A GUIDE TO KANSAS CITY: WHY ITβS WORTH A SECOND LOOK
My guess is if I asked you where Kansas City there is a chance you may not know exactly how to answer. 50% may say Kansas and the other 50% may say Missouri. Technically itβs in both, but the KC that needs to be moved to the top of your US travel bucket list is: Kansas City, Missouri.
Tucked almost directly in the middle of the plains of the Midwest (as evident by the fact itβs only a 3-hour flight to either coast), in the state of Missouri NOT Kansas, is a big, little town (or rather city) that is so up-and-coming if you blink you may miss its explosion onto the travel scene. There is a reason more and more millennials are moving to the βCity of Fountainsβ: itβs affordable, there is a ton to do and see, cute cafes and restaurants keep popping up, and the pride of Chiefs Nation runs deep.
Why you need to visit Kansas City
The culture. Yes, I said it. KCMO has a fascinating cultural history that runs deep, and can be discovered in some of the most unlikely of places. Itβs catchphrase: Authentic, All-American and Uniquely KC, and older nickname the βParis of the Plains,β could not be more true.
The catchphrase of the city the βCity of Fountainsβ is quite literally represented with the more than 200 fountains scattered across the city. Which fun fact, outside of Rome, KC has more fountains than any other city in the world. It is key to note though that if you are visiting during the winter most of the fountains will be turned off due to freezing purposes. It gets cold AF here and definitely snows.
The allure of the 1920s permeates the city, a jazz reins the music scene with more than 40 jazz clubs. Back in the day 12th Street became world-renowned for its jazz clubs, which means you must catch a night of jazz at Black Dolphin (1813 Grand Blvd) or Green Lady Lounge (1809 Grand Blvd).
But itβs not only jazz! You canβt talk about the 1920s without also mentioning prohibition: and boy does KC have a unique spin on that historical event! The city βignoredβ Prohibition during the 1920s, lead to an abundance of said jazz clubs, brothels and gambling halls, earning KC the nickname βThe Paris of the Plains.β
Barbecue also runs supreme in KC, although full confession: Iβm not a huge BBQ fan so I didnβt try anything out. But if you are like me and BBQ isnβt your forte donβt fret, KCβs dining scene is thriving and constantly changing. One thing I would say the city does well is its juxtaposition of the classics with innovation β after all there are multiple James Beard-winning restaurants in town, and if that isnβt saying something I donβt know what is.
And finally some fun historical facts about KC:
Walt Disney opened his first animation company in KC, where he fed a small rodent that became his inspiration for Mickey Mouse
Hallmark, the worldβs largest greeting card maker, started in KC at the YMCA in 1910
Country Club Plaza (aka βThe Plazaβ as locals call it) opened in 1922 as the USβ first outdoor shopping mall, and is modeled after Seville, Spain
The McDonaldβs Happy Meal was conceived by local advertising agency Bernstein-Rein
KC has 220 parks, 134 miles of trails and bikeways, 29 lakes, 103 playgrounds and 119 monuments
Some of KCβs most famous home towners include: Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Ellie Kemper, Eric Stonestreet, Amelia Earhart, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Harry Truman, Jesse James, Misty Copeland, Melissa Etheridge and Janelle MonΓ‘e
The Three Trails Corridor starts here, which includes the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails. The Westport District is the primary trailhead for these trails and you can even see the wagon ruts and swales made by the big wagons
How to get to (and from) Kansas City
Although KC is only a 3-hour flight from either coast, full disclosure the airport is not the easiest, most convenient, or cheapest to fly in and out of. But, itβs better to know this going into it than to be surprised. As the airport is about a 30-minute drive from the city center you have limited options. You can either rent a car, although itβs not mandatory you have one to get around town, take an Uber (which tends to be the most expensive option) or call a shuttle.
While I was visiting, the shuttle (which is operated by zTrip / SuperShuttle), was about $20 each way. I set up the ride easily from the SuperShuttle app (either a SuperShuttle or zTrip vehicle will pick you up) and the shuttle stops are easily located across the street from the arrival doors, just outside of the baggage claim.
Uber prices to and from the airport vary widely based on the time of day. My arrival flight and departure flight resulted in Uber pricing that was twice that of the shuttle. My sister on the other hand lucked out with an Uber price that was actually cheaper than the shuttle.
My best advice when it comes to choosing between the shuttle and an Uber is to check both prices and go with whatever is cheaper! They are both reliable.
How to get around Kansas City
When you leave the cities of NYC, SF and DC finding awesome public transportation is few and far between. Itβs just a reality of life here in the States, so donβt expect to be relying on the bus during your visit. The one clutch bonus KC does have when it comes to public transportation is its streetcar. The 2.2-mile route takes you right through the center of town starting at the River Market and ending at Union Station. Itβs success and popularity have lead the city to look into expanding the route both north and south, and even potentially putting the buses on the free model as well! This is one thing I can say Iβve never experienced in any other city; free public transportation is a HUGE bonus.
