15 Fun Family Friendly Things to Do in Kansas City with Kids
Kansas City is known as the “Jazz Capital of the World,” but it offers much more than just great music.
Kansas City has everything you could want, from world-class museums housing an astounding variety of educational resources, artifacts, and displays to adrenaline-pumping adventures and breathtaking vistas.
Taking a stroll through this city with your loved ones will never be dull because there is always something exciting to do.
We have compiled a list of the best kid-friendly activities in Kansas City to help you find your way around the city’s lovely downtown, because even explorers need a compass.
- Kaleidoscope — Crown Center
Kaleidoscope is a museum for kids where they can unleash their imagination, have a good time, and feel good about themselves.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Kaleidoscope is a top choice among the many free, family-friendly attractions in Kansas City.
During these sessions, kids can use melted crayons, markers, watercolor paints, and much more to create their works of art and exercise their imaginations at no cost.
Recommended Ages
Young children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to visit the Kaleidoscope.
- Zip KC — Northeastern Kansas
The Zip KC could be the ideal family outing if you want to do something that gets everyone’s blood pumping and leaves everyone with lasting memories.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Flying low over the Kansas River and taking in the scenery while on the lookout for wildlife is a great way to put the whole family to the test.
Start your adventure by ascending the 65-foot tower, then soar through a quarter mile to the next building, and continue zipping as you breeze by the cool, crisp air.
Recommended Ages
For kids aged eight and up, this thrilling outing is a must.
- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — 18th & Vine
Visit the world’s first museum devoted exclusively to showcasing and celebrating the achievements of African-Americans in baseball.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to relive the glory days of black baseball players through artifacts and exhibits.
Moreover, you’ll be assisted by guides who are both well-versed in the museum’s content and incredibly knowledgeable about its many little nuances.
Recommended Ages
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a fascinating destination that families of all ages should check out.
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — Country Club Plaza
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of the best places in Kansas City to take kids because of its extensive comprehensive collection of artwork from around the world.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This museum could be ideal for your family if you’re looking for low-cost activities to enjoy together.
Take a full day to explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s extensive collection of 40,000 artworks, including paintings, artifacts, sculptures, and installations.
Recommended Ages
Tribes with children older than five should visit this museum without a doubt.
- iFly — Overland Park
In terms of family-friendly activities in Kansas City, the iFly is a top pick, especially for kids and teens of high school age and up.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Your family will love this indoor skydiving center if you want to give them a taste of skydiving without jumping from 15,000 feet.
Flying through the air is an exhilarating experience. You can have it at iFly with the help of their cutting-edge wind tunnels and a team of professional pilots who will reassure you and teach you everything you need to know.
Recommended Ages
Although it is suitable for kids of all ages, we suggest that those eight and up give it a try.
- CoCo Key Water Resort — Mount Laurel
Splash around with the kids and enjoy a relaxing break from the daily grind at the CoCo Key Water Resort.
Why We Recommend This Activity
There are water slides of varying heights, pools of varying depths to accommodate guests of varying ages, and other revitalizing water activities sure to immerse the whole gang in a memorable vacation.
There are several hotels and lodges in the immediate vicinity, and the resort itself is home to several excellent restaurants serving a wide range of cuisines.
Recommended Ages
The CoCo Key Water Resort is an all-ages family destination.
- Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead — Overland Park
The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is one of the most enjoyable family activities in Kansas City.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Beyond its unassuming facade, this farm offers a wide variety of animals, large and small birds of prey, beautiful show gardens, and a scenic nature trail.
Those in the area should stop by the butterfly gardens, learn about the Kanza people at the Native American exhibit, and show the little ones around the authentic one-room schoolhouse.
Recommended Ages
Children of all ages, especially those between the ages of three and eleven, will enjoy a trip to the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.
- American Jazz Museum — 18th & Vine
The American Jazz Museum will amaze you with its collection of memorabilia and interactive exhibits showcasing the rich history of jazz in the United States.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This museum houses some of Kansas City’s finest displays, including artifacts from jazz greats like Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Do not miss the chance to see world-class performances by local artists as they ply their trade right inside the museum, and do not forget to hire a guide who can answer any questions you may have about the displays.
