Kansas City, MO has a vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class museums, shopping, history, and good restaurants. It is known for its barbecue, architecture, boulevards, and fountains. The city offers theater, ballet, symphony, opera, and art museums. It has a rich history, including Union Station, Westport, and Liberty Memorial. The City Market and Country Club Plaza offer shopping and dining. Kansas City is a must-see on any barbecue tour. Other attractions include casinos, football, and baseball games. A new entertainment district is set to open in 2007 as part of a plan to develop downtown.
For many travelers, Kansas City, MO is just another cowtown in an “overfly” state. They might be surprised to find that Kansas City has a vibrant arts and culture scene, a huge selection of world-class museums, shopping that rivals other major cities, a rich history, and many good restaurants. Kansas City is probably best known for its barbecue, but it’s also received praise for its beautiful architecture, wide boulevards, and nearly 200 fountains. Its fountains have earned it the nickname “City of Fountains” and rival in number with some European cities. Kansas City is centrally located to the rest of the country and is easily accessible from one of the most convenient airports, Kansas City International.
For those who love culture and the arts, Kansas City has plenty to choose from. The Starlight Theater, located next to the Kansas City Zoo, is an open-air theater that stages musicals during the summer. The Folly Theater and the Midland Theater both host dramatic productions and other special events. For children, the Coterie Theatre, located in the Crown Center near downtown, was named by Time magazine as one of the top five theaters for children. Kansas City also has its own ballet company, symphony and opera.
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is a favorite destination for lovers of modern art. For all kinds of art, visit the Nelson Atkins Museum, just around the corner near the Country Club Plaza. The Nelson is famous for its expansive front lawn littered with larger than life shuttlecocks. Kansas City also has a thriving downtown arts district that’s easily explored on foot. Kaleidoscope is a Hallmark-sponsored free art studio for children, based in the city.
Kansas City is steeped in history. Union Station, located on the south side of downtown, was once a major transportation hub for the region and has been reborn with shops, movie theaters, a children’s science museum, and restaurants. Historic Westport, the site of the Civil War Battle of Westport, is now home to comedy clubs, restaurants and shops. Liberty Memorial is an impressive sight and was the first World War I memorial in the country. The 18th and Vine district includes the American Jazz Museum and the Negro League Baseball Museum.
Kansas City shopping rivals many other major cities. The City Market has functioned as a farmer’s market since 1857, but has since seen the addition of restaurants, antique shops and entertainment venues. Country Club Plaza, which was touted as the first mall, is an open-air shopping district modeled after Seville, Spain. It has numerous original fountains and sculptures and is located on Brush Creek. The Plaza, as it is called by locals, offers upscale shopping as well as casual and fine dining. Zona Rosa, another outdoor mall, is further north, as is Legends at Village West, a part of the Kansas Speedway entertainment area.
Dining is a favorite pastime of Kansas City residents, and many consider the city a must-see on any barbecue tour. Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, established in the 1920s, was a favorite of Jimmy Carter and Stephen Spielberg. Gates Barbecue and KC Masterpiece are other popular barbecue pit stops. The American Royal Barbecue contest is one of the largest in the nation, with nearly 500 entrants.
Other fun things to do in Kansas City include visiting one of five casinos located on the Missouri River and catching a Kansas City Chiefs football or Royals baseball game. Kansas City plans to unveil a new $835 million (USD) entertainment district downtown in 2007. It is part of a three-billion-dollar plan to develop downtown to make it more attractive to the already booming congressional commerce, as well as for tourists.
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