A Kingdom for Kiddos

As a Kansas City transplant of almost 15 years, I have explored the ins and outs of the region while raising my now four kids, discovering diverse, accessible and fun destinations. It doesn’t hurt that my role as the owner of Kansas City Mom Collective — a parenting resource site that connects KC parents to resources, information and each other — gives me the opportunity to explore family-friendly attractions all over the metro. Here are some of my favorites.

This golf course turned massive park features three playgrounds including a treetop-themed play area and a charming cafe, The Market. The best feature, though, is the sledding hill that the developers specifically planned for kids, who flock here on snowy days. No matter where you find yourself in the metro, you’ll find parks, splash pads and nature centers to love.

When you live in KC, you must have an answer to the question: “What is your favorite barbecue restaurant?” My kids started eating ribs in their toddler years, and we treasure the pictures of sauce dripping down their chins. There is something for every style and perhaps most importantly, you can order meat by the pound (we recommend chopped burnt ends) when cooking is too much effort.

The FREE KC streetcar makes for a great urban adventure. We start at the downtown Central Library and take the route to Union Station, which boasts Science City, a model train gallery, featured exhibits, the largest movie screen in the city and a planetarium.

It might be surprising that an art museum lands on this list, but hear me out. With family programming for special holidays, along with weekly kid-focused activities, the Nelson is truly a family destination. Our favorite is the Art Course — an annual mini golf course with holes designed after art from the museum.This is also where you’ll find those iconic shuttlecock sculptures that adorn the lawn.

Kansas City attracts all kinds of performances — from Disney on Ice and Monster Jam to Taylor Swift and a lineup of Broadway shows. Our own KC Symphony even has a family series that includes movies on the big screen with live soundtracks, holiday shows and petite performances where the littlest ticket holders can try out instruments.