Kansas City, what is it really like?
 

Hi all,
I will be in KC this weekend and have never been there before. I have our plans laid out, but i would like to know what the vibe is like. I have read up and have the weekend mapped out, but what is the lay of the land really like? Is it easy to get around town? What is the vibe?(young and hip, or other) I am just curious it looks like a good destination.
Thanks.
Rich

I think KC is a neat city- highly under rated. The vibe? well there is just about whatever you want - but there is a young hip scene for sure. That would be the Country Club Plaza area and Westport area - My daughter lived on the Plaza for several years and had a great time. Not sure what places are the hippest anymore- but I am sure you'll find them.
Getting around the Plaza area is pretty easy - and they have public transportation to WestPort and Crown Center -
have fun!

sunbum1944
Thanks for the info. I have plans to check out the CCPlaza and Westport areas. It will be a good weekend away, taking Amtrak down from Chicago for the first time.
Thank you.
rich.

When you come into Union Station, go into Pierpont's for a drink. It's a neat bar and restaurant.

Weekdays they have a great happy hour until 6pm.

Heres the latest from my daughter who is an expert on what to do in KC

She says for restaurant and bar scene- Kona Grill is good
and Blonde - for nightclub with DJ

the vibe in KC is very laidback and quiet. it takes a bit of digging, but KC has a very cool scene. the city has a thriving arts scene and is pretty hip, but it doesn't beat you over the head with it. unlike chicago, there aren't people everywhere and there is almost no traffic, but there ARE a lot of really cool spots to visit.

you said your plans are already laid out, but i'll go ahead and throw in my $.02 anyway in case you have some flexibility.

JP Wine Bar near 16th and Walnut is a fabulous place for great wine and conversation. Grand Emporium (near 39th and Main) is the gay hotspot on saturday nights. Bar Natasha (19th or 20th and Main) is a great place for martinis. Zin (19th and Main) is a chic location for dinner and/or drinks (try the banana mousse!). the Plaza is a must-see (particularly the men's dept at Hall's Dept Store and the denim gallery), and Westport is nice too, but i would avoid going there at night unless you want to be surrounded by cops and drunk frat guys. Bluestem and PotPie (near westport road and SW Trfcwy) are also stellar restaurants.

if you are an early riser, DEFINITELY go to the City Market on saturday morning. it's a very "kansas city" thing to do - people everywhere, excellent food. have brunch at Succotash at the City Market for a delicious breakfast in an artsy/funky place.

if you like art, i would also recommend a stop at the Nelson-Atkins Museum (although it is a construction zone right now), the Sculpture Garden outside the N-A, and the nearby Kemper Museum for Contemporary Art which currently has a great exhibition of Gajin Fujita paintings in addition to its permanent works.

it is very easy to get around town in terms of finding your way (the city is essentially a giant grid, with numbered streets going E-W and named streets going N-S) but unlike Chicago it is very difficult to do on foot. the MAX bus (a "rapid transit bus") goes from the River Market to south of the Plaza basically along Main (basically the spine of the city).

if you have any questions or want more suggestions email me at [email protected] or visit http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/newforum/index.php for ideas.

I totally agreee that Kansas City is an under-rated wonderful city. We go there often on business and always look forward to every trip. The Country Club Plaza and Westport Area are great areas. If you had had a car I would have recommended you go to Parkville, a neat little college town with restaurants, antique shops. etc. but without a car not really easy to get to. Save it for another trip. It is fun to drive in the tunnels in under the college. have a great trip!

What are your interests? KC is a large metro area encompassing three counties in two states. The Plaza is great for shopping and walking around. The Nelson Atkins Museum is first class, with a wonderful sculpture garden featuring pieces by Henry Moore and others. The Crown Center - Union Station area is fun for shopping. Westport is funky, a bit more difficult to walk around because of traffic. There's the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a riverboat museum, great barbecue, some good blues bars (although I'm a bit past the age of going to bars)... You get the idea.

One thing that always strikes me when I visit Kansas City, is how NICE the people are. There's truly something about that midwestern feeling of warmth and hospitality. It's a city where total strangers will offer to help you with your luggage, or if you're looking lost. KC residents seem to lack the pretentions you might find elsewhere. Love it there.
:)>-

Yep, we're really nice here.

If you want to do something different, check out the American Royal Rodeo while you are here. It's a big deal, lasts a month and is something you can't do any where else. Concerts nightly, indoors.

Oh, I forgot about the American Royal! I used to go to it whenever I could.

But, do they call it a "Rodeo" now?? It used to be a very high-end Horse Show, with all the gaited horses, etc. A lot of fun. Some serious horse people in Kansas.

They are very well dressed!

Kona Grill is very good!!! It is a great place to people watch as well.

Many years ago I showed American Saddle Breds and had the pleasure of going to this show... I great venue...

Have fun!!!

Annesherrod, my first horse was an American Saddlebred. That's why I, too, frequented the American Royal. BBQBoy, thanks for the link.

We have a Kona Grill here in Denver, and they have the best happy hour from 3p- 7p each weekday, because they offer half-price appetizers. It's enough food to be a dinner.
:)>-

It's a Rodeo, Hunter/Jumper show, Saddlebred show, lots of horseys. They also have a small museum, an agricultural exhibit and a vendor hall. In addition to the concerts. Barbecue is the food of choice.

MaureenB - Do you still ride?
Did you ride 3 or 5 gaited,...or a pleasure horse?
I MISS it so much! My horse was so high strung and hated men, but I loved every minute with him!!!

Thanks all for your advice.
I am off on the Amtrak tomorrow.
I planned to go the market sat. morning looks like a great area.
I am also planning to seek out the art scene. I am going with a group so I hope to get a taste and maybe make a return visit in the future.

