There are so many great things to do in Kansas City. Of course, there are baseball games, delicious bbq, historic jazz, unique museums, great architecture and antique shopping.
But there’s even more to Kansas City than the things everyone knows. KC is home to tons of hidden gems and lesser-known activities.
Check out our top list of hidden Kansas City gems. How many have you been to? If you haven’t been to all (and we bet you haven’t), make a list and check them out this season. Many of these are even free!
Visit an art hotel
If you haven’t checked out the 21c Art Museum and Hotel, you have to add it to your list. It’s the perfect place for a staycation, a delicious meal out or to check out some amazing modern art.
The building was originally the Savory Hotel, the oldest hotel west of the Mississippi, until its closure in 2016. Since then, the hotel has been transformed into 21c. The hotel has 120 guest rooms and boasts the slogan “sleep with art” — which is exactly what it provides. The entire hotel is dedicated to art. It’s filled with multiple contemporary art galleries and rooms that combine the hotel’s history with modern architecture.
They offer local and traveling rotating art exhibits, and the museum is open 24 hours a day, seven days and week. Access to the museums is free! You can also eat at its in-house restaurant, The Savoy at 21c. They serve up upscale twists on Midwest classics.
See a Surrealist painting collection
Hopefully, you know that Kansas City is home to Hallmark’s iconic greeting card company. Of course, you can visit the Hallmark studio, but most people don’t know you can also see an entire collection of Dali paintings there, too. That’s right. Hallmark owns a collection of the surrealist artist, which includes 13 must-see paintings. Just head to the Hallmark Visitor Center to view the collection. It’s free and open to the public. Check out the history of Hallmark while you’re there! You can sign up for a tour of the facility.
Check out miniature toys
If you’re looking for unusual museums off the beaten path, you have to check out KC’s National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. With nearly 90,000 objects, this is one of the most extensive collections of antique toys in the US! When it first opened, the museum was comprised of the combined collection of two collectors, Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Marshall, held in an old mansion on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, but it has since expanded. It’s a great activity for families with kids or kids at heart. We bet you’ll find a few toys you’ll remember from your past.
Play ball
Get the authentic College Basketball Experience with this integrative museum. This is the perfect stop for fun and learning. The museum features amazing exhibitions and memorabilia from iconic college programs, like a Hall of Fame. But there are tons of hands-on things to do. Visitors can also walk through life-size recreations of basketball games and take three-point shots at various points. You can try to beat the clock in the final moments of the game or try your hand at becoming a sports announcer. Finally, you can live out your college basketball dreams (or re-live your glory).
Play some lawn games
If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity, check out Chicken N Pickle. This spot features a great bar and delicious food, but there’s so much more. It brands itself as an entertainment complex and that couldn’t be more accurate. They offer tons of lawn games, like giant Jenga, Connect Four, or cornhole. In addition, there are tons of spots to lounge with friends. It’s like the best block party all the time!
They also have many inside activities, like ping pong, and TVs to catch your favorite team. Of course, you can also play Pickle Ball, but make sure to sign up in advance. They have eight courts—both inside and outside, but spots fill up!
Take a selfie
You’ve probably been to a library, but not one with a photo opp like this. Check out the excellent photo opp at the public library. The unique facade looks like giant bookends and is an iconic KC stop. The books reach nearly 25-feet-tall. While you’re there, check out some books inside or grab a coffee on the patio!
Check out an iconic shop
If you want to find a few more books, check out Prospero’s Books. It’s one of the city’s oldest retail spaces. The space has a long history. Initially, it was a grocery store, but it operated as a hardware store for 90 years before becoming today’s bookstore. Check out the architectural details: the pressed-tin ceiling and exposed brick walls are ornamented with original art, and library ladders roll across the wooden floors.
Visit a farm with the kids
If you’re looking for a great family activity, check out Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead right here in Overland Park. It’s one of Kansas’s oldest continuously operating children’s farms. You can tour the farm and meet tons of adorable animals, like pigs, cows, donkeys, and goats! You can also participate in the hayride and other activities for little ones.
We hope you love these exciting Kansas City spots as much as we do. Check back with us for more fun things to do in the area. And if you need a property management company, visit our website! We specialize in commercial, residential and short-term property management. We can help you with everything from advertising to maintenance to tenant screening. Visit our website to learn more! https://www.propertymanagementinc.com/pmi-destination-properties/
