Kansas City

TOP THINGS TO DO IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Travel guide and photos by guest contributor Caitlyn Camacho.

Situated almost in the exact center of the continental United States, Kansas City, Missouri calls itself the heart of America. It’s packed with history -- the start of the Oregon Trail was in nearby Independence, Missouri -- and famous for BBQ and jazz. Kansas City is the perfect low-key weekend getaway for food, music and art-lovers. We’ve outlined below our top things to do in Kansas City.

Downtown KC is a short 20 minutes from the small MCI airport. (Hot tip: The airport is so small that when flying out you don’t need to arrive 1.5-2 hours before your flight as with larger U.S. airports like San Francisco, Washington DC or NYC.) From the airport, we recommend taking an Uber if you’re planning to stay downtown. If you’re looking to explore the prairies farther afield then rent a car.

If you’re focusing your visit around downtown KC, you can ride the free KC Streetcar from the historic Union Station up to the city’s River Market district.

EAT

BBQ We’d do the city a disservice by not starting here.

For a traditional local spot, visit black-owned business Gates BBQ at one of its locations. Order at the counter and take your tray to a booth (or do carry out). Be prepared with your order when you get to the front of the line. We recommend the short ends (ribs) with fries. 

If you’re looking for a trendier BBQ experience, try Q39 in Westport. The chef puts a spin on traditional BBQ with brisket poutine and other deliciousness. The first time we went our waiter told us Gordon Ramsay had been there the previous night. 

If you want to venture north of the river (10 minutes from downtown), stop by Hawg Jaw BBQ or go next door to Big Rip Brewing (a horror/sci-fi themed brewery) for a beer sampling and BBQ.

The Antler Room Ranked one of the best restaurants in KC, this upscale small plates spot offers a seasonally-changing menu with great cocktails and wine. They’re known for their Georgian soup dumplings, but if it’s on the menu, also get the duck. Make a reservation.

Banksia A cute Australian bakery! In Kansas City! They were featured in an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives although they fit none of those categories.

Brewery Emperial In the vibrant Crossroads neighborhood, this bar features a large outdoor patio and beer garden. Inside, you’ll find a rustic 70’s vibe and bar seating over the open air kitchen. Great food (especially meats), although you can find some yummy vegetarian options like jackfruit tacos. 

Betty Rae’s Try their unique flavors like maple blueberry pancake, lavender honey, and goat cheese, apricots & candied walnuts. They also offer vegan sorbets. 

Carollo’s Italian Deli Delicious, cheap Italian sandwiches. Great for a picnic.

Fox and Pearl Delicious farm-to-table brunch spot.

DRINK

Amigoni Urban Winery A local KC winery harvesting California grapes. Come for the $10 wine tastings. 

SOT Handcrafted cocktails in the Crossroads.

East Crossroads Breweries This side of the Crossroads neighborhood is dotted with great craft breweries. You could spend a day or more hopping around and trying them all but our favorites are Border Brewing for the friendly beertenders and awesome brews like hibiscus ale, Ribbon Cutter IPA, date sour ale and the dog-friendly Casual Animal.

Strange Days Another local brewery, this is one of the larger ones and located in River Market. Also, a big soccer bar. 

City Market Coffee Grab a coffee or iced honey lavender latte and stroll down to the Town of Kansas pedestrian bridge and Riverfront Heritage Trail. 

PLAY

Boulevard Beer Hall Boulevard Brewing is KC’s largest craft brewery and you can’t miss a stop at their Beer Hall. Features floors of games like shuffleboard and foosball, tasting room only beer samples, and you can take the brewery tour. 

City Market Stop by City Market to peruse the shops, visit the weekend farmers market (one of the largest in the Midwest), or grab a coffee or sandwich from one of the local restaurants. 

Crossroads Crossroads is the vibrant art district in an area that is being revitalized by local boutiques, restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Spend an afternoon checking out the street art and bar-hopping. Visit the Made in KC flagship store for local maker gifts.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art A free admission art museum with rotating exhibits. Outside the museum is a sculpture park that is great for picnicking. 

Pawn and Pint A board game bar with thousands of games and a full-service bar. $5 entry fee gets you access to any games. 

Union Station KC’s historical train station. The hall has rotating exhibits and activities and is still an operating Amtrak station.

West Bottoms Don’t miss this hotspot for antique shops housed in the old warehouse district. While most of the shops are only open the first weekend of each month, you can still catch a few with hours every weekend. 

