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Kansas City, MO Weekend Trip: A 3-day Kansas City Itinerary from a Local! - The Homebody Tourist

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Skip to contentKansas City, Missouri is an underappreciated gem in the heart of the U.S. and its unique local flare, walkable city districts, and remarkable affordability make for a perfect long weekend trip!&nbsp;Side note:: This post was written by Ashlea who has called KC home for over 8 years. This way, you can ensure you are reading the best Kansas City Weekend Trip itinerary out there. Locals know best!This post contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.&nbsp;I only recommend products I truly love 🙂Table of ContentsThe best way to get to Kansas City is to fly into MCI Airport. You are lucky because the newly opened terminal at the Kansas City airport is spectacular and helped MCI be named the best airport in the world.We are very proud of our airport and feel that it represents KC in the best way with all things KC. You will see beautiful art installations with KC themes such as jazz instruments as we are known for our jazz district, among other sweet details.Our airport also has a TON of local businesses that have locations in the airport such as Boulevard Brewery, Stockyards Brewery, Messenger Coffee, and even a mini River Market which is our farmer’s market. I know, I know it’s an airport but I’m telling you it is so cool.&nbsp;During your weekend trip to Kansas City, I highly recommend renting a car to give yourself more freedom and flexibility.&nbsp;However, if you do not have a car that is okay too! We have a wonderful streetcar that is free, clean, and very reliable.The trolley will take you to downtown, River Market, Crossroads Arts District and by 2024 it will also take you to the Plaza, Westport, and Midtown. Anywhere awesome the trolley does not take you can easily be accessed by a short Uber or Lyft ride.&nbsp;KC is also very walkable. You can easily walk between downtown and the Crossroads Arts District. You can also walk between River Market and Crossroads Arts District but it is a longer walk.&nbsp;Renting a car of course gives you more flexibility and the ease of not having to wait on the trolley or an Uber. All in all, much of the things to do in Kansas City are relatively close by, so whichever mode of transport you choose, you’ll be experiencing the best KC weekend trip activities in pretty short order.The best time to visit Kansas City, MO is in the summer or fall. The weather is nice during this time, and you’ll find there are so many fun festivals and pop-ups going on then.If you can swing it, the first full weekend in Kansas City is the best time to visit. Every First Friday of every month, we have First Fridays in the Crossroads and First Fridays in the West Bottoms.In the summer, we have Boulevardia, a massive beer festival on Father’s Day Weekend hosted by Boulevard Brewery. Boulevardia has live concerts from some pretty marque artists, local shopping by vendors, food trucks, outdoor bar stands, silent karaoke, carnival rides, and so much more!September is also great for festivals. There is the Westport Art Fair and the Plaza Art Fair. I prefer the Westport Art Fair because it is more laid back, but the Plaza Art Fair is the biggest one for sure. They both have streets blocked off, selling art, local goods, food trucks, and outdoor bars.&nbsp;KC is a big sports town. We love our Chiefs and Royals, and autumn is prime sports watching. The city will shut down when the Chiefs are playing. If you drive through KC during a Chiefs game, you will think no one lives here because the whole town will be watching the game! Even for a non-sports fan, it is a good time seeing all the hometown spirit.&nbsp;One more key thing to note, unless you’re truly brave when it comes to frigid weather, KC is best avoided in January and February, where temperatures often reach the single digits.However, while chilly, December is a lovely time to visit because Kansas City is a magical place to be for the holidays as there are festive events and lights everywhere!The best area of town to stay is the Crossroads Arts District. It is the “it” area of town right now with so many hip and trendy coffee shops, bars, breweries, restaurants, and shopping. It is also a very walkable area of town and easy to explore. It is great for people of all ages!&nbsp;Downtown is another great option to stay because it is close to so many of the hot spots and popular neighborhoods like Crossroads and the River Market.&nbsp;The Plaza is another popular place to stay in KC. It is a popular shopping district with Spanish architecture.&nbsp;You will find more budget friendly options in Midtown as well and this is still a great area to stay but is not walking distance from the Crossroads and you will not be able to use the trolley if you stay in Westport, Midtown, or the Plaza.