Kansas City

Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Reputed to have more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is unique in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.

Understand
Kansas City has a population of 2.2 million (2020). The central city of the metro area is Kansas City, Missouri, the largest city in Missouri, with a population of over 500,000 (2020). Across the state border is Kansas City, Kansas, often called "KCK" by locals, which has a population of 157,000 (2020). There are also suburbs on both sides of the border.

There are suburbs all around the city. In the "Northland" are North Kansas City, Parkville, Gladstone, Liberty, and several others. To the east is Independence, Blue Springs, and Lee's Summit (SE). In the south are Overland Park, Blue Springs, Olathe, Grandview, and several others. Numbering of east/west streets begins at the Missouri River with the east/west division occurring at Main Street. Westport is around 40th St., the Plaza at 47th St., Brookside at 55th, and Waldo beginning around Gregory (71st St.).

Climate
Because there is no large body of water nearby, KC experiences a continental climate with large swings and extremes of temperature. Winters vary from mild to very cold, with significant snow at times, and temperatures occasionally dipping to single digits and below 0°F (-18°C). Snow accumulation occurs 3-5 times per year, on average, sometimes exceeding a foot (31 cm). KC enjoys very pleasant spring and autumn weather, but suffers hot, humid summers. It is not uncommon for the temperature to stay above 90°F (32°C) for weeks at a time, during July and August. Because of the heat, almost all buildings in KC are equipped with air conditioning. While KC has relatively high humidity, the most common weather is clear with almost completely blue skies. The majority of the rain falls in Apr-Jun, but even in these wettest months, rain is light, compared to other cities in the region.

Downtown
Downtown Kansas City is generally defined as the areas including the River Market, the central business district (the "Loop"), the Crossroads Arts District, Crown Center and Union Station, and the Power and Light District.

After years of neglect and decay in the 1980s and 1990s, downtown is making a comeback. Many once-abandoned buildings in downtown have been (or are being) rebuilt into high-dollar condominiums and loft apartments. The demand for residences downtown is quite high. In 2007, the sports arena now known as T-Mobile Center was completed, bringing a modern sports and entertainment venue to the downtown core. The Power and Light District was constructed and opened in 2008. The "P&L" District comprises 5 high-rise residential and office towers, with many clubs, bars, restaurants, and shops on the lower floors. A performing arts center south of the convention center area opened in 2011.

The Downtown Council operates security and cleaning/maintenance crews, who keep downtown's streets clean and serve as a security presence. Downtown is one of the safest areas of the city, both day and night.

Traveling north to south, the River Market is the first neighborhood one encounters, south of the banks of the Missouri River. A burgeoning urban neighborhood, it houses many shops, restaurants, bars, and a very active farmers' market that convenes every Saturday, even in winter.

The expressways form a loop around the central business district (CBD). Crossing the north segment of the loop takes you from the River Market to the CBD. This is where Kansas City's famed skyline reaches its greatest heights, further accentuated by its position on top of a sizable hill. The CBD has the principal concentration of white-collar employment in the metro area. The world headquarters for H&R Block are here, within the P and L District.

From here, crossing the south segment of the loop will bring a visitor into the Crossroads Arts District, which is a regional center for art, culture, and nightlife.

When crossing Pershing, Union Station and Crown Center are seen. Crown Center houses shops, restaurants and offices, including the world headquarters of Hallmark. The nearby Liberty Memorial is the world's first World War I memorial and has spectacular views from the top. Just south of Crown Center is Union Hill, another revitalized area offering some of the best skyline views in the city.

South of Downtown
A visitor enters Midtown when they cross 31st Street. A largely residential area, it is the largest single named neighborhood in the city, and actually includes a number of smaller neighborhoods, like Union Hill, Hyde Park, Squire Park, Sheraton Estates, Ivanhoe, Coleman Highlands, Roanoke, Volker, Westport, Southmoreland, Valentine, North Plaza, and many others.

Just south of Midtown is the Country Club Plaza, known locally as "the Plaza", an outdoor shopping center, modeled after Seville, Spain. Farther south is the Waldo/Brookside area marked by more bars and a wonderful pre-war neighborhood. Further south, the city gives way to suburban development, which continues for about 10-15 mi (16-24 km), before giving way to rural farmland and pastures. The vibrant downtown area of Lee's Summit, revitalized in the mid-2010s, is worth a visit.

Tourist information

 * Visit Kansas City website

By plane


The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, branded as RideKC, offers hourly service to and from the airport on Route 129 Boardwalk/KCI, 6AM-11PM daily, $1.50 each way. KCI Shuttle offers a shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels.



By train
Amtrak serves KC via the cavernous, at 30 West Pershing Road. KC serves as a major stop on the daily Southwest Chief line which provides service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Barring delays, eastbound trains arrive at 7:24AM and westbound trains arrive at 10:11PM. Kansas City is also the western terminus of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner which provides twice-daily service to and from St. Louis with connecting service to Chicago.

