Family vacations in Kansas City can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters — it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are recommended attractions for those planning Kansas City family vacations.
Kansas City Zoo
The
is located within Swope Park, a huge cultural park within the city limits. The 202-acre zoo houses more than 1,300 animals. Highlights include the Tiger Trail, which focuses on plants and animals from Asia, and the polar bear plunge with its 140,000-gallon pool.
Address: 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO 64132Phone: 816-513-5700Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: Adults, $11.50; seniors, $10.50; children ages 3 to 11, $8.50; children age 2 and younger, free
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
Located in Truman's hometown, the
was the first modern-style presidential library. The site houses the Truman presidential papers as well as a variety of Truman memorabilia. There's also a full-scale replica of the Oval Office as it looked during the Truman presidency. President Truman and his First Lady are buried at the site.
Address: 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO 64132Phone: 816-513-5700Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: Adults, $11.50; seniors, $10.50; children ages 3 to 11, $8.50; children age 2 and younger, free
Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City
Just 10 minutes outside of Kansas City,
offers a variety of learning exhibits such as Farm to Market, where kids can pretend to work on a farm; and H2OH!, which teaches children about the properties of water in a fun way. There's also an indoor picnic area and a performance center for plays, puppet shows and other cultural events.
Address: 5700 King St., Shawnee, KS 66203Phone: 913-287-8888Hours: Labor Day to Memorial Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. SundayPrice: Ages 3 to 63, $7; age 64 and older, $6; ages 1 and 2, $3; infants under age 1, free
Powell Gardens
Located 30 miles east of Kansas City in Kingsville, Mo., Powell Gardens is a 915-acre oasis that features more than 6,000 varieties of plants displayed in a variety of theme gardens such as the meadow, perennial and waterfall gardens.
Address: 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO 64061Phone: 816-697-2600Hours: May through September, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; October through April, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. dailyPrice: April through October: Adults, $9.50; seniors, $8.50; children ages 5 to 12, $4. November through March: Adults, $7; seniors, $6; children ages 5 to 12, $3
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The neo-classical
is one of America's most important art institutions. The museum houses more than 33,000 art objects and is particularly noted for its Asian art collection and 22-acre sculpture park.
Address: 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64111Phone: 816-751-1278Hours: Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.Price:Free
Science City
Located in the restored Union Station in the heart of downtown Kansas City,
an array of hands-on, interactive learning exhibits. Highlights include Dino Lab, where visitors can see scientists working with real dinosaur specimens, and the planetarium, where visitors can learn more about the Kansas City sky.
Address: 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108Phone: 816-460-2020Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.Price: $10; children under age 3, free
Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza, located in the heart of downtown Kansas City, is one of the city's premier attractions. The 15-block district is home to more than 150 shops and restaurants as well as the site for numerous events, including free concerts and art shows.
Address: 4750 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64112Phone: 813-753-0100Hours: Hours vary for individual shops and restaurantsPrice: Free
Have you been to Kansas City? What are your favorite attractions?
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