We’re not in Kansas anymore…as Kansas City is actually in the heart of Missouri. Experience this wonderful destination with children as you tour around some of the American heartland’s most picturesque lands in a city with so much to offer families. Enjoy this day steeped in history as adults and kids alike take in everything Kansas City has to offer.

Unleash your wild side at the Kansas City Zoo. This 202-acre zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals from around the world. Kansas City Zoo is organized into geographical areas. The Africa area, the largest exhibit in the zoo, is home to a herd of six African elephants, lions, cheetahs, hippos, chimpanzees, zebras, giraffes and other African animals. Explore the rugged outposts of Australia and the unique lands of Asia at the Australia/Asia exhibit, which features tigers, kangaroos, orangutans, red pandas and many others. Young visitors will have a wild time at Kid Zone, where they can feed lorikeets, watch a sea lion demonstration, catch a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel and climb to new heights up Peekaboo Tree. The zoo offers delicious snacks and meals ranging from BBQ favorites to gourmet salads and sandwiches. Stop by the gift shop on your way out for some unique zoo-themed apparel, paintings, jewelry and souvenirs for the whole family.

Visit One Of The First U.S. Art Museum Located in Kansas City

Founded in 1933, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is recognized internationally as one of the first art museums in the United States. With more than 33,500 works of art, every visit to this fascinating museum offers new and exciting discoveries. The museum is known for its neoclassical architecture and extensive Asian art collection. The South and Southeast Asian Collection is considered one of the most important collections in America, housing over 900 objects from the Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist religions, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 19th century CE. The African Art Collection comprises 300 objects including masks, sculptures, textiles and other examples of African art in the world. The innovative Plains Indians exhibit features masterworks found in European and North American collections, ranging from a 2,000 year old stone pipe to 18th century painted robes. This museum features several other fascinating collections from around the world.

The Liberty Memorial is a memorial to the soldiers who died in WWI and houses The National World War I Museum. The first part of the museum focuses on the beginning of the war, before US entered, and a second part focuses on the United States’ military and civilian involvement, as well as President Woodrow Wilson’s efforts for peace. A glass bridge suspended over a poppy field of 9,000 poppies, each poppy representing 1,000 deaths, leads visitors to the Main Gallery. The Main Gallery guides visitors on a detailed journey through the Great War. Walk through a crater illustrating the devastating effects of a 17-inch howitzer shell. See a real Renault FT-17, a French tank used by the American army. Life-size trenches offer ground-level views into six different trench scenes with actual objects in place and ambient sounds. Interactive exhibits in the gallery let visitors create their own patriotic poster, see the inner workings of a machine gun and learn the different uses of camouflage. This museum provides a realistic journey into one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

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