As you are planning an incredible vacation in Kansas City, you must decide which one you are going to. After all, there are two Kansas City locations. One is in the state of Kansas, while the other one is located in the state of Missouri. Today, we are focusing on fabulous and fun things to do in Kansas City, MO. There are so many things to do in Kansas City, so you will never find yourself asking yourself these following questions:

What is there to do in Kansas City?
What to do in Kansas City tonight?
What to do in Kansas City for free?
What to do with kids in Kansas City?
What to do in Kansas City this weekend?

We have created a helpful list of the best things to do in Kansas City, so you don’t need to do any extra work. Instead, you can choose any of the things to do that intrigue you the most. Then simply fill your itinerary with those items and enjoy everything this city has to offer.

25 Best Things to Do with Kids in Kansas City, Missouri

1. Explore Science City at Union Station

There are many things located in Union Station, so you will hear that building mentioned time and time again during your visit. One of the favorite things to do in Kansas City within Union Station is Science City. This science center is often on the list of family things to do in Kansas City, so you might want to place it high up on your list. Many of the exhibits are interactive, so your kids won’t get bored. Instead of rolling their eyes and groaning, they can discover fossils, visit the genetics labs, and see more than twenty optical illusions.

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2. Explore the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

This museum opened up back in 1982. Inside, you will find displays that contain antique toy collections and the largest miniature collection in the entire world. Your kids will love seeing all the toys you used to play with as a kid. While you may want to spend all day here, your kids will probably prefer to be finished in a couple hours.

3. Visit the Animals at the Kansas City Zoo

The zoo in Kansas City has been opened since 1909. While there were only a handful of animals back then, there are so many more animals to see there today. When you are not seeing the animals in their natural habitat, you can watch the sea lion shows, talk with the zookeepers, and take a safari boat ride.

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4. Have Fun at the Power and Light District

There are a few fun things to do in Kansas City for adults. Therefore, if you can manage to take a babysitter with you, there are a couple things you can do without the kids at some point during your stay. The Power and Light District is one of the top things to do in Kansas City for adults. You will find this area of downtown near the Sprint Center. There are more than fifty different types of restaurants, shops, and nightlife options to choose from. If you time your visit right, you can even catch a concert or other performance at the KC Live entertainment venue.

5. Grab Some Food at the City Market

Kids are always hungry, so you shouldn’t get too many groans when you say you want to stop at the City Market. While this isn’t the top choice of things to do for kids in Kansas City, it is one they can deal with. This is one of the largest markets in the Midwest and it is open seven days a week. There are more vendors at this market on the weekends, so you might want to plan your visit accordingly if you want the most variety.

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6. Visit the Boulevard Brewing Company

Breweries are becoming quite popular and they are actually considered one of the best family things to do in Kansas City. In fact, going to a brewery is one of the top 10 things to do in Kansas City. This brewery offers many different types of ales, so you can easily find a new favorite to drink when you are there. Either before or after your tasting, you can check out the beer exhibits in the visitor area and do a little shopping in the retail area. You can also choose to do a guided tour if you want the authentic brewery experience.

7. Experience History at the Arabia Steamboat Museum

The Arabia is a side-wheel steamer that was built back in 1853. This boat ended up sinking at one point and wasn’t discovered until about a century later. Once the steamer was dug out from its resting place forty-five feet underground, it turned into this museum. The highlight of this museum is the deck and hull of the Arabia. However, you can also look at many pictures and some of the artifacts that were discovered with the ship.

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8. Explore the Aviation Museum at the Missouri Downtown Airport

Kids love airplanes, so exploring the Aviation Museum will at the very top of their cool things to do in Kansas City list. You will find this museum over in hanger 9. You will see many types of aircrafts during your visit. The best part about visiting this museum though is checking out the flight simulators.

9. Explore the National World War I Museum

If you have older kids that are interested in history, they may think that this museum is one of the cool things to do in Kansas City. This entire museum is filled with displays that include uniforms and weapons. You can see some of the best views of this city from the Liberty Memorial.

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10. Have Adventures at Worlds of Fun

One of the best things to do in Kansas City, MO is spending a day at Worlds of Fun. This amusement park offers more than two hundred acres of fun. There are multiple rides to go on, but the most popular is the Mamba rollercoaster. If your kids love dinosaurs, you must take the time to see the Dinosaur Live attraction at this park.

11. Relax at Loose Park

There are a few different parks in Kansas City, MO, but Loose Park is an all-time favorite. This is one of the free things to do in Kansas City. You can easily spend hours wandering around to see the rose garden, Civil War markers, and the lake. If you are looking for family-fun things to do in Kansas City this weekend, add a picnic at this park to your list.

12. Grab a Bite of BBQ at Jones BBQ

It is all about the barbecue at Jones BBQ and you must make sure a visit is in your top 10 things to do in Kansas City this weekend. The owners have been using the same recipe that was passed down to them from their father many years ago. The barbecue at this restaurant is so good that you will want to get there really early to eat. One reason is the lines that form, while the other reason is they sell out of food quite often!

13. Wander Through the Kauffman Memorial Garden

Wandering through the Kauffman Memorial Garden is one of the favorite things to do in downtown Kansas City. If the kids still have some energy left, you can easily have them walk around these gardens with you. There are plenty of open spaces to explore, but you will want to make sure you check out the numerous bronze sculptures that are scattered around amongst the plants and flowers. There are also fountains in these gardens and you can easily spend some time relaxing next to one of them.

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14. Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Not all kids will think the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a fun thing to do in Kansas City, but you may be able to change their mind. The museum opened back in 1933 and a newer building was added on in 2007. The entire inside of this museum is filled with paintings, pictures, and sculptures. You will have the chance to see works by Picasso, Caravaggio, and so many other amazing artists. If you can time your visit right, you might be able to attend one of the many art classes and workshops that are held throughout the year. One of those may intrigue your child enough to make them excited about visiting a museum.

15. Take a Food Tour

Kansas City is known for its food and that is why food tours are often considered one of the best things to do in the city. There are many different food tours to choose from. Some of them will have you visiting specialty stores, while others will have you dining in some of the local restaurants.

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16. See the Animals at the SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium

More then five thousand sea creatures live at SEA LIFE in Kansas City. This aquarium definitely tops the list when it comes to favorite family things to do in Kansas City. While each one of the exhibits is fascinating, your family will prefer the touch pools and the underwater tunnel. You will want to plan on staying for a few hours, so you can watch the animals be fed and attend one or more of the informative talks.

17. Attend a Performance at the Starlight Theater

Attending a performance at the Starlight Theater is another one of the fun things to do in Kansas City for adults. You can begin your evening out with a romantic dinner at the Starlight’s Applause Club and then watch the performance before returning to your hotel room.

18. Take a Harley-Davidson Factory Tour

If you have boys, or your girls love bikes and cars, you must take a tour of the Harley-Davidson Factory. This factory has been open since 1988 and you can take a tour to see how each motorcycle is manufactured. This is definitely one of the unique things to do in Kansas City, because you can’t see how motorcycles are made in every city in the world. Your kids will love how they must wear safety glasses, a safety vest, and steel toe protection as they are walking around the factory.

19. Watch a Dance Performance at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

If you have kids that love to dance, you must take them to see the Kansas City Ballet at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. Numerous performances are done throughout the year, so there is always a chance of seeing the dancers if you time your visit to Kansas City right. If you can’t see a dance performance, you may have the option of seeing the Kansas City Symphony or the Lyrics Opera of Kansas City instead.

20. Check Out All the Fountains

One of the free things to do in Kansas City is check out all the fountains scattered about. You cannot go anywhere in this city without seeing a fountain. Each one is very different, with some of them being quite plain and others being very ornate. If you want, you can make a fun game out of your fountain search by keeping count of how many you have found or seeing who can spot the next fountain first.

21. Shoot Some Hoops at the Sprint Center

The Sprint Center is known for the concerts that are performed there, but this arena offers so much more. Near the Hall of Fame inside, you will find a Kid’s Court. This is where your kids can shoot hoops and see if they can get a certain number of baskets before the clock runs out.

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22. Check Out the Money at the Money Museum

One of the top 10 things to do in Kansas City as a family is checking out the cash at the Money Museum. This museum is located at the Federal Reserve Bank. You can take a self-guided audio tour to learn more about every item on display. After seeing coin collections, gold bars, and vaults, you will have the chance to pick out a bag of shredded money to take home with you. The money is useless, because it is made from old notes, but it is still a pretty cool souvenir.

23. Take a Kauffman Stadium Tour

Baseball is huge in Kansas City, so it shouldn’t be surprising that these stadium tours are one of the best things to do in Kansas City. There are four different stadium tour options available, so you will want to choose the one your family will love the most. The early bird tour is the cheapest, but the Grand Slam tour will have you exploring this stadium for two hours as you see areas that most people will never see in their lifetime.

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24. Go Shopping at Country Club Plaza

Older kids love to shop and that makes Country Club Plaza one of the best things to do in Kansas City. There are a lot of higher-end stores located in this area, so you may all be doing more window shopping than buying. However, it is an excellent way to let your kids have fun for a couple hours.

25. Visit Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is a community space where your kids can let their creative juices flow through the art they create. If you are looking for free stuff to do in Kansas City, then Kaleidoscope must be near the top of your list. There are multiple rooms to use and each one offers a unique way to be creative.

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These are the twenty-five best things to do with kids in Kansas City, Missouri. With so many different things to do in Kansas City, MO, you may have a difficult time narrowing down your list to fill the time you have available. While it will be difficult, you can simply ask your family to choose the fun things to do in Kansas City that they want to do.

This will ensure everyone has at least a couple of their top 10 things to do in Kansas City on the itinerary you create. That is always a wonderful way to keep everyone happy when on vacation!