Kansas City
From Wikitravel
Contents
See also Kansas City (Kansas)
Kansas City [1] is a large, major midwestern city on the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is the largest city in Missouri with a population around 450,000 (another 150,000 in the Kansas portion) people and more than 2 million in its metropolitan area (2005 estimate).
[edit] Understand
Kansas City is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Having reportedly more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is also unique, in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.
The suburbs are largely south of the central city, though the area north of the Missouri River (known locally as the Northland) is beginning to experience growth similar to the south. Numbering of east/west streets begins at the Missouri River with the east/west division occurring at Main Street. Westport is around 40th St., the Plaza at 47th St., Brookside at 55th, and Waldo beginning around Gregory (71st St.).
[edit] Climate
Due to the lack of any large body of water nearby, KC experiences a continental climate with large swings and extremes of temperature. Winters vary from mild to very cold, with significant snow at times, and temperatures occasionally dipping to single digits and below 0°F (-18°C). Snow accumulation occurs 3-5 times per year, on average, sometimes exceeding a foot. KC enjoys very pleasant spring and autumn weather, but suffers hot, humid summers. It is not uncommon for the temperature to stay above 90°F (32°C) for weeks at a time, during July and August. Because of the heat, almost all buildings in KC are equipped with air conditioning. While KC has relatively high humidity, the most common weather is clear with almost completely blue skies. The majority of the rain falls in April, May, and June, but even in these wettest months, rain is light, compared to other cities in the region.
[edit] Downtown
Downtown Kansas City is generally defined as the areas including the River Market, the central business district (the "Loop"), the Crossroads Arts District, Crown Center and Union Station.
After years of neglect and decay in the 1980s and 1990s, downtown is making a comeback. Many once-abandoned buildings in downtown have been (or are being) rebuilt into high-dollar condominiums and loft apartments. The demand for residences downtown is quite high. In October of 2007, the Sprint Center sports arena was completed, bringing a modern sports and entertainment venue to the downtown core. The Power and Light District, was constructed and opened in 2008. The P and L District comprises 5 high rise residential and office towers, with many clubs, bars, restaurants, and shops on the lower floors. A new performing arts center south of the convention center area is in the works.
The "Downtown Council" [2] operates security and cleaning/maintenance crews, who keep downtown's streets clean and serve as a security presence. Downtown is one of the safest areas of the city, both day and night.
Traveling north to south, the River Market is the first neighborhood one encounters, south of the banks of the Missouri River. A burgeoning urban neighborhood, it houses many shops, restaurants, bars, and a very active farmers' market that convenes every Saturday, even in winter.
The expressways form a loop around the central business district (CBD). Crossing the north segment of the loop takes you from the River Market to the CBD. This is where Kansas City's famed skyline reaches its greatest heights, further accentuated by its position on top of a sizable hill. The CBD has the principal concentration of white-collar employment in the metro area. The world headquarters for H&R Block is located here, within the P and L District.
From here, crossing the south segment of the loop will bring a visitor into the Crossroads Arts District, which is a regional center for art, culture, and nightlife.
When crossing Pershing, Union Station and Crown Center are seen, which houses shops, restaurants, and offices, including the world headquarters of Hallmark. The nearby Liberty Memorial [3] is the world's first World War I memorial and has spectacular views from the top. Just south of Crown Center is Union Hill, another revitalized area offering some of the best skyline views in the city.
[edit] South of Downtown
A visitor enters Midtown when they cross 31st Street. A largely residential area, it is the largest single named neighborhood in the city, and actually includes a number of smaller neighborhoods, like Hyde Park, Squire Park, Sheraton Estates, Ivanhoe, Coleman Highlands, Roanoke, Volker, Westport, Southmoreland, Valentine, North Plaza, and many others.
Just south of Midtown is the Country Club Plaza, known locally as "the Plaza", an outdoor shopping center, modeled after Seville, Spain. Farther south is the Waldo/Brookside area marked by more bars and a wonderful pre-war neighborhood. Further south, the city gives way to suburban development, which continues for about 10-15 miles, before giving way to rural farmland and pastures.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
Kansas City International Airport (IATA: MCI) [4], serves the Kansas City area and is located in the Northland. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority [5] offers hourly service to and from the airport on the #129 bus, called the I-29 Express [6], M-F 5AM-7PM. $1.25. KCI Shuttle [7] offers a shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels.