Recommended Ages
Visitors of any age are welcome at the American Jazz Museum.
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art — Southmoreland
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Missouri’s first and most extensive contemporary art museum, will transport you and your people to a movie set.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This art museum has a massive collection of modern and contemporary art that will baffle and entertain you and your family.
The extensive and fascinating installation arts, interactive and kid-friendly exhibits, and spacious layout featuring different areas to explore make the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art an excellent educational destination that will provide visitors with an unforgettable experience.
Moreover, we neglected to mention that there is no charge for entry.
Recommended Ages
While the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art welcomes visitors of all ages, we suggest that visitors be at least five years old.
- Kansas City Zoo — Swope Park
The Kansas City Zoo has welcomed families and children for over a century on its expansive 202 acres.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Over 1,700 animals call the Kansas City Zoo home. It’s a great place to learn about the fascinating varieties of animals that make this fair city in Kansas their home.
The Kansas City Zoo is a great place for city dwellers and suburbanites alike to gain an understanding and appreciation for the many different habitats, human cultures, and animal species that make their home in and around Kansas City.
The Kansas City Zoo is like a trip around the world because it has many different sensory-based activities designed to appeal to people of all ages.
Recommended Ages
Visit the Kansas City Zoo, where kids of all ages are always welcome.
- Science City — Union Station
Are you looking for kid-friendly activities in Kansas City?
Don’t worry; Science City is a secure option for you.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Watch an astronaut train for a potentially fatal space mission, or take in breathtaking night sky views from the comfort of your own home.
This science museum has a wide variety of hands-on displays that will provide creative inspiration for your young children.
Though, as an adult, you can learn just as much from a visit to the museum.
You’ll get to test your knowledge against scientific trivia, hunt down enigmatic tidbits of information, and maybe even learn the chemistry behind your favorite drinks.
Recommended Ages
Those children aged three and up will find Science City an engaging outing.
- Kansas City Public Library: Central Library — Downtown Kansas City
In the Kansas City Public Library’s Central Library, you will find a book stack two stories high.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Enjoy yourself as you explore the former bank turned wildly imaginative library that will make you rethink the definition of “library.”
It will also allow you to view the library’s extensive collection of books, which includes everything from novels and pocketbooks to dictionaries and encyclopedias of all shapes and sizes.
Recommended Ages
It’s a great day trip for kids of all ages to visit the Central Library of the Kansas City Public Library.
- Kansas City Parks and Recreation — Midwest
The Kansas City Parks and Recreation are great if you’re looking for a quiet place to take your baby on vacation.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Kansas City Parks and Recreation system is a large and diverse network of parks that provides countless outdoor recreation and socialization options.
Whether you’re a hiker, cyclist, or both, plenty of great spots are sure to provide an enjoyable workout and some memorable experiences to share with your kin.
Recommended Ages
The Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation features some playgrounds appropriate for kids of all ages.
- National WWI Museum and Memorial — Crown Center
The National WWI Museum and Memorial are dedicated to remembering and honoring the contributions of all Americans who served during World War One, including those who did not receive a medal of honor for their efforts.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The National World War I Museum and Memorial are unquestionably committed to preserving the history and stories of the war, and it houses the world’s most extensive collection of artifacts, art, exhibits, documents, and records from the conflict.
Explore the most formative time in human history with your loved ones as you wade through intimate and wrenching accounts of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism.
Recommended Ages
We think that kids over the age of eight would benefit significantly from a visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
- Arabia Steamboat Museum — River Market
The recovery of the Arabia Steamboat in 1988 tells the story of a modern treasure-hunting adventure that will keep you on your toes.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Arabia Steamboat Museum is a treasure trove for history buffs, containing everything from clothing and textiles to fine china, antique carpentry tools and weapons, and children’s toys.
This museum is one of the best family activities in Kansas City, so bring the kids here if you want to do something different this weekend.
Recommended Ages
Those with children aged five and up should take them to the Arabia Steamboat Museum.
