A Whirlwind Weekend in Kansas City

1. I’d take you out for a night at the ballet.
(We’ll just conveniently plan your whirlwind weekend around the Kansas
City Ballet’s season.) Before the performance starts we’ll grab a bite
in the Power and Light District. Then we’ll go enjoy the performance in the brand new Kauffman Center.
Hopefully we’ll see some Twyla Tharp or George Balanchine. You aren’t
coming during ballet season? Kansas City has lots of great performing
arts. We especially enjoyed going to musicals at the outdoor theaters: Theater in the Park and Starlight.

2. It’s famous for a reason! You shouldn’t miss Kansas City Barbeque. We’ll go to Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbeque.
It’s located in the Freight House, a historic railroad building that
was constructed in 1887. If you’d rather have a really good hamburger
we’ll head to the Westport Flea Market.
Bring cash and don’t let the location put you off. These are the best
burgers in town, and Kansas City has a number of good burger joints.

3. Calories don’t count on vacation, so we’ll stop in and grab a treat at The River Market before heading over to see the Steamboat Arabia.
The Steamboat Arabia hit a snag in the Missouri River in 1856 and sunk.
Quickly. Carrying all its good to the bottom of the river. Its cargo
was recovered in 1987. The museum holds the world’s largest collection
of 1850s artifacts. It’s kind of like visiting the Walmart of the 1850s.

4. The weather is perfect and getting outdoors is a must. We’ll take advantage of the gorgeous day at The Kauffman Memorial Gardens and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Sculpture Gardens. Oh, and then we’ll have to go into the museum so that I can show you my favorite pieces (I am an Art Historian after all).

5. You’re so fortunate to have a Kansas City insider showing around.
I’m not sure if the locals would stone me, but I’d stone myself if I
didn’t show you the National World War I Museum.
That’s right, THE National World War I Museum is in Kansas City. This
museum is on par with war museum I’ve been to in Washington, D.C. and
London. Don’t miss going to the top of the Liberty Memorial. You’ll have
a fantastic view of Union Station, Crown Center, and the downtown.

6. You didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you anyway that a trip to Kansas City wouldn’t be complete without visiting The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead,
especially if you have kids. There’s a minimal charge on the weekends,
but the farmstead is free on weekdays. Feed the goats (kids take a
bottle), watch a cow being milked, fish in the pond, and browse the
country store. We spent many, many days at the farmstead. Or, if you are
Mormon, spend a day seeing the church sites: Independence, Liberty Jail, Far West, and Adam-ondi-Ahman.

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