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (IATA: MKC) [8], serves smaller planes.
[edit] By train
Amtrak serves Kansas City via the recently renovated and cavernous Union Station, located at Main and Pershing. Kansas City serves as a major stop on the daily Southwest Chief [9], line which provides service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Barring delays, eastbound trains depart at 7:26AM and westbound trains depart at 10:55PM. Kansas City is also the southern terminus of Amtrak's Missouri Routes [10], which heads east to St. Louis before turning north to Chicago.
[edit] By car
Interstate 435 forms a ring around the city. Notably I-70 goes east to St. Louis and west to Denver. I-35 is a major corridor running northeast and southwest. US Highway 71 runs north and south and forms a midtown expressway, running from the I-435/I-470 interchange, in a northwesterly course toward downtown, where it joins I-29. North of the River, US 71 follows the same route as I-29. For more information about navigation in the metro area see the Kansas City Metropolitan Area Wikipedia Article [11].
[edit] By bus
- Greyhound, [12].
- Kansas City is also serviced by other commercial coach service companies, which arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost.
- Megabus, +1 877 462-6342, [13]. Low-cost bus service to Kansas City from Chicago and St. Louis, fares start at $1. Buses arrive and depart from the east side of Grand Boulevard between 2nd and 3rd Streets, next to the 3rd & Grand MetroCenter.
[edit] Get around
First, purchase a good book style map. The national map companies produce book style maps that can be purchased at many grocery and book stores. Local real estate agents and delivery drivers use a book map produced by a local company in the crossroads district but it is hard to find. The one inside the Feist directory is good and can often be obtained locally for free but the directory itself may be too bulky to carry.
Businesses that deliver (e.g., pizza) usually know the city well and have large maps on their walls.
For more information about navigation in the metro area see the [:WikiPedia:Kansas City Metropolitan Area].
[edit] Street numbers
Addresses on east-west streets are numbered from Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri, and on north-south streets from St. John Avenue (or the Missouri River, in the River Market area). The direction 'South' in street and address numbers is generally implied if 'N' is not specified, except for numbered 'avenues' in North Kansas City. In most of Wyandotte County, Kansas the north-south streets are numbered and the address numbers are measured from Riverview Avenue.
[edit] Navigation landmarks
- The KCTV pyramid shaped tower can be seen from many parts of the city and is well lit at night. It is next to KCPT studios at the corner of 31st and Main. It is orange.
- West and North of that is the Liberty Memorial cylinder shaped tower, which overlooks Union Station
- The twin red brick towers of American Century Investments are oriented north and south along Main at 45th street. They are just north of the Country Club Plaza. The Kemper Museum is slightly east. The Nelson Atkins Museum is east and slightly south.
- Kansas City Community Christian Church at 4601 Main, has a group of lights that shoot a beam straight up at night. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the church. It is slightly south of and across the street from the American Century Investment Towers. The Nelson Atkins is to the east and the Kemper Museum is to the north and slightly east.
- Bartle Hall has a section that looks somewhat like a north-south suspension bridge crossing over I-670 at the southwest corner of the downtown loop. It has four towers with metal sculptures on top of each tower.
- One Kansas City Place is the tallest building in Kansas City (as well as Missouri). The building walls are entirely black glass and the top has a red/white/blue light ring that can be seen at night. Located on 12th and Main in downtown, the office skyscraper serves many corporations, and will become the new home of Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), the metro area's power source, in 2009.
[edit] Places and notes
- Brookside refers to the Brookside residential neighborhood as well as the collection of shops between 63d and Meyer off Brookside Blvd.
- Waldo refers to the Waldo Residential District in Kansas City, Missouri near 75th St. and Wornall Rd.
- The Country Club Plaza (called "the Plaza" by locals) is an upscale shopping district built by the J.C. Nichols Co. in the 1920s.
- 39th St. usually refers to the small section of West 39th St. between State Line Road and Southwest Trafficway. Often referred to as the "39th St. Corridor, " it has many restaurants, bars and shops, and is just across the state line from the University of Kansas Medical Center.
- University of Kansas Hospital (KUMED) is the corporate name of the hospital on the KU Medical Center campus.
- Benton Curve, a site of many accidents, is a curve on Interstate 70 where it crosses Benton Ave.
