What I remember about the road from Boulder to Kansas City was that the drive across the state of Kansas was absolutely barren and windy until Kansas City arose like the Emerald City of Oz in the distance. The wind was so fierce that it was actually a struggle to drive! We arrived at our hotel a little tired out.
Best Western Seville Plaza
Our hotel, the Best Western Seville Plaza, was decent enough and centrally located–we could have walked 20 minutes to an area with lots of shopping and dining. We struggled with our dinner restaurant selection on this night. Everyone was so tired and no one could make a decision about anything. Somehow, we settled on a restaurant that ended up being one of the most expensive restaurants in town, the Capital Grille.
The Capital Grille
We walked in with our tourist clothes and sandals past gussied-up diners at a posh bar, were seated an an elegant booth under a bronze eagle statue and were handed menus on which there was no entree under $50. Thankfully, our server grasped our predicament pretty quickly and helped us make a meal out of shared soups, salads, appetizers, and the bread service.
Country Club Plaza
The immediate area around the Capital Grille is a nice outdoor shopping center with a cinema and restaurants. We walked around a bit before heading back to the hotel, but all the shops were closed by then. It would be a nice area to walk around during the day. There’s also a park along the banks of Brush Creek that runs through town in this area.
National WWI Museum & Memorial
One of the most popular attractions in Kansas City is the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Set in a large park with a memorial tower you can climb, there is a main permanent gallery containing a tank, life-size trenches, interactive table displays, a theater, and more. A changing exhibit is currently Color of Memory: Fabric Art of WWI. General admission cost is $18 for adults, an additional $10 for the current exhibit, and $5 to visit the tower. A combination ticket for all three is $23, or you can purchase a combination of any two options for a slight discount.
Kansas City, City of Fountains
Kansas City claims to have the most working decorative fountains in the world, even more than Rome. Whether this is true or not, it would be fun to do a photo safari for a day to take pictures of as many fountains as you could! That would a great way to spend a day, sightseeing with a goal in mind.
Other Attractions
There are a few other attractions around town of note: Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is very large and FREE. You may have seen the sculpture of a badminton birdie on the lawn. Kauffman Memorial Garden and Legacy Park is a tranquil (and FREE) space to visit near the river. Loose Park & Rose Garden is a smaller FREE garden and park, and the Kansas City Zoo even has a few rides in it, like a sky ride, a carousel, and a boat through African Plains.
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