Things to Do in Kansas City: A Year of Fun in the City of Fountains, Part 2

Welcome back to Kansas City! Now that you’ve enjoyed the first half of the year with monthly outings in Kansas City, I hope you’ve come back to finish out vacation season and the rest of Kansas City’s yearly events. There are plenty more things to do in Kansas City!

Patriotism runs high throughout the United States every July. Consider coming to Kansas City for one of the best patriotic vacations available. Begin with a day exploring the home of our 33rd president, Harry Truman. Located just east of Kansas City in Independence, the attractions here include the Harry S. Truman Museum and Library, the Truman Home, and Independence Square, where you can still enjoy a treat at the drugstore where Harry Truman had his first job.

Kansas City is also home to the country's only World War I monument, Liberty Memorial. Below the monument itself lies an interactive museum with information, activities, and exhibits to be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. For lunch, enjoy a bite in the museum's Over There Cafe or have a picnic in the surrounding Liberty Park. Afterward, cross the street to pay a visit to the Kansas City Federal Reserve where you'll learn about the country's economics and even get the chance to design your own currency.

There’s nothing more American than Baseball. Although you may have enjoyed a major-league game in April, July is a great time to enjoy even more baseball. You can return to Kaufman Stadium and enjoy another Royals game accompanied by fireworks when our team wins. Then across the state line in Kansas, you can enjoy a day at the Legends shopping plaza and end the day cheering for Kansas City’s minor league team, the T-Bones.

Mother Nature turns up the heat on Kansas City in August. This month, both visitors and locals are certain to spend plenty of time at water parks and other cool amusements before school starts again. Despite the heat, there are plenty of great outdoor actvities in Kansas City that you can enjoy in August.

Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are classic entertainment spots in Kansas City. Visitors can purchase admission to either or both parks and enjoy plenty of wild rides and wet fun. Thrill seekers will enjoy rides on roller coasters such as the Mamba; the classic, wooden Timber Wolf; and the inverted, suspension coaster, the Patriot. Youngsters will enjoy a romp in Planet Snoopy, and grownups and children alike will have a blast getting soaked on the River of the Nile or chilling in the Caribbean Cooler at Oceans of Fun.

Need to cool off without exposing sensitive skin to the sun? Book a stay at one of Kansas City’s hotels that feature indoor water parks. Coco Key Water Resort in Independence features plenty of wet family-friendly fun and affordable pricing. The Great Wolf Lodge near the Legends in Kansas City, KS, also offers indoor water fun for the whole family as well as a top-notch arcade, excellent dining and more.

For those who simply can’t get enough of water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools, Kansas City’s Schlitterbahn is an absolute must. Tubes, lifejackets and parking are all free with the price of admission, and you can cut down on costs by bringing your own picnic lunch to enjoy inside the park.

As the kids head back to school, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in Kansas City. Make this month’s trip to Kansas City an educational one.

Start with a trip to Kansas City’s world-class art museums. The permanent collections on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art have gained international attention. Art lovers will also enjoy a stroll through the phenomenal sculpture garden surrounding the Nelson. For an adventure in modern art, simply cross the street and enter the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

A few blocks south, you can experience the beauty of Loose Park where you can take a self-guided tour of botanical gardens before taking a leisurely walk through the stunning rose garden. Runners will enjoy the opportunity to run on trails crisscrossing through the 75-acre park while history buffs will relish taking a self-guided tour, learning the rich history of the area as told on placards around the park.

As the weather cools and the nights grow longer, it’s time to enjoy the haunted side of Kansas City. From ghost stories at Union Station to cemetery tours, the metro area has plenty of festive fun for fall.

Visitors will find plenty of ways to get thrills and chills here in October. One of the best is the Ghosts and Gangsters Tour that takes guests by bus to several haunted spots in downtown Kansas City including Hotel Savoy, St. Mary’s Anglican Church and Union Station. More adventurous visitors will enjoy a full ghost hunt adventure with a paranormal guide.

If you prefer to get your thrills in the light of day, enjoy the brilliant colors of fall foliage as it paints the metro area in fiery hues. Take a drive through Swope Park on your way to the Kansas City Zoo. The cool weather should be perfect for watching animals from all over the world play in their state-of-the-art habitats.

The days are even shorter this month in Kansas City, but this city’s never short on fun. Visitors can enjoy watching the Chiefs at Kaufman Stadium or take in a concert at the new, state-of-the-art Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts.

Shoppers will especially enjoy visiting Kansas City in November. In addition to great shopping opportunities at the Country Club Plaza and Crown Center, you can enjoy shopping at the popular Zona Rosa shopping center north of the river or the Legends in Kansas City, KS.

It’s Christmastime in Kansas City, and the holidays make this city shine, literally. On the night of Thanksgiving, the Country Club Plaza is lit up in grand style. Throughout the month of December, the shops of the Plaza are outlined in thousands of colorful holiday lights, and store windows come alive with seasonal displays. Visitors can take a romantic carriage ride through the Plaza to enjoy the sights while sipping on hot cider or cocoa. Others might prefer watching from the sky by taking a helicopter city lights tour.

In addition to holiday lights and decorations, the city’s performers will come out in style to make your holiday memorable. Enjoy a Nutcracker performance by the Kansas City Ballet, or pick up tickets to a holiday show at the Kansas City Repertory Theater.

The year is finally done, and it’s been an amazing one here in Kansas City. I hope you’ve had a blast visiting my hometown. Come back and do it all over again next year!