Exploring Kansas City with a Longtime Expert, Part 3

In the first part of my interview [2] with Diana Lambdin Meyer – who, with her husband, photographer Bruce N. Meyer, created the Kansas City Uncovered [3] mobile app ($2.99) for Sutro Media – we discussed Kansas City's numerous fountains, varied museums, and assorted outdoor activities, plus the differences between Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. In the second part [4], meanwhile, Diana suggested other indoor attractions and offered her top picks for local shopping opportunities, the city's best views, nightlife and barbecue hotspots, and KC's more romantic diversions. Of course, Diana and Bruce have explored a lot more than that in their recently updated app, which is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices and filled with photos, maps, and recommendations on what to see, do, and eat in KCMO – a place they've called home for more than 25 years.

If you're still curious about some of the other activities and attractions that the City of Fountains has to offer, take a look at the third – and final – part of my interview with Diana:

American Nomad: You've already shared a few ideas for spending a romantic weekend in Kansas City [5]. Conversely, which accommodations, attractions, restaurants, and activities would you most recommend for a family vacation?

Diana Lambdin Meyer: Kansas City has a number of hotels with water parks, like the Great Wolf Lodge and Schlitterbahn, but Worlds of Fun [6]/Oceans of Fun [7] also has cabins and a campground. There are two restaurants in Crown Center [8] that are great fun for kids: The Crayola Cafe and Fritz's Railroad Restaurant. Crown Center is also home to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center and the Coterie Theatre, which has been named the top children's theater in the country.

AN: Which lodging, dining, shopping, and sightseeing options would appeal to those on a budget?

DLM: Overall, Kansas City is a very budget-friendly community, and there are lots of free activities everywhere.

AN: Yes, as you mentioned earlier in our conversation, the city offers numerous fountains, many of which are presumably free to see, not to mention the always-free Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. So, on a different topic, what are some of the highlights of visiting Kansas City in each season?

DLM: March Madness is wild in Kansas City. The NCAA was founded here, and of course, James Naismith created the first college basketball program at the University of Kansas, so we have lots of energy and tournaments here.

The Kansas City Royals [9] is not one of the country's best baseball teams, but Kauffman Stadium, where they play in the summer, is frequently named the most beautiful baseball park in the country. The outfield fountain is the largest in the world.

Fall – it's gotta be the American Royal Barbecue Contest [10], considered the World Series of Barbecue competitions.

The holidays are really quite lovely here with the Spanish-style buildings of the Country Club Plaza all decorated in lights, and the Mayor's Christmas Tree at Crown Center is often the tallest Christmas tree in the country. It's often bigger than the national tree at the White House or the one at Rockefeller Center. Ice skating at the Crown Center Ice Terrace is a must.

AN: Are there any special annual events in and around Kansas City that visitors should be sure not to miss?

DLM: Attending the American Royal Barbecue Contest in October is an experience you won't soon forget. The aroma of 1,000 barbecue smokers all cooking the best barbecue in the world is beyond mouth-watering. And we have a huge Irish population in Kansas City, so St. Patrick's Day is quite the party. At one time, our parade was second only to Boston in number of entries. The Irish Fest [11], held on Labor Day Weekend, is just a few years old but draws a huge crowd. It's a great party.

AN: What are some of your favorite excursions beyond Kansas City?

DLM: I appreciate rural areas and small towns, so there are plenty to choose from. I love the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve [12] in Kansas, and the Symphony on the Prairie each June is so wonderful. The Fort Scott National Historic Site [13], about two hours south of Kansas City, is a great place to learn about the role of the Kansas/Missouri border wars in the days leading up to the Civil War. To explore outside of Kansas City, I highly recommend the book Day Trips from Kansas City. I happen to know the author, and she's brilliant!

I hope that you've gleaned some helpful advice from my conversation with Diana – and, of course, feel inspired to visit Kansas City soon. I, for one, plan to travel there as soon as possible!

If, by the way, you'd like even more information about Kansas City, check out Diana's related books, such as the above-mentioned Day Trips from Kansas City (2012) as well as A Kid's Guide to Kansas City (2005). You can also follow her adventures at MojoTraveler.com [14]. In addition, feel free to consult Katy Ryan's Moon Kansas City [15] guide as well as her informative author Q&A [16].

In the meantime, have you ever been to Kansas City, Missouri? If so, what was your favorite aspect of the City of Fountains?

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook [17] and Twitter [18].

Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.

Photo of the Kansas City Irish Fest [19] courtesy of Bruce N. Meyer / Text © 2013 Laura Martone

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Laura Martone is Moon’s American Nomad [20] and the author of Moon New Orleans [21], Moon Michigan [22], Moon Florida Keys [23], and Moon Baja RV Camping [24].