Things to do in KC

If you're looking to get out and around, check out some shops, and people watch, try:

The Country Club Plaza Kansas City's most famous shopping, dining, and entertainment district.
Crown Center Three levels of indoor shopping, dining, and things-to-do close to downtown. Enjoy the outdoor ice-skating rink!
Union Station Exhibits, events, etc. Click the link to learn more...

Some of our favorite places to grab food and bevs:

Harry's Country Club - $. In the Rivermarket, just North of Downtown. Classy yet old school place that has a great yard beer selection with the best sandwich eva -- "The Cuban" (cool tiny french fries come with it too).
McCoys Brewpub - $. In Westport, close to Sally's house. Microbrews with great pub food. Known for their pizzas, and mac and cheese goodness (be sure to order some of the rolls to go with!).
Grinders - $. Pizza and tater tots for lunch! Total artsy dive with good beer selection in the heart of the Crossroads area. Owned by local weirdo/ADHD artist.
Kelly's - $. In Westport, historic Irish bar is located in the oldest building in Kansas City. Gets kinda bar-stupid-crazy on weekend nights, but check it out on a Saturday afternoon.
Lydia's - $$. Great upscale Italian place in the Freighthouse building in the Crossroads.
Papa Kenos - $. In Westport. Nate's favorite pizza
Cafe Sebastienne - $$. In the Kemper Museum of Art. Aesthetically awesome environment with GREAT creative food. Great brunch or dinner spot.
La Boedga - $$. Off Southwest Boulevard, close to Best Western. Great Spanish Tapas and Sangria, great happy hour deals.

So, there ya go - a list to get you started! And, of course, KC is famous for its BBQ - see below...

Mercifully, the Royals and Chiefs will be out of season in February. You may want to check out the following instead:

The College Basketball Experience This College Basketball Hall of Fame just opened, in the new Sprint Center downtown. Nate hasn't been there yet, but thinks it looks pretty cool.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum As mentioned in the "History" section below, this is a great museum. If you're a baseball fan, it's a must-see.
The 810 Zone If you're just looking for a place to watch a game or ten, drop by the 810 Zone on the Country Club Plaza.

For a little culture, visit KC's art museums and galleries:

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Recognized internationally as one of the finest general art museums in the United States. The new Bloch Building is great. For lunch, grab a sandwich at the cafe.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art "Really cool contemporary art, with a great, FUNKY! restaurant", says Sally.
Crossroads Arts District Lots of local artists' galleries to explore.

For the history geeks (like Nate):

National World War One Museum Opening to rave reviews in December of 2006, this is the nation's only museum dedicated to World War I. An incredible collection of objects and stories from The Great War.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum A great museum in Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine Jazz district.
American Jazz Museum Next door to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Eat lunch at the Peach Tree Restaurant next door.
The Battle Of Westport In October, 1864, the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River sprawled across Kansas City. Take a self-guided auto tour visiting the 25 major sites associated with the battle.
Steamboat Arabia Museum Located in the historic River Market in downtown KC, this museum tells the amazing story of two treasure hunters who dug up a 150-year-old Missouri River steamboat wreck - with the cargo preserved intact through the years.

Kansas City, of course, is famous for its barbecue. Mmmm...

Arthur Bryant's Original KC. Good stuff.
Gates They'll yell at you (HI MAY I HELP YOU?!?), but it's good eats.
Oklahoma Joe's It's in a gas station. Don't let that keep you away!
Fiorella's Jack Stack A bit more "high-brow", if there's such thing as high-brow BBQ. It is delicious.