- Three Trails Crossing is the new name for the former Grandview Triangle and is the intersection of three major highways: I-435, I-470, and US Highway 71 (Bruce R. Watkins Drive). Notorious for fatal accidents, as of February 2005, improvements and upgrades on the Triangle have mostly been completed.
- Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., named for former mayor and current Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, comprises recently renamed portions of 47th St. and Brush Creek Blvd.
- 18th and Vine Historic District contains the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.
- The Library District is a recently defined district around the new Central Library at 14 West 10th Street
- Strawberry Hill is a historical area in Kansas City, Kansas.
- Hospital Hill is the area near 23rd and Holmes. It is home to Truman Medical Centers and Children's Mercy.
- Argentine is a part of Kansas City, Kansas near 30th and Argentine.
- The Crossroads Arts District is a Downtown neighborhood between the Central Business District and Union Station, centered around the intersection of 19th St. and Baltimore. It contains dozens of art galleries and is considered by many to be the center of the arts culture in the metropolitan area. Local artists sponsor exhibits there on the first Friday of each month.
- Quality Hill is an upscale residential and commercial neighborhood on top of a hill in downtown Kansas City, across the river from the Kansas City Downtown Airport|Charles B. Wheeler Airport.
- Washington-Wheatley is an historically African American/black neighborhood southeast of the 18th and Vine District.
[edit] Bus service
The Metro[14] bus is feasible within the urban core, where most of the tourist destinations are located. The MAX (Metro Area eXpress) and #57 buses connect downtown, Crown Center, Westport, the Plaza, Brookside, and Waldo. There are other lines that can drop you fairly close to your door in KCMO as well as limited stops in outlying suburbs such as Kansas City, KS, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, the Northland, etc. There is pretty good service to the casinos.
Standard fare is $1.50/trip with transfers available from the bus driver that expire two hours after issue. Some lengthy and express routes may cost more. You may purchase a One Day Pass on the bus. The Day Pass is good for local service only. It is issued at the farebox and expires at midnight. Upon boarding, request a Day Pass before depositing the $3 exact change into the farebox.
Most major routes use buses that are equipped with bike racks.
The JO
If you are needing bus service in Johnson County, KS (Overland Park, Mission, Fairway, Leawood, Olathe, Lenexa, Westwood, Merriam, Shawnee) you can access "The JO" [15] bus service. It also has lines that run from downtown KCMO to Johnson County and vice versa. The stops are limited and far apart.
Service on "The JO" is limited mostly to morning rush hour, mid-day, and evening rush hour. Fares are $1.25 for trips that begin and end in Johnson County, $1.75 for trips that go start or end in Downtown KCMO. Transfers are available.
Most buses are equipped with bike racks.
[edit][add listing] See
[edit] Downtown
- Central Business District - Downtown Kansas City houses many beautiful art deco buildings as well as examples of mid-century design and modern glass towers.
- Power and Light District - New development showcasing restaurants and rowdy bars/clubs. Also see the historic Main Street Theater (now a 6-plex) which is now the Flagship theater for AMC who has their HQ in Kansas City. The theater is said to be one of the most advanced theaters in the country complete with vibrating seats.
- City Market - A neighborhood of lofts centered around a large farmer's market. Best to visit on a weekend morning
[edit] 18th and Vine Historic District
- American Jazz Museum, 1616 E 18th St, [16]. T-Sa 9am–6pm, Su noon–6pm. Adult $6.
- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 1616 E 18th St, [17]. T-Sa 9am–6pm, Su noon–6pm. Adult $6.
Combination adult ticket for both museums $8, (save $4).
[edit] Union Station area
- Union Station, 30 West Pershing Rd, [18]. Has a visitor center, theatres, restaurants, shops, the Amtrak station and the following attractions. Also, the Nation's second largest train station with ceiling over 100 feet tall!
- National World War I Museum and Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th St, [22]. Tu–Su 10am–5pm (4:15pm for the tower). Museum opened Dec 2006. The memorial is the world's first for World War I. Take an elevator to the observation deck at the top of the 200ft obelisk for spectacular views. Adult $8 museum, $4 tower elevator, $10 both.
- Crown Center - Home of Hallmark Cards and the Hallmark Visitors Center and Museum.
[edit] Near the Plaza
- The Country Club Plaza - The nation's first shopping center, designed for the automobile. It offers high-end shops and restaurants in a quaint European atmosphere. The architecture is modeled after Seville Spain and includes a replica of the Giralda Tower.
