Barbecue, Music, Boutique Lodges, and a Flourishing Womens’ Sports activities Scene

Some guests consider Kansas Metropolis, Missouri as both flyover nation or a pit cease; maybe a spot to swing by means of to pattern some burnt ends or doubtlessly run into Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

Elliott Scott, director of promoting and communications for the Kansas Metropolis Sports activities Fee and WIN for KC, initially was amongst them. “I didn’t anticipate to like Kansas Metropolis after I got here right here,” he admits, “however the individuals, the tradition, and the chance of this Midwestern metropolis captured my coronary heart.” He’s now known as Kansas Metropolis residence for greater than 15 years. “A coworker who lately moved from the Pacific Northwest nailed it when he informed me, ‘I’ve been a whole lot of locations the place persons are good. However Kansas Citians are form,'” he says. “It’s an alchemical mixture of civic satisfaction tempered by humility and hustle softened by kindness. Merely put: it’s magic.”

A microcosm of sports activities, historical past, tradition, artwork, meals, and drink awaits in Kansas Metropolis, which is equal elements Southern, Western, and Midwestern, in line with six-year resident Martin Cizmar, who was editor-in-chief of Kansas Metropolis Journal for 5 of these years.

With a present inhabitants of round 508,000, per the U.S. Census, “you get the creativity and buzz of an enormous metropolis, however with out the loopy visitors, air pollution and overcrowded-ness,” says lifelong native Tyler Shane, meals editor and restaurant critic for Kansas Metropolis Journal.

As somebody who lives a three-hour drive away and makes frequent weekend journeys to Kansas Metropolis from Des Moines, Iowa, I can see (and style) why it was chosen as considered one of Journey + Leisure‘s 50 finest locations to journey in 2024. Learn on for the place to remain, what to eat, and the neighborhoods to discover as you cease and keep awhile.

Greatest Lodges and Resorts

No Emptiness

On the coronary heart of the Crossroads neighborhood, you’ll shortly perceive why this boutique resort earned its title: it has simply eight rooms. However when you’re fortunate sufficient to order one, you’ll have the ability to decide one that matches along with your most popular aesthetic, whether or not you’re feeling playful (a gold disco ball shines above the mattress in suite 4) or serene (studio 6 will transport you to a classy, southwestern escape).

Crossroads Resort

Get a style of all issues native earlier than you even start to discover city. At this 131-room Crossroads haven, you’ll be surrounded by Missouri-made artwork, sweets, linens, and wallpaper. Cease within the 24/7 public artwork gallery earlier than heading as much as a favourite of 11-year-resident Jhy Coulter, restaurateur and CEO of Orange By Devoured and Devoured Pizza: Percheron Rooftop Bar. It’s the proper place to sip on a Skyline Outdated Long-established as you benefit from the view.

The Fontaine

Buying followers, this stylish 132-room luxurious resort is for you. Located inside Nation Membership Plaza, a 15-block walkable space peppered with greater than 70 outlets and 20 eating places, these polished rooms supply loads of house to retailer your investments — and kick your ft up. Begin the day within the Solarium with a French pastry, then watch the sundown out of your non-public rooftop poolside cabana.

Resort Phillips Kansas Metropolis, Curio Assortment by Hilton

Two blocks from the Energy and Mild District, a preferred space for leisure, is a 216-room resort that fantastically fuses some issues previous with many issues new. The art-deco decor scheme offers a nod to the 1930 constructing’s origins. As does the basement bar, the ultra-luxe P.S. Speakeasy. The rooms are totally trendy, although, full with rejuvenating pillow-top beds, granite fixtures, and blackout curtains.

21c Museum Resort Kansas Metropolis

Between Energy and Mild District and River Market in downtown Kansas Metropolis you’ll discover this 120-room modern art-focused property. Whereas the on-site restaurant, Savoy, celebrates the fashionable Midwest, the artwork within the on-site museum and within the rooms is curated from world wide. For an immersive expertise, guide the Panther Room, which is definitely an lively artwork set up created by artist Patty Carroll. (You’ll spy panther motifs scattered all through the house.)

Greatest Issues to Do

Take pleasure in a flight at a brewery.

Just some many years in the past, Kansas Metropolis was overflowing with beers from Budweiser, which relies in close by St. Louis. At the moment, choices abound when you’re into the craft brewing scene. Pull up a stool at a taproom like Coulter’s favourite, Informal Animal Brewery, or at Vine Road Brewing Co., to sip on thoughtfully crafted ales, sours, and stouts.

Construct your personal barbecue crawl.

