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About Kansas City, MO
The city of Kansas City spans two states - Kansas and Missouri. For this post, we are going to solely focus on the Missouri side of Kansas City, which is the east side of the Missouri River. Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri in terms of population. The town was founded in the 1830s as a port on the Missouri River.
Kansas City is the most centrally located metropolitan city in the United States. Because it’s the “heart of the nation”, the city created the Parade of Hearts from March through May 2022. There are 155 decorated hearts dotted all around the city.
Kansas City has the most fountains than any other city in North America, and they place 2nd worldwide in number of fountains, just behind Rome. With more than 200 fountains, Kansas City has become known as the “City of Fountains”.
Jazz and the prohibition played an interesting role in Kansas City history. Jazz originated in Kansas City in the 1920s. The popularity of jazz continued to rise in Kansas City during the 1930s in the dance halls, cabarets, and speakeasies that illegally continued under the watch of political boss Tom Pendergast. Though alcohol had become illegal during this time, he allowed it to flow freely in Kansas City. Today, more than 40 nightclubs feature jazz on a regular basis, and speakeasies are still popular watering holes.
When to Visit Kansas City, MO
You can expect four distinct seasons in Kansas City, MO. Winters are cold and summers are hot and humid. Therefore, the fall and spring seasons are ideal times to visit in terms of weather. September and October are particularly pleasant months to visit Kansas City, MO because days are sunny and nights are cool.
I visited in May, and we experienced a little of everything. One day was extremely hot and got up to 90°F, while a few other days were more mild but still somewhat humid. It also rained on occasion. May and August are the rainiest months of the year.
As expected, the hottest months to visit are primarily in the summer - June, July, and August. The coldest month of the year is January.
How to Get to Kansas City, MO
Kansas City is a solid transportation hub with options to fly in, drive in, bus in, or train in.
Fly to Kansas City, MO
Because Kansas City, MO is so centrally located, it is just a 3 hour flight from either coast in the United States. For me from DFW, it was just an hour and 15 minutes. To get to Kansas City, MO by plane, you fly into the Kansas City International Airport (MCI). It’s 19 miles northwest of downtown. Eleven airlines fly regularly into MCI with more than 50 nonstop destinations and 400+ daily flights.
Bus to Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO is accessible by bus from 210 other cities (Wanderu.com). There are 469 daily scheduled trips. Greyhound is the most popular option with the most buses on any given day. It has 113 routes at an average price of $183.31, while Jefferson Lines has 99 routes at an average price of $115.50.
Train to Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO is accessible by train from 45 other cities (Wanderu.com). There are 91 daily scheduled trips. Amtrak Southwest Chief is the most popular option with the most trains on any given day. It has 30 routes at an average cost of $115.47. There’s also the Amtrak line with 24 routes at $176.75 and the Amtrak Missouri River Runner line with 9 routes at $41.67.
Where to Stay in Kansas City, MO
Crossroads Hotel
Crossroads is a reimagining of the Pabst Brewing Depot, built in 1911. Tom Pendergast then bought the building during the Prohibition to use it as his office and to bootleg liquor.
There’s an amazing Italian restaurant onsite as well as a rooftop bar.
The rooms are very stylish with a blend of masculine colors and feminine lines. I loved the details in the bathroom, especially the fact that they have real bath mats!
Hotel Kansas City
Today, the hotel features 144 guest rooms, 15 suites, 20,000 square feet of meeting space including a two-story ballroom with stained glass windows, and a music lounge.
The rooms are as stunning as the lobby and public areas. Rooms are Victorian-inspired and feature pops of color from velvety pinks and deep teals.
Hotel Kansas City first opened in 1922 as a notable social club. The 15 floors housed meeting rooms, handball courts, a gym, restaurants, a bowling alley, and 160 private hotel rooms. The 13th floor had a 5-lane swimming pool and the top floor featured an open terrace restaurant. Prominent members included Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Ewing Kauffman.
I discovered a fun fact about this hotel’s styling which I found quite interesting. The Kansas City Club was originally established by all men. Bertha Goodwin, a woman, aspired to be a part of the social club. She was the first female applicant, yet she was continuously refused membership.
The Hyatt-commissioned design team learned of this story and took the opportunity of a redesign to highlight the themes of inclusion and femininity. The renovation concept focused on the idea of a strong, confident woman. The interior design choices would act as a contrast to the building’s more masculine architecture. Some of the design touches were more subtle like the use of soft colors and shapes, while one design decision was much more transparent.
Today, every hotel room contains a print by a local artist that shows a bold, slightly mischievous-looking young woman, representing Bertha Goodwin. So in the end, Bertha got her membership…in every room of the hotel!
Fun Things to do in Kansas City for Adults
Kansas City, MO is a great city for adults. There are shops, museums, art, wineries, distilleries, breweries, gardens, delicious restaurants and more! Here are my suggestions for fun things to do in Kansas City for adults.
Visit the farmers market at City Market on the weekend.
Spend a day learning about Kansas-City style whiskey at J. Rieger & Co. Distillery.
Rieger opened in 1887 only to be shut down in 1919 due to Prohibition. 95 years later, the last remaining Rieger revived the historic brand to become the first distillery in Kansas City since the Prohibition.
They’re known for their Kansas City-style whiskey which is a blend of Straight Bourbon, Light Corn, and Straight Rye Whiskey, all aged at least 4 years, and topped off with 2% of 15 year old Sherry.
They also produce a Dry Gin, a Wheat Vodka, and a coffee flavored Amaro all onsite. My personal favorite was the Amaro.
There’s seriously so much to do at J. Rieger; you could spend a whole day there. Visit the historical exhibit, get a distillery tour, try a tasting in the Tasting Room, have lunch outdoors at the Electric Park Garden Bar, get some work done in The Monogram Lounge, or even discover their basement speakeasy called the Hey! Hey! Club.