- Visitor Center, 4709 Central, Phone: (800) 767-7700. M-Sa 10am–6pm, Su noon-5pm.
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St, [23]. Also has the Kansas City Sculpture Park. Tu–Th 10am–4pm, F 10am–9pm, Sa 10am–5pm, Su noon–5pm. Free. A world class art collection housed in a beautiful 1930s building and a new, critically acclaimed modern wing by Steven Holl.
- Toy and Miniature Museum Just off the UMKC campus 3 minute drive from the plaza
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Blvd, [24]. Tu–Th 10am–4pm, F–Sa 10am–9pm, Su 11am–5pm. Free.
- Community Christian Church, 4601 Main St, [25]. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and visible from the Plaza.
[edit] Other
- First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District, (gallery crawl between Downtown and Crown Center), [26]. 7PM-9PM on the first Friday of each month. This area has been called the SoHo of the Midwest by the New York Times. Many art galleries are open late on these Fridays, attracting a growing crowd of art enthusiasts. You can walk between galleries, or hop the free trolley. Summer months are typically the most busy and entertaining. Entry to most galleries is free. Some charge for refreshments.
- Swope Park Zoo
- Ward Parkway - A tree-lined Boulevard, just south of the Country Club Plaza, that takes you past stately homes. The houses are home of some of Kansas City's elite including the family that owns Russel Stover's Candies and the Applebee's family among others. The historic houses were built in many different styles, inspired by European architecture.
- Harley-Davidson Final Assembly Plant, 11401 N Congress Ave (near the airport). Free tours (approx. 1 hour) M-F 8AM-1PM. No cameras allowed.
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit] Sports
[edit] Major league sports
- Kansas City Chiefs, One Arrowhead Dr. (I-70 to exit Blue Ridge/I-435 to exit #63B), ☎ +1 816-920-9400 (fax: +1 816-924-4570), [27]. National Football League (NFL). edit
- Kansas City Royals, One Royal Way (I-70 to exit Blue Ridge/I-435 to exit #63B), ☎ +1 800-6ROYALS, [28]. Major League Baseball (MLB). edit
- Kansas City Wizards (Wiz), 1800 Village W Pkwy., Kansas City, KS (I-435 to exit #13B/#14B, continue W to 110th St. and turn left), ☎ +1 913-387-3400 (customer.service@kcwizards.com, fax: +1 913-387-3401), [29]. Major League Soccer (MLS). edit
[edit] Other sports and gaming
- Ameristar Casino, 3200 N Ameristar Dr., ☎ +1 816-414-7000, [30]. 3,000 slot and video poker machines and 60 table games. Live poker room is among the largest in the area. edit
- Kansas City Brigade, [32]. (AFL has suspended play for the 2009 season). Arena Football League (AFL). edit
- Kansas City T-Bones, 1800 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS (I-435 to exit #13B/#14B, continue W to 110th St. and turn left), [33]. Northern League baseball. edit
[edit] Art
- Plaza Art Fair. edit
[edit] Food
- American Royal BBQ Contest. Largest such event in the world. edit
- Kansas City Hot and Spicy Festival (KC Hot Spicy Fest), [34]. Cook-off's and contests. Live bands, beer available. 21+ as the night progresses.> edit
[edit] Music
[edit] Learn
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. edit
- Steamboat Arabia Museum. edit
- Downtown Library. edit
- Truman Library, Independence (25-min drive). edit
[edit] Work
- EMBARQ (Overland Park, KS)
- Sprint (Overland Park, KS)
- General Motors (Fairfax, KS)
- Ford (Claycomo, MO)
- Hallmark
- Aquila
- Yellow Roadway
- Cerner Corporation
- Federal Circuit Courts of the 8th district (MO) and of the 10th district (KS)
- H&R Block
- DST Systems
- American Century
- Garmin GPS
- Quintiles
- Kauffman Labs, now a subsidiary
- SwissRE
- BNSF (Argentine Yard)
- Union Pacific
[edit][add listing] Buy
- Country Club Plaza [35] Outdoor shopping center completed in the 1920s by J.C. Nichols. Upscale shops both nationally known and locally grown including Hall's Plaza Department Store, Burberry, Tumi, Standard Style Boutique, Tivol, Mark Shale. Large flagship style stores exist for Banana Republic, Gap, and Barnes & Noble. Higher quality chain restaurants include Brio, Kona Grill, McCormick & Schmick's .
