A Weekend Getaway to Kansas City

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impacts on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war.

The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations.

To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.

In September 1856, the steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City with 200 tons of cargo bound for towns in the west. In 1988, the Arabia excavation began, resulting in the astonishing discovery of pre-Civil War artifacts which are now on display. This unique museum has been featured in national television programs, magazines and in numerous newspapers.

Tours are conducted every half hour; last entry at 3:30 p.m.

Closed: Jan. 1, Easter, Thanksgiving and Dec. 24-25.

The museum recreates the look, sounds and feel of the game’s storied past. The Negro Leagues were established in 1920. Video presentations and memorabilia in the 10,000 square-foot multimedia exhibit chronicle the history and heroes of the Negro Leagues, from the origin to the 1960s.

Exhibits include hundreds of photographs, historical artifacts and interactive computer stations. As the centerpiece, the Coors Field of Legends features 10 life-sized bronze sculptures of Negro Leagues greats, positioned on a mock baseball diamond as if they were playing a game. A documentary film, narrated by actor James Earl Jones, tells the story of the leagues through vintage film footage.

The Hall of Fame Lockers area pays tribute to the players who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The museum store features officially-licensed Negro Leagues merchandise.

In July 2006, the United States Congress designated this facility, America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

It is important to point out, this is NOT a Hall of Fame.

Admission: $10; age 65+, $9; ages 5-12, $6; younger than 5, free. Group rates are available.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is recognized internationally as one of the finest general art museums in the United States. The Nelson-Atkins currently maintains collections of nearly 40,000 works of art, all of which provide the opportunity to create new connections and unique experiences at every turn.

Collections include: African, American, American Indian, Ancient, Architecture, Design and Decorative Arts, Chinese, Contemporary, European, Japanese, Modern, Photography, Prints and Drawings, South, Southeast and West Asian.

In addition, you can enjoy art outdoors in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, which houses more than 35 sculptures by many of the 20th century’s finest artists.

Admission to the museum is always free though there may be costs associated with certain programs and traveling exhibitions. For details, tickets or reservations visit the information desk in the lobby of the Bloch Building or nelson-atkins.org.

Join us for some winter fun at the Ice Terrace at Crown Center, Kansas City’s public, outdoor ice-skating rink at Crown Center. The Ice Terrace skating season runs November-March. Please visit our website for information, holiday hours and schedules.

Regular admission: $7; younger than 5, and ages 60+, free. Skate rental, $4 (skaters may bring their own). Skaters younger than 13 must be under the supervision of an adult (age 21 or older).

Group rates available by reservation, Monday through Thursday, for groups of 20 or more.

Union Station Kansas City is a 104-year-old historical landmark and celebrated civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. Recently awarded “Favorite Attraction”, “Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction”, “Favorite Historic Attraction” and “Best of KC”, the organization — dedicated to science education, celebration of community and preservation of history — is home to Kansas City’s internationally-awarded Science City – Powered by Burns & McDonnell; the new Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre; the popular Model Railroad Experience; City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants.

Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses, and regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions. Awarded “Top Banquet Facilities in KC” by KC Business Journal, the facility annually hosts hundreds of community events and private celebrations of all sizes.

Union Station is located across the street from Crown Center shopping and entertainment district and less than five minutes from the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. Admission is free; however, there is a charge for some attractions and events. Visit unionstation.org for schedules and pricing information.

See the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures, and one of the nation’s largest collections of historic toys.

Jacob Rieger & Company was founded in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms Livestock Exchange district. The brand offered more than 100 alcoholic products and took pride in maintaining a quarter of a million unique customers by offering mail-order delivery services. In 1919, Prohibition was enacted by the federal government and wasn’t reversed until 1933. J. Rieger & Co. was a casualty at the time, but was not destined to be lost forever. In 2014, we revived Kansas City’s historic and iconic distillery.