Also, don’t forget to slide down their 40-foot custom built slide from the 2nd to 1st floor! It’s the only known distillery slide in the world!
Taste test gourmet hand-crafted bonbons at Christopher Elbow Chocolates.
He has a storefront in Kansas City and in San Francisco but they also ship nationally within the U.S.
They have 24 signature flavors as well as changing seasonal flavors that are really unique and different. Fan favorites include Fresh Lemon, Rosemary, and Fleur de Sel Salted Caramel. Not only do these chocolates taste incredible but they’re also interesting to look at with bright colors, shapes, and patterns.
Last year in 2021, they produced 2.7 million chocolates!
Try Missouri wine at KC Wineworks, an urban winery with fun, approachable wines.
KC Wineworks prides itself on Old World wine-making methods using leading-edge techniques to create innovative, small batch wines. Their wines are approachable and the staff makes learning about wine fun and relaxing.
A community-oriented establishment, KC Wineworks is open for wine tastings, events, celebrations, tours, and more.
If wines aren’t your thing, they also offer sangria, cider, and wine slushies!
Go fountain hopping followed by a glass of wine at Fountain City Winery.
The wine descriptions are unique at this winery, with descriptions like harmonic, playful, sunny, and regal. Our group had fun trying to decide which wine description represented each of us best. We decided that for me, I was most closely aligned with the Pour les Jeunes (“for the young”), a Riesling described as elegant, carefree, and irresistible.
Learn about American Agave Spirits at Mean Mule Distillery.
Mean Mule sources their spirit nectar from 100% Weber Blue agave from Jalisco, Mexico. They then distill the nectar in a unique copper still in Kansas City, engineered by Jeff Evans, one of the owners. The spirit is then aged in Missouri white oak barrels. In the future, Mean Mule plans to start growing their own agave plants in Arizona.
Their award-winning spirits include, a Silver American Agave Spirit (notes of vanilla and delicate florals), a Gold American Agave Spirit (notes of oak and baking spices), a Heritage American Agave Spirit (notes of mature oak), and an Agave-Based Gin (notes of agave and botanicals).
Mean Mule’s tasting room has been described as “Southwest meets Midwest” with leather-upholstered furnishings and desert plants. The inviting 35-seat bar carries wine, beer, and other spirits for those who are not up for trying an agave spirit.
Listen to authentic jazz music at the Green Lady Lounge.
This vintage-style cocktail lounge features antique oil paintings framed on sultry crimson walls. The staff is always dressed to impress with suits, ties, and cocktail dresses.
There are two areas inside the lounge - the main floor stage and the lower level which is called the Orion Room. The Orion Room features chandeliers, a grand piano, and a drum set. The Orion room is a theater set up while the main floor stage is located in the center of guest seating. Admission is $5 cash or credit at the door.
Image courtesy of Green Lady Lounge.
Tour Kansas City’s murals in the Crossroads Art District.
Every first Friday of the month, Crossroads Art District hosts an evening community event, known as “First Fridays”. It’s the nation’s largest known art walk. You can explore art galleries, eat at locally-owned restaurants, try a tasting at a local craft brewery, distillery, or winery, or browse the eclectic boutique shops. There’s also several “Art Alleys” as well as a Food Truck Plaza.
Image courtesy of Crossroads Art District.
Take a leisurely stroll through the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden.
The garden showcases 5 designs - the Allee, the Green Garden, the Orangery, the Parterre Garden, and the Secret Garden.
The Allee: garden entrance containing lilacs, hydrangeas and other seasonal flowers
Green Garden: centerpiece of the garden with an octagonal pool, planter boxes, and gardenia (Mrs. Kauffman’s favorite flower)
Orangery: sheltered area for fragrant seasonal plants, citrus, camellia, gardenia, and orchid
Parterre Garden: long canal pool lined with annuals and tropicals containing bronze statues by local artist Tom Corbin
Secret Garden: secluded area behind the conservatory with water features ideal for reflection
Image courtesy of Visit KC.
Shop, eat, and be entertained at Union Station.
Science City is a popular attraction for children and families, however don’t let that deter your visit to Union Station. There’s a live theater, a movie theater, an art gallery open on First Fridays, and an escape room.
The easiest way to get there is to hop on the free-to-ride KC streetcar route.
Where to Eat in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City is well known for their delicious barbecue, but Kansas City, MO is more than a culinary one trick pony. Kansas City, MO offers dozens of unique and high quality cuisines that will impress and delight.
Check out this related post to get a full round-up of the best food (as well as a speakeasy!) in Kansas City, MO while you’re on your adult getaway.
>>> Best Food in Kansas City <<<
Closing Thoughts About Fun Things to do in Kansas City for Adults
Though known for barbecue, fountains, and jazz, Kansas City, MO has so much more to offer. Kansas City is an artsy and friendly city, full of people that are passionate about their town, their culture, and their history. It’s a place for trailblazers, creatives, foodies, musicians, and more.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the city’s unique history and culture, especially during the Prohibition era. I loved seeing how that history has influenced the Kansas City that we know today.
I had no idea what to expect when I came to Kansas City, MO…frankly, I thought it would be a basic Midwestern town. But I’m so pleased to say that the city far exceeded my expectations. It’s anything but basic. I found a ton of fun things to do in Kansas City for adults, and I absolutely loved spending time in Kansas City. I look forward to returning because I’ve barely scratched the surface of what Kansas City, MO has to offer.
~ Have you ever been to Kansas City, MO? If so, what would you add to this list of fun things to do for adults? Let me know in the comments below! ~
Author Bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
