Kansas city Miss. or Kansas City, Kansas?

[HoneySuckle]

Okay, so I don't know Kansas at all but am planning to spend a few days up there next week.  Mainly interested in shopping, museums, eating out.

Which area is supposed to be the one that's famous for all of the above? 

[Conan71]

Okay, so I don't know Kansas at all but am planning to spend a few days up there next week.  Mainly interested in shopping, museums, eating out.

Which area is supposed to be the one that's famous for all of the above? 

Both.  It's one big metro, but KC, MO has The Plaza which is like a Utica Square on steroids.  There's also a Farmer's Market area in the downtown area of KC, MO with the Arabian Steam Boat Museum.  The Westport area used to be big for entertainment, and nightlife, no idea if it still is.  It's been close to 10 years since I spent any time there.

(KC, Miss would be Mississippi, which does not have a Kansas City, FAIK) 

[swake]

Okay, so I don't know Kansas at all but am planning to spend a few days up there next week.  Mainly interested in shopping, museums, eating out.

Which area is supposed to be the one that's famous for all of the above? 

They are known as KCK and KCMO and they are right across a river (and stateline)from one another. KCMO has more of what you are looking for than KCK, but most of the nicer suburbs are on the Kansas side of the line.

Tulsa and Kansas City are pretty similar cities. Kansas City (MO) has a great midtown with the Plaza (Utica) and Westport (Brookside). Overland Park/Johnson County is a suburban area to the southwest that is a lot like south Tulsa/Broken Arrow. Most of the shopping will be at the Plaza or in Overland Park. The north side has an industrial area around the river, kind of like west Tulsa, the casinos are in that part of town. The Amusement Park and football/baseball stadiums are in a kind of East Tulsa like run down area to the east of the city. The Nelson-Atkins is a great museum. There are a bunch of really good hotels near the Plaza.

No trip to Kansas City is complete without taking a short drive over to Lawrence where KU is. Lawrence is a really great college town with a great quaint downtown.

[cannon_fodder]

Westport is still hoppin'.  The new entertainment area is the Power and Light District in downtown MO.  Embarrassingly, I can speak to some good bars, casinos, and other entertainment outlets in KC . . . but no museums.  Wait, I've been to the zoo . . . it's ok.   

[FOTD]

Savoy Grill still in KC?

KC rocks and rolls....much nicer than going south to Dallass

[Hoss]

Savoy Grill still in KC?

KC rocks and rolls....much nicer than going south to Dallass

I agree.  Used to have many friends there, but they moved away.  I used to frequent the Station Casino (now Ameristar) about twice a month.  And Arthur Bryants.  Yum...

I always said if I had a choice of places to live other than Tulsa, KC would be right at the top of the list.

[HoneySuckle]

Sorry about the Miss.  I was in a hurry and didn't want to write out the whole word.

I'm so glad to hear the reviews.  Kansas somehow never had any appeal and silly us spent our time going to Dallas/San Antonio (loved it), Austin (loved there too), Branson and Eureaka springs for short trips.

I figured it was time for something different.

So you would say it's okay to stay on the Kansas City, KS side?  Someone at work said that side is dumpy, but I'm betting she hasn't been back there for over 20 years!  I noticed hotels were higher on the MO side too.

Finally found a good web site and was reading about the Farmer's Market which I won't miss.


http://www.visitkc.com/things-to-do/index.aspx

[TURobY]

I'm actually looking at making a weekend trip up there soon. I like to stay downtown (which is in MO), the Kansas side is suburbia. Nothing wrong with that, but not really where I want to visit.

[joiei]

I ususally stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in KCK.  It usually has lower rates and free parking than all the places in downtown KCMO or down by the Plaza.  It is not all that far from anything either.  You will find that on weekends the hotels down in Overland Park,Leawood,Olathe have better prices than downtown KCMO/Plaza area. 

As to the museums, the Nelson Atkins is excellent and the new Block Addition is spectacular.  The Kemper is more modern art and has a highly rated dining room.  The Liberty Memorial and National WWI museum, go to the top for the view.  The Hallmark museum is not worth the time. 