In July 2019 we began a new chapter of our story, offering a visitor experience for the first time in our 132-year history. Now located in the historic Electric Park district of Kansas City, just three minutes east of the River Market, our new distillery offers daily tours and tastings, two distinct bar spaces serving cocktails, food, beer and wine, as well as space for private events.

Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing has grown to become one of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest and Missouri’s largest independent brewery. We offer free, 45-minute tours of the brewery, year-round, Wednesday-Sunday. See our website for details, tour schedules and public events.

During the tour you hear the brewery’s history, take a walking tour of the plant, see short videos explaining the brewing and production process, learn about the different beers Boulevard makes and you may sample the products. (Must be 21 to taste.)

Private event spaces are available for up to 225 guests.

We specialize in small lots of hand-crafted wines. Our vineyards are located about 30 miles east of Kansas City, near the small town of Centerview.Our space includes a barrel room with patio, the tasting room, and the mezzanine, located inside the circa 1909 Daily Drover Telegram building, in the Stockyards District. Our space is restored to the majestic look of the era, with more than 24 reclaimed doors and tile resembling the early 1900s.Tasting: $5 for five wines. The tasting room has a wine tap system, designed especially for wine. Wines are available by the glass and bottle.Boulevard beers are served. We offer small plates featuring local cheeses and breads.We can customize your private event with wine and beer tasting, barrel tasting, Q&A with the winemaker, et cetera.

Green Lady Lounge features Kansas City Jazz musicians in the rich Kansas City tradition.Green Lady Lounge is proud and honored to be able to feature live performances by some of the best Jazz musicians in the world.Free of TVs, you can focus on music, atmosphere and conversation.Please check the Calendar Page on our website for our performance schedule.

The Blue Room is a museum by day and a working jazz club by night; part of the American Jazz Museum. Four nights a week, the Blue Room resonates with the sweet sounds of Kansas City jazz. As the only Kansas City club included in DownBeat magazine’s list of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the world, the Blue Room consistently books top name national and international entertainers.

Designed to resemble a 1930s nightclub, the Blue Room is a multifaceted exhibit focusing on the Kansas City connection to the evolution of jazz, featuring a wall of fame exhibiting the images of those local musicians that made the Kansas City-style swing.

While in the Blue Room, you can view “soundies” from a video jukebox that features performances of jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller and John Coltrane. Alcoholic beverages are available at the bar and an appetizer buffet is available during Indigo Hour Friday evenings.

Visit our online events calendar for information about performances and show times.

The Phoenix is the oldest, award-winning jazz club in the Midwest, founded in 1990. We have live music six days/week, an upscale bar menu, a smoking patio, and an awesome cocktail list! Be sure to check out our live jazz brunch every Sunday from 10a-2p, and for more information – check out our FB, IG, or website.

This entire 15-block district is home to more than 150 upscale shops, dozens of fine restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. It is one of the Midwest’s major shopping, dining and entertainment destination.The Plaza has a year-round calendar of music and other special events.

Zona Rosa, in north Kansas City, is an upscale shopping, dining and entertainment district, located at the northwest corner of I-29 and Barry Road.The streets of the property are reminiscent of downtowns from the past, with individual storefronts evoking a village-feel. Amid the retail space you’ll find grassy areas with fountains and park benches, just right for relaxing.Zona Rosa is home to dozens of well-known, top name merchants and dining options. Check our website for a complete list of businesses and a schedule of special events.Proceeds from the parking meters are donated to local charities; in lieu of the meters, ample free parking is available.

Our award-winning barbecue and the historic Freight House make a gorgeous combination. The 25-foot ceilings, fireplace lounge with full-service bar, and private, outdoor and banquet dining areas are a handsome backdrop for our flavorful menu.We serve quality hickory-smoked meats, fresh seafood and sides. In the Crossroads Art District – home of many galleries and boutiques – the Freight House accommodates Jack Stack customers for a variety of occasions, including large group gatherings. Call ahead for carryout and curbside service.

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