Spare Time: KCMO Options (Kansas City, Missouri)
Restaurants
Sonic Drive Inn next to CommunityAmerica Ballpark (2004)
One of the local specialties in the Kansas City area is barbeque. There are many well know and not so well known restaurants with excellent food. One of these is Gates BBQ with several locations around the area which serves a wonderful variety of ribs (slabs as wells long, short and burnt ends), beef, ham, turkey, sausages.
Winsteads steakburger and cherry limeade while at the Plaza District location (101 Brush Creek Blvd., 816-753-2244) or the many others.
Sites & Attractions
Charlier Parker Memorial
(Museums at 18th & Vine)
The Museums at 18th & Vine
One of the many shuttlecocks at
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
While in the Kansas City area, there is (at least) one must see site for the baseball fan the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This is a great place to learn about the heroes of the game, many of whom never got to make it to the majors. Plan to spend around an hour to an hour and a half reading the history and watching the short movie and TV features.
While you're there, consider the discounted ticket and see the American Jazz Museum which makes up the "other museum" of the Museums at 18th & Vine. It has many "hands on" audio exhibits and several historic artifacts, most notably being Charlie Parker's plastic saxophone. Both are "just down I-70" from the ballpark at "The Paseo" exit in east Kansas City, Missouri.
Shoppers will want to check out the Plaza Disctrict with its numerous shops and restaurants in a non-mall setting. Near the Plaza are several noteworthy art museums including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with its trademark badminton shuttlecocks (4525 Oak Street, 816.561.4000) and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (4420 Warwick Blvd., 816.561.3737).
George Brett statue at Kauffman
Another option to consider is going to one of the only '70's ballparks worth saving: Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. It is "just possible," depending on the schedule, to make a double-header between the two ballparks (assuming an early afternoon start for the Royals). Famous for its outfield fountains, it's hard to believe people built "good" stadiums during the age of "multi-use" stadiums. The only mistake made was corrected several years ago -- replacing the turf with grass.
Kauffman Stadium (July 6,2003)
Lodging
KCMO Locations
One option to seriously consider is to stay in "KC-MO" -- Kansas City Missouri. Most of the sites and best food options are to be found there. Except for road construction on I-70, it not too difficult to and from the ballpark while staying across the border. One option would be to stay in the Westport District with its affordable hotels and late night bars & restaurants. Though potentially busy (and noisy) until the early hours of the morning, the Holiday Inn Express Westport is a short walk from the heart of the area ( 801 Westport Rd., 816.931.1000). Those thinking of doubling up a T-Bones game with Royals game at Kaufmann can find many other options on the east side of KCMO (if you're willing to make the drive through/around downtown).
