Kansas City is one of my favorite places to visit with my husband. We both love the city and all of the culture and beauty this vibrant city has to offer. Each year it is at the top of our list of places we would like to escape to in celebration of our anniversary. Whether you are a fan of art, music or history. Kansas has something for you! Just recently, we were reading as a family and we discovered that Kansas City is known for its many fountains! This small fact brought light to my eyes as we drove through Kansas City and discovered many fountains that I had never really seen before! Here are a few of the many places we (my husband and I) like to visit. I look forward to writing a kid-friendly addition to KC very soon! But for now, this is a couples addition. 😉

Nelson Atkins Museum

We are both lovers of art and the Nelson Atkins Museum is one of our very favorite places to visit. I honestly could roam the many galleries over, and over, and over…and never bore of the beautiful art they have on display. There is no fee to enjoy this beautiful museum. The architectural structure of the museum itself is one that will grab your attention right away. Roam about their beautifully maintained grounds and discover sculptures and an intriguing glass outdoor maze. We took a tour on our last visit and thoroughly enjoyed it! Very much so, that we wished we would have eaten lunch before the tour so we could have taken a second tour!

Advice:

• If you are carrying a backpack, place only one strap over your shoulder or wear the backpack on your front. This is to prevent you from backing into something accidentally.
• No drinks in the galleries!
• Take a tour!
• Go to the customer service desk and ask for a handheld device. With this device, you can scan any piece of art and it will give you information on titles and artists.
• Give some distance to the art you are viewing. If you come to close, you may be approached by someone asking you to step back.
• Take your time…If you are an art lover, give yourself plenty of time! We always get there at opening and almost always end up wishing we had more time. They do close rather early so keep that in mind!

Union Station

I am a sucker for old movies and in almost every old movie…there is a train involved. So naturally, I fell in love with the Union Station in Kansas City! I personally loved roaming the station with its beautifully kept halls and old doors! There are different attractions tucked about in distant halls and below stairs but for me, the structure of this old station had me in a trance. The station is open very late and it was always ended up as our last stop of the day. I relished the thought of roaming the large areas in peace and without large crowds. Arriving late worked out perfectly!

The station has a small museum tucked away in the left-hand corner of the building. Follow the beautifully preserved staircases up to the second floor. There you can read the history of the station and the transformation the old building has taken over the years. Or simply explore and discover all the fun nooks and cranny this old building has beneath its beautifully decorated ceilings.

The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden

This small garden is a well-kept secret of Kansas City. It is small but the fountains and gardens are not understated. Take a moment away from the shopping and hustle of the city to enjoy nature at its finest.

Hallmark Visitor Center

Crown Center is home to a very iconic company called Hallmark! I had no idea that Hallmark was founded in Kansas City until recently! A friend of mine suggested that we visit the Hallmark Visitor Center and I am so glad that she did! The Hallmark Visitor Center is a must stop for anyone who has loved anything Hallmark! We visited in August but it really put me in the mood to visit again in December! Crown Center is a very vibrant area with both Union Station and the World War I museum very near!

World War I Museum

As you drive up to the World War I Museum, you can sense that there is something very special about this place. Located near Crown Center, the World War Museum gives off a very different vibe. It is a place of peace and patriotism. I wish we had visited earlier in the day. Unknowingly, we decided to visit very close to closing time. Our intention was just to visit the monument and walk the grounds, but once we arrived both my husband and I wished we had arrived earlier and paid admission. The monument is amazing and the view of downtown Kansas City is breathtaking. We took the elevator down to the entrance of the Museum and fell in love with the field of poppies for fallen soldiers at the entrance of the building. Breathtaking!

Advice:

Read here about the elements of the museum and memorial. I wish I had!

https://www.theworldwar.org/explore/museum-and-memorial/elements-museum-and-memorial