Where to stay in Kansas City MO/What to do

Old Aug 28th, 2015, 04:50 PM
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Where to stay in Kansas City MO/What to do

Hi,

taking a trip to Kansas City at the end of October with a 9 year old and wondered if anyone had any recommendations on places to stay? We have been before but that was over 4 years ago and i've slept since then ;-)

Also any recommendations on things to see that a 9yr old would like? I'm alone with her Monday-Wed and I'm not allowed to drive so would have to be public transport reachable, my husband is joining us from the Thurs-Sun so would it be worth hiring a car?

Many Thanks
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 06:00 PM
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The Toy and Miniature Museum http://toyandminiaturemuseum.org/
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Old Aug 29th, 2015, 09:36 AM
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Try to grab a couple of tickets for the World Series

Stay on the Plaza. Check the Rafael, or there are other chains in the area.

KC is not a great place to be without a car, but if you stay on the Plaza you should be fine.

Call the Nelson Museum of Art and see what they have in terms of docent led tours for kids.
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Old Aug 29th, 2015, 01:06 PM
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The Arabia Steamboat Museum - it was a steamboat that sank in 1856, finally found and dug up in recent years. http://1856.com/

It's right downtown adjacent to the City Market - one time I was there, I saw a man giving rides to kids in a miniature train, not sure if it is still there though.http://thecitymarket.org/about/location

Not sure your 9-yr-old would be so much into this, but the World War I museum is something truly amazing. https://theworldwar.org/visit/plan-y...tvEaAjff8P8HAQ

I've never been to it, since adults must be escorted by a child, but LEGOLAND Discovery Center is something to consider. https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter....fhcaAhtf8P8HAQ
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Old Aug 30th, 2015, 09:05 AM
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I remember you and that grand trip you and your daughter took all over the US, including Kansas City--has it really been 4 years? Yikes!

Anyway, the recommendation for the Toy and Miniature Museum is spot-on; it JUST reopened after an extensive rehab/remodeling project so now is a great time to see it!

The Plaza is a great place to stay, but you might also look at Crown Center--LegoLand is there as well as a new-ish aquarium, SeaLife. The two major hotels are the Westin and the Sheraton. While we often have some of our best weather in October, much of Crown Center (and the adjacent Union Station with Science City) can all be reached without ever having to go outside if necessary. Crown Center also has a couple of kid-friendly places to eat--Fritz's (a toy train delivers your food) and the Crayola Cafe.

Kansas City has recently (again) become Uber-friendly so that might be a transportation option for you, although if your daughter still needs a car seat, that might cause problems. Public transportation here (I live in one of the Kansas-side suburbs) is pretty dismal so once your husband arrives, it would definitely be worthwhile to get a car if you can manage it. With a car you could explore farther afield:

--Powell Gardens
--Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
--Kansas City Zoo
--Loose Park
--Overland Park Arboretum

Post back with any additional questions and I will try to help.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 02:41 PM
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Hey musicfan! Yep 4 years and a bit, hard to believe I know!

We spoke about the car option and have decided we'll definitely go for that especially as apparently we have to visit American Girl on the Kansas side of KC

The toy and miniature museum looks really good

As does the Arabia Steamboat museum, my daughter loves history from the slant of some of the original AG books and as I still love the Little Prairie books it sounds really fascinating

We're spending a couple of nights in Independence as longing to visit the house where Ginger Rogers was born again but have a good 5 days to enjoy Kansas City

I remember the Crown Center where about's is the Plaza in connection to it?

We'll no doubt be going to the Crown Center anyway as would like to visit the legoland discovery center and as soon as I mentioned Fritz's and the toy train my husband decided we have to eat there at least once, not to mention the crayola place, any opportunity for being artistic and my daughter will take it

She'll be 9 when we travel so from what I can work out she's good not to need a car seat, although considering bringing a booster due to preference (her's as well as mine)
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 07:13 PM
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So cool!

No offense, but Independence really doesn't require two days--it's not that big, most of it really isn't, how to say this, very nice at all. And the only places I would ever recommend anyone stay there are in the eastern suburbs and you'd be better off just commuting from wherever you are staying in Kansas City. If I was going to be around and off work, I would drive you!

Crown Center is a few miles to the north of the Plaza, right before you get to downtown Kansas City proper. In between the two is Westport which is more of an entertainment district and therefore mostly for adults with bars and restaurants. When at Crown Center, try to fit in Kaleidoscope as well--it's a free art creation space for kids hosted by Hallmark.

The American Girl store is not far from my job and where I live in Kansas! While you are out this way, the Deanna Rose Farmstead is not far, and the Arboretum just a bit further--it sounds like your daughter would enjoy the farmstead much more though.