By car
Interstate 435 forms a ring around the city. Notably I-70 goes east to St. Louis and west to Denver. I-35 is a major corridor running northeast and southwest. US Highway 71 runs north and south and forms a midtown expressway, running from the I-435/I-470 interchange, in a northwesterly course toward downtown, where it joins I-29. North of the River, US 71 follows the same route as I-29. For more information about navigation in the metro area see Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

By bus

 * KC is also serviced by other commercial coach service companies, which arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost.
 * KC is also serviced by other commercial coach service companies, which arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost.

Get around
The national map companies produce book style maps that can be purchased at many grocery and book stores. Local real estate agents and delivery drivers use a book map produced by a local company in the crossroads district but it is hard to find. The one inside the Feist directory is good and can often be obtained locally for free but the directory may be too bulky to carry.

Street numbers
Addresses on east-west streets are numbered from Main Street in Kansas City, MO, and on north-south streets from St. John Ave. (or the Missouri River, in the River Market area). The direction 'South' in street and address numbers is generally implied if 'N' is not specified, except for numbered 'avenues' in North Kansas City. In most of Wyandotte County, Kansas the north-south streets are numbered and the address numbers are measured from Riverview Ave.

Navigation landmarks

 * The KCTV pyramid-shaped tower can be seen from many parts of the city. It is no longer lit. It is next to KCPT studios at the corner of 31st and Main. It is orange.
 * West and north of that is the Liberty Memorial cylinder-shaped tower, which overlooks Union Station.
 * The twin red brick towers of American Century Investments are oriented north and south along Main at 45th St. They are just north of the Country Club Plaza. The Kemper Museum is slightly east. The Nelson Atkins Museum is east and slightly south.
 * Kansas City Community Christian Church at 4601 Main, has a group of lights that shoot a beam straight up at night. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the church. It is slightly south of and across the street from the American Century Investment Towers. The Nelson Atkins is to the east and the Kemper Museum is to the north and slightly east.
 * Bartle Hall has a section that looks somewhat like a north-south suspension bridge crossing over I-670 at the southwest corner of the downtown loop. It has four towers with metal sculptures on top of each tower.
 * One Kansas City Place is the tallest building in KC (as well as the state). The building walls are entirely black glass and the top has a red/white/blue light ring that can be seen at night.  On 12th and Main in downtown.
 * Kansas City Central Library at 14 W 10th St, the main central library of the Kansas City Public Literary system.

Places and notes

 * Brookside refers to the Brookside residential neighborhood as well as the collection of shops between 63d and Meyer off Brookside Blvd.
 * Waldo refers to the Waldo Residential District in Kansas City, Missouri near 75th St. and Wornall Rd.
 * The Country Club Plaza ("the Plaza") is an upscale shopping district built by the J.C. Nichols Co. in the 1920s.
 * 39th St. usually refers to the small section of West 39th St. between State Line Road and Southwest Trafficway. Often referred to as the "39th St. Corridor, " it has many restaurants, bars and shops, and is just across the state line from the University of Kansas Medical Center.
 * University of Kansas Hospital (KUMED) is the corporate name of the hospital on the KU Medical Center campus.
 * Benton Curve, a site of many accidents, is a curve on I-70 where it crosses Benton Ave.
 * Three Trails Crossing is the new name for the former Grandview Triangle and is the intersection of three major highways: I-435, I-470, and US Highway 71 (Bruce R. Watkins Drive). In the past it was notorious for fatal accidents but improvements and upgrades on the Triangle have mostly been completed.
 * Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., named for former mayor and current Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, comprises renamed portions of 47th St. and Brush Creek Blvd.
 * 18th and Vine Historic District contains the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum.
 * Library District is a district around the new Central Library at 14 West 10th St.
 * Strawberry Hill is a historical area in Kansas City, KS.
 * Hospital Hill is the area near 23rd and Holmes. It is home to Truman Medical Centers and Children's Mercy.
 * Argentine is a part of Kansas City, KS near 30th and Argentine.
 * The Crossroads Arts District is a downtown neighborhood between the CBD and Union Station, centered around the intersection of 19th St. and Baltimore. It contains dozens of art galleries and is considered by many to be the center of the arts culture in the metropolitan area. Local artists sponsor exhibits there on the first Friday of each month.
 * Quality Hill is an upscale residential and commercial neighborhood on top of a hill downtown, across the river from the Kansas City Downtown Airport|Charles B. Wheeler Airport.
 * Washington-Wheatley is a historically African-American/black neighborhood southeast of the 18th and Vine District.



Bus service
The Metro bus is feasible within the urban core, where most of the tourist destinations are found. The MAX (Metro Area eXpress) and #57 buses connect downtown, Crown Center, Westport, the Plaza, Brookside, and Waldo. There are other lines that can drop you fairly close to your door in KCMO as well as limited stops in outlying suburbs such as Kansas City, KS, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, the Northland, etc. There is service to the casinos.

