Things to do in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri, packs a lot into one metro: museums, ballparks, riverfront trails, and a dining scene that runs from barbecue to Austrian schnit…
Neighborhoods
Kansas City, Missouri, packs a lot into one metro: museums, ballparks, riverfront trails, and a dining scene that runs from barbecue to Austrian schnitzel. You can spend a day in a sculpture garden and an evening at a live music hall. The challenge isn't finding something to do—it's narrowing down the list.
Start with the big anchors: the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for its 5,000-year collection, and Union Station, where Science City and the planetarium sit under one historic roof. Sports fans have Kauffman Stadium and the Truman Sports Complex, while kids can burn energy at Worlds of Fun or the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. For outdoor time, Loose Park's rose garden and Berkley Riverfront's paths along the Missouri are solid picks. Food runs from Char Bar's barbecue to Garozzo's old-school Italian, and the City Market is the place for produce and people-watching. Nightlife leans toward live music at Knuckleheads and clubs around town.
Frequently asked questions about Kansas City
What are the best outdoor things to do in Kansas City, Missouri?▾
Loose Park is a 75-acre green space with a rose garden, pond, and tennis courts, and it's dog-friendly. Berkley Riverfront offers broad biking and walking paths along the Missouri River. Swope Park is much larger—1,805 acres—with community gardens, a golf course, and soccer fields. Penn Valley Park also has the National WWI Museum and Memorial on its grounds.
What can families do with kids in Kansas City?▾
The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium in Swope Park has zookeeper chats and animal interactions. Worlds of Fun is the big theme park with roller coasters and a Snoopy-themed kids' area. LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium sit in Crown Center, and Kaleidoscope offers free arts and crafts sessions for kids.
Where can I find live music in Kansas City?▾
Knuckleheads is a biker-bar-style venue that books everything from rock to Elvis tributes to gospel. PBR Big Sky mixes live music with a mechanical bull and a Coors-heavy beer list. For bigger acts, Kansas City Stadium hosts both football and major concerts, and Starlight Theatre in Swope Park puts on Broadway shows and rock shows outdoors.
What are the top museums and cultural spots in Kansas City?▾
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art spans 5,000 years of art and includes a sculpture garden. The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the only public museum in the country dedicated to World War I. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum covers the league's history from 1920 to Jackie Robinson's debut. The Arabia Steamboat Museum displays items recovered from a steamboat that sank in 1856.
Where should I eat in Kansas City?▾
Char Bar serves barbecue and Southern food with a beer garden and games. Garozzo's Ristorante Downtown is a homey Italian spot with old-school charm. Grünauer does Austrian-German cooking in a historic brick building. For Mexican, Ponak's is a no-frills cantina known for margaritas. The City Market has produce, baked goods, and spices from indoor and outdoor stalls.
Upcoming events
Joey Cool, Roblo Da Star, Yung Prez, Seuss Mace
Chloe McFadden
National Cheeseburger Day
The Black Queen, ClubDrugs
Laundry Day, 10xTANTRUM
Live Music with The Phantastics
Acumen Nation, 16 Volt, Moon 17
Live Music with The Elders
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via Google MapsNegro Leagues Baseball Museum
Exhibits on segregated league's 1920 founding to Jackie Robinson's 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers debut.
via Google MapsHawaiian Bros Island Grill
via Google MapsCascone's
Veteran family-owned place for Italian meals dished amid vintage decor with red-leather booths.
via Google MapsThe Escape Game Kansas City
via Google MapsThe Big Biscuit
via Google MapsManny's Mexican Restaurant
Veteran destination for Mexican eats & margaritas amid colorful, bustling atmosphere.
via Google MapsThe Big Biscuit
Penguin Park
Whimsical public park featuring giant animal sculptures, a picnic shelter & barbecue grills.
via Google MapsOlive Garden Italian Restaurant
Lively, family-friendly chain featuring Italian standards such as pastas & salads.
via Google MapsUp-Down KC
Funky bar featuring 50+ arcade games from the 1980s & ’90s, plus cocktails & lots of draft beer.
Arabia Steamboat Museum
Big collection of everyday objects pulled from a steamboat that sunk on the Missouri River in 1856.
Knuckleheads
Live music, from rock to Elvis tributes to gospel, plus burgers & beer in biker-bar digs.
Penn Valley Park
Park with the National WWI Museum & Memorial, a theater & tennis, baseball & skateboarding venues.
Uptown Theater KC
Classic 1920s film & performing-arts venue, now renovated & hosting concerts & other productions.
via Google MapsB.B.'s Lawnside BBQ
Barbecue is eaten at communal picnic tables in this no-frills roadhouse joint with live blues.
Lidia’s
Celebrated upscale spot for Northern Italian dining in a glitzy locale with blown-glass chandeliers.
via Google MapsTrader Joe's
Grocery chain with a variety of signature items, plus produce, dairy & more (most sell wine & beer).
via Google MapsKansas City Convention Center
via Google MapsWestport Flea Market
Burgers & beer with live music & a small weekend-only flea market installed in one corner.
via Google MapsJoy Wok
Roomy, no-nonsense buffet featuring familiar Chinese standards, sushi & grilled-to-order meats.