Kansas City Hotels and City Guide

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Straddling two states, the Missouri Kansas City is where you’ll find fantastic jazz and wonderful museums. Once thriving from the cattle industry, it’s also the place to be for finger licking good BBQs… perhaps a coincidence but probably not. Affectionately called the Heart of America, Kansas City is pretty much right in the center of the nation. But it’s also known as the City of Fountains. With the exception of Rome, Kansas City has more fountains than any other city. You’ll be able to enjoy most of them in the beautiful Country Club Plaza area, although most are turned off in the winter.

Dating back to 1830s, you’ll find the Westport Landing area to be one of the hippest places Kansas City has to offer. Whether its shopping at the boutiques, enjoying the fine cuisine or dancing at the clubs, the Landing is the place to be seen. The Country Club Plaza is also a favorite for the trendy at heart. Its upscale shopping and beautiful scenery make it one of the more popular places in Kansas City. Enjoy its many museums, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Although today the River Market is the place to be for cafes, restaurants and bars, it was once the historic location where Kansas City was first founded. Today, you’ll also find the City Market as well as the wonderful Arabia Steamboat Museum. But of all the districts in Kansas City, none is more popular than the historic 18th and Vine area. This fascinating area was alive with jazz from the 1920s until the 1940s. In fact, in the mid-30s, 18th and Vine had over 400 nightclubs. Although there aren’t that many here today, you still find a great selection of jazz. Enjoy the Blue Room, where you can hear fantastic performances. Or you could enjoy a concert in the restored Gem Theater. Not too familiar with names like Big Joe Turner, Charlie Parker or Count Basie? No worries. You can brush up on your jazz history when you explore the American Jazz Museum.

Kansas City’s Union Station is a stunning building that underwent massive renovations to return it to its glory days. Built in 1914, the station now hosts shops and restaurants. You can also see memorabilia dating back to the 1800s. One of its most visited sites, especially by those young at heart, is the Science City. This interactive museum is filled with hands-on exhibits and ways for kids to learn about nature and even a news broadcast. Whether it’s the Astronaut Training Center or the Crime Lab, kids of all ages will love learning at Science City.

The 33rd president of the United States has made quite an impression on Kansas City. Harry S. Truman has a museum and library named after him and his home is a beautiful historic site that’s captured his life. Enjoy looking at the antiques and family heirlooms as you walk through the Victorian-style home. Tours are available but are at a first come, first serve basis.

Enjoy strolling around the beautiful Powell Gardens. At over 900 acres, this botanical garden is filled with waterfalls, gardens and flowers. If you happen to be visiting in the summer, you’ll enjoy the trolley rides available during the week. Located on over 200 acres of beautiful land, the Kansas City Zoo is in the middle of Swope Park. It’s home to over 900 beautiful animals and is a fantastic place to explore the natural beauty of Kansas. Considering that Swope Park is the second largest urban park in the nation, you’ll have lots to enjoy.

Forgot someone’s birthday back home? You’ll find the perfect card here since it’s the headquarters for Hallmark. And although visiting a card shop may not be on your top 10 things to do, Hallmark’s is quite impressive. Known as the Crown Center, you’ll find a covered outdoor skating rink as well as an 85-acre shopping mall.

As well known as Kansas City is for its BBQs and Jazz, it’s also got quite a reputation as being a great place to put down a bet. Try the Argosy Riverboat Casino and try your luck at blackjack or at the one-arm bandits. Prefer to gamble on solid ground? There are many great casinos but three of the more popular choices are the Ameristar, Harrah’s and Isle of Capri casinos. The Ameristar is both a hotel and casino and happens to be Missouri’s largest. Whether it’s the fine cuisine, casinos or fantastic entertainment, you’ll love the Ameristar. Harrah’s extended family has made a home in Kansas City. It’s also a casino and hotel complex, with amazing dining options for you to experience. Enjoy the blackjack, mini-baccarat and craps. Last but certainly not least is the Isle of Capri Casino. Feel the flavor of the Caribbean as you enjoy playing with palm trees and waterfalls. As the same with the other casinos, this one also offers great cuisine.

Enjoying your time in Kansas City isn’t going to be that hard to accomplish. What’s going to be difficult is deciding on which fantastic restaurant you should dine at or which casino will give you more spending money. Listen to the jazz or explore its museums. With its the beautiful fountains and picturesque parks, Kansas City proves to be a city worth spending time at.