&nbsp;My Kansas City Hotel Recommendations:&nbsp;Morning:First, things first- coffee. Head to Cafe Corazon for some great coffee drinks and maybe a breakfast empanada.Now walk one block to the Streetcar on Main Street (right by Extra Virgin) and ride it South (away from downtown)&nbsp;to the last stop which will drop you off directly in front of my favorite building in KC, Union Station. Plan to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours here.&nbsp;Union Station is Kansas City’s classic train station and is just stunning! This is my absolute favorite building in the city. It is over 100 years old and is restored to its original beauty.&nbsp;If you have the time, it is the perfect place to walk around and admire its chandeliers, delicate details, marble floors, and imagine all the history that has taken place over the past century. Stand under the clock which was the meeting place for soldiers and their loves after WWII, so many love stories picked up right there.If you want to learn all about Union Station’s rich history you can even download the app (Living History: Union Station Kansas City) and learn all about Union Stations history which is fascinating. The app allows for you to stand at different points and learn about different aspects of Union Station.&nbsp;Union Station also has Science City, a movie theater, and amazing rotating exhibits, restaurants, shops, and so much more to explore.&nbsp;Afternoon:Now let’s head to historic West Bottoms. This is the famous district where KC got its nickname “Paris of the Plains” and “The Wettest Block in the World” during prohibition when this area was lined with speakeasies and illegal activity. They say in KC, prohibition never existed due to the stronghold the mob had on the town.&nbsp;Nowadays the West Bottoms has a ton of warehouses full of vintage and antique shopping, breweries, distilleries, wineries, restaurants, and bars. Most are open every weekend, but First Fridays is the best time to go. The West Bottoms come alive with food trucks, and all shops are open at this time. It’s bustling and such a fun time to explore West Bottoms.&nbsp;Imagine huge brick warehouses and gravel streets in some areas with a ton of great local places to try out. Some of my favorite antique shops are Bella Patina, Good Juju. Some of my favorite local trendy shops are Fetch and West Bottoms Plant Co.&nbsp; (has way more than just plants, local vendors).Evening:If you are loving West Bottoms, stay for some drinks and great food! Fountain City Winery is a new winery that is just the best wine and sangria and has bocce ball, outdoor seating and more.&nbsp;Then, head to The Campground for dinner. You will find a trendy camping themed restaurant with an ever-changing menu based on season and local produce. They have exceptional food, and a huge outdoor patio and fire pits, but the craft cocktails are the main attraction. If you come when it is nice out, there will be a great outdoor bar where you can order snacks and drinks and enjoy the weather.&nbsp;TIP: If you visit The Campground during the holidays, they have an outdoor Christmas Market with local vendors, mulled wine and other holiday cocktails, and warm food to enjoy as you do some holiday shopping.&nbsp;Some other recommendations for this side of town for drinks after you eat are The Ship, a divey, nautical themed bar that is a bit rustic and a blast. It’s a funky place, usually with live music or a DJ on the weekends, and one of my all time favs! Stockyards Brewery is another great pick and located across the street from The Campground.&nbsp;You may also like: One Weekend in St. Louis, MOMorning:Kansas city is home to some amazing coffee shops! Start day 2 by heading to Messenger, a local favorite café for coffee and breakfast.They are located in a beautiful historic building with a rooftop that is perfect for enjoying your coffee with a view along with great breakfast and lunch options.Messenger has a wonderful local bakery Ibis housed in the same building. They have exquisite coffee flights, baked goods, great breakfast choices that are truly amazing. Some of my favorites are the baguette sandwiches and the Ibis baked goods.&nbsp;Afternoon:Meander over to Main Street and catch the free Streetcar and ride that all the way to River Market to explore Kansas City’s historic farmers market- The City Market.This is a great place to get great local produce but also have a little mini food tour and try some great local cuisine! It is always bustling with people and great local vendors and is the perfect way to spend a weekend day.Be sure to check out City Market Coffee, Taste of Brazil, Local Pig, and Habashi House and KC Soda Tour on your food tour!&nbsp;Evening:Head back to the Crossroads Arts District for great cocktails and beer!