Things to Do in Kansas City

I have to admit, I’m not really a city person. Like to the point where my little sister (who was showing me around Kansas City) literally tried to avoid going to places during the busiest times. (Unbeknownst to me until partway through the trip).

Because normally, I’m like “ew, crowds”. I would much rather be camping or somewhere tucked away on an RV trip.

But a recent trip to Kansas City, Missouri did NOT disappoint. There are tons of amazing things to do in Kansas City, and I can’t wait to share my absolute favorites here!

I got the insider knowledge from someone who lives there and has already scouted out all the best things to do, and now you can too! These are the things you definitely don’t want to miss on your trip to Kansas City.

I was able to do all of the things that follow in just 2 full days so it is the perfect itinerary even if you just have a weekend to spare. And if you have more time, you just won’t have to rush quite as much as we did to take it all in!

view of Kansas City
View of Downtown Kansas City from the World War I Memorial

Crossroads Arts District First Fridays

On the first Friday of every month, the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, Missouri hosts an event, perfectly named, First Friday.

Crossroads Art District boasts streets filled with unique boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. It also houses the studios of many Kansas City artists.

On the first Friday of each month, many artists open their studios and galleries to the public and even more take to renting sidewalk space to display and sell their artwork.

art display at First Friday
Art from a Kansas City artist on display at First Friday. You can find her work for purchase here.

I had a blast walking down the streets which were lined with basically every medium and style of art you could imagine. There is truly something here for everyone to enjoy.

During First Fridays, there are also close to a zillion food trucks lining the streets and closing them down in some places. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but I don’t think I have ever seen so many food trucks before!

You can take your pick of famous Kansas City barbeque (keep reading for the best place to go for this), Greek, Chinese, Mexican, American, smoothies, cakes, and more. When I attended Frist Friday, there were over 3 blocks worth of food trucks.

If you can’t find something here to satisfy you then I don’t think you’ll find anything anywhere! And boy was it yummy!

The best time to head to Kansas City for First Friday is (obviously the first Friday of the month) but also there tend to be more vendors during the summer months. So if you want to maximize your art seeing, summer is the time to do it.

It’ll be toasty though, so make sure you bring some nice cool clothing as some of the buildings weren’t air-conditioned.

food trucks at First Friday
Just a few of the dozens of food trucks at First Friday

World War I Memorial

Next up on your tour of things to do in Kansas City is a visit to the World War I Memorial. This memorial stands high above the city.

To get there you can park in the parking lot just outside the museum and memorial (if you’re lucky enough to find a spot). If no spot is to be found you can park on the street below and make the long climb of stairs up to the memorial.

You can climb up inside the tower to the very top for $5 and admission to the museum itself, which is in a separate building below, is $18 for adults.

Even if you don’t feel like paying to go inside the museum or tower, it is definitely worth it to make a trip to see the memorial up close and in person. Not to mention the site has one of the absolute best views in the city. You will see all of Kansas City sprawling out before you from this vantage point!

World War I Memorial Kansas City
The World War I Memorial in Kansas City

Jacob L. Loose Park

Jacob Loose Park is an amazing (and ENORMOUS) park, located right in the heart of Kansas City. When you step onto the grounds you won’t feel like you’re in a city at all.

Rather, there are acres of open land filled with walking paths, gardens, and fountains. Fun fact I learned is that Kansas City is often called the City of Fountains. They don’t disappoint in that regard as you can see tons of fountains throughout the city!

park with fountain in Kansas City
One of many fountains spread throughout Kansas City

Jacob Loose park was an amazing spot to toss down a blanket in the shade of one of the many trees and have a picnic lunch. You’ll be able to watch ducks and geese swim around on one of the many ponds and smell the flowers in the air as you enjoy a tasty snack!

It is the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city before heading off to your next thing to do.

picnic in the park
Picnic in the park

KC Live!

I was SO SPOILED because I was in Kansas City when the final of the Women’s World Cup was happening. They hosted a viewing party at KC Live, which is an awesome outdoor viewing area.

They had a huge screen and stage set up where they showed the game. It was packed to capacity with over 10,000 people there and made the experience so much more amazing than it would have been otherwise.

But KC Live doesn’t just have sporting events. There are tons of events hosted there all year round. Some of them are even free like Hot Country nights which is a country music event that runs all summer long.

So if you’re in town, it is definitely worth checking out what might be going on at KC Live during the time you’ll be there.

outdoor venue in Kansas City
The Women’s World Cup Final Watch Party at KC Live!

City Market

Another awesome thing to do in Kansas City is to go to City Market. City Market is the cities farmer’s market. When I visited in July, it was packed with vendors, but I hear there is at least something going on all year round.