In addition to this amazing free perk, Ubers are plentiful and decently priced, and many hotels offer free shuttles (in order to keep up with their competition) with ranges varying from 1 to 5 miles.
Where to eat & drink in Kansas City
You have a decision to make. Are you going to indulge in BBQ, cafΓ© hop, stick to your diet, or try out the local haunts? You can go many ways when deciding where to eat and drink in Kansas City, and my best advice is to do what I did: take the localβs advice.
Breakfast (as I mentioned above) can be particularly fab if you are staying at the right hotel (like The Fontaine). But if you want to experience some of the local fare I recommend the various cafes within the city including: Messenger Coffee, the Made in KC CafΓ©, Our Daily Nada and Monarch Coffee. Not only are the super cute and Instagrammable, they offer some pretty amazing coffee beverages and breakfast treats. If you want to get a little more coffee knowledge The Roasterie on 27th Street is the spot. They offer free 1 hour tours to learn all about the process of making coffee, and afterwards itβs highly recommended to order a flight of coffee, so you can experience the same bean brewed 3 different ways in order to learn your preferred style of brewed coffee.
I tried to mix up indulging with healthier options and lunch was a great time to do that. Shio is THE place to go for Ramen, and for seriously some of the most AMAZING vegan food I have ever had Cafe Gratitude is the place to go. If you take two recommendations for food from this entire blog post, trust me, these are the two to remember! Another vegan lunch joint we wanted to check out that came highly recommended is Pirates Bone which features pretty awesome looking burgers and fries.
Dinner was where my sister and I really indulged and most of the time we had a pre-dinner happy hour at one place and headed somewhere else for dinner. Some of our happy hour spots included Manifesto and Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar (right across from The Fontaine). The cool thing about these two spots are the fun facts. Manifesto is a speakeasy that was open during prohibition and reportedly is a place Al Capone visited, and Jax is one of the best spots to get seafood in KC. Seafood and the Midwest may not sound like they go together but Jax flies in all of their fish and is endorsed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium! For dinner we checked out Extra Virgin and The Fontaineβs restaurant. Local recommendations for dinner also included Gram & Dun, Bristol Seafood + Steak + Social and Kona Grill.
And last but not least are the watering holes, something KC does very well (probably due to its Prohibition history). Tomβs Town Distilling Co. (in the Crossroads district) features a cool Art deco atmosphere in its lounge featuring tin ceiling. The dim lighting, leather couches, cocktails made with the locally distilled spirits, and tours make this more than just a bar. TikiCat is one of the cityβs most beloved tiki bars with a cool, low-key lagoon vibe. If youβre in the mood for a tropical or frozen drink this is the place to go. As I mentioned above Manifesto (in the basement of The Rieger Hotel which opened in 1915) is a speakeasy that has to go on your list. If you only grab drinks at one place during your visit this is the spot. Historically the hotel was home to traveling salesmen, railroad workers and passersby during Kansas City's formative years, and Manifesto was operated as a βSpeakeasyβ during Prohibition, frequented by Tom Pendergast and Al Capone. You do need to make reservations in advance in order to experience Manifesto due to its size, but the bar upstairs is the perfect place to wait for your reservations as it features a happy hour menu.
And to make it easier for everyone I have listed out below in order of meals:
BREAKFAST
Messenger Coffee
Made in KC CafΓ©
Our Daily Nada
Monarch Coffee
The Roasterie (on 27th Street)
LUNCH
Shio
CafΓ© Gratitude
Pirates Bone
HAPPY HOUR & DINNER
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Extra Virgin
Parker at The Fontaine
DRINKS
Manifesto (at The Rieger)
The Rieger Hotel bar
TikiCat
Tomβs Town Distilling Co.
Where you find the best street art in Kansas City
I was pleasantly surprised to find a ton of street art in KC! This is one of my favorite things to do when visiting cities. I also think that by having great street art you can guarantee that a city has a great appreciation for the arts (both performing, visual and locked away in museums), and KC is definitely no exception.
I did a ton of research and walked all over the city to find the murals on my list. Unfortunately, I didnβt get to everything, but I was able to check off a decent amount in the 2.5 days I was in town. Many of the murals are located in the Crossroads Arts District which is super convenient. The top murals I recommend to add to your list are as follows:
βI love you like a summer nightβ (1624 Grand Blvd, behind Messenger Coffee)
βKansas City Iβm So in Loveβ (200 E. 20th St.)
βNot in Kansas Anymoreβ (1712 Holmes St.)
The Maker Mural, showcasing Kansas City's best makers (W 26th St & Summit St.)
