Kansas City is a great place to visit with your family! There’s much more to do than you can fit in a weekend but we’re highlighting two areas of town plus a list of additional can’t miss attractions. We hope you come back and explore more! You’ll find additional resources in our Kansas City Guides section.
Kansas City Attractions
Crown Center + Union Station
With a variety of attractions and local restaurants connected to The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, it makes for a very easy family fun weekend!
At Crown Center, you can start with the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City. 
Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time online and get the combo pass with SEA LIFE for the best deal. In the Creative Workshop area, you can build to your heart’s content and race tracks to see how your creations perform against others. Catch a 4-D movie and walk through the Mini Village to see Kansas City landmarks and Wizard of Oz in tiny brick form! Make sure the kiddos bring their piggy bank money as the LEGO Store has plenty of souvenirs they will be begging for.
After your underwater adventure at SEA LIFE, head outside to Crown Center Square to catch the dancing fountains. Check out Fritz’s for dinner. You can’t beat burgers, fries and milkshakes delivered by an overhead electric train.
On your second day, walk the across the street to Union Station and grab breakfast at Harvey’s where the chocolate chips pancakes are ooey gooey and one order is plenty for the kids to share or grab some quick to-go options with a cappuccino from Parisi Coffee. Head downstairs to Science City for some STEM fun. We love the new train area and outdoor playground. For older kids, don’t miss the Amazing Brain exhibit. You could wander Union Station for hours with its stunning architecture, model train exhibit, Planetarium and Xtreme Screen, so spend as much time as your family wants or head back to Crown Center Shops to browse more stores.
Don’t miss Spin Pizza and Unforked for your other meals!
Kansas City Zoo
If you have time, check out the Kanas City Zoo! Don’t miss the alligators (new in May 2022), elephants, stingrays and penguin exhibits. Check out our guide to everything you need to know whether you’re a repeat visitor or first-timer.
Johnson County Attractions
Another area of town to consider is Kansas City’s largest suburb — Overland Park, a 25-minute drive from downtown Kansas City. Check out a Johnson County itinerary for additional ideas.
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is the perfect place to learn, grow, and have fun. Visit more than 250 animals and birds, learn about growing flowers and vegetables, experience a Kanza Indian encampment or a one-room school house, and take a stroll through main street to the fishing pond. There are so many hidden gems but for sure don’t miss feeding the cute baby goats with bottles of milk! The farm is open April 1 – October each year.
The Museum at Prairiefire
Towering over you immediately in the Great Hall is a tyrannosaurus rex which takes the breath away of any dino-loving kid. Go to the dino computers where kids (or adults) can design and name their own species of dinos and then virtually set them free into the Great Hall where on video it looks as if they roam amongst us. Make your way upstairs to the Discovery Room to explore the natural history of the Midwest, check out some fun animals and learned all about our solar system! Don’t miss the scavenger hunt in the big tree!
Overland Park Arboretum
Get outdoors and soak up some sunshine at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The paved and woodchipped trails were the perfect places to explore and run off some steam with the kids. Don’t miss the model train garden (amazing for train lovers and adults alike), the natural playground and the koi fish.
Don’t miss DOP Donuts, Joe’s Barbecue KC and Chicken n Pickle (pickle ball, yard games and good food!).
Kidscape at the Johnson County Museum
Where can your kids perform an operation, put on a play, and break out of jail before serving you a burger and running off to play on a covered wagon? You’ll find all this and more at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum. Check out this guide for everything you need to know.
Other Hot Spots for a Kansas City Weekend
National World War I Museum and Memorial
For additional Kansas City itineraries based on your family’s ages, interests and the weather, click here.
