sweetannie

I work DT, close to Admiral, and while I don't know that it would be really dangerous, I wouldn't stay there. I don't know the motel at all, I can't even picture it, I can only say I would never suggest this area to a friend.

If you don't mind being in kind of a desolate part of a quiet downtown area, then I suppose it's OK. Our downtown is currently being rebuilt with many restaurants and entertainment, but most of it won't even be done until this summer and even then it will be years before any of this potentially expands to where you want to stay.

Maybe there are some other "Choice" hotels in the area?

I hope you'll enjoy KC, there's plenty to offer. annie

SiteC_er

Try the following museums:
Nelson Atkins
War War 1 memorial / museum
Kemper Modern Art
Union Station (not a true museum but definitely worth seeing)
Agricultural Hall of Fame
Jazz & Black Baseball Player Museum (same location)

sweetannie

And, if you coming anytime other than winter, you might like Powell Gardens. And, I don't think anyone's mentioned the Arabia Steamship Museum. annie

jedivader

Things I've found in/around the KC/Topeka area that we might be interested in:

Hallmark Visitors Center
Arabia Steamboat Museum
Airline History Museum
Amelia Earhart Museum
State Capitol Tour
Truckhenge @ Lessman’s Farm
Combat Air Museum
Pioneer Crossing Park
Fort Leavenworth
Union Town Ghost Town
Franklin Ghost Town
KU Natural History Museum

Only reason the KU History Museum came up was because Comanche is there. That's all I want to see, don't care about the rest. Probably not worth the admission just for that. I've got the Smithsonian just down the street from me.

Comments welcome!

jedivader

I've always wanted to ride a mechanical bull. Anyone know anything about the Beaumont Club?

www.kcclubs.com/beaumont.cfm

jedivader

Familiar with this hotel/area?

About $65 per night.

La Quinta Inn & Suites Overland Park
10610 Marty Street
Overland Park, KS

We're not so much concerned about staying in or real close to the city. We are going to be driving all over the place so it's not important to be in walking distance to shopping and food. It would be nice, but not that important. It would be nice to be real close to some of the brewpubs in the Kansas City area.

7hth Street Brewing, Pony Express Brewing and a Granite Brewing are close to this La Quinta.

jedivader

Here are a two more I'm looking at:

Sorry I'm posting so many times in a row.....

La Quinta($60)
Kansas City North
2214 Taney

La Quinta Kansas City Lenexa($50)
9461 Lenexa Dr.

Can't use my free nights at La Quinta but these are cheap and I can still earn points towards my Rapid Rewards.

sweetannie

You'll be fine at the La Quinta on Marty. There is some shopping and restaurants close by, by car. annie

Toucan2

All the La Quinta's should be fine. I probably wouldn't stay at the one on Admiral or the Econolodge on Broadway. Not particularly bad, just a little bit desolate and dead.

The Airport Ecolodge as far as being close the airport is fine, but you'll be a fair range out of DT. Of course, if you are in OP you are a fair way out of town too, but really, the drive times aren't that bad if you aren't in go to work drive time.

Keith

Bonnie, the KC mines were for the stone, not salt like Hutchison. Everything from the Emergency Room where JFK died was just moved into one of them in Lenexa.

Other than just being out of town for the weekend, I wasn't commenting, because the advice I was seeing all looked fine

Keith
(On the way back from a long weekend in southwest Florida)

jedivader

Keith,

What are you talking about (JFK, rock, emergency room)?

Toucan2

He was referring to the mines in KC that are limestone, not salt. Many of them, I believe, are for national archives. This is what he referred to about everything that was in the emergency room where JFK died is being moved there. Probably for storage.

The limestone caves are naturally heat and humidity controlled, thus good for the archives. There are also huge business complexes situated in the caves, most also for the heat and humidity control, although that isn't a requirement.

MaureenB

Jedivader, when you mention Lenexa, Topeka, etc., those towns are not what I'd consider seeing K.C. I suggest you stay at one of the places Annie recommended, near the Plaza I'd say is nicest. Overland Park is a fine, established suburb (I lived there when I was in high school!) for your hotel stay, too.

I don't know what month you'll be visiting K.C., and this may not be what you're interested in, but if you like mines, there used to be a public swimming pool in Roeland Park that is built right into the caves. It is probably still there. The caves surround the pool, and we kids used to hang out in the very shallow cave knooks. It's pretty cool.
>-

jedivader

That pool cave sounds cool but, we'll be in KC from February 15-18.

We are not heading to KC just to see KC alone, we plan on doing a lot of things within an hour or so drive of KC.

Go back to my post a few days ago with the list of things we are looking at possibly doing.....any opinions on these attractions? Anyone done them?

Not listed:

Jesse James Grave
Jesse James Bank
Boulevard Brew Tour

Robespierre

The WWI museum is at the Liberty Memorial (just uphill from Union Station).

I've only stayed at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center (the chateaubriand at the Top of the Crown is to die for), and the room, service, and amenities are top-notch. I don't know how chains swap points, but it might be an option for you.

Keith

If you are going out about an hour's drive, consider Leavenworth along the Missouri RIver, northwest of KC. It has the Fort, two national cemeteries, wonderfull 19th century buildings, interesting local restaurants and the C W Parker Carousel Museum.

Toucan2

There's really not much to see at Jesse James Grave...except his grave. It is, however, right off of I-35 at Kearney, so very easy to reach. A few minutes further and you can visit Jesse James Farm. The exit would be Hwy 92 East, the cemetary is maybe a mile on the right. If you continue further on 92 a few miles, there will be a left turn on Jesse James Farm Road (I think?) that will take you to the farm. It is sign posted if that isn't the actual name of the road.

The bank that the James Gang robbed was the site of the first daylight bank robbery, and is in Liberty, Missouri. It is a nice little museum, but very small so it won't take you much time. Liberty is off of I35 north from KC as well. To get the square, you would take Hwy 152 East exit, and continue straight on down to the square (no turns!) I haven't been to the square for awhile, but I think there are still some restaurants there as well, and on the other side of the courthouse/jail there is a hole in the wall bbq place.

Haven't done the Boulevard tour, but I always hear great things about it. Tried to get there once but there were no openings. Do reserve to ensure your spot.

jedivader

How is this area of KC?

Days Inn Kansas City-Worlds of Fun
7100 NE Parvin Road

Have it narrowed down to a few and came across this one for $45 a night.

Keith

I don't care for the area, but wouldn't feel unsafe.

Would only consider it myself if the whole point of the trip was Worlds of Fun and/or the nearby casinos.

Keith

gofrank150

Hotels:

Pick one of your choices in Lenexa / Overland Park. The worlds of fun area isn't unsafe, but theres nothing there.

The la quinta on taney is kind of an industrial area. Not the place you want to stay on vacation. SKip the downtown ones you've mentioned.

The kansas suburbs are nice and safe with plenty of restaurants nearby and the center city is still a 20 min drive at most (non-rush hour).

airport location is too far north of any places you want to visit.

i'd skip the hallmark visitors center, there really is not much to see there, unless your wife is a super sappy card sender.