City!

Merriam Historic Plaza

6304 East Frontage Road | 866.707.6534

Merriam Historic Plaza offers meeting space for five to 50, with layouts for board meetings, trainings or small groups. With affordable rates, open catering and state of the art technology, we can custom-design a meeting package suited to your needs. Nearby Merriam hotels partner with MHP to offer discounted lodging for business clients in search of meeting space and overnight accommodations. Visit www.exploremerriam.com for more information.

Irene B. French Community Center

5701 Merriam Drive | 913.322.5550

Located in a renovated, historic school building, the Irene B. French Community Center is a 33,000 square foot facility and the home of the majority of the Merriam Parks and Recreation programs. Meeting rooms are available to rent for receptions, parties, business functions, or trainings. Rental rates vary, depending upon the size of the room, and are available for Merriam residents, non-residents, and commercial groups. Visit www.merriam.org/park for more information.

City Hall - community training room

6200 Eby Street | 913.322.5500

Located inside Merriam City Hall, the Community Training Room is available for special rentals and meetings. The space will accommodate 20-112 people with plenty of parking, an elevator to the meeting room, and a convenient location in the metro region. Contact City Hall to schedule.

Additional meeting facilities:

Drury Inn | Hampton Inn & Suites | Comfort Inn Quality Inn | Johnson County Library - Antioch Branch

To inquire about additional meeting space venues, please contact the Merriam Visitors Bureau at 866.707.6534 or visit www.exploremerriam.com.

tour...

Group tour planners will find a unique and educational blend of tour options in Merriam. From foodie visits to rock-n-roll jam sessions, give us a call at 866.707.6534 to schedule your group tour. * minimum tour numbers and fees may apply.

Strawberry Hill Povitica

Experience the magic that goes into making the worldfamous Strawberry Hill Povitica and sample various flavors of the delectable swirled bread. Enjoy a free cup of coffee while you learn about Strawberry Hill’s rich cultural heritage, and watch artisan bakers take the family recipes from dough to delicious while being guided in a fun and informative visit through the bakery.

K. C. Strings Violin Shop

K.C. Strings Violin Shop is nationally known for making \ beautiful string instruments in downtown Merriam!

Pre‐scheduled tours to view the woodshop, retail location and conservatory are available for groups of 25+ people.

With instruments sold world‐wide and played in symphonies across the globe, K.C. Strings craftsmen are sure to impress your group.

Guitar Lamp

Come “jam” at one of Merriam’s coolest downtown addresses – GuitarLamp.com. Follow owner Dan Leap through a 30‐minute guided tour of his shop where he crafts the famous “guitar lamp” featured on MTV Cribs, HGTV’s “I Want That”, and found in celebrity homes. Dan will also give you a behind‐the‐scenes glimpse at his lofty living quarters, or if hands‐on entertainment suits your group, you can record and take home a personalized karaoke jam session in Dan’s garage lounge.

Georgetown Pharmacy Soda Shop

Craving a REAL old‐fashioned soda? Want to learn about the history of the soda fountain? Schedule a tasty tour of the Georgetown Pharmacy’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop in downtown Merriam. Located right inside the Pharmacy, just like the good ol’ days, this beautiful recreated shop is sure to bring back memories as you sip your way through a strawberry shake or other menu treat!

Tim Murphy Art Gallery

Need a little down time to unwind and relax? The Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Irene B. French Community Center is the ideal place for a quiet and peaceful stop.

Each month, a new group of artists and their works are on display on the third level (elevator provided) of the community center. Art is available for purchase on this self‐guided tour.

6304 East Frontage Road, Merriam, KS 66202 toll free: 866.707.6534 local: 913.403.8999

www.exploremerriam.com

The Merriam Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Merriam, Kansas.