The Plaza has become filled with a lot of national shopping mall stores but it does contain a number of high end stores you don't find here in Tulsa.  There are several chain restaurants as well as local places like Starker's Reserve to dine.   

Restaurants I like in KC (both) Bluestem - the best in KC located in Westport.  The Chef/owner was nominated for a James Beard award the last two years.  Lidia's for Italian, in the Railyards across the tracks from Union Station.

Blanc Burgers and Bottles - also in Westport, great burgers and the Adult Milkshakes are potent and delicious.

For bbq i go to Oklahoma joes, I like their bbq better than the older well known places. 

Pizzabella in the Crossroads, best Pizza in KCMO,  Spin, best pizza in Overland Park.

Le Fou Frog,  a funky french place in the same area as the farmers market, cool bar interesting collection of customers.

Aixois - south of the Plaza, if the morning is nice, a great place to go for breakfast.

Bluebird - Just off the Crossroads on 17th and Summit I think,  for a healthy breakfast and if the bread bakery next door, Fevere, is open get a loaf of bread, the best in the city. 

For a fun night, the Blue Room adjacent to the American Jazz Museum is a great bar to go listen to some good local Jazz.  No Smoking allowed so you can breath.   This is located at 18th and Vine.  Usually a small cover $10 or under. 

Their Brookside area is also cool, Cosentino's is a great grocery store. 

Here is a link to check things out - [url]http://www.visitkc.com/things-to-do/attractions/index.aspx/url]

[sauerkraut]

I'm actually looking at making a weekend trip up there soon. I like to stay downtown (which is in MO), the Kansas side is suburbia. Nothing wrong with that, but not really where I want to visit.

KC is known as the "city of fountains". The weekends are the best time to visit, I have never stayed there but passed thru the city many times and on weekdays it's traffic choked and the metro area seems to go one forever. St Louis is the same way. Traffic on I-70 does not thin out till your around 30 miles out of the city. I like Dallas/Fort Worth better, but that's just me

[TURobY]

I'm more of a skyscraper and architecture tourist, but I did enjoy visiting the fountains while I was there.

[HoneySuckle]

I like Dallas/FT Worth a lot too.

We can't go on the weekend, has to be from Tuesday to Friday    

Hope we won't regret this trip! 

Thanks for all the museum, hotel, and restaurant tips!  Sure appreciate it.

[HoneySuckle]

About the traffic problem.

Where would be best to stay in order to avoid the traffic?  I assume we'd be in it when trying to get to the museums, parks, gardens or whatever, but I'd hate to be in a hotel downtown.

[joiei]

About the traffic problem.

Where would be best to stay in order to avoid the traffic?  I assume we'd be in it when trying to get to the museums, parks, gardens or whatever, but I'd hate to be in a hotel downtown.

There are several Hilton, Marriott and assorted other hotel properties located along I-35 going into the city starting in Olathe.

I always go up via 169 through Coffeeville to Garnett, take 59 from Garnett up to I-35.  I find that a much faster and more direct route.  Mostly farmland and such.  Iola is a cool little place to stop off in. 

As for the traffic around the city, it is usually only bad during rush hours.  I take a map and tend to stay off the freeways anyway, driving the local streets I see more.  Stateline is an interesting road so is Wornall and Ward Parkway,  that is 3 major north south streets.  We get so spoiled with our lack of traffic here in Tulsa.  Besides, I learn a heck of a lot more about a city by traveling the city streets as opposed to only using the freeways. 

Going during the week is not bad at all.  Have a good time,  oh, there is a Dean and Deluca in Overland Park that is always my last stop before heading home.  I pick up a sandwich or two and a beverage and sometimes a dessert so that I will not have to stop at a McDonald's on the drive back down.  My favorites are the Tuna/White Bean and the Italian Sub. 

KC drivers tend to not be as aggressive as the DFW drivers.  I would much rather drive I-35 than drive the Central expressway (75) during rush hour. 

[Conan71]

+1 on taking 169 to get there.  I like it a lot better than 44 and 71