About The Kansas City Area
“Ev’rythin’s up to date in Kansas City”
(Song from the musical 'Oklahoma!')
With more fountains than Rome, more boulevards than Paris, and two million of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, this cowtown has definitely morphed from a dot on a map in a “flyover state” to an intentional destination with plenty to do, see, taste, and experience. One of the Midwestern cities that proudly bears the nickname “Silicon Prairie,” Kansas City is increasingly attractive to entrepreneurs, startups, and established tech companies. With affordable housing, a central location to the rest of the nation, and essentially no traffic, it’s easy to see why Kansas City is a welcome change from Silicon Valley and higher cost cities.
Built by local real estate developer JC Nichols, the Country Club Plaza opened during the height of the Roaring Twenties with a distinct theme: Seville, Spain. The “Plaza” was the first planned suburban shopping center and the first regional shopping center to accommodate shoppers arriving by car. Nichols’ towered buildings are now the stars of the Plaza Christmas lighting ceremony, which draws thousands of revelers each year.
Centered in the Crossroads, the Arts District anchored at 19th and Baltimore, Kansas City’s vibrant art scene includes galleries, boutiques, museums, ballet, opera, theatre, and more. Beyond the Crossroads, check out one of the free art museums like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, with its oversized shuttlecocks scattered on the lawn, or the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, where a giant spider guards the entrance.
Learn about Count Basie and other Kansas City jazz legends by visiting 18th and Vine. Known as Kansas City’s Jazz District, this historic neighborhood just east of downtown is home to the American Jazz Museum. Sharing a building with the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Negro league baseball in America. Because the Kansas City Monarchs were the most successful franchise in the league, with Hall of Famers like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson, it makes sense that the museum would be located in Kansas City.
And while we’re on the subject of sports, Arrowhead – home of the 1969 and 2019 Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs is the 6th largest NFL stadium. In September 2014, Kansas City set a Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar at a stadium. Reaching 142.2 decibels, Arrowhead Stadium was temporarily louder than the deck of an aircraft carrier or a jackhammer. Just across the parking lot from the red and gold of Arrowhead Stadium, Kauffman Stadium (AKA The “K”) has been the home of the Kansas City Royals for 45 years. After winning the World Series in 1985 and more recently in 2015, Kansas City is Forever Royal for the “Boys in Blue”.
For a more festive arts experience in Kansas City, visit the City Market or check out First Fridays. On the first Friday of every month, 12 months a year, the streets of the Crossroads are filled with artists of every kind, from painters to performers. In September, enjoy the annual Plaza Art Fair. where nine blocks of the Country Club Plaza are blocked from motorized traffic so that painters, potters, photographers, and other artists can display their art, accompanied by live music.
When it comes to Kansas City cuisine, most people immediately think of barbeque. Whether you prefer thickly sliced brisket, tender chunks of burnt ends, smoky slices of turkey, or saucy ribs, there’s a reason this cowtown’s barbeque is touted as the best in the world at places like Arthur Bryant’s, Joe’s Kansas City and Q39. But Bar-B-Cue is just the beginning of the Kansas City dining experience. Well-known chefs and buzzy dinner spots provide perfect dining options for any occasion, from first dates and anniversaries to client meetings and birthday celebrations. Diverse in style, influence and cuisine, Kansas City’s dining scene thrives on innovation, yet maintains a reverence for classics that keep diners coming back day after day. One glance at an establishment’s menu reveals that nearly every ingredient is sourced from around the region.
