Kansas City might not be one of the top U.S. cities on your list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great city. I love discovering new cities, so I decided to talk about some of the things that I did on my recent trip there. I was also inspired by the IHG Kansas City guide, which helped me plan my trip, so I thought I would share some of the best things to do in Kansas City.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Image via Wikimedia Commons by Charvex
Even if you don’t decide to head inside, you’ll want to marvel at the exterior of this amazing place, which mixes modern and classic architecture. The museum’s 22-acre lawn is also home to four 18-foot giant badminton shuttlecocks created by the world-famous Claes Oldenburg.
The museum naturally has a great collection that spans many thousands of years and various countries around the world. The museum has a permanent collection of over 35,000 pieces, along with a number of temporary exhibitions. This is a place that deserves at least a half day.
Visit the Boulevard Brewing Company
If you ask anyone from Kansas City about this brewing company, you’ll definitely get some positive responses. This great brewery offers everything from pale ale to pilsner and is one of the largest brewers in the Midwest. You can do some beer tasting and even buy some beer to take home.
Kansas City is home to a great craft beer culture, so don’t be surprised if you see a huge number of craft beer shops, microbreweries, and brewpubs. This is another thing that I was very surprised about and really seems to be catching on in the States.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
This was once the home of Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. It’s an incredible place to visit, is very well preserved, and chronicles the life of the former president. The role of the president today is very different from the one back then, and it’s interesting to get insight into the life of the president at that time.
The National World War I Museum
I was intrigued by the layout and format of this museum, as it shares an account of the war from the perspective of soldiers. You can also see a number of interesting items from the war, such as propaganda posters and replicas of the trenches from the war. The highlights of the museum have to be the huge tower on the outside and the glass and steel bridge that spans across a room filled with 9,000 poppies commemorating the 9 million soldiers killed during the war. This is one of the most interesting war museums that I have ever come across.
Although I didn’t get to spend a lot of time in Kansas City, I really enjoyed it. I know I’ll be back at some point. I would highly recommend that you do the same. Happy travels!
