Things to Do in Kansas City, Missouri

1. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is famed for its award-winning neoclassical architecture and its impressive collection of Asian Art. The museum was designed by prominent Kansas City architects Wight and Wight in the classical Beaux-Arts architectural style and opened in 1933; the Bloch Building was added in 2007.

The museum’s collections include European and American paintings, Asian art, Native American art, photography, Kansas City sculpture, and works by such great artists as Caravaggio, Pissarro, and De Kooning. Visitors to the museum will enjoy the museum store and the on-site restaurant, Rozelle Court. The Nelson-Atkins also hosts a number of educational programs, workshops and art classes for adults and children throughout the year. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of the top Kansas City points of interest.

Address: 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, Phone: 816-751-1278

2. Kauffman Memorial Garden

The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden is a beautiful, tranquil garden in the heart of Kansas City. The garden serves as an oasis for urbanites seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Honoring the memory of Ewing and Muriel Kauffman and their commitment to sharing with others, the exquisite garden welcomes visitors throughout the year.

Inspired by the couple’s world travels, the garden features wide open spaces and intimate enclaves akin to those in European parks. Bronze sculptures by Tom Corbin are tucked away among rainbows of annuals and perennials, and brick pathways link foliage-laden stone walls and lovely fountains.

Address: Kauffman Memorial Garden, 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, Phone: 816-932-1200

3. SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium

SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium, home to more than 5,000 sea creatures in a variety of ocean habitats, is a fantastic introduction to the world’s oceans. The aquarium’s diverse habitats include the interactive TouchPool Experience, where visitors can touch a crab or hold a starfish, and a spectacular underwater tunnel gives a 360-degree view of life underwater.

Fun and informative talks, workshops, and educational presentations are held throughout the day, and a free kids’ quiz trail is a fun way to test creature knowledge. Sea animals are fed multiple times during open hours, to the delight of both animals and aquarium visitors. The aquarium also hosts a variety of conservation programs such as seahorse breeding, seal rescue and re-homing lost or abandoned sea animals. If you are wondering what to do in Kansas City with kids on a rainy day, this is a great place to visit.

SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium, Address: 2475 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, Phone: 816-471-4386

4. City Market

The City Market has consistently been one of the largest and most popular farmers markets in the Midwest since its inception in 1857. Open daily year-round, the City Market is a mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment in an open-air setting. Market-goers can find fresh, locally sourced produce and meat products, specialty groceries, herbs, flowers, and handcrafted gifts from all over the world.

The market hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including Yoga in the Park, Farm-to-Table Kitchen Classes, the City Market Crawfish Festival, and the City Market Busker Festival.

Address: 20 E. 5th Street # 201, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, Phone: 816-842-1271

5. Starlight Theater

The Starlight Theater has been a Kansas City landmark since the 1950s. Today it is one of only three self-producing outdoor theaters left in the United States. The theater has presented a wealth of spectacular Broadway shows and outstanding concerts by stars known the world over, including Tony Bennett, Carol Burnett, and Ginger Rogers.

Starlight’s Applause Club, the theater’s elegant on-site restaurant, provides gorgeous views of the Shirley Bush Helzberg fountain and garden. If you are looking for unique date night ideas in Kansas City, watch a show at the Starlight Theater. The theater company has an active community outreach program with a variety of fun and educational workshops, camps, and classes for children of all ages.

Address: Starlight Theater, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64132, Phone: 816-363-7827

6. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, offers all visitors an experience like no other. The Kauffman Center's aim is to provide diverse, world class, extraordinary performances of all kinds to the community. The non-profit organization has an exquisite facility that consists of two distinct venues under one roof, and it has been touted as the ultimate place for seeing and hearing performing arts due to its magnificent acoustics.

It is home to the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyrics Opera of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet, which showcases high quality programs on both the national and international level through resident companies and community partnerships. The facility promotes the performing arts beyond its performances through its various art programs, tours, rentals, and events.

Address: 1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, Phone: 816-994-7200

7. Worlds of Fun

If you are looking for a fun day out for the family, you need look no further than Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. This is by far the largest family amusement park in the Midwest, offering acres of thrilling themed rides spread over 6 separate world areas, as well as a seasonal water park. There are rides and thrills for all ages and sizes, including Planet Snoopy where younger visitors can have fun. At the other end of the scale you will find many thrilling dare-devil rides like the Patriot and Mamba coasters, the Spinning Dragons and Ripcord rides. The water park is equally exciting and also offers rides and slides for all ages. A single season pass gives access to all the rides.

If you are looking for a fun day out for the family, you need look no further than Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. This is by far the largest family amusement park in the Midwest, offering acres of thrilling themed rides spread over 6 separate world areas, as well as a seasonal water park. There are rides and thrills for all ages and sizes, including Planet Snoopy where younger visitors can have fun. At the other end of the scale you will find many thrilling dare-devil rides like the Patriot and Mamba coasters, the Spinning Dragons and Ripcord rides. The water park is equally exciting and also offers rides and slides for all ages. A single season pass gives access to all the rides. Address: Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161 816 454 4545

8. Kansas City Zoo

The Kansas City Zoo lies within Swope Park and spans an impressive 202 acres. More than just a zoo, it also features an aquarium and has won many prestigious awards for its animal exhibitions that feature species from other continents such as Africa and Australia.

Visitors can enjoy polar bear exhibits with resident bears Nikita and Berlin and marvel at over 1,300 different species of animals, birds, and aquatic life from all over the world. The zoo also includes a range of fun and efficient transportation options for adults and children to further explore the area such as trams, trains, boats, and a sky safari. f you are looking for great things to do in Kansas City MO on a sunny afternoon, Kansas City Zoo is a great place to visit.

Address: Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Dr, Kansas City, Missouri 64132, Phone: 816-595-1234

9. Arabia Steamboat Museum

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is home to the largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts in the world and is one of Kansas City’s most popular attractions. The museum takes visitors on a journey to the American frontier of the mid-nineteenth century and documents the 1988 salvage of the Arabia Steamboat. The museum captivates visitors with its incredible collection of items and artifacts from the recovered steamboat Arabia, which sank in the Missouri River in 1856, and with displays and presentations on pioneer life in the 1800s. The objects found in the ship range from fine china to the world’s oldest pickles. A guided tour of the museum includes a short movie about the process of salvaging the sunken steamboat.

Address: 400 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, Phone: 816-471-1856