- Oak Park Mall (suburban) [36] Largest indoor mall in the region includes Nordstrom, LUSH, Lacoste, XXI, Aldo and many others. Recently completed construction of a multi-level, 35,000 square foot Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
- Brookside Shops [37] local non-chain shops and non-chain restaurants. Grocery stores, bar, sandwiches.
- 39th Street West [38] located roughly between State Line Road and Southwest Trafficway includes unique shops like Zebadee's RPM Records, Prospero's Books, Boomerang and many local restaurants.
- Halls
- Crown Center
- Great Mall of the Great Plains (in Olathe, KS)
- Zona Rosa
- 119th Street (Suburban Kansas) The area east of the Sprint HQ is home to a number of shopping complexes like Town Center Plaza which includes shops like Vera Bradley, Bose, Janie and Jack, lucy, and Restoration Hardware. The area is also home to two new centers: Leawood Park Place and One Nineteen. Park Place is a highly dense, mixed use suburban town center catering to local retailers such as The Learning Tree and Annabelle's while One Nineteen holds the region's only Crate & Barrel store with West Elm, Dean & Deluca, Z Gallerie, and many others coming soon.
- Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas- they throw nothing away. If you are in town, check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC star for details.
- Crossroads Arts District [39] Highly inspiring mix of shops ranging from apparel to home design. Shops are scattered throughout this gritty district of former warehouses and industrial spaces. Black Bamboo, spool, Habitat, Phenom, Retro Inferno, Hudson Home and Peruvian Connection are just a few of the retail stores located in this area. The district is also one of the largest collections of art galleries and studios in the Midwest. Some of the most popular galleries include the Dolphin, Grand Arts, and Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.
- The Legends [40].
- CITY MARKET AREA: once called the River Market and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes. Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830's. The River/City Market area also has the River Market Brewery as well as an across the htstreet club which changes names every few months whenever there is something infamous that happens outside or inside. It is skybox now, but expect that to change.
[edit][add listing] Eat
[edit] Barbecue
"Who has the best barbecue in Kansas City?" is a question that causes much debate in Kansas City. Although the debate is usually in good humor, be ready for a passionate explanation which may take some time (or a light-hearted argument if asked in front of more than one person). Although the different restaurants each have their own unique flavors, they will usually have a sauce which is thicker and sweeter than offered in most other parts of the U.S.
Kansas City is also home to a barbecue dish that is rarely found outside the area, called "Burnt Ends." These are the overcooked ends and edges of a brisket, which although dry and chewy, are amazingly smoky and full of flavor (much more flavorful than any other cut). If you are feeling open-minded about your KC barbecue experience, they are definitely worth a try.
- Arthur Bryant's, 1727 Brooklyn original location, [41]. It has pictures on the wall of presidents and other famous people who have visited. The sandwich consists of a large pile of brisket and two pieces of butternut bread. One sandwich could feed three people. Ask for sauce for take-outs. Security guard in the parking lot at night. edit
- BB's Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E 85th St.. Live blues as well. edit
- Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue, 4 locations, [42]. Known for its hickory pit beans and cheesy corn bake. edit
- Gates, [43]. When you walk in, you will immediately hear: "Hi, may I help you?" So if you're eating in, grab a tray ASAP if you don't want to be yelled at. Locals may prefer Gates or Bryant's (meaning Arthur Bryant's) sauce. edit
- Haywards, College Blvd. and Antioch, Overland Park, [44]. Great onion rings and the BBQ sauce is one of the most unique. edit
- LC's, 5800 Blue Pkwy. (head E on Ward Pkwy from the Plaza), [45]. Though not much to look at, don't let the barred door and admittedly intimidating surroundings scare you off; specialties here include sandwiches that feed two and thick cut fries. edit
- Oklahoma Joe's, KC, KS, [46]. Situated in a gas station/liquor store. Walk around to the serving line and have some of the best ribs in KC. Also try the "Z-Man" sandwich. * Rosedale, (One block W of Rainbow on Southwest Blvd.). edit edit
- Winslow's, (River Market). Ask the cook what's best. The burnt ends are really good. edit
[edit] Diners
- Chubby's, 3756 Broadway St.. Greasy spoon that attracts the after 3AM bar closing crowd. edit
- Town Topic, 2021 Broadway original location. 24 hours. Small diner with low prices. edit
- YJ's Snack Bar, 128 W 18th St.. M-W ?, Th-Sa 24 hours, Su ?. 6 tables, live music in a laid-back atmosphere. Attracts an artsy crowd from the surrounding Crossroads district. edit
[edit] Italian
- Anthony's. edit
- Cascone's. edit
- Cupini's. edit
- Garozzo's. edit
- Lidia's. edit
- V's Restaurante. edit
[edit] Splurge
- 801 Chophouse, (P and L District). Opened in 2008. edit
- American Restaurant. edit
- Bluestem. edit
- Capital Grille, (Country Club Plaza). edit
- The Golden Ox, (West Bottoms near Royal Kemper Arena). Classic steakhouse. edit
- The Hereford House, various locations (original at 20th and Main in Crossroads Art District. (downtown location had an arson attack on 20 Oct, 2008 and is temporarily closed). edit
- Savoy Grill, (downtown across from Quality Hill). edit
- Skies, (Crown Center). On top of a hotel. edit
- Little Chef. First export from the UK roadside Kwality Koozine Specialists. edit
[edit] Other
- Stroud's. Fried chicken. edit
[edit][add listing] Drink
There is a popular brewery in KC by the name of Boulevard whose beers are available on tap at many different bars and restaurants throughout town.