βKC Lovesβ (Barkley parking garage)
Local sites to check out in Kansas City
Now that youβve figured out the transportation aspect, stuffed your face and indulged in street art itβs time to add a little culture, and KC is definitely not falling short.
When it comes to museums if you are looking for art (and some pretty cool exterior sculptures of birdies from bad mitten) head to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a true hidden gem and takes you back in time to the time of the pioneers in the 1800s as well as the Steamboat Arabia.
Even if you donβt go see a performance The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an architectural stunner! Itβs easy to see why it was honored as one of the worldβs most beautiful concert halls Home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera, and Kansas City Symphony, The Kauffman Center truly is a cultural destination.
Another architectural must-see is Union Station, which is SO MUCH MORE than a train station. KCβs Union Station is right up there with NYCβs Grand Central, and in some ways even comes out on top. The station opened in 1914 and when you walk in you are immediately confronted with the Grand Hall featuring three huge chandeliers and ornate ceiling work. But this ornate interior design is just the beginning. Also found inside this historic train station are exhibits (my sister and I checked out the Genghis Khan exhibit in the basement), movies, restaurants, and even a science center! One thing that is easy to miss, especially if you didnβt drive a car and park in the parking garage is the HUGE T-Rex skeleton. Itβs tucked on the side of the building that faces downtown and is a quirky and fun thing to check out. Honestly you could spend the entire afternoon at Union Station and be completely satisfied.
Directly across the main front parking lot from Union Station is the WWI Museum and Memorial, the USβ official museum and memorial completely dedicated to World War I. It should come as no surprise that the museum houses the most comprehensive collection of WWI objects in the world, and the memorial also features a pretty impressive tower and viewing platform which both give stunning views of the city.
The Central Library is also a MUST, which may or may not come as a surprise, but I have a good reason why: the views. Libraries, especially the main and/or central location in various cities tend to be the most impressive, and even if you have zero intention of actually checking out books really can be hubs of both culture and architecture. The Central Library in KC is no exception, featuring a rooftop terrace with an up-and-close view downtown, chairs to lounge in and even a life size chess board with pieces for you to play! One thing to note about the rooftop terrace is even though it is open year-round if there is an inkling of snow, ice, or just moisture in the middle of winter they will most likely close the roof for the day for safety reasons. If the roof is open it does close 30 minutes prior to the rest of the library.
Districts to explore in Kansas City
Power & Light
The nine block Power & Light District is where you go if you want to party. I was able to experience a little bit of the fun during my visit as I happened to arrive in town the night the Kansas City Chiefs won their game and found out they were headed to Super Bowl LIV. The outdoor circular venue features more than 50 restaurants and venues, as well as a space for performances. You can guarantee no matter the time of year there will always be something going on in the Power & Light.
The Power & Light District was built as a way to give new life to downtown KC. This area is also where you can find an Alma Drafthouse theater and the Sprint Center
River Market
River Market dates back all the way to 1857 and features places to eat, gourmet grocery stores, boutiques, and a weekend farmersβ market. In addition to all of the shopping the River Market also has paths for biking, a riverfront park and is also where the streetcar starts. Within the River Market is the weekend only City Market which encompasses more than 140 stalls of produce, flowers, baked goods and other local items. Itβs a great location to start out your weekend and then hop on the streetcar and make your way through the rest of the city.
The Plazaβ¨
The Plaza was one of my favorite districts and also where I stayed for a majority of my visit. Part of the reason I liked it so much, aside from all the shopping options (this is where you go to shop!) is the fact that it is modeled after Seville, Spain, featuring tons of fountains and Spanish architecture. It really feels as though you stepped out of the Midwest right into Europe.
18th and Vine
18th and Vine is where you go for all of the jazz, both the clubs and the American Jazz Museum (which has Louis Armstrongβs trumpet)! A fun fact about the American Jazz Museum building is it also houses the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (which is seriously the most unique and the most sight worthy museum as it relates to American history). This is truly the entertainment district of KC, an entertainment district that collides with history.
Crossroads
Crossroads is where you want to go for the good bars and the street art. Starting on the western side with the uber contemporary Kauffman Center and becoming more industrial feeling the farther east you go; it is definitely one of those βcoolβ up-and-coming neighborhoods. This is also where the monthly First Friday art and food truck event takes place, understandably. Crossroads also happens to be the district where many of my food and drink recommendations are located including Messenger Coffee, Extra Virgin, Manifesto, and Tomβs Town Distillery.
Why you must stay at The Fontaine in Kansas City
After all of the exploring you need somewhere to kick your feet up, relax and ultimately get a good nightβs sleep. During my trip to KC that consisted of experiencing two different hotels, and I must stay hospitability is something the city does well.
