Vicki: You are right! The Mormon Trail went right through Omaha (Old Florence, which is north of Omaha) The "Winter Quarters" Temple which was just consecrated on Easter is there as well as a visitor center and the Mormon Pioneer Cemetary founded in 1846. Unfortunately Peoney Park has been turned into a shopping center, the Park was closed about 3-4 year ago. But there is Fun-Plex off of 72nd street that has go-carts, a wave pool, water slides, etc. <BR> <BR>AK-SAR-BEN has been reduced to part of the UNO campus, they are building a technology center as well as dorms for UNO. However, there is the River City Round Up rodeo and activites in August or September I think. <BR> <BR>As for dining in Omaha, well in the Old Market you have M's Pub, Vivace, Trini's, V Mertz, Spaghetti Works, The French Cafe, The Indian Oven, Ted & Wally's Ice Cream, Omaha Prime and The Passport just to name a few. <BR> <BR>Sheli

I'm originally from the Omaha area. My favorite spots are the Zoo (one of the best in the country) and the Old Market. The Spaghetti Works is one of our favorites! The Central Park Mall (near Old Market and not a mall, it's just a park) is really nice. If you want to do a little shopping, the Old Market also has a great silversmith (GoldsmithSilversmith) near the Spaghetti Works. They make some beautiful pieces. (including my last Christmas present from my husband!) There is also a Christmas store down the street. Near that area is also the ConAgra plaza (think Healthy Choice and other foods). The last time I was there, they had little boat rides around the plaza for a quarter. <BR> <BR>Places to avoid: Don't go much north of Dodge street when you are between 30th and 56th streets. <BR> <BR>Western Omaha is really nice and there is an outlet mall between Omaha and Lincoln. The far-west areas (140th and Center) are really nice.

KC: the most spread out city in America??! Now I'm laughing, "apjp". <BR>Well, let's see...KC metro is about 35 miles across, Phoenix is 90 miles, NYC metro 80 miles, LA 75 miles, SF 70 miles, Chicago 60 miles....etc etc. <BR>Don't think so. <BR> <BR>Exciting things to do: visiting the ConAgra center? Go-kart tracks? A horse track? Outlet malls? Ouch!! That's the best these towns have to offer? <BR>Best restaurants: The Spaghetti Factory? <BR>Ouch!! <BR>No wonder the whole area is often referred to as "fly-over country"!!

Per Capita K.C. truly is one of the most spread out towns in the U.S. New York is several times large than K.C, as is LA. Phoenix also is much larger, especially now. I am not from Omaha, but I'm sure there are fun things to do there. K.C. has Arts,the Nelson has one of the best oriental art collections in the country, as well as many fine restaurants. The Country Club Plaza is the oldest shopping mall in the US. It is a quaint and wonderful place to visit with several very nice hotels. The previous post really displays a lot of ignorance. I think that person needs to get out more.

The CC Plaza is not a shopping 'mall'. It's an outdoor shopping and retail zone. As for its many fine restaurants and hotels, that depends on your frame of reference, Teri. <BR>It has gourmet selections such as Houlihan's, Houston's, Canyon Cafe, McDonald's...all mediocre chain restuarants found all over the US. Starker's closed. The Bristol closed. Jules' closed. Plaza's best? Cheesecake Factory...woo woo!! <BR>Its fine hotels include the Hampton Inn, Sheraton, and Raphael (in major need of renovation). The Ritz sold out. Fairmont took over and will allow the property to continue to decline slowly, as it has for years. <BR>Hey, KC is a cheap place to live and the people are nice. But it's still very small time when it comes to hotels, food, airport, transportation, entertainment, scenery if you're going to compare to the rest of what's available in the US. On the other hand, compared to Omaha, it looks a lot like NYC! <BR>And just one last point, teri, the reason I feel this way is BECAUSE I've "been out" a lot. 49 of the 50 states, 36 countries on 5 continents. Not that this makes me 'special' in any way. Just provides a much broader basis for comparison. Ciao.

I'm from KC, lived here all my life except for college and this is the way it is. KC is a great place to live but as a vacation spot, you"re probably not going to rave about it. Yes, theres the Plaza and some good art galleries. The baseball games can be fun. Westports fun for drinking and some unusual shops and resturants. In the summer there are quite a few outdoor concerts and plays free and otherwise. It ain't much but its better then Omaha.

Let's just remember that we were all trying to be helpful to a person who is going to the area this summer. We weren't trying to solicit tourists to Kansas City. I would never claim that KC is the next hot tourist spot, but if you are coming here anyway, there is plenty to do!

I agree with the previous poster. Lets keep this in perspective. The original question only asked for things to do in both cities. She never requested comparing KC, Omaha, Des Moines or any other smaller community to NYC or LA. <BR> <BR>I think the first few posts were offering a number of activities for her to consider. It is really laughable that we are arguing whether KC or Omaha is better...give me a break! <BR> <BR>I travel back and forth between both and can find interesting activities that I like about both cities, but then I also travel between Cchicago, St Louis and Denver. I live in Omaha because I choose to and because I can afford and enjoy a much larger house/living with the less costly economy here...and besides, if I want to travel I am within a couple of hours (plane-wise) to any major hub. Not a huge inconvenience especially when I can get on a flight to Houston or St L or Atlanta "on-time" and not be bogged down by the larger airports. (And it is one of the only cities where you can get across town in 30 minutes or less...strange but true) <BR> <BR>All in all...its a nice place to live, but it is no NY or LA...and I think that is why people live here. <BR> <BR>Sheli

Dear Corina; <BR>One thing I get sick of on these posts are people who must pick out every insignificant error they find. Yes, the Plaza is not a "mall". It is a shopping "District". Who cares. As was previously stated, this was not a request for the most exciting city, but suggestions for a fun time on a trip. Also, I have been to other metropolitan areas, and The Plaza III, in my humble opinion, has the best steaks anywhere. I am not aware of any 4 star hotels on the plaza, but that doesn't make them hovels, either. I don't have to have gourmet fare to have a good time.

Other places to check out in Kansas City - I love the brookside area and it is close to the plaza - just park car and walk around. In Brookside stop at topsys and get popcorn to take home (I have to do this everytime I go to Kc) and get a limeade at topsys as well. <BR>There also is a great wine bar and cafe in Brookside (Joe Ds) and a wonderful bakery and frozen custard place as well. <BR> <BR>Agree with previous posts about the Plaza. Sheraton is a great new hotel on the plaza with a great pool that my girls love. <BR> <BR>Am I suppose to add a nasty comment or is that only an option? <BR>Have fun!!!

Everything's up to date in Kansas City. They've gone about as far as they can go. They got a big theater they call a Burle-que. For fifty cents you can see a dandy show. Everything's like a dream in Kansas City. It's better than a magic lantern show.

The best steaks on the Plaza are at Ruth's Chris. <BR>Plaza III is next but the atmosphere is kind of run down. <BR>The Sheraton is almost 10 years old (for whomever was griping about 'pickiness' and accuracy, just thought I'd add my bit of snippiness).

The Bristol is alive and well in the South part of Kansas City, including the stained glass in the ceiling serving good seafood. If you go to Omaha I agree with V Mertz and M's Pub, but the Flatiron is the best !

For corinna---the Bristol might have good seafood, but it is a chain too.