“Barbecue and jazz are the 2 issues which might be most original right here, and each are available flavors that you do not readily discover elsewhere,” Scott says. “Don’t skip the burnt ends, basically nuggets of barbecue brisket, which had been mentioned to be created right here.” Henry Perry is considered by many to be the founding father of Kansas Metropolis-style barbecue. He planted a seed for greater than 100 years of drippy goodness which have adopted. Feast your method by means of it at Joe’s Kansas Metropolis BBQ, Chef J BBQ , Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, Gates Bar-B-Q, or Slap’s BBQ.

Catch a film at Screenland Armour Theatre.

Though Leawood, Kansas–primarily based AMC Theatres dominate the world, Scott says this independently owned and operated film home greater than holds its personal. In summer time, get pleasure from a retro flick outside. Or if climate isn’t ultimate, cozy up within the theater for an indie movie or Friday Night time Frights, a weekly horror film providing. In case your abdomen growls at any time, Scott suggests asking for “The Kevin Bacon,” a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon, mozzarella, white cheddar, and garlic aioli.

Attend a present by the Kansas Metropolis Chamber Orchestra.

Whereas the Kansas Metropolis Symphony and Kauffman Heart for the Performing Arts rightfully earn accolades and a spotlight in abundance (Kauffman can also be the place yow will discover the Kansas Metropolis Ballet and touring Broadway reveals), Kansas Metropolis has one other classical music possibility that Scott deems very worthy of consideration: The Kansas Metropolis Chamber Orchestra. Performances are polished, nonetheless, gatherings are extra casual and reasonably priced, “which makes this an approachable approach to expertise basic music whereas serving to help skilled artists in the neighborhood,” he provides.

Root for the house crew throughout a Kansas Metropolis Present soccer match.

Kansas Metropolis’s sports activities scene has been gaining a whole lot of steam during the last decade. Sporting Kansas Metropolis received the MLS Cup in 2013, adopted by a 2015 World Collection victory by the Kansas Metropolis Royals, and 2020, 2023, and 2024 Tremendous Bowl wins by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. These successes have cemented Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes as family names, however “nothing has energized the group just like the Kansas Metropolis Present’s historic funding in ladies’s sports activities, particularly the development of the primary purpose-built stadium for knowledgeable womens’ crew on the planet: CPKC Stadium,” Scott says. “Kansas Metropolis is being swept away by Present fever.” Co-owned partly by Mahomes and his spouse Brittany, this crew has been kicking it and drawing crowds since 2021. Restaurant concessions are native, “ the vitality of the followers is contagious,” in line with Scott, and the potential is palpable. “To be there’s to really feel impressed and enthusiastic about the way forward for women and girls in Kansas Metropolis,” Scott explains.

Greatest Eating places

Further Virgin

Michael Smith’s tapas restaurant has had an extended and in style run within the Crossroads District for good motive. Its vibrant decor echoes the vibe and look of the eclectic, flavorful dishes. Scott recommends sitting on the giant, central bar and sampling the herbaceous fattoush salad, some chickpea fries with romesco sauce, and the harissa- and preserved lemon-scented roasted branzino.

Billie’s Grocery

About 190 miles away in Des Moines, I caught wind of the cult-like following that surrounds this natural eatery. So the final time I used to be on the town, I satisfied my buddies to cease in for brunch. We had been met with a heat good day and heat mild streaming from the home windows into the ethereal, white house. After perusing the small market of cookbooks, spirit-free drink mixers, and condiments, we made our approach to the counter to order a “boujee blueberry-lemon streusel poptart” (many baked items are vegan, gluten-free, and/or uncooked), the Turkish eggs and grilled halloumi, and a kimchi bloody mary. It was all so unbelievable, we couldn’t resist snagging copycat Snickers and Twix bars and a six-pack of gluten-free donut holes to get pleasure from on the best way residence.

Baba’s Pantry

Baba immigrated to the U.S. within the late Seventies as a Palestinian refugee. Feeling wistful for grandma’s residence cooking, he’d name his mother ceaselessly to ask for household heirloom recipes so he might attempt to recreate them stateside. He did simply that, and did it so nicely that professors, associates, and colleagues requested for extra. That’s how Baba’s Pantry was born. A few 20-minute drive south of downtown, Baba’s is good for lunch. “This small bodega-style restaurant makes velvety hummus, golden falafel, and scrumptious shawarma wraps in its colourful, cozy house,” Shane says. Wash all of it down with Baba’s iced black tea, which is sweetened with date syrup.

Antler Room

With names like Rene Redzepi and Danny Meyer on their resumes, husband-wife crew ‍Leslie and ‍Nick Goellner actually put of their reps earlier than they planted their roots on the Antler Room. You may sense the finesse in seasonal small plates (roasted cauliflower with  gochujang dressing and quinoa furikake) and home made pastas (braised lamb-stuffed cappelletti with pickled beets). “Head right here to your trendy American gastronomic eating expertise,” Shane advises. “The comfy house excels in revolutionary high quality eating and prime notch service,” which has earned the crew three nominations for the James Beard Basis’s Greatest Chef: Midwest award.