My first night I stayed in the Marriott Downtown. As a Marriott Bonvoy member I try to take advantage of the program whenever I can, and the views from this hotel are pretty fabulous. The rooms are super spacious and I have honestly never seen a TV as big as the one I had in my room in any other hotel I have stayed in (which also connected to Netflix β huge plus). The location was walking distance from the Power & Light District and Central Library and the Made in KC CafΓ© which made it the perfect place to start out my trip. Like many of the hotels in KC the Marriott featured a free shuttle for hotel guests which would take you anywhere you wanted to go within a mile radius of the hotel. It was a great way to get my bearings upon arrival before moving to the type of hotel I ALWAYS seek out when traveling: the local, boutique properties.
I spent the rest of my trip at a FABULOUS hotel located in what turned out to be one of my favorite areas of KC (The Plaza): The Fontaine. Before I even stepped into The Fontaine I knew I would love it. Itβs tucked away on a side street, which makes it easy to miss but I think that is part of its charm, the fact that is truly is a part of the neighborhood. Customer service and The Fontaine truly go hand-in-hand as the entire staff was nothing but exceedingly nice and accommodating.
When you walk into the lobby you are immediately confronted with immaculate interior details and art, itβs where modernity and classic design collide, and the little touches throughout the lobby definitely are appreciated and do not go unnoticed, including the complimentary infused water, business center (just off to the side), courtyard with fire pits, and Instaworthy cafΓ© full of light. And weβre just in the lobby!
My sister and I stayed on the top floor, which is the way to go when you are staying in a hotel in my opinion. After getting offer the elevators I immediately noticed the quiet and calmness of the hallways, as they were separated with their own doors off of the elevator landing and communal bathrooms. This was a welcome surprise and something I didnβt even realize I needed until experiencing it. This is truly how you cut down the noise and make the overall experience that more personal β you feel as if you are going back to your own little apartment, rather than a room within a bunch of other rooms.
And letβs just talk about the ROOM! Holy cow was it spacious and gorgeous. The clean and modern design is exactly how I would love my apartment to be, especially when it came to the bathroom. I had never seen a bathroom like that, with sliding barn doors to both enter the bathroom and separate the toilet room. The bathroom was pretty much the width of the entire room, and that extended all the way to the shower! No joke you could have a party in that shower with the rain head faucet. Iβm pretty sure 10+ people could fit in that shower. My sister and my mouths fell wide open when we saw that. If only all bathroom showers (hotels and my apartment included) were big enough to do cartwheels in.
Another feature I loved about our room was the L-shaped couch in the corner. Most hotel rooms do feature some sort of seating, but this was pretty great to feature an L-shaped couch with a little table AND a big armchair. Oh and did I forget to mention the huge mirror, sink and mini fridge that was also included! Seriously these are the details you sometimes forget about but are nonetheless needed and appreciated.
One of the best things about staying on the top floor at The Fontaine is that you are on the same floor as the Parker restaurant and bar, and wait for itβ¦. the rooftop pool! Yep, this is a hidden gem and probably one of the main reasons to book this hotel (especially in the warmer months). I always love a great rooftop and The Fontaine knows all about this. The rooftop featured a great view of the surrounding neighborhood with a long rectangular shaped pool and foliage accent wall β another perfectly βgrammable location. Another cool thing about the rooftop is also during the warmer months they feature events and rooftop yoga. Itβs enough to have me looking at my calendar to figure out when I can return!
Last but not least the Parker restaurant with its wall of windows, fireplace and amazing food at all times of the day. My sister and I made sure to try out breakfast and dinner/drinks at the Parker and needless to say NONE of the meals disappointed. One thing I love about the menu at the Parker is the fact that they have indulgent meals but also are aware of providing healthier options, so you donβt have to feel guilty the entirety of your stay. For breakfast we made sure to get a variety of foods to try including breakfast meat, pancakes, eggs benedict, avocado toast and fresh fruit. We shared everything and honestly everything was prepared to perfection. Not only that it was super visually appealing, and again Instagrammable.
Dinner is where we went a little overboard (if I do say so myself). We started our meal with fried pickles (mainly because I think they are delicious and my sister had never tried them before) as well as two of their signature cocktails: Boots With The Fur (a citrusy mixture of grapefruit, St. Germain and lime) and the Don Carlos Margarita (which featured jalapeΓ±o simple syrup and a chili salt rimmed glass).
Following our light appetizer came the DINNER, which deserves all capital letters considering how decadent it was. My sister got the fried chicken, which was sitting on top of asparagus, mashed potatoes and gravy. And I got the heart attack inducing Oscar Benedict, a play on the Eggs Benedict featuring, a beef rib eye, with softshell crab, asparagus, a fried egg and tarragon hollandaise. I felt like I might die afterwards but it was so, so good! It was worth it to treat ourselves our last night at The Fontaine.
We called it an early night and just enjoyed the room and sister time. The perfect way to end a pretty jampacked and fun long weekend in Kansas City! Huge thanks to The Fontaine for making this possible.