Trying to decide which hotel to stay at in Kansas City, MO -- the Kansas City Marriott Downtown or the Marriott Country Club Plaza. Any recommendations?
Will be there on business for a two nights and have a few free hours on Saturday. Any recommended sites to see while there? All advice welcome! thanks!

You might want to visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum, down at the City Market (another place to visit). http://www.1856.com/

Another place is the Liberty Memorial. It is the National World War 1 Museum (as designated by Congress), and truly a magnificent facility. It's not quite as central to downtown, but still quite close. I've gone several times when visiting KC on business.

http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/new...community.aspx

If you are wanting to do things around your hotel, the Plaza area is much nicer.

The two attractions already mentioned are great, and unique to KC. The Negro Leagues and Jazz museums share the same building and are also good.

The Nelson Atkins is a vay nice art museum, but you can find them many places.

Stay on the Plaza and visit the places mentioned above. If you have a car I suggest a trip to Bryants or Gates BBQ. Jack Stack on the Plaza is good but the other two are legends. Enjoy!

Normally I would suggest The Plaza over downtown, but the "plaza" Marriott is not really ON The Plaza, but sits several long (and fairly steep) blocks to the east making it harder to just leave your hotel and window shop or go to dinner. Still, the plaza lights (google Country Club Plaza lights) are going now and that is a real treat. If you're not set on a Marriott, then I could suggest the Sheraton Suites and Hampton Inn, both located more on The Plaza proper.

If you like museums, the the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is pretty cool, just east of the Plaza and free! WWI museum is outstanding.

As for BBQ, our favorite place is Oklahoma Joe's. Anthony Bourdain proclaimed it one of the 10 Best Restaurants in the World--it's located in a gas station not far from the Plaza.

Have a great time!

Stay on the Plaza for sure - ditto for Oklahoma Joes- I live on the west coast and I order their BBQ sauce - its the best!

If you want to take a drive, the Truman home and library are very interesting - especially the home!

One more vote for the Plaza. It is a much more fun area with more restaurants and shops.

I have stayed at both multiple times and my reccomendation is the Plaza too. For one the parking is free!!

It is decorated very nice for the holidays and even though it does not sit in the heart of the plaza it is a close walk.

It is a historic building and has much more charm than the downtown location. Ask for a corner room - they are huge!!

I have stayed at both multiple times and my reccomendation is the Plaza too. For one the parking is free!!

It is decorated very nice for the holidays and even though it does not sit in the heart of the plaza it is a close walk.

It is a historic building and has much more charm than the downtown location. Ask for a corner room - they are huge!!

Thank you all for the wonderful recommendations. I visited the Nelson Atkins, Jazz, and Negro Leagues Baseball museums (got a great Jersey for my son, who plays high school JV baseball) and ate at Oklahoma Joe's. I stayed at the Marriott Country Club Plaza (as I wanted the points) and went to the Plaza a couple of times (I appreciated being warned about the long walk from the hotel -- I drove once and walked the other time, plus the hotel had a shuttle to the Plaza). Kansas City was such a great place, I wish I could have stayed longer. Thanks again!