At City Market, you can find fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, spices, soaps and more to buy from dozens of local farmers and vendors. Making a purchase at City Market is a great way to support the local economy and the small businesses of the area.

Pro tip, just like going to the grocery store, remember to bring your own bags to City Market so you don’t have to use plastic bags. Because trust me, you probably won’t walk away empty-handed after a stop here.

Kansas City Farmer's Market
City Market

Kansas City Union Station

Another really fun thing to do in Kansas City is to stop at Union Station. The building and architecture are amazing and you can even participate in a self-guided tour.

To participate in the self-guided tour, fire up the app store and download the app: Living History: Union Station Kansas City.

Once you have the app you’ll be able to learn more about Kansas City’s unique history from the intriguing to the almost unbelievable.

Another really cool thing about the Kansas City Union Station is the renovations they have done. One of the neatest aspects was how they transformed the old ticket windows into a bustling restaurant right inside the station.

The building also houses several other attractions such as a movie theater, planetarium, and Science City which is a children’s museum with rotating exhibits.

Kansas City Union Station
Inside Union Station

Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque

Ok, so you’ve been doing things all day and are ready to eat. Surely there are tons of great restaurants in Kansas City. While this is definitely true, you 100% cannot beat Joe’s Barbeque!

Kansas City is famous for its barbeque and holy moly, Joe’s Barbeque was AMAZING!! However, Joe’s might appear unassuming at first glance. This is because it is located inside a gas station (technically in Kansas City, Kansas rather than Missoui).

But don’t let that fool you! Just take a look at the line for food which stretches out the door. Now I know you may be thinking you don’t want to stand around in line forever for gas station food. So here are some tips.

One: Joe’s might be in a gas station, but it certainly isn’t gas station food. I wish all gas station food was this delicious!! Two: you can save time by ordering your food over the phone. Check out the menu and call with what you want and they’ll give you an estimate for how long it will be.

Then, just pop in, pick up your food, and boom, you just avoided waiting 1-2 hours standing in line for this tasty barbeque! (If you look closely at the picture below, you can see the line stretching out the door.)

Don’t forget to pop around the side of the pickup counter to get your barbeque sauce for the meal before leaving or you will be so sad!

Joe's Kansas City Barbeque
Notice the line out the door?

Kansas City Plaza

One of the final things to do in Kansas City that I would definitely recommend adding to your list is to visit the Kansas City Plaza.

Plaza is an area filled with high-end shops, restaurants, and amazing architecture. The architecture is reminiscent of Spanish architecture with domed roofs and colorful mosaics.

In addition, Plaza has many unique fountains and beautiful flower gardens everywhere in the summer. Plus, there is always free parking which is definitely a nice perk!

plaza in Kansas City
View of the Plaza

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Last but not least is the incredible Nelson-Atkins Museum of art. This art institute houses thousands of pieces of art from paintings to sculptures, traditional to contemporary.

Outside are several enormous shuttlecock sculptures located at various places around the grounds. Inside, you’ll discover works of art from some of the greatest masters of all time.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art definitely boasts a wonderful collection that you won’t want to miss on your trip to Kansas City!

Best thing at the KC Museum0 The giant shuttlecock
My sister and I with the giant shuttlecock
Kansas City art museum
On the steps of the Kansas City art museum

How to Get Around Kansas City

If you are wondering how to get around Kansas City, there are several great options. One way to get around is simply to walk. Many of these things to do are located in close proximity to each other and walking might even be your fastest bet.

But if you don’t want to walk, you can also ride the streetcar free of charge to get from place to place downtown. Plus, some of them are adorable and painted like caterpillars so there’s that.

stree car in Kansas City

If you are feeling brave, you can also hop on a Bird! Birds are one of the many electric scooters that can be found on sidewalks throughout the city!

You pay based on the time you use it, but it is a pretty affordable way to get around. When you get to your destination, simply leave it there for the next person to hop on.

riding a Bird

The Perfect Kansas City Weekend

As a quick recap. I hate cities, I loved Kansas City. I didn’t get the usual sketchy, dirty city vibe that a lot of places I have visited before have given me.

So even if you aren’t usually a city person, you just may find that a visit to Kansas City to check out all the neat things to do there is well worth it!

And if planning your trip to Kansas City is already in the works, make sure you don’t miss out on all of my favorites from above! Happy travels!

Looking for more travel destinations? Check out the travel section of the blog for detailed guides on some of my favorite places!

What are your favorite things to do in Kansas City?


Kathryn Mancewicz, M.S., CCC-SLP

Hi there! I'm Kathryn, a speech-language pathologist and personal finance expert! I love the great outdoors and live in an RV fulltime because I don't think you should wait until retirement to do the things you love! My husband and I paid off over $60,000 in debt in less than 3 years using the strategies I'll share with you here. I'm here to help you conquer your finances while still living your best life!

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