WWI Museum This is the national WWI monument and museum with tons of historical artifacts from every country involved in WWI. It makes for a great rainy day stop and is the best spot to take KC skyline photos.

DAY TRIPS

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Two hours from KC, the highlight here is a trail that takes you through a bison pasture. The bison roam right across the trails. Warning, stay at least 100 yards away from the bison.

Konza Prairie Biological Station Just 1.5 hrs from KC, this prairie has rolling hills and trails of 2.6 miles, 4.7 miles, or 6.6 miles. 

Western Kansas rock formations If you’re on a cross country trip or open to driving across Kansas, stop by the following spots around 5 hrs from KC: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks. It’s hard to believe these are in Kansas! All are located off dirt county roads but well traveled so you don’t necessarily need an SUV. They’re also a little more than halfway between KC and Denver, so feel free to continue your trip to the Rockies.

STAY

Any option you choose in the downtown area will be close to the streetcar line for travel. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel experience, check out Crossroads Hotel. They’re known for their rooftop bar.

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Kansas City, Missouri

Prague

Prague is a fairy tale. The City of a Hundred Spires is home to an ancient castle on a hill, a magical clock tower, absinthe and a storied history of famous astronomers.

From the airport, one option is to take the Airport Express bus to the Prague Main Station and then walk 10-15 minutes into the Old Town. The bus takes about 35 minutes and runs from 6:30am to 10:00pm every 30 minutes. Alternatively, a cab or Uber will take 20-25 minutes.

The euro is not widely used in the Czech Republic. Upon arrival take out Czech crowns (also known as krones).

EAT

Ferdinanda Traditional Czech cuisine and beer in a cozy setting in Mala Strana. Recommended by a friend

Mansson’s Bakery Delicious Danish bakery just north of Old Town.

Las Adelitas When you need a break from the local cuisine, check out this friendly, authentic Mexican spot for delicious tacos & margs.

Piknik Park An Italian enoteca located on a quiet side street in Mala Strana. Outdoor seating, live music, great pizza and wine!

DRINK

The Czechs invented the Pilsner in 1842 and there is no better spot to try this light, golden-colored beer than straight from the source. Ask for a Pilsner Urquell, the original Bohemian beer. If you needed any more convincing, beer is literally cheaper than water here.

Double Trouble This cassic “cave-bar” and underground nightclub is a great spot to start the night.

Fat Cat Brewery & Pub Hip, contemporary bar and restaurant serving local brews in Old Town.

Hemingway Bar Cocktails.

Mecca Dance club for deep-house and techno lovers.

Strahov Monastery Brewery Beer has been brewed on this site near the Prague Castle since the medieval ages, but the current building dates back to the 17th century. Recommended by a friend.

PLAY

Charles Bridge This 15th century bridge connects the heart of the city and is lined with statutes of saints, artists, performers and musicians.

John Lennon Wall This colorful memorial pays homage to John Lennon and his ideals of peace and free speech.

Karlstejn Castle This beautiful, gothic castle was founded in 1348 by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV. It is an easy half day trip by train from Prague, and one of the most admired castles in Bohemia.

Mala Strana Prague’s Lesser Town is slightly less touristy than Old Town but just as magical. This neighborhood lines the left river bank and is just south of the Castle. Several good pubs and restaurants are located here.

Old Town Square A must visit.

The Powder Tower One of the original city gates to the Old Town, this gothic tower’s construction began in the fifteenth century.

Prague Castle largest castle (area) in the world dating back to the 9th century.

Prague Astronomical Clock This 600 year old clock face is the heart and soul of the Old Town and puts on a show every hour.

Day trips

Terezín Take a day trip one hour outside the city to this former ghetto, concentration camp and Gestapo prison. A sobering but educational experience to learn about the Czech-Jewish history, World War II, and the Holocaust.

STAY

Stay near the Old Town or Mala Strana to be within walking distance of the main sites and nightlife. Mala Strana is perhaps a bit less touristy and quieter in the evening. We, however, enjoyed the four star Hotel Caruso, just north of the Old Town Square.

Prague

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Asheville

Ashvillle is a bohemian town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Known for its artist enclaves, live music venues, craft beer breweries and delicious food, Asheville is just sparkling with southern charm!

Asheville’s airport is small and flights in and out can be pricey. Another option is to fly to Charlotte and drive two hours through the mountains.

