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Are you planning a trip to Kansas City, Missouri but don’t have more than a day to spend? Continue reading for the ultimate list of things to do, where to eat and where to stay to plan your Kansas City 1 day itinerary!
This trip was not something that we planned much in advance. In fact, it was a spur of the moment trip for Kory and we decided to make it a family trip. So here we are, in the middle of February, packing up the car and headed to the Midwest for the weekend.
I am always down to check out somewhere new, so these types of trips don’t bother me at all. I’ll take any time I can get in a new place!
Things You Need to Know About Kansas City
Is Kansas City Worth Visiting?
There is actually a lot of history to be had in Kansas City and the food is to die for.
How Do I Get to Kansas City?
If you are flying, Kansas City International airport is the best option to fly into. They have lots of rental car options and it’s only a short 20 minute drive from downtown.
KC is just under a 4 hour drive from St. Louis. This is pretty much a straight shot down I-70 and the road is long, flat and uneventful.
Related Article: The Ultimate Weekend in St. Louis
When is the Best Time to Visit?
To determine the best time to visit would depend on what you are looking to do while you are in town. This busiest time to visit KC is during the summer months of July and August. Surprisingly, February is actually a busy time in KC as well. We visited in February – and it was cold! The average temperature during the winter months is right around freezing.
You will get the best deals on hotels in the off season, which is October and November.
Is Kansas City Walkable and is it Safe?
Sections of Kansas City are walkable, yes. However, it is a large city and it’s very spread out so I would recommend renting a car.
As with any other major city, you always have to be careful and aware of your surroundings. My research has told me, however, that during the day in KC you should have no issues with safety.
Is Kansas City in Tornado Alley?
Yes, Missouri is in Tornado alley so Kansas City is susceptible to tornadoes, especially in peak tornado season which is March through the end of June.
Resources to Utilize for your Kansas City 1 Day Itinerary
A really great resource, which I utilized myself, is KC’s website www.visitkc.com
Here you can find an interactive map of the city where you can narrow your search of things to do, places to eat and places to stay by certain neighborhoods, types of food, and types of attractions, etc. The list goes on.
They also have a savings pass where you enter your email and/or phone number and they will send a link to download the pass. It’s totally free and offers discounts and coupons for restaurants, hotels and attractions. Don’t worry, you won’t get inundated with texts and emails. I only got the savings pass text and that was it.
Where to Stay in Kansas City
In my opinion, the best area to stay in KC, especially if you only have one day in town, is the downtown area. Here you will have access to the city’s best accommodations as well as being in close proximity to most of the city’s cultural attractions.
Hotel Indigo
During our weekend in KC we stayed at the Hotel Indigo on W 11th St Downtown. When we walked into our room we had a lot more space than I had expected. The bathroom was spacious as well with a beautiful modern farmhouse sliding door. The one wall of the bedroom was concrete, giving it that old time feel, and the opposite wall was painted entirely as a postcard design.
Unfortunately, we did have some issues during our stay here, but the staff was quick to rectify it and we actually really did end up enjoying our stay. It was about 20 degrees in KC when we got there so I had hoped to walk into a cozy, warm hotel room. Instead, the room was about 64 degrees. We turned the heat up but for whatever reason it wasn’t warming up. We thought maybe it just took awhile because of the concrete in the room.
The next morning when we woke up, it was still cold. Kory went down to the front desk and they told us they had forgotten to turn the heat on for that floor!! The staff was really apologetic and polite and they ended up comping us our first night, moved us to a nicer room and gave us breakfast and dinner vouchers for the hotel restaurant.
The next night, was MUCH better and MUCH warmer.
Friday morning before beginning our Kansas City 1 day itinerary, we had breakfast at Hotel Indigo’s restaurant, Dot Boss. The french toast was incredible and so were the breakfast sandwiches.
Crown Center
The Crown Center area of KC is another good place to stay, especially in winter. Several of the hotels are either very close to the major attractions or they are even connected through the elevated and enclosed walkways you see throughout the downtown area. The Sheraton even has a heated rooftop pool.
Things To Do in Kansas City
So now you are probably wondering where you should go if you only have a weekend in KC. Kansas City MO is a city with so much cultural diversity throughout history and that is proven by its abundance of museums.
There is a little something for everyone’s taste. There’s even a hair museum where everything is made out of hair …not kidding!
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum & American Jazz Museum
We decided that we were going to check out the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum. Conveniently, they were both located in the same building.
Both museums are located in the historic 18th & Vine District. As you drive through this part of town there are a bunch of huge, gorgeous murals on the sides of buildings depicting African American and jazz culture.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is full of memorabilia that tells the story of the African American baseball league and its profound impact on American history. It celebrates its successes while reminding us of the oppression and segregation these players were dealing with at the time. I loved reading the old newspaper articles throughout the museum. Plan to spend quite a bit of time here, there is a lot to see and a lot to read.
The American Jazz Museum is a great choice for all ages. My 9 year old daughter, Raelyn, loved it. The cool part about this museum is it offers sensory, interactive exhibits that teach you about the way jazz is put together and what instruments and techniques are used to get the unique sounds that jazz offers. The museum even has a working jazz club with photos and memorabilia from jazz legends. I would say an hour is enough time to spend here and be able to see everything.
World War I Museum
We wanted to check out the World War I Museum and Memorial but it was so cold and snowy that weekend and Liberty Memorial was closed. So we just decided that we would save this for our next (warmer) trip to KC. I hear the Liberty Memorial is a great place to catch a sunset!
