Free Summer Acvities!
Our summer break starts Friday and before you hear “I’m bored” about a million times. Here’s a list a free stuff to do in Kansas City to pass the time!
Parkville Nature Sanctuary: The kids and I visited this weekend and had so much fun. You can hike trails, see the waterfall and play in the low line creek. There are several benches to stop and rest or read a book or have a snack. The city of Parkville is adorable and there are several places for lunch, ice cream or mini-golf if you want to make a whole day of it. Here's a list of events and rules to plan your visit:
Hours: Open every day, sunrise to sunset Rules: NO dogs or other pets allowed on the trails, Stay on trails, Put trash in proper receptacles, No unauthorized vehicles (including bicycles, skateboards, etc.), No fires, No hunting, fishing, or trapping, No picking, collecting, or digging, No firearms, No camping, No weddings
Ride the Street Car! You can catch it any of these stops:
Union Station (Pershing & Main), Crossroads (19th & Main), Kauffman Center (16th & Main), Power & Light (14th & Main), Metro Center (12th & Main), Library (9th & Main), North Loop (7th & Main), City Market (5th & Walnut), River Market North (3rd & Grand), River Market West (4th & Delaware)
Cool Off at a Spray Park:
Here is a list of spray parks, be sure to check the recommended safety rules for each park before you go. Kansas City Missouri Spray Parks:Harmony Park: E. 10th St & Agnes Ave., Jacob L. Loose Park: W. 52nd Terrace & Summit Ave.(Closed Wednesdays.), Sunnyside Park: W. 83rd St. & Summit Ave., Longview Tract: 7107 Longview Rd., Golden Oaks Park: N.E. 46th Street & N. Antioch Rd., Garrison Square: E. 4th St. & Forest Ave., Central Park: Linwood Blvd & Bales Ave., Nelson C. Crews Park: E. 27th St & Michigan Ave., Douglass Playground at Grace Williams Nicholl Park: 2632 Jarboe St.
Independence Missouri Spraygrounds: McCoy Park: 24 Highway & N. Delaware, Rotary Park: 24th & Hardy
Grandview Missouri Spraygrounds: John Anderson Park: 4701 E. 135th Street
Liberty Missouri Spraygrounds: City Park: 970 S. Highway 291, Ruth Moore Park: 401 N. Morse
Kansas City Kansas Spraygrounds: Eisenhower Park: 2901 N. 72nd St., Heathwood Park: 10th & Parallel Pkwy, Pierson Park: 1800 S. 55th St.
More Free Activities:
- Marble making demo and Moon Marble Company. The kids can even learn how to shoot marbles and take a few home. Demos are usually given Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 or 10:30.
- Cabela’s: A retail showroom, is a 180,000 sq. ft. hunting, fishing and outdoor gear store. Visit the 11,500 square ft. Mule Deer Country Museum with the world's largest collection of life-size trophy mule deer in their natural surroundings, including two world records and numerous state and province records. This retail store includes a laser arcade, archery range, art gallery, furniture department, gun library, restaurant, general store, fly fishing store, bargain cave and gift shop. Kids will enjoy exploring the exotic animals in the African Diorama and coming face-to-face with giant catfish in the Aquarium
- It goes without saying that the Nelson-Atkins Museum is a KC treasure and it’s free! It is closed Monday/Tuesday. Wednesday 10-5. Thursday/Friday 10-9 and Saturday/Sunday 10-5.
- Scheels Mega Sports store in Overland Park. 16,000 gallon aquarium, Ferris wheel and games that cost $.25 to play.
- Kidscape at the Johnson County Museum. 6305 Lackman Road. Kids can play dress up, be mayor for the day and see the suburban streetscape design.
- Kalidoscope is always free, but reservations are recommended visit www.hallmarkkaleidoscope.com for times.
- The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank is an experience that even your teen will like. It is also free and open to the public. Here you’ll watch millions of dollars in currency being processed at KC’s Federal Reserve Bank and see an impressive collection of coins. Walk-in and guided tours are available and all guests undergo a security screening. If you are over 18, you’ll need to bring your ID. Call 816-881-2683 for more information.
- The Cave Spring Historic Site and Nature Center has over 36 acres of wildlife and native plants with walking trails, wildlife habitat, pond and a small cave for kids to explore. Amazingly enough, it’s in the middle of the city. Location: 8701 E. Gregory Blvd. Hours: 9 am to dark every day. The Nature Center is open 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday. The Center is free, but small donations are accepted.
- Attend a free family fun night at Mahaffie Stagecoach:
- Take a tour of The Roasterie and learn about coffee. This is great for the pre-teen set and I did it on my last birthday and it was fun and I learned a lot about coffee!
- Hike at Ernie Miller Nature Center.
- Visit the free National Archives of Kansas City and explore their free exhibits.
- Build a free project at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Both offer free workshops on select Saturdays.
- Explore the Central Branch of the Kansas City Library, because any library with a parking garage painted with classic books has been named one of the coolest libraries to visit in the country!
- Take a free class at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center.
- Imagine you’re in the Wild West at Antioch Park in Shawnee, Kansas with an old town set up.
Be sure to check your city website. Each city is full of summer activities, concerts and movies. New to Lenexa this year is the Public Market. Check out their website for a full list of fun things to do there: http://lenexapublicmarket.com/