Live Music Venues: Uptown Theatre (Midtown, on Broadway and Valentine) hosts lots of up and coming acts and many timeless performers play here because it is so famous. Beaumont Club is a soulless Westport C&W club that hosts live music but has acoustics' issues and a mechanical bull. The Grand Emporium used to be one of the best blues clubs but after being bought by the owners of the Beaumont they changed it considerably, including the name to Tao.
[edit] Downtown
- 12 Baltimore, 12th St and Baltimore (attached to the upscale Hotel Phillips). edit
- Angel's Rock Bar. edit
- Azul. Brazillian-style food and ultra-hip lounge atmosphere. edit
- Bice Italian Bistro. edit
- ChinaBar. edit
- Crosstown Station, (S of the Sprint Center Arena next to KC Star Bldg. on McGee St.). New indoor live music venue and bar. Voted Best Lights, Sound and Stage. edit
- The Drum Room. Historic jazz and blues location. edit
- Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. edit
- Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar
- John's Deck. edit
- Kansas City Live!. Open-air live music and entertainment venue, open-container allowed. Surrounded by the Power & Light District's various bars and eateries. edit
- McFadden's Sports Saloon. edit
- The Peanut. edit
- The Phoenix. edit
- The Quaff, 1010 Broadway. Large, very popular bar with scantily-clad waitresses and tough guy bartenders. Frequented mostly by the post-college crowd. edit
- Raglan Road. Owners want it to be the closest thing to an actual Irish pub as you can get in America, including food and actual hardware taken from existing bars in Ireland. Only other location is in Walt Disney World. edit
- Tengo Sed Cantina. edit
- Willie's. Small sports bar with a largely post-college crowd. A franchise out of Columbia, MO; a great place to go to see University of Missouri games. edit
- Zebra Room, (in Hotel Aladdin). Newly remodeled; has a swanky zebra-skin theme. Great food and a martini lounge on the mezzanine level. edit
[edit] Brookside
- The Brooksider. edit
- Carmen's Cafe. edit
- Charlie Hooper's. edit
- Sharp's. edit
[edit] Country Club Plaza
- Blonde. edit
- Fred P Ott's. edit
- The Granfalloon. edit
- JJ's. edit
- O'Dowd's. edit
- Reverse. edit
- Tomfooleries. edit
[edit] Crossroads
- Balanca's Pyro Room. edit
- The Brick. edit
- Bulldog, 17th and Main Sts.. Cocktails and fine eats served in nice atmosphere. edit
- The Cashew, 20th and Grand. Open air cafe feel to this two-story bar. In the summer months, the windows are raised up (think: "garage door") and both stories gain a relaxing breeze and a nice view of the city. Occasionally has live music, popular stop during First Fridays. edit
- Danny's Big Easy, 16th and Main Sts.. edit
- Grinders, 18th and Locust (3blocks E of Grand St.). Eclectic beer selection and authentic Philly Cheeseteak sandwiches. edit
- Jilly's. edit
[edit] Midtown
- Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club. edit
- The Empire Room. edit
- The Hangout. edit
- Harling's. edit
- The Lava Room. edit
- The Levee. edit
- The Newsroom. edit
- The Velvet Dog. edit
[edit] Northeast Industrial District
- Knucklehead's, 2715 Rochester St.. edit
[edit] River Market
- The Cup and Saucer. edit
- Harry's Country Club. edit
- Kabal. edit
- Minsky's. edit
- Skybox. edit
[edit] Waldo
- 75th Street Brewery. edit
- Bobby Baker's Lounge. edit
- Fin's Waldo Bar. edit
- The Gaf. edit
- Lew's. edit
- Swizzle. edit
- Tanner's Waldo. edit
[edit] Westport
- America's Pub. edit
- Buzzard Beach. edit
- Dave's Stagecoach Inn. edit
- Karma. edit
- Kelly's. edit
- Harpo's. edit
- Harry's Bar and Tables. edit
- McCoy's Public House. edit
- Westport Flea Market. edit
[edit] West Bottoms
