How to See Two States in Kansas City, MO

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Image from Flickr by Pam Broviak

Kansas City is a unique city that’s located on the border between Missouri and Kansas. The city was founded in 1850 as a port at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers. A short time later, the Kansas Territory was established across the river from the city. Since then, the Kansas City metropolitan area has expanded into the state of Kansas. That’s why Kansas City is the perfect place to visit two Midwestern states on the same trip.

Getting There

Kansas City is home to the Kansas City International Airport. The airport has daily flights from most major U.S. cities and a handful of flights to Canada and Mexico. Kansas City is easily accessible by car or bus from either coast, thanks to Interstate 70.

Where to Stay

The city has an extensive collection of hotels for all budgets and prices. The average hotel room in Kansas City costs about $100 a night. You’ll find most major chains, such as Marriott, IHG, and Choice Hotels, scattered throughout the city. Many of the top hotels are located on or near the rivers and have great views.

Where to Eat

Surprisingly, Kansas City is a foodie paradise. The city is famous for its slow-cooked barbecue with a tomato- and molasses-based sauce, and there are over 100 barbecue joints here. If brunch is your thing, check out the Beer Kitchen for some amazing flavors and early-morning drinking. For lunch, check out seasonal and local specialties at Westside Local. At Room 39, you can enjoy all that the Heartland has to offer, combined with some international flair.

Things to Do on the Kansas Side

The Kansas side of Kansas City is home to many child-friendly activities. The Wonderscope Children’s Museum has numerous hands-on exhibits where kids can have fun while learning. If you’re visiting during the summer, the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark is a fun place to cool off. The park features several slides that provide hours of fun.

Things to Do on the Missouri Side

The Missouri side of Kansas City focuses on big-city fun, and it’s home to the majority of the metro area’s bars and restaurants. This is also where you’ll find the area’s best history museums. Don’t miss a visit to the Arabia Steamboat Museum, which is full of objects rescued from a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River. Discover another side of baseball at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This museum explores the foundation of segregated baseball leagues in the 1920s through Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Walk through the history of the Great War at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Learn about the Kansas City Mint at the Money Museum. Check out some art at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art or the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Entertain the kids at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.

Kansas City is a great place to visit two states in one city. Why do you want to visit Kansas City?