TOP THINGS TO DO IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Travel guide and photos by guest contributor Caitlyn Camacho.

Situated almost in the exact center of the continental United States, Kansas City, Missouri calls itself the heart of America. It’s packed with history -- the start of the Oregon Trail was in nearby Independence, Missouri -- and famous for BBQ and jazz. Kansas City is the perfect low-key weekend getaway for food, music and art-lovers. We’ve outlined below our top things to do in Kansas City.

Downtown KC is a short 20 minutes from the small MCI airport. (Hot tip: The airport is so small that when flying out you don’t need to arrive 1.5-2 hours before your flight as with larger U.S. airports like San Francisco, Washington DC or NYC.) From the airport, we recommend taking an Uber if you’re planning to stay downtown. If you’re looking to explore the prairies farther afield then rent a car.

If you’re focusing your visit around downtown KC, you can ride the free KC Streetcar from the historic Union Station up to the city’s River Market district.

EAT

BBQ We’d do the city a disservice by not starting here.

For a traditional local spot, visit black-owned business Gates BBQ at one of its locations. Order at the counter and take your tray to a booth (or do carry out). Be prepared with your order when you get to the front of the line. We recommend the short ends (ribs) with fries. 

If you’re looking for a trendier BBQ experience, try Q39 in Westport. The chef puts a spin on traditional BBQ with brisket poutine and other deliciousness. The first time we went our waiter told us Gordon Ramsay had been there the previous night. 

If you want to venture north of the river (10 minutes from downtown), stop by Hawg Jaw BBQ or go next door to Big Rip Brewing (a horror/sci-fi themed brewery) for a beer sampling and BBQ.

The Antler Room Ranked one of the best restaurants in KC, this upscale small plates spot offers a seasonally-changing menu with great cocktails and wine. They’re known for their Georgian soup dumplings, but if it’s on the menu, also get the duck. Make a reservation.

Banksia A cute Australian bakery! In Kansas City! They were featured in an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives although they fit none of those categories.

Brewery Emperial In the vibrant Crossroads neighborhood, this bar features a large outdoor patio and beer garden. Inside, you’ll find a rustic 70’s vibe and bar seating over the open air kitchen. Great food (especially meats), although you can find some yummy vegetarian options like jackfruit tacos. 

Betty Rae’s Try their unique flavors like maple blueberry pancake, lavender honey, and goat cheese, apricots & candied walnuts. They also offer vegan sorbets. 

Carollo’s Italian Deli Delicious, cheap Italian sandwiches. Great for a picnic.

Fox and Pearl Delicious farm-to-table brunch spot.

DRINK

Amigoni Urban Winery A local KC winery harvesting California grapes. Come for the $10 wine tastings. 

SOT Handcrafted cocktails in the Crossroads.

East Crossroads Breweries This side of the Crossroads neighborhood is dotted with great craft breweries. You could spend a day or more hopping around and trying them all but our favorites are Border Brewing for the friendly beertenders and awesome brews like hibiscus ale, Ribbon Cutter IPA, date sour ale and the dog-friendly Casual Animal.

Strange Days Another local brewery, this is one of the larger ones and located in River Market. Also, a big soccer bar. 

City Market Coffee Grab a coffee or iced honey lavender latte and stroll down to the Town of Kansas pedestrian bridge and Riverfront Heritage Trail. 

PLAY

Boulevard Beer Hall Boulevard Brewing is KC’s largest craft brewery and you can’t miss a stop at their Beer Hall. Features floors of games like shuffleboard and foosball, tasting room only beer samples, and you can take the brewery tour. 

City Market Stop by City Market to peruse the shops, visit the weekend farmers market (one of the largest in the Midwest), or grab a coffee or sandwich from one of the local restaurants. 

Crossroads Crossroads is the vibrant art district in an area that is being revitalized by local boutiques, restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Spend an afternoon checking out the street art and bar-hopping. Visit the Made in KC flagship store for local maker gifts.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art A free admission art museum with rotating exhibits. Outside the museum is a sculpture park that is great for picnicking. 

Pawn and Pint A board game bar with thousands of games and a full-service bar. $5 entry fee gets you access to any games. 

Union Station KC’s historical train station. The hall has rotating exhibits and activities and is still an operating Amtrak station.

West Bottoms Don’t miss this hotspot for antique shops housed in the old warehouse district. While most of the shops are only open the first weekend of each month, you can still catch a few with hours every weekend. 

WWI Museum This is the national WWI monument and museum with tons of historical artifacts from every country involved in WWI. It makes for a great rainy day stop and is the best spot to take KC skyline photos.

DAY TRIPS

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Two hours from KC, the highlight here is a trail that takes you through a bison pasture. The bison roam right across the trails. Warning, stay at least 100 yards away from the bison.

Konza Prairie Biological Station Just 1.5 hrs from KC, this prairie has rolling hills and trails of 2.6 miles, 4.7 miles, or 6.6 miles. 

Western Kansas rock formations If you’re on a cross country trip or open to driving across Kansas, stop by the following spots around 5 hrs from KC: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks. It’s hard to believe these are in Kansas! All are located off dirt county roads but well traveled so you don’t necessarily need an SUV. They’re also a little more than halfway between KC and Denver, so feel free to continue your trip to the Rockies.

STAY

Any option you choose in the downtown area will be close to the streetcar line for travel. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel experience, check out Crossroads Hotel. They’re known for their rooftop bar.

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