Thanks again.

Rich.

MaureenB, The Royal has BOTH multiple horse shows and rodeo. This weekend is the livestock show.

olympicgaym, if you take the advice to go to the City Market, be sure to visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum. Its unique and interesting.

By coincidence, this weekend I put together a downtown guide for a small convention at the Hotel Phillips in December, it will at least give you another viewpoint on some of the restaurants and attractions: http://www.midamericon.org/smofcon/kcguide.htm Union Station, where you will arrive is in the foreground of the photo at the top.

Keith

Anne, I had a gelding my parents gave me for my 12th birthday. He was a blast to ride on trails with my friends, all in areas of Kansas City that are developed now, where Tomahawk Hills Country Club was. I never trained him for the gaits or anything. My uncle's hobby was his American Saddlebreds, which were five-gaited.

I bought an 18-month-old Arabian gelding for myself when I got my first 'real' job, and I've still got that gelding-- he's 26 now! He's my buddy.

Just get another horse for yourself! When my Arab's gone, I'll have to find another way to get my equine therapy, and still visit the barn for its aroma therapy (only a horse person would understand).

I know the OP has already been, but for anyone else interested a friend of mine who was a beat writer for an MLB team and, ergo, saw a lot of American cities said that KC had the most beautiful women. Very down-to-Earth natural beauty, according to him.

Maureen, I do understand the Aroma Therapy too!! How i miss it.

You are so lucky to have a horse in your life!! I think I have business in KC at the time of the KC Royal and I am going to tty to go!!

The Hallmark Visitor's Center is interesting, and there is a shuttle bus called The Max which goes between Crown Center and the Country Club Plaza. The Freight House District near Union Station has some terrific restaurants--try Lidia Bastianich's place or some barbeque. You will do better with a car--we're kind spread out. We LOVE living here in KC--don't tell too many other people or our secret's out! (And, we're friendly, too!)

Just wondering how olympicgaym's trip to KC went...

I'm originally from KC and have been living abroad for more than 10 years, so reading this thread really made me homesick!!!!

I was IN KC today for business. I loved driving in and through the Plaza to see the beautiful lights!!

I forgot all about the carriage rides that look like cinderella carriages!!! They are pink and sparkling/glittery - just would a little girl... of any age would love to ride in!!

Hi all, here is my trip report:
The Dates were Oct. 19-23
We took Amtrak from Chicago leaving midafternoon and arrived in Kansas City shortly after 10PM. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a beautiful, lit up downtown. The light installations on many of the buildings were a great way to be greeted. We left the Grand Hall of Union Station and walked the sky walk over to the Westin Crown Center..a splurge for our first night in Kansas City. We unpacked our bags and took night walk around the neighborhood and to admire the skyline, it was a nice warm Oct. evening and we got back to the hotel around Midnight.
We got up friday morning to a gorgeous warm fall day, and set out to explore the city. Our first destination, as a doll club, was to the United Federation of Doll Clubs hedquarters, or as we called it "The Mother Church"! They have a nice museum with a good collection and the staff were very friendly and helpful. After the UFDC, we set out to the south side of the city to Prairie Village to do some shopping at the Victorian Trading Company and some antique and doll Shops in the area. By late afternoon we were all ready to check into our next hotel, Drury Inn, in Shawnee Mission. The hotel was nice but a bit dated, but the complimentary happy hour was a welcome amenity!! We regrouped around 7 and headed back into the city to find Propero's Books, bookstore, and to explore the area of 39th street, a hip and somewhat bohemian neighborhood with many shops, galleries and restaurants. We convinced the ladies to eat at Genghis Khan a great mongolian barbeque/asian restaurant, great food and a nice atmosphere, we toasted an end to a great day.
On Saturday, it was a cool and rainy morning, definite weather change. It did not phase us as we set out for the City Market. The City Market was great, most of the areas are covered and we spent a few hours strolling the stalls and the various shops and restaurants, even stopping for gelato!!Our group then reconnected and we toured the Arabia Museum. At first the admission ($15.00 I believe) put us off, but we were rewarded with a unique and wonderful museum. The perfectly preserved cargo of the sunken Steamboat Arabia were true treasures. The story of the boat sinking and its ultimate recovery in a farm field 20 years ago makes the museum one of my favorites. We also got to meet one of the men who salvaged the boat. We then left the City Market area and headed back to Crown Center, where we shopped the mall, saw a Halloween puppet show and took the free Hallmark Tour, again, a great little museum. We then headed back to the free happy hour at the Drury and relaxed a bit before meeting a friend at Bucca di Beppo Restaurant, at Country Club Plaza. It was great to get our first views of the Plaza and we had fun at the family style italian restaurant, a good pick for a group.
Sunday would be our last day in Kansas City and we set out to see the Kemper Museum(great contemporary art) and another hidded gem The Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum(KCTM). The KCTM is a great museum if you are at all into old toys and miniatures. The collection is large but fun. The artifacts are arranged in a way that both the expert and casual viewer would enjoy. After the KCTM, we drove the few blocks down Oak to finally shop at Country Club Plaza. We had lunch at Houston's and then explored the Plaza area and shopped before the stores closed at 5. We then regrouped, returned to Happy Hour at the Drury and reflected on a great time in Kansas City.
Kansas City is a great town and I would really like to return to explore more of the City's arts Scene, oh and shop some more at Country Club Plaza.
We returned to Chicago on Monday with a great, relaxing Amtrak ride (7hours) back home.

Glad you enjoyed your visit. My Mother was a volunteer at the toy and minatures museum before we shipped her out here to join us for grandkid duty in Southern Oregon. Truly a hidden gem.
http://www.umkc.edu/tmm/
The stuff at the Arabia is amazing too, as you said.