Standard fare is $1.50/trip with transfers available from the bus driver that expire two hours after issue. Some lengthy and express routes may cost more. You may purchase a One Day Pass on the bus. The Day Pass is good for local service only. It is issued at the farebox and expires at midnight. Upon boarding, request a Day Pass before depositing the $3 exact change into the farebox. Most major routes use buses that are equipped with bike racks.

The JO

If you need bus service in Johnson Co., KS (Overland Park, Mission, Fairway (Kansas), Leawood (Kansas), Olathe, Lenexa, Westwood, Merriam, Shawnee) you can access "The JO" bus service. It also has lines that run from downtown KCMO to Johnson County and vice versa. The stops are limited and far apart.

Service on "The JO" is limited mostly to morning rush hour, mid-day, and evening rush hour. Fares are $1.25 for trips that begin and end in Johnson Co., $1.75 for trips that go start or end in Downtown KCMO. Transfers are available. Most buses are equipped with bike racks.

By streetcar
A north-south streetcar service links Union Station with the popular River Market district. Free to ride, the streetcar is a convenient although quite slow way to cross the city centre. Streetcars run every 10-15 minutes from early morning to evening, with extended services on weekends. Route maps and more information available at KC Streetcar website.

By car
Most general issues surrounding driving are the same as in any large US city. However, there is one local law that can affect movement in certain congested areas such as downtown. As in the rest of the US (except New York City), right turns on a red light (after coming to a complete stop) are allowed unless prohibited by signage. Most of the country also allows traffic turning left between one-way streets to make the turn on a red light. However, this second movement is banned throughout the state of Missouri. By contrast, the same left turn on red is legal on the Kansas side of the border (unless prohibited by signage).

Union Station area

 * Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium and KC Rail Experience. Ticket to all 3 is $8.95.
 * Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium and KC Rail Experience. Ticket to all 3 is $8.95.

Music
Kansas City has a large jazz scene, a lot of restaurants have nightly jazz players.

Performing arts
Kansas City hosts the national touring companies for some of Broadway's premier shows. Some of the highlights include Wicked, Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia!



Buy

 * Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.
 * City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.

Barbecue
"Who has the best barbecue in Kansas City?" is a question that causes much debate in Kansas City. Although the debate is usually in good humor, be ready for a passionate explanation which may take some time (or a light-hearted argument if asked in front of more than one person). Although the different restaurants each have their own unique flavors, they will usually have a sauce which is thicker and sweeter than offered in most other parts of the U.S.

Kansas City is also home to a barbecue dish that is rarely found outside the area, called "Burnt Ends." These are the overcooked ends and edges of a brisket, which although dry and chewy, are amazingly smoky and full of flavor (much more flavorful than any other cut). If you are feeling open-minded about your KC barbecue experience, they are definitely worth a try.



Drink
There is a popular brewery in KC by the name of Boulevard whose beers are available on tap at many different bars and restaurants throughout town.

Live Music Venues: Uptown Theatre (Midtown, on Broadway and Valentine) hosts lots of up and coming acts and many timeless performers play here because it is so famous. Beaumont Club is a soulless Westport C&W club that hosts live music but has acoustics' issues and a mechanical bull. The Grand Emporium used to be one of the best blues clubs but after being bought by the owners of the Beaumont they changed it considerably, including the name to Tao.

Stay safe
Like most major cities, the tourist and business areas (downtown and the Plaza) are generally safe day and night, but it is always best to be aware of your surroundings. It's also best to be especially cautious during the evenings and night around the P and L District, where there has been an increase in crimes. Most violent crime happens during the late nighttime hours. Neighborhoods east and southeast of the downtown/midtown/Plaza areas are experiencing an increase in violent crime. These areas offer little for visitors and are best avoided. (One exception is the Kansas City Zoo, which is in Swope Park. The surrounding area is not the safest, but the zoo itself is fine.)

KC is in Tornado Alley, so make sure you check the local weather forecasts and make sure you understand what to do during a tornado. Tornado sirens are in place to warn of incoming twisters. The system is tested every month on the first Wednesday at around noon. If you hear the sirens any other time, they're serious!

Consulates

 * 🇩🇪 Germany

Go next
Kansas City is one of those places where hidden in darker corners, you will find the gems, the places to visit and go. Rarely do things jump out at you and say: come visit this attraction, food, shopping, or historical establishment. Pick up a Pitch Weekly for nightlife information. If you want to relax and enjoy a walk, check out Loose Park just south of the Country Club Plaza. During the spring and fall, it's one of the most beautiful places to stroll. When you are done there are plenty of other beautiful and majestic cities in this region like Omaha, Chicago, Saint Louis, Independence, Lee's Summit, and Des Moines.