It's several hours away and probably not a possibility but Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House books in Mansfield, Missouri which is near Springfield, Missouri. Just over the border in southern Kansas is the location of the Little House on the Prairie--closest town is Independence, KS.

Your daughter is a lucky young lady! Post back with more questions if you like--I'll keep checking!
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 08:17 PM
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The little train is still at City Market, just saw it two weeks ago.

If your daughter is into being artistic, sweetannie's suggestion ipofnthe Nelson-Atkins ID a great ideas. Check their events calendar for when you are here. They have a LOT of kids activities not free and paid. There are more kids than you can shake a stick at on Saturdays.

Of you are here November first there is a free day of the dead festival with lots of kids activities

If your husband is into trains and you haven't already, you should visit the train museum at Union Station.

What all have you already visited independence? We recently spent a day there visiting the tTruman home, Truman Presidential Library, and lunch at Clinton soda fountain where Harry used to work. We also visited Leila's Hair Museum whic was wild.
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 04:31 AM
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We're spending two nights in Independence (already booked) but not however spending two days there we'll only be there for one full day, we didn't see much there last time apart from the house where Ginger was born and also a playground so as we're staying on the same street as the Truman home looking forward to actually visiting it!
My daughter and I are visiting there before my husband arrives

Great that the train museum is still at Union Station we got a glimpse last time but long after it had shut for the day

Ah shame that we won't be closer to where the Little Prairie books were written, will just have to make another trip sometime ;-) Nearest I've got to anything 'Little House' series related was when I went to North Dakota..

So now I guess we need to decide on whether we stay near the Crown Center or The Plaza
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 05:12 AM
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That should have said both free and paid above!

You probably already know this but go up to the NPS office asap the day you want to go the Truman house. Tickets can go fast, even on days you don't think they will. They offer a very limited number in at a time, I think 8. So there aren't as many opportunities to get in. It's short, and I hope interesting even for a 9 year old.
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 05:22 AM
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All good advice above. If you stayed at crown center, you could arguably have a lot to do without transportation: legoland, aquarium, unique shopping, tour the adjacent hotel with the odd planting hill, maybe Kaleidoscope, walk the sky way to union station: Science city; extreme screen theater, planetarium, plus a great space.
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 05:26 PM
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I have to admit Toucan I didn't know that so thanks very much for the tip!!
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 08:57 AM
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When I was at Crown Center last night for IrishFest I thought of this thread as it had been a while since I was down there.

Crayola Cafe is still there, as is Fritz's. A new (to me) addition is Spin! Pizza and a Sheridan's Frozen Custard. There is a Panera across the street--good for a quick breakfast or lunch. The fountains were colored green (with any luck, they will be blue when you are here!). A colorful toy store sits right across from Crayola Cafe.

As Bitter mentioned, it is a great base of exploration if you are traveling with a child.
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 10:35 AM
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I would agree with musicfan and bitter. Given some of your interests and with your child with you, I think this might be the better base.

You've got uber or a taxi if you want to go somewhere else
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Old Sep 24th, 2015, 02:16 PM
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Hey,

we now have plans all being well to meet up with friends who are travelling specially for various reasons from OK, they've asked about where is best for Barbecue food in Kansas City because they know KC is pretty well known for it!
So recommendations would be much appreciated
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Old Sep 24th, 2015, 04:44 PM
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That is a loaded question and you will get lots of different answers! One place that is getting a lot of attention is Q39. Friends have gone there and say the accolades are well deserved. The former Oklahoma Joe's (I think it is just Joe's KC or something like that now, someone can correct me) gets national kudos. You'll hear a lot about Arthur Bryants and Gates, but neither are my favorite. Actually, my favorite is in my town which is 45 mintues from KC! Jack Stack has my favorite sides.
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Old Sep 25th, 2015, 06:47 AM
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Our favorite for BBQ is Oklahoma Joe's,now known as Joe's Kansas City. I've been to Q39 once and liked it. Both will be fairly close. Jack Stack is another good option. Like Toucan, neither Gates nor Arthur Bryant's are our favorites, but they do have their fans, and Kansas City wouldn't be as well known for BBQ without their legacy.
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Old Sep 25th, 2015, 04:29 PM
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musicfan, thanks for the name, I was blanking and didnt' have time to google last night.

So true about Gates and Arthur Bryant's. We did a walking tour of the 18th & Vine district with the KC historical society back in August. They showed us a building that was where one of them started out before they went to BBQ (I think). The tour was a little dry, but still very interesting.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2015, 12:55 PM
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Thanks for the BBQ recommendations, getting real close now!!

Looking like we'll have to pack waterproofs
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Old Oct 22nd, 2015, 06:30 PM
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Have a fantastic time! It's only supposed to rain tomorrow, and the weekend is looking pretty nice, just a lot cooler. I look forward to reading your trip report. Also--Go Royals!
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