Pegasus Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 DH and I have volunteered to drive a family member to a week-long event near Kansas City this summer (Olathe). We hope to spend the week doing fun vacation-type things, just the two of us. The current plan is to stay in one location/hotel and venture out for day activities but if there is something super awesome that we could drive to and have to stay a night in another location before driving back to Kansas City, that would be ok too. We know nothing about the area except that it will be HOT in June so plan mostly indoor activities. Would love to hear some tips/suggestions from folks who know the area. Thanks! Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 The Nelson-Atkins museum. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Coast Sue Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Steamboat Arabia Museum- it’s one of a kind! Dinner/lunch at Hereford House Restaurant! Eisenhower and Truman Presidential Libraries Visit Crown Center See the water fountains in downtown Kansas City Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 There's an amusement park there - Worlds of Fun. It's outdoors, lol, but is fun for adults. You could drive across Missouri and visit the Arch. If you drive north, Omaha has a lot going for it (a HUGE mostly indoor zoo, art museums). There's a Pony Express museum north, too, around the MO-IA line, and I think if you drive south from KC, there's a Precious Moments chapel/park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 We lived 2 hours South of KC and we had a lovely trip to Omaha. I agree. There is a fair amount indoors at the Omaha Zoo, it isn’t a zoo where you are stuck outside in the heat the whole time at all. The Rainforest exhibit is indoors and the aquarium type exhibit is, too. There is a big basement of nocturnal animals that is indoors, also. In Omaha we went to a military museum we liked, and an outlet mall. I stayed with kids while others went to an Arboretum, I heard it was very nice as well. The Omaha Zoo is a real draw for the whole area, though. It’s so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 If you wanted to go to the Eishenhower Library I think it’s in Abilene. There is Seelye Mansion. You would drive through Manhattan and could go to the Flint Hills Discovery Center. I wouldn’t consider this worth the drive, unless you have an interest in this kind of thing. Cattle drives from Texas used to end in Abilene and it used to be a Wild West kind of place. It could be interesting to someone who likes that kind of thing a lot. I personally wouldn’t do it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemom Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 If you are going to drive three hours, I would chose Branson over Omaha. June in KC should not be that hot. Catch a KC Royals baseball game Check the schedule for KC Motor Speedway and see if they have anything going on. Toy & Miniature Museum is really cool Walk around on the Plaza Crown Center Hallmark Visitor Center Check for concert at Starlight Theatre Plan on finding an Arthur Bryant's for BBQ and Stroud's for fried chicken 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 WWI history museum (it's truly fantastic!) Nelson-Atkins a day in Lawrence (great restaurants and shopping on Massachusetts St.!) Starlight Theater or Shawnee Mission Theater in the park (evening theater) Kansas City Joe's (bbq) IKEA (if you don't already live by one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyhwkmama Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 John Wornall house Mahaffie Farmstead Union Station (connected to Crown Center by Skywalk) Ride the streetcars Eat at Minskys in the city market when you visit the Steamboat Arabia museum If a Royals game seems overwhelming, considering a T BONES game. Shopping and dining by t he racetrack. There might even be a race if you are into NASCAR. Shawnee Mission residential school historical sight. We have riverboat gambling if you are into that. Alexander Majors house. Definitely Lawrence. See the Natural History museum and art museum on campus. Check days in advance because they are closed on some weekdays. All the food in Lawrence is good. I have a soft spot for Rudy's pizza and the Red Lyon Tavern. Potato oles from Taco Johns are pure joy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 My favorite Lawrence eats: Wheatfields Bakery, Freestate Brewery, Mad Greek, Burger Stand at the Casbah, and Ingredient (salads are fantastic; sandwiches are ok; get pizza somewhere else). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyhwkmama Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Oh Freestate! Good call PWM! Also, if you are into college bball, I Allen Field house expansion museum has the original rules on display. There is also a museum in KC dedicated to the tournament called the NCAA Experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Oh, one more thing about Omaha if you're interested in art - they have an original Degas dancer statue in the Joslyn art museum. For the longest time it was not protected because they assumed it was a copy done out of a different medium. :laugh: But it is a fantastic little thing about 3ft tall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I agree about Lawrence.... it’s been years but Freestate and the Mad Greek are awesome. The Natural History Museum at KU I do also like, though for me it wouldn’t be worth the drive by itself. But if I were in Lawrence anyway it’s nice, and Mass Street in Lawrence is nice. It’s about 45 minutes from KC depending on exactly where you are in KC. I didn’t realize Branson was so close. I agree Branson is a nice place to visit, it’s very beautiful around there and Silver Dollar City is neat. It’s generally quite a bit cooler there than in KC, but depending on where you are coming from it might still seem pretty hot to you. I think look at temperatures and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Come north to st. Joseph for the day. The Glore psychiatric museum is cool to visit, also the Remington nature center is nice. It is right near the river, where there is a nice river walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusanP Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I live in Overland Park, which is right next to Olathe. I second The National World War 1 Museum; it’s amazing. We go at least once a year; my 19 yo son goes more often and chats with the staff, who are incredibly knowledgeable. There is a fee for this museum, but it’s so worth it. The Nelson Atkins art museum is free, parking is not. There is a nice cafe inside. There is a nice Botanical Gardens just south of me off Hwy 69...I’m not sure what it’s called..maybe the Overland Park Botanical Gardens? Also, there is a nice feline conservatory called Cedar Cove in Louisburg..maybe 30 minutes from Olathe. We went several years ago, and it was small, but well run. They have a website with their hours. They had a wolf pack when we were there. We are 10 minutes from a shopping center called Town Center, on 119th in Leawood KS, if you map it, and right behind it is Park Place. There are some restaurants as well, and in the spring and summer evenings my husband and I like to sit on “the green†eating gelato from Pacuigo and people watch. Just nice and relaxing. And as mentioned, BBQ is a must, KC does burnt ends especially well. We love Q 39, Jack Stack, Joe’s, etc. Try them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 The Nelson is very nice. Food depends on what you like to eat; we don't eat dairy or eggs so our options are sort of limited, but we love Waldo's for vegan pizza and the Bluebird for a slightly fancier but not fancy dinner. I would also drive out to Lawrence, and here's why: the Aladdin's Cafe there is perfect. There's a sister one in KC but it is not as good as the one in Lawrence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamonlyone Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 (edited) I was going to recommend Sylas and Maddy's Homemade Ice Cream in Lawrence, if you decide to go there. And then I remembered that there is also a Sylas and Maddy's in Olathe! We love their freshly made ice cream. Edited February 26, 2018 by iamonlyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 (edited) A Royals game. Duh. And then a Cardinals game for contrast. ETA: If you are into baseball, there is a Negro League museum there. Also, all of the stadiums offer stadium tours that MLB fans would enjoy. You can book them online. My husband and son travel to different MLB parks every summer, and KC was one of their favorites. Edited February 26, 2018 by plansrme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted February 28, 2018 Author Share Posted February 28, 2018 Wow! Thank you, everyone. It is clear that we will have plenty to do -- great suggestions. I'm making notes and will look up the websites to discuss with DH. Is it too early to get excited? :hurray: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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