Top 5 Things To Do in Kansas City, Missouri

Straddling the Missouri River, Kansas City is not only a hip cradle of jazz and home to signature-style barbecue, but it’s packed with amazing art, unusual museums, and historical sites that all make this Midwestern hub a must-see. 

Barbecue and Beyond  

When in Kansas City, you must sample the barbecue, of course – some of the more popular joints include the legendary Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue  and Gate’s Bar-B-Q – but don’t stop there. Stop by Kitty’s Cafe and sink your teeth into any number of its 70-year-old staples. Since 1951, this no-frills, walk-up dive has been serving up addictive burgers and sandwiches, inducing its famous pork tenderloin sandwich, which comes stacked three-cutlets high, topped with a special hot sauce on a soft Kaiser roll.  

Jazz Lover’s Dream 

The 18th & Vine Historic District oozes with cool, honoring jazz’s top names, both legendary and present-day. Follow along the American Jazz Walk of Fame that pays homage to the musicians, like Lester Young and Thelonius Monk, who made a lasting mark on the genre. At the American Jazz Museum, find artifacts like Benny Goodman’s shoes and local legend Harold Ashby’s saxophone, and catch live shows at The Blue Room. Looking to jam? Head over to an after-hours live session at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, the home of Kansas City’s historic Black jazz musicians’ union, where lively sessions are known to go until 5 a.m. Walk to the nearby “Bird Lives” Charlie Parker Memorial and pay homage to one of the genre’s greatest musicians. 

Impressive Art Collections 

Love art? Kansas City is packed with great museums. At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – you can’t miss the massive outdoor Shuttlecocks sculpture on this large parklike campus – spend some time roaming the Native American, European, African, and impressive Asian art collections. Take the kids and play Art Course, an artist-created mini-golf experience on the lawn. Head over to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art for a look at the works of emerging and mid-career present-day artists.  

Greeting Card Fame 

Learn about the long legacy and creative partnerships of J.C. Hall and his iconic card company at the Hallmark Visitors Center. Displays include greeting cards through history, a rare Winston Churchill original work, artifacts that detail the back stories of Hallmark’s major partnerships with Walt Disney and Maya Angelou, and a history of family-friendly films created by the Hallmark Channel. Be sure to check out the collection of themed Christmas trees decorated for the Hall family by Hallmark employees over the years. Kids will love the high-energy Kaleidoscope, a free art-making space next door.   

Steamboat Surprises 

Walk the deck of an actual-size 19th-century steamboat at the Arabia Steamboat Museum in the heart of the historic City Market. In September 1856, the Arabia was fully loaded with goods bound for Midwestern towns, when it hit a tree snag and sank just west of Kansas City. While no passengers were hurt, the ship’s cargo was buried under the river for over a century until, in 1988, five men and their families decided to start digging. What they uncovered was a treasure trove of belongings and artifacts of those pioneering people. View several impressive exhibits, and see pottery, dishes, clothing, and food items, including perfectly preserved pickles. Don’t miss the ship’s actual boiler and working stern wheel.   

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