Given the loveliness of the surrounding area, we recommend renting a car. If you’d rather not drive, Uber is available and an easy option for getting from the downtown area to the River Arts District, Biltmore Estate, and Biltmore Village.

EAT

Green Sage Cafe Healthy, organic cafe in downtown.

Tupelo Honey Perhaps Asheville’s most famous restaurant, serving up Southern food from scratch. Try the South Asheville location, likely to be less crowded.

Twisted Laurel Mediterranean food in an industrial-style setting.

Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe Tasty bakery in Biltmore Village with outdoor seating.

DRINK

Wicked Weed Brewing Pub Friendly brewery in downtown Asheville with outdoor seating.

New Belgium Brewing Company Industrial brewery and taproom near the River Arts District. Grab a seat on the deck for lovely views of the French Broad River.

Village Wayside Bar & Grille Local dive open late night in Biltmore Village.

PLAY

Biltmore Estate A historic, Chateau-style home built by George Vanderbilt with gardens and sprawling grounds at the seat of the Blue Mountains.

Blue Ridge Parkway A 496 mile drive through North Carolina and Virginia offering stunning vistas of the Appalachians. There are lots of hiking trails near the Parkway.

North Lexington Avenue A street in downtown with antique and eclectic shopping.

River Arts District Just west of downtown, this industrial area along the river is home to artist studios and galleries.


STAY

For a weekend stay, base yourself within walking distance of the downtown area.

If you have a car and intend to hike or visit surrounding areas, parking could be tricky downtown. We stayed in the very affordable Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville, just south of and within walking distance of Biltmore Village.

The Biltmore Estate offers luxury accommodation, a lovely option for a romantic weekend.

Asheville

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Vancouver

If traveling through the Pacific Northwest, be sure to include a stop in Vancouver! The city is wedged between the Pacific and coastal mountains which makes for a beautifully unique skyline. The city and its residents have seemed to master the balance between big city life and the mountains while charming its visitors with a laid back, friendly vibe.

Vancouver International Airport is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center. It typically takes about 30 minutes by car to arrive into downtown from the airport.

Vancouver is a bike friendly city and has the infrastructure for comfortable, self-guided tours. There are several rental shops located throughout the city. We rented near Davie Village to spend the day biking around Stanley Park.

EAT

Burgoo Kitsilano Their slogan states food is for comfort. Throw on your finest sweatpants and order the mac’n’ cheese with no regrets!

Catch 122 Cafe Bistro Cute, rustic lunch spot serving a modern take on traditional Canadian dishes.

Granville Island Public Market Located on a tiny peninsula south of the city, this is a must do in summer. The market hosts a variety of food stalls, locally sourced products and art vendors.

Wildebeest This restaurant is known for its meat-heavy farm to table menu.

DRINK

For serious beer drinkers, head to East Vancouver to experience the city’s top breweries. A few of our favorites are listed below.

Alibi Room Modern bar in Gastown with a trendy, bustling vibe. The avid IPA drinker will not be disappointed as the pub offers 50 taps of local and imported craft beers.

Granville Island Brewing Canada’s first microbrewery with tours and formal tastings. Stop here while visiting the Public Market.

Vancouver Urban Winery A stroll away from the Alibi Room, this winery offers local, Canadian wines sourced from grapes in Railtown, Vancouver. The winery also has a wide selection of ciders and beers alike.

PLAY

Gastown Head to this historic neighbourhood to explore local shops and restaurants.

Granville Island A great place to bike through and grab lunch.

Kits Beach Historically known for its hippie culture, this is a perfect spot to enjoy a day soaking in the sun and taking in the mountain views.

Stanley Park Bike through Vancouver’s “backyard”, a massive outdoor park with swimming, beaches, an aquarium, zoo, and more. Check out the Brockton Point Totem Poles which pay homage to the indigenous Salish people and their culture.

STAY

Gastown Stay here for unlimited dining options. Known for its food and young professional scene, this historic part of the city will not disappoint.

Kitsilano Kits is the place to be for hipsters and bohemians. The neighborhood offers easy access to the beach, pools and a cute Main Street (West 4th Avenue) with boutique shops and restaurants. Lululemon fans will find the city’s flagship store here.

West End A 10 minute walk from downtown, this neighborhood provides more of a relaxed, residential feel but is close to Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the city’s beaches. Most hotels are near Robson Street.

Vancouver

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