Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Kansas City. Kansas City is a great city in the heart of the Midwest with lots of cool things to see, do, and eat! If you’re planning to visit Kansas City, watch out for these shocks when you arrive!
Kansas City is Not in Kansas
Kansas City straddles the border of Kansas and Missouri. While there is a Kansas City, Kansas, the majority of your Kansas City trip in Missouri. Most of the best attractions are on the Missouri side, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the Plaza are all in Kansas City, Missouri. Taxes are lower in Missouri, and the beer is stronger, too!
Friendly Locals
It’s the Midwest, so it shouldn’t surprise you, but the locals here are really very friendly! As you walk around Kansas City, you’ll notice that people smile and greet you, rather than look at the ground or the sky. Locals love to share their favorite spots, especially if you ask about BBQ. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from the Kansas City locals.
The Architecture of the Plaza
The Plaza is Kansas City’s shopping and entertainment district, with over a dozen blocks to explore. What’s shocking, though, is the architecture. The entire plaza was built to resemble Seville, Spain. There’s even a tower. There are beautiful fountains and statues, and it’s lit at night for a fantastic display, especially during the winter holidays. These beautiful unique buildings house everyday chains like the Cheesecake Factory or Forever 21. You might expect cool museums in these fabulous buildings, but it’s just retail and restaurants.
Kansas City Museums
I was really blown away by all of the cool museums in Kansas City. I think the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of the top five art museums in the United States. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is also really well put together. It’s in the same building as the jazz museum, and they both present amazing stories in a way that’s educational but also very interesting. The National Toy & Miniature Museum is also really neat. I think the National World War I Museum is one of the most important Kansas City museums to see. The memorial tower offers fantastic views of Kansas City and you can learn a lot about a lesser-known war.
Kansas City Civic Pride
Not only are the locals super friendly, but they LOVE their city! The civic pride is evident wherever you look; the streets are clean, the parks are clean, and that doesn’t happen without an involved community. They take great pride in their sports teams, like the Chiefs and the Royals.
Lines for BBQ
It’s no joke; Kansas City food is all about BBQ. You might think it’s a thing just for tourists, but the locals will line up for a good BBQ. At some of the best BBQ places in Kansas City, you can expect to wait in line for a long time. Joe’s, Arthur Bryant’s, and Q39 are just a few of the best BBQ spots in Kansas City, where you can expect a long line to get your food at lunch or dinner. I recommend trying to go for a late lunch/early dinner rather than visiting at peak times. This way, you might only wait 30 minutes instead of two hours. (This doesn’t work on the weekends; they’re busy all day then!)
BBQ Burnout
Yes, it’s possible. After a few days of all BBQ all the time, you may experience some burnout and start looking for something else to eat. Fortunately, Kansas City has been a melting pot of cultures for decades, so you can find something to eat besides barbecue. There are some really great Italian restaurants in Kansas City, and Asian cuisine as well. Of course, you can also get some amazing steaks in Kansas City. Kansas City food is more than just BBQ!
Size of Kansas City
If you’re from a big city or Europe, you may be used to getting everywhere on foot or by public transportation. That’s not really the case in Kansas City; it’s very spread out. Besides the two sides of Kansas City, you also have a ton of suburbs and neighborhoods within the cities. Public transportation isn’t widely used in Kansas City, so it really is helpful to have a car when you’re here. There’s a free tramline, but the destinations it serves are pretty limited.
Airport Transportation
Nearly every airport I’ve been to has a taxi line outside; it’s usually very easy to find and you just grab the next taxi in line. That’s not the case at Kansas City airport and it can be confusing. You go outside and there are no taxis! To get a taxi at the KC airport, you have to use the courtesy phones inside the terminal to call a taxi and they’ll arrive quickly. Just don’t expect to find them lined up waiting for you.
Kansas City Union Station
The size and scale of Kansas City’s Union Station are shocking! Even if you’re not arriving in Kansas City by train, you should still check out the building. They often have neat exhibits inside, too. This was built at the height of train travel in America, so it’s quite massive.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
I was not sold on visiting Kansas City until I actually went and I was pleasantly shocked by all of the cool things to do in Kansas City. As a world traveler, I really was shocked at how much I loved Kansas City. With great shopping, food, and museums, it’s truly an underrated Midwest travel destination. Interested in more Midwest US travel destinations? Check out these other blog posts:
- Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Midwest US Travel
- Ten Surprises of Visiting Nebraska
- The Best & Worst of St. Louis, Missouri
