Ice Terrace at Crown Center

Ice Terrace at Crown Center, Kansas City; credit VisitKC

Kansas City Family Attractions

Sprint Center
DESCRIPTION: This modern arena has Kansas city on the prowl for an NBA franchise. Today, it hosts large concerts and family shows; within the venue lies College Basketball Experience (CBE), a highly-interactive venue where fans of any age can immerse themselves in the game of college basketball. Within CBE, the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame honors deserving coaches, players and contributors who have made significant impacts on the game while educating and entertaining fans and visitors through interactive exhibits that test a visitor’s basketball skill level and knowledge.
DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 1401 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO MAP
PARKING: nearby garages
PHONE: 816-949-7500
WEBSITE: http://www.sprintcenter.com

Crown Center
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1973, this 85-acre live, work and shop environment is one of KC’s most popular destinations. The development includes two luxury hotels, 300,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, theatres, and a children’s creative workshop. The center always hosts events –including the bigger ones during Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Card-lovers will enjoy the Hallmark Visitors Center, showcase for the world’s largest manufacturer of greeting cards.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Hallmark Visitors Center Tue-Fri 9a-5p, Sat 9:30a-4:30p
ADDRESS: 2450 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, MO MAP
PHONE: 816-274-8444
WEBSITE: http://www.crowncenter.com

Union Station – Science City
DESCRIPTION: Opened as the nation’s second largest train station in 1914, it remained operational until 1983, all but closing due to the decline in train travel. In 1999, Kansas City officials unveiled this magnificent adaptive re-use of the ornate station, now featuring restaurants, theaters, shops and Science City — a tremendous edutainment destination for the family whose exhibits include Tree House Nature Center, Science City Tower, Einstein Towers, Train Overlook, Crime Lab, and weather Park. An IMAX Theater is also on the premises; since the building is open from 6a to midnight daily, it’s a great place to people-watch.
ADMISSION: $10
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 9:30a-4:30p,
 Sun Noon-4:30p
ADDRESS: 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO MAP
PARKING: four-level per hour parking garage on the west side of Union Station
PHONE: 816-460-2222
WEBSITE: http://www.sciencecity.com

Kansas City Zoo
DESCRIPTION: Features 200 acres of African and Australian animal exhibits, including an Elephant Sanctuary which is reportedly one of the nation’s best, and a Australia exhibit and an IMAX Theater. Train & pony rides are always popular. You be quietly awestruck by the family of giraffes when they are feeding or cavorting. Sea Lion Training Demonstrations are at 10:30a and 1:30p daily, except Wednesdays. Discovery Barn and Peekaboo Treehouse are great for the wee ones. The Carousel Café restaurant has also been significantly upgraded and more zoo amenities are coming.
ADMISSION: $11.50 Adults, $8.50 Ages 3-11, $10.50 Seniors
DAYS & HOURS: November-February daily 10a-4p, March-October daily 9:30a-5p
ADDRESS: 6800 Zoo Drive in Swope Park, Kansas City, MO MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
PHONE: 816-513-5700
WEBSITE: http://www.kansascityzoo.org

American Royal Center
DESCRIPTION: Showcases some of Tom Bass’ contributions. Born in Mexico, Missouri in 1856, his mother was a slave and his father a plantation owner’s son. Bass is credited with inspiring and paunching the precursor to Kansas City’s American Royal Horse Show, including the “Bass But”, which is still considered standard equipment at many stables.
ADMISSION: event dependent
DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 1701 American Royal Court, Kansas City, MO MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
PHONE: 816-221-9800
WEBSITE: http://www.americanroyal.com

Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun
DESCRIPTION: There’s something for everyone at these two great theme parks: plenty of rides for those who want dry thrills and a waterpark with 18 water slides on 60 acres. Worlds of Fun theme park has 6 world-class roller coasters, including hands-free inverted coasters like the Patriot that let you feel like Superman flying and the so high its scarily good Mamba roller coaster. When its hot, Oceans of Fun lets you lazily drift in a tube along with the kids and visit the children’s playground, and when you need quiet time you can visit the adults only pool.
ADMISSION: discounted tickets available after 4p
DAYS & HOURS: both parks open during the spring and close in the fall
ADDRESS: 4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue, Kansas City, MO MAP
PHONE: 816-454-4545
WEBSITE: http://www.worldsoffun.com

Truman Sports Complex
DESCRIPTION: Kansas City led the nation in building modern separate facilities in 1972. One for its pro baseball team, the Royals, the other for its pro football team, the Chiefs; as a result, Kansas City paid a tenth of the cost of what other metro areas are spending (hundreds of millions of dollars) for new separate facilities. On game days Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs seats 78,000 and the interior looks like a red sea, since 95% of fans wear red tops. Royals ball park seats about 40,000; you can look down from a hill into both architecturally captivating stadiums.
ADMISSION: game dependent
DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: One Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, MO MAP
PARKING: $22 on premises
WEBSITE: http://www.kcchiefs.com/arrowhead

Satchel Paige Memorial Stadium
DESCRIPTION: Brought to fruition after his death and named in commemoration of one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, Paige played in the Negro National Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs and other teams. In 1948, he broke into major league baseball with the Cleveland Indians in his 40s. When he threw his last professional pitch in the major leagues he was an astonishing 63; the stadium is used for amateur play and special events.
ADDRESS: 51st and Swope Parkway, Kansas City, MO MAP
PHONE: 816-871-3100

Swope Park
DESCRIPTION: With almost 1,800 acres, the park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks. It features a swimming pool, Kansas City Zoo, two 18-hole public golf courses and the Starlight Theatre.
ADDRESS: Swope Park & Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO MAP
WEBSITE: http://www.swopememorialgolfcourse.com

Leon M. Jordan Memorial Park
DESCRIPTION: Dedicated to a slain Kansas City civil rights leader and one of the Founders of Freedom, a well known African American community organization
ADDRESS: 31st and Benton, Kansas City, MO

National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame
DESCRIPTION: Over 30,000 artifacts covering 172 acres, it honors America’s farmers and the crops they grow.
ADMISSION:Adults $7, Age 62+ $6, Students and Active Military $5, Age 5-16 $3, Age 4 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-4p, Sun 1p-4p
ADDRESS: 630 North 126th Street, Bonner Springs, MO MAP
PARKING: on premises
PHONE: 913-721-1075
WEBSITE: http://www.aghalloffame.com

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