Arabia Steamboat Museum
The other museum that we had hoped to check out, but we just didn’t have the time, was the Arabia Steamboat Museum. This museum is all about the Steamboat Arabia which sank in the Mississippi River in 1856 and was later recovered along with most of its goods.
The Money Museum
Visit the Money Museum where you can learn about money and the role it plays in society. There is no admission fee to visit this museum so it’s a great free thing to do in KC.
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is a cool museum where you can check out different toys throughout the ages.
Nelson Atkins Museum
The Nelson Atkins Museum is another museum you should definitely add to your list of things to do in KC. Here you can see over 3500 works of art from around the world. This museum is also free and one of the most popular things to do in Kansas City.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is another art museum in KC which has programs geared towards different age groups. This is a great option for the whole family.
National Airline History Museum
The National Airline History Museum is a fun option for the whole family where you can learn about the history of air travel.
City Market
One thing you cannot miss while you are in Kansas City is taking a stroll through City Market.This is a great opportunity to shop local in KC as well as try some great restaurants.
We were there briefly to visit The Candy Wizard (because a certain 9 year old couldn’t pass up the opportunity for some candy). They have almost 100 different flavors of salt water taffy as well as apparel and locally sourced BBQ sauces, jams, sodas and other souvenirs. It’s really a one stop shop.
Country Club Plaza
Another thing you cannot miss in Kansas City is Country Club Plaza. Here you will find over 15 blocks of shopping and dining as well as some gorgeous fountains. During the holiday season, they also have a gorgeous light display.
Kansas City Zoo
The zoo sits on over 200 acres and has 1,300 animals. This is a great activity to put on your Kansas City 1 day itinerary, especially if you have kids.
Union Station
Another must do on your Kansas City 1 day itinerary, especially if you are traveling with kids, is visit Union Station. This historic train station has a model train gallery, a theater, and other exhibits throughout the year. They even have a science center and planetarium! I can’t wait to go back to KC and take my kids here.
Crown Center
Walk through Crown Center and check out all of the gorgeous fountains or catch a live theater event or a free exhibit. This is actually one of KC’s top attractions no matter what time of year – there’s so many great things to do there
Crossroads District
Explore the Crossroads District where you will find tons of colorful street art.
KC Wineworks
If you are over 21, a stop at KC Wineworks is a MUST. They specialize in 100% grape to glass wines and they have a really unique tasting menu great for any palette. If you are flying or don’t have enough room in your suitcase, no worries, they ship too!! When I walked in they had actually just closed, but the lady working was gracious enough to let me come in and do a tasting anyway! I came home with several bottles! Oh and the best part … their slogan is “Drink MO Wine” (get it? I love it!!)
Reminder: Because they do not serve food, the tasting room is 21 and over only. Time to leave the hubby in the car with the kids and have a girl moment! LOL
Kansas City Public Library
If you’re looking for the best Instagram photo spot in Kansas City, look no further than the Kansas City Public Library. Outside they have a colorful, large wall of books that are 25 feet high painted with some of literature’s classics. The concrete stairs leading up to the main entrance were even made to look like books. I can appreciate the amount of detail that went into designing this.
Even if you don’t go inside the library (which we didn’t) you have to at least drive by and check out this incredible piece of art.
It was snowing, and freezing, but I had to get one for the ‘gram! Haha!
Where To Eat in Kansas City
Ok, let’s talk BBQ.
You absolutely cannot under any circumstances visit KC and not try some of their incredible BBQ. It is, afterall, what Kansas City is best known for.
The “thing” here in KC are burnt ends. Which are literally just that; charred ends of the brisket or the pork. At first I was like uhh no thanks but let me tell you they are AMAZING! Burnt Ends are the most famous food here in KC.
There are so many good BBQ options, but the top of the list (according to our friend in KC) are Jack Stack and Q39 — and we set out to try them both!
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue
First off, be sure to make reservations, especially on the weekend. They fill up fast and have little to no room for walk-ins. There are so many good choices on this menu. I had the Kansas City Combo where I built my own plate. I chose the pulled pork and brisket with coleslaw and potato salad. WOW! It was SO GOOD! No BBQ sauce was even needed!
Q39
We started off with the “Best wings on the planet” — and let me tell you they’re called that for good reason! They are slathered with an incredible chipotle BBQ sauce and are served with house made ranch.
We also shared the five cheese mac and cheese, which they say is one of the most popular menu choices.
For my main course, I took the suggestion of our server and had Mr. Burns which consisted of cubed burnt ends, chipotle BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese and onion straws on a toasted bun with a side of potato salad. I ate every single bit and I was stuffed to the brim but it was just THAT good I couldn’t let any go to waste. Even Raelyn (my pizza lover) still raves about the pulled pork sandwich she had.
They have two locations; one in midtown and one in the southern part of town
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream
All 24 flavors are freshly made in-house making this the BEST place to get ice cream in Kansas City! Can’t decide on a flavor?? Opt for one of the ice cream flights!!
Wrap Up: Kansas City 1 Day Itinerary
With Kansas City being just under 4 hours from St. Louis (taking I-70 the whole way) it’s a really great option to add to your itinerary while visiting the Midwest. There are so many options of things to do that it surely has something for everyone. And the food … is seriously to die for!! Kansas City is a MUST for your US Bucket List travel!
I hope you enjoyed this Kansas City 1 day itinerary! I definitely encourage you to spend some time here, even if it is just for one day. Are you planning another trip to the Midwest? If so, check out my Insider’s Guide to Lexington KY here!
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