&nbsp;Stop by Mean Mule Distilling’s tasting room for the best agave cocktail of your life. This cozy cocktail lounge is my favorite place to get an adult beverage in the whole city. If you love agave-forward spirits, you will LOVE Mean Mule.They have a great variety of craft cocktails all set in a southwestern decorated venue.Another great stop for cocktails is Afterward Tavern and Shelves, a bookstore and bar that makes similarly awesome cocktails and provides a warm but bustling ambiance.One can’t leave the Crossroads without exploring the many local micro breweries in the district. All the breweries are within a close distance, and they are all superb! Some of my favorites are Double Shift, Red Sash, Nimble, and Casual Animal.Morning:Start off the morning with grub at a funky hometown favorite restaurant, Succotash, for breakfast with tons of great fresh options from cold pressed juice, breakfast sandwiches, and so much more. The vibes are retro yet very unique and eclectic.&nbsp;Afternoon:Go to the famous Country Club Plaza, where you will see Spanish style buildings inspired by Sevilla and exquisite fountains. Locals never say the “Country Club” part and just call “the Plaza”KC is known as the “City of Fountains” because we have more fountains than any other city in the world outside of Rome with over 200 fountains, and most of these will be found on the Plaza.The Plaza is a bustling blocks-long strip of shops, boutiques, chain clothing stores, restaurants, bars and cafes. It’s a great place to do some shopping, eating, and drinking.Some of my favorite local shops are Made in KC – a collective of a ton of locally-made products/businesses, EB and Co. for accessories and jewelry, and Charlie Hustle– world’s softest shirts &amp; a local favorite.&nbsp;The Plaza is such a fun place to stroll around and enjoy the colorful Spanish architecture, fountains, and colorful streets. If you come from American Thanksgiving to January, you will see the most festive holiday lights when the plaza lights up at night.Evening:Head to Westport for dinner and drinks at Westport Cafe. It is just the most charming and cozy Parisian style bistro.Be sure to make a reservation on the weekend as it is a popular restaurant and a little on the small side. Westport is a highly trafficked place to go out on the town and is bustling on the weekends. This is the oldest area of KC and has lots of shops, restaurants, and bars to explore.&nbsp;After you finish dinner, pop around the corner to Ca Va, a delightfully intimate champagne bar for drinks, and if you still have room, some delicious cheese plates. We recommend sitting out on the most romantic patio and enjoying some bubble or champagne cocktails. You will really feel like you’ve ended your weekend in France!As you can see, there’s SO much to do in the Kansas City, MO that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day Kansas City itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventure weekend in Kansas City.What else would you add to this Kansas City weekend trip?About the Author!&nbsp;Hello! I’m Ashlea Bogner, co-founder of Seek Out Travel blog and a KC Local. I have lived in KC for over 8 years, exploring all the areas very extensively and just adore KC. There is so much to do and see and a truly phenomenal food and drink scene. We know how to make great craft cocktails, beer, and great cuisine (we are so much more than BBQ!). I hope you have the best adventure here in KC!&nbsp;Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and check out our blog for more travel guides, tips, and tricks on budget &amp; ethical travel.&nbsp;TweetEmailPrintI am SO excited for you that you are starting to plan a trip to the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland. It's definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and there are truly adventurous...Continue ReadingSwitzerland was truly a bucket list vacation for me. From epic waterfalls (everywhere you look) to snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see, it's a true outdoor-lovers paradise. Although I...Continue ReadingHellooooo! I’m Jordan!I'm a former elementary teacher turned freelance writer/travel blogger/social media manager/entrepreneur/etc. I still have no idea what I'd like to be when I grow up...I'm almoooost 30....:) BUT, for now, I'm just trying to create a life I love living.&nbsp;As much as I LOVE to travel, I also enjoy routine, being home, and sleeping in my own cozy bed. Anyone else?&nbsp;You won't find me living in a van or backpacking for months on end. BUT, I do like to spruce up the monotony of daily life by exploring the USA through long weekend trips!

Skip to contentKansas City, Missouri is an underappreciated gem in the heart of the U.S. and its unique local flare, walkable city districts, and remarkable affordability make for a perfect long weekend trip!&nbsp;Side note:: This post was written by Ashlea who has called KC home for over 8 years. This way, you can ensure you are reading the best Kansas City Weekend Trip itinerary out there. Locals know best!This post contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.&nbsp;I only recommend products I truly love...

Kansas City, MO Weekend Trip: A 3-day Kansas City Itinerary from a Local! - The Homebody Tourist

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