There is no limit to the things to do, eat and explore in the KC area. As the holidays come alive in our wonderful region, we’ve compiled a fun and festive A-Z list of seasonal favorites to add to your holiday to-do list. Check it out!
A is for Air – Catch some air at the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Lenexa. This family-friendly attraction is perfect for getting the energy out of the kiddos. More info: https://www.urbanairtrampolinepark.com/locations/kansas/lenexa
B is for BBQ – There are so many BBQ options in KC, there’s no way we could list them all. For the most exhaustive local resource, download the KC BBQ Experience app from Visit KC. More info: https://www.visitkc.com/bbq
C is for Cookies – From cookies to cupcakes, cinnamon rolls to cheesecakes, Classy Chocolate in Liberty is the place to go! When the time calls for only the most tasteful of gifts, Classy Chocolate has the best selection of gourmet selections available. More info: http://www.classychocolate.com/index.html
D is for Drive – Hop in the car and drive over to the KC Automotive Museum to explore their featured exhibit and over 30 different cars from historical to luxurious. More info:
E is for Eating – There’s so many ways to eat through KC, but one of our favorites is on the Kansas City Kansas Taco Trail! Authentic Mexican food fans can rejoice as they earn prizes for downloading this app and eating at any of the 50+ local taqueria’s. More info: https://www.visitkansascityks.com/tacotrail/
F is for Flight - The idea of flying to destinations went from a pipedream to a major industry within one century! Learn how the airline company TWA came and went at the TWA Museum in Clay County. More info: http://www.twamuseum.com/
G is for Garden - Take a stroll through the OP Arboretum and Botanical Gardens during this year’s luminary walk and get a closer sense of nature and the holidays wrapped into one! More info: https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/luminary-walk/
H is for Hibachi – Don’t just go to a normal restaurant, try something exciting like a Hibachi grill where food is cooked right in front of you and even thrown into your mouth! One of our local favorites is Ichiban Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse in Lansing. More info: http://www.ichibanks.com/
I is for IKEA – Find inspiration and plenty of holiday gifts in the modern furniture store famous for their Scandinavian design and yummy meatballs. You can find IKEA right off I-35 and Johnson Drive in Merriam. More info: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/stores/merriam/
J is for Jazz – KC Is known worldwide as being a cradle for the growth of Jazz. Explore how and why this came to be at the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine. More info: https://americanjazzmuseum.org/
K is for KC Destinations – Have you read our other blogs and content? Make sure you bookmark our website and come back regularly. We upload a new blog each month with tons to see and do across the metro! More info: https://www.kcdestinations.com/
L is for Lights – Get out and experience the lights in Kansas City! From fully decked out shopping districts to your neighborhood home décor, you can still catch many of the twinkles you expect each holiday season. Visit KC has a great citywide guide here: https://www.visitkc.com/visitors/things-do/kansas-city-holiday-light-displays
M is for Membership – Don’t just give someone that same old gift this year, consider something they can use weekly or even daily. We suggest a membership or subscription to a local museum, business or community center. One favorite is Merriam’s new Community Center which recently opened just this year. More info: https://www.merriam.org/945/Merriam-Community-Center
N is for Nickel - Now is the best time shop local this holiday season and one great way to do so is by getting her the famous leather earrings from at Nickel & Suede. Their official HQ and shop is found in Liberty, so stop by soon! More info: https://www.nickelandsuede.com/
O is for Otocast – Have you downloaded this wonderful app that gets you access to our FREE KC Trips program? Right now we have our holiday and coffee trips active for you to explore and experience! More info: https://www.kcdestinations.com/kctrips
P is for Povitica – This handmade European sweet bread comes in a variety of flavors, from popular favorites like English Walnut to seasonal selections like Apple Cranberry Crunch. Stop into Merriam’s Strawberry Hill Povitica at 7226 W. Frontage Road and pickup a loaf for Christmas morning. More info: https://www.strawberryhill.com/flavors.html
Q is for Quitting – As in there is no quitting now! That’s one of the themes at the Rosie the Riveter exhibit located inside the Gardner Historical Museum. You can visit this historical museum honoring the city’s heritage Friday through Tuesday. More info: https://gardnerhistoricalmuseum.com
R is for Roasted – Nothing is better than a hot cup of locally roasted coffee. There are tons of local coffee shops that roast their own beans in KC! Try out McLain’s Market’s Sway Roasted Coffee found in many locations all across the metro. More info: https://www.mclainskc.com/
S is for Shop – Are you still in a frenzy to get your holiday shopping done? Visit the Legends Outlets in Kansas City, Kansas for more options than you can wrap your head around. Plus, they have quite a few spots for dining too! More info: https://legendsshopping.com/
T is for Trees – There are so many famous Christmas Trees in Kansas City! One of the most popular is the KC Mayor’s Christmas Tree, found in the popular shopping and entertainment district Crown Center. More info: https://crowncenterchristmas.com/
U is for Union Station – It’s the centerpiece of the most iconic pictures of KC, and also one of the most popular holiday destinations for good reason! With a range of attractions and awe-inspiring architecture, make your way down to visit. More info: https://www.unionstation.org/
V is for Victorian – Take a candlelight Christmas tour of the Carroll Mansion in Leavenworth and experience a Victorian Christmas like none other. Historical dress is encouraged. More info: http://www.leavenworthhistory.org/Tour_of_Homes.htm
W is for Wine – Kansas City offers many local wineries! Red, white and fruit varieties made from Missouri and Kansas grapes can be found in every corner of the metro. One of our favorites is KC Wine Co in Olathe! More info: https://www.kcwineco.com/
X is for Xalapa – That’s right! Xalapa punch is a tasty punch made from rum, black tea, red wine, brandy and oranges! Pick up your ingredients at a local liquor store. We suggest Happy Hour Wine and Spirits in Lansing. More info: https://happyhourwinespirits.com/
Y is for Yum – Get your yums at any of KC’s local bakeries! Our picks this season are the tasty pumpkin, pecan or apple pies found at the very popular Upper Crust in downtown Overland Park! https://uppercrustpiebakery.com/
Z is for Zoo – Bundle up and head to the KC Zoo! Still open during the winter season, it’s a great way to get the family out of the house to see dozens and dozens of animals and exhibits! More info: https://www.kansascityzoo.org/