Earl’s Premier

“A cluttered East Coast fish home and oyster bar may appear misplaced smack dab in the midst of the nation,” Shane concedes. However belief the locals, who line up for the very best oysters within the metropolis. (The menu touts that Earl’s is actually premier as a result of the crew places in severe TLC to supply the “freshest, highest-quality farm-raised oysters out there right here within the Midwest.”) Share “Champagne and a dozen” — 12 oysters with a half-bottle of bubbly — then spherical out the meal with a bowl of New England clam chowder with fried saltines and a basic cheeseburger on a pillowy potato bun, Shane suggests.

Greatest Time to Go to

One of the best time to go to is spring or fall. Kansas Metropolis experiences all 4 seasons, so after lengthy winters, “our metropolis comes alive within the spring,” Shane says. From brewery patios to farmers markets to parks in full bloom, April by means of June are divine. Fall can also be improbable. September and October usher in sweater climate, meet on the axis of Present and Chiefs seasons, and showcase vibrant fall foliage.

“Kansas Metropolis’s out of doors occasion season is firmly rooted in autumn. As scorching temperatures start to fall in mid-September, traditions just like the Plaza Artwork Honest, American Royal World Collection of Barbecue, and Garmin Kansas Metropolis Marathon draw individuals again outdoors,” Scott says.

Whereas days are normally heat throughout these durations, mornings will be brisk, so it’s clever to pack layers.

Methods to Get There

Take flight by way of Kansas Metropolis Worldwide Airport. Simply 15 miles northwest of downtown, this newly renovated airport is a frequent vacation spot for carriers like Southwest and Delta. 

Kansas Metropolis is a simple drive from different heartland hubs like Des Moines (three hours), St. Louis (4 hours), Oklahoma Metropolis (5 hours), Omaha (two hours and 45 minutes), and the Ozarks (three and a half hours).

Neighborhoods to Go to

Brookside

Cizmar may be a little bit biased since he lives on this Southwest Kansas Metropolis neighborhood, however he’s a agency believer that “it is probably the most walkable place within the metropolis with some artwork galleries, eating places, and bars.” Brookside simply so occurred to win “finest neighborhood” in Kansas Metropolis Journal‘s readers’ selection ballot throughout his reign, “and never as a result of I rigged it,” Cizmar laughs. For the very best perspective, stroll alongside the Trolley Observe Path between the Plaza and the quaint small downtown of Brookside, zigzagging into any outlets and eating places that catch your eye.

Crossroads

From high quality artwork (the Kauffman Heart and T-Cellular Heart are recognized for his or her live shows and performances) to high quality eating (Farina, Corvino, and Affare are further finest restaurant picks from Shane), this arts district is “a must-visit,” Shane and Cizmar agree. “Don’t overlook to move to Brewer’s Alley for the very best craft breweries,” Shane says.

West Bottoms

All through the month, this historic district thrives due to eating places just like the Golden Ox and The Campground, reside music at The Ship, and dive bars like Fortunate Boys. One of the best day to swing by is throughout a First Friday, “when all of the classic outlets come alive for his or her month-to-month opening,” Shane says.

River Market

Residence to “some of the vigorous farmers markets within the metropolis,” in line with Shane, in addition to a various restaurant scene, this centrally positioned neighborhood is concurrently charmingly historic (the Arabia Steamboat Museum) and forward-thinking (Thou Mayest Espresso Roasters). Whichever eating places you select, make sure to save room for dessert at beloved Betty Rae’s Ice Cream. “Betty Rae’s distinctive flavors like Candied Walnut-Goat Cheese and Creme Brûlée make guests and locals alike soften,” Shane says.

Overland Park

Technically a suburb on the south aspect of Kansas Metropolis, many individuals who don’t have an Overland Park zip code are likely to ignore it. However Cizmar believes it’s actually price a cease. “The downtown space has cool eating places, a meals corridor, and a pleasant file store,” he says. “It is also residence to among the finest farmers markets within the metropolis on Saturday mornings.”

Methods to Get Round

“Though Kansas Metropolis stays a vacation spot finest explored by automotive, free transit choices and devoted bike lanes are slowly lowering the metro’s reliance on private automobiles,” Scott says.

Your finest bets for native transportation embrace:

• Renting a automotive from a model like Avis, Alamo, Finances, Enterprise, or Hertz
• Renting a motorbike utilizing RideKC Bike share
• Utilizing a rideshare like Uber or Lyft

You may as well hop aboard the free 2.2-mile RideKC Streetcar, which makes 16 stops to attach Predominant Road to River Market to Union Station.