- Korruption. edit
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
- Microtel Inn and Suites Kansas City International Airport, 11831 NW Plaza Cir., ☎ +1 816-270-120, [50]. edit
[edit] Mid-range
- Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, 3200 N Ameristar Dr., ☎ +1 816-414-7000, [51]. Refurbished lobby, 184 rooms all with king or 2 queen size beds. edit
- AmeriSuites Kansas City/Airport, 7600 NW 97th Ter., ☎ +1 816-891-0871, [52]. 2 mi S of MCI Airport and 12 mi N of downtown. edit
- Embassy Suites Kansas City International Airport, [53]. 4 mi from MCI Airport, 1 mi from Zona Rosa. edit
[edit] Splurge
- Courtyard Kansas City Country Club Plaza (Historic Courtyard Marriott Plaza), 4600 JC Nichols Pkwy, [55]. In the heart of the Plaza. The hotel has free wifi, complimentary parking, refrigerators and microwaves in every room and bar. edit
- The Hilton President Hotel, (sign reads 'President' in Power and Light District). edit
- Hotel Phillips, 106 W 12th St., [56]. Renewed through a $20 million restoration project, a luxury boutique hotel. First opened in 1931, the hotel is on the National Registry of Historic Places, cited as a classic example of Art Deco architecture. Walnut paneling and marble floors. edit
- Hyatt Regency Crown Center, [57]. Newly renovated, connected to the Crown Center office and shopping complex. edit
- InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza, 401 Ward Pkwy, [58]. 366 luxury-class guest rooms and suites. edit
- The Marriott Hotel, 12th and Wyandotte (Convention District). 22-floor hotel that connects to the historic Muehlebach Hotel.Most recognizable at night, when the front of the hotel shows a light display from dusk-11PM. edit
- The Raphael Hotel, 325 Ward Pkwy, [59]. An historic landmark in the Plaza, upscale boutique hotel with amenities for business, leisure and heritage travelers. edit
- The Westin Crown Center, 1 E Pershing Rd., ☎ +1 816-474-4400, [60]. Located within Hallmark's Crown Center, an 85-acre complex of shops, restaurants and theaters. edit
[edit] Contact
[edit] Stay safe
Like most major cities, the tourist and business areas of Kansas City (downtown and the Country Club Plaza) are generally safe day and night, but it is always best to beware of your surroundings. It's also best to be especially cautious during the evenings and night around the Power & Light District, where there has been an increase in crimes lately. Most violent crime happens during the late nighttime hours. "Inner city" neighborhoods east and southeast of the downtown-midtown-plaza areas are experiencing an increase in violent crime. These areas offer little for visitors and are best avoided.
Kansas City is in Tornado Alley, so make sure you check the local weather forecasts and make sure you understand what to do during a tornado.
[edit] Cope
[edit] Get out
Kansas City is one of those places where hidden in darker corners, you will find the gems, the places to visit and go. Rarely do things jump out at you and say: come visit this attraction, food, shopping, or historical establishment. Pick up a Pitch Weekly for nightlife information. If you want to relax and enjoy a walk, check out Loose Park just south of the Country Club Plaza. During the spring and fall, it's one of the most beautiful places to stroll. When you are done there are plenty of other beautiful and majestic cities in this region like Omaha, Chicago, Saint Louis, Independence, Lee's Summit, and Des Moines.
| Routes through Kansas City |
| Des Moines ← Kearney ← | N  S
| → Kansas City, KS → Wichita |
| Topeka ← Kansas City, KS ← | W  E
| → Independence → Columbia |
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
