Kansas City advice!
 

So, I looked all over the place for "Where in the Heck Do I Put This Thread?!"

It's not really an event, per se, as I'll be stuck in class most of the time and with classmates much of the rest of the time, but Noodle is going to be in Kansas City July 12-18 and needs some ideas. I have the entire day of the 15th free after 10 am and my classmates are going to see the new Harry Potter movie. As I can live without it and will have my trusty camera and running shoes, I need to find out What One Should Not Miss. I think I'm in a Wyndam Hotel in Overland Park (Hello, Toaster) though I'm not positive. I've had half a bottle of wine, I'm lucky I remember the dates. :) I've been told not to miss some barbeque place in the Northwest Terminal at the airport somewhere (Memphis or KC?) but as for the rest, I haven't gotten any advice.

So for those in the KC area, help me out. I love barbeque, good food, music, botanical gardens, photo ops, history, wandering and getting lost, and basically exploring the native culture when I travel. I'm a terrible dancer, hate "house" music and fly in on a Sunday afternoon, out on a Saturday afternoon, limiting my "social hours." Though my classmates are pretty cool. We got schnockered quite a bit in Santa Barbara and one is bringing Dandelion Wine. uh-oh.

What shouldn't I miss?

I'm disappointed, I just google mapped the heck outta Kansas and never saw smallville!! You know, I thought it was like South Park, Colorado!! Sorry noodle, outta ideas here ...

Event Search Results : VisitKC.com Official Travel Source

Kansas City barbeque is the best IMHO.

Union Station is an interesting place. Although runing shoes are not the best transportation from Overland Park to downtown KC.
Union Station Kansas City : VisitKC.com Official Travel Source

Standard Midwest city fare, mostly. Maybe the most unusual thing about KC is the changes between rich, not rich, and poor neighborhoods and how quick it happens and how close they are to each other.

KC is REALLY spread out and the statistics are all screwy from the Greater KC Area being in three counties across two states. I'm not sure if you realized this, but Overland Park is a suburb of Kansas City and has about 175,000 people. You aren't going to want to run from there to Kansas City, lol.

If you like botanical gardens, Overland Park has one on the south edge at like 179th and Antioch. It's somewhere around 300 acres. Shawnee Mission Park is a 1250+ acre monstrosity full of trees and lakes and trails and lakes and crap. I think it's one of the largest parks in the US, but I might be making that up.

18th and Vine is a historic Jazz district and has a museum as well.

I like the Nelson art gallery which is in KCMO and go there a couple of times a year.

My favorite BBQ (I'm a rib guy) place in the city is actually called Oklahoma Joe's, and the original location is connected to a gas station in Kansas City, KS sorta between where Mission, Shawnee Mission, and Kansas City meet. Best ribs IMO in the KC metro area, and they always have a line of people waiting, sometimes out the door. But you can hit up like twenty more places in KC that very well might all be the best BBQ you've ever gotten a chance at. I am not a great judge of BBQ because I'm stupid spoiled living in the Greater KC Metro area my whole life.

Union Station, host of the St. Valentine's Day massacre (a byproduct of that event is the FBI), is supposedly cool and has exhibits, but the only time I've ever been was for my prom 6 1/2 years ago. :)

If you want a real KC tradition, hit a Royals game. Due to the All-star games, the Royals' schedule, and your schedule, it looks like that Friday night might be your only shot. Nothing is more KC than seeing a Royals game and drinking away the pain and shame of having one of the worst franchises in sports (not just MLB) in an absolutely beautiful stadium.

Anything else I can do, ideas, etc... just hit me up.

And...when you're done with everything that Toaster126 has provided...you can jump on I-29, travel North for an hour and a half, and come see ol' Bill O'Rights in Omaha. ;)

Not very good public transportation in KC, it is really hard to get around without a car. Very spread out, so taxis can be expensive. :grumpy:
18th and Vine district has the Jazz Museum and the Negro League Baseball Museum, both worth a visit, and one ticket gets you into both, if I remember right.
If you like history, don't miss the Harry Truman home and Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO, just East of KCMO, and convenient to I-70.
I'm with Toaster on Oklahoma Joe's and KC BBQ in general. :thumbsup: Any BBQ joint that isn't top notch just doesn't stay in business long in KC.
There is great jazz all over KC, not just in the 18th&Vine area. You may find some pretty good jazz right in the lounge at your hotel.:)

Lindy

Crossroads arts district is nice to wander about and shoot photos. So is the Hallmark Center on Grand Blvd with its art and fountains.
The Kansas City Crossroads Arts District: First Fridays, Second Saturdays, Galleries, Community Events Calendar

I am a complete and total idiot.

I'm staying in the Weston something in KC, MO.
And shesus says I need to find and hang out with a Toaster while I'm there, lol.
Is there still pin-up bowling somewheres?

My favorite BBQ place in the area, is Snead's BBQ in Belton, MO. About 17 miles South of KC, on Holmes Rd. Mmmmmmmm:thumbsup: