Belger Arts Center

The Belger Arts Center is a unique experience for those who picture art museums as sterile white spaces. It is a working warehouse space with an industrial feel to it, and was a really fun experience for me and my kids. It is located in the Crossroads District, so if you've attended a "First Friday" you know what I'm talking about!

We were lucky enough to have a train go by right as we arrived, so my kids were won over before we even got inside. We took a guided tour with several other children, that ended with a hands on project time where the kids got to work with clay in the studio. The tour was well done, with questions directed at the kids that they were eager to answer, and the art pieces on display were very engaging and got the kids excited. Part of the fun was riding in a freight elevator to get to the exhibits. It added to the ambience.

Strollers are a no go here. There are stairs and it just isn't the right type of space for that. There was no admission charge. They do offer art classes, focusing on pottery, in the attached studio. You can pick up a pamphlet with more information while there. I recommend scheduling a tour or stopping by on a "First Friday" art crawl to visit. Their website isn't super informative about visiting, and I'm not sure about walk-ins.

I highly recommend this place for sparking some imagination in your child!

Alldredge Orchards

We've discovered a gem in Platte City, MO. Alldredge Orchards is now our go to place for getting our annual fall pumpkins. My husband and I struggled each year after our first child was born to find a great place to get pumpkins that wasn't an overly commercialized, paid admission "experience." Some of these pumpkin "amusement parks" are expensive and take away from the agricultural opportunity we wanted to have with our kids.

Alldredge Orchards is a bit out of town, but that's part of the allure for us. It is a small farm, with an apple orchard and pumpkin patch. They offer a simple hayride back to the pumpkins where you can pick your own. It's a legitimate pumpkin patch--not pumpkins strewn in decorative piles. It's a short walk if you're not interested in the hay ride.

You purchase your pumpkins in a nearby barn. They have pre-picked pumpkins there if you don't want to go out to the patch, and apples from the orchard for sale. Sometimes they have u-pick apples, but not always. They also sell mums, which look so pretty lined up beside the barn! Outside there are chickens wandering around and a few other penned animals to look at. They have a small play area for the kids, but the real draw is the simplicity of it all. There is no admission fee to pick out a pumpkin. There are bathrooms available and a small gravel parking lot with plenty of room to park.

The Kansas University Natural History Museum

Friday I took my kids to the KU Natural History Museum. This was my second time there, after enjoying it so much the first time. The museum is located on the KU campus in Lawrence, KS, which is about a 45 minute drive from Kansas City.

The museum is housed in a cool old building with exhibits on the 3rd through 6th floors. The main entrance leads you into a room full of panoramas of various scenes from the natural world including the Arctic and the rainforest, as well as local wildlife. If taxidermied animals creep you out, do not go here! There are lots of those, and my kids loved it!

Reasons to make the trip:
Admission is free. They do accept donations though.

It's a chance to see an old-style natural history museum. There aren't a lot of these around this part of the country.

It's educational. As a homeschooling mom, I love opportunities to show my kids what can be difficult to explain in books.

The museum houses lots of local fossils and they do have a few live animals (mostly snakes and insects). They have a section dedicated to evolution, using HIV as evidence, and a section dedicated to bugs. There is a gift shop on the main floor.


The Highlights: A kid-friendly insect exhibit was a big hit with my little ones, but my daughter's favorite was the mosasaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling that can be seen from both above and below. There are several buttons to push, drawers to pull out, and other "tricks" to engage kids in learning about the various exhibits. Another favorite was a room displaying rocks and minerals that glow under a black light. 


Strollers: Yes, you can bring strollers, and they do have an elevator inside, but there are a few places where you'll have to drag your stroller up or down 3 or 4 steps if you want to see everything.

Restrooms: They have restrooms on the 3rd and 5th floor, so keep in mind you might have to take an elevator ride or climb a flight of stairs when you're kid suddenly declares "I have to go NOW!"


Parking: You can find street parking (if you're lucky enough to do so without getting lost), but if you want easy and accessible parking, there is a paid lot (the Mississippi Street Parking Garage) just North of the museum. It is $1.75 for the first hour and $1.50 an hour after that. We spent 2 hours in the museum before we were exhausted, but to be safe, you might plan for 3 hours.

Location:
KU Natural History Museum
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS

A side note: Lawrence is a great place to spend a day. Just a few blocks East of the museum you can find dozens of restaurants and fun shops to browse.

Another side note: If your kids are older and are really into paleontology, they might be able to volunteer with real paleontologists in the KU Dino-lab. Contact the school for more information.

Loose Park

I recently took my kids to Loose Park with a few friends. I've been to the park before for different events, but this was the first time I went specifically to let my kids play on the playground.  This park is the third largest park in Kansas City. It has a lake, a shelter house, some Civil War markers, tennis courts, a sprayground, several picnic areas and a beautiful rose garden.

Address: 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64112

Hours:

Sunday hours 8:00 am–8:00 pm 

Phone: (816) 784-5300

There is lots of room to run and play here. The playground had two separate play areas as well as a large sand pit. The play areas are built on spongy rubber as a safety feature. My son loved the sand pit though, and being hot and sweaty, he made a huge mess of himself! If you're wondering, yes the sand was clean! There were several picnic tables around but just a few were close enough to be useful at the playground. This isn't a big concern as there are lots of large shade trees to throw a picnic blanket underneath.



There isn't tons of parking, but it proved to be enough for a weekday afternoon. There are bathrooms and a water fountain within sight of the play area and shelter house, but everything is spaced out pretty far. I imagine this is to maximize efficiency, but if your kid suddenly needs to go to the bathroom, be prepared to walk a little ways. My kids didn't want to leave, which I suppose is the true testament to whether or not a park is good.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Overland Park, KS, on the Johnson County Community College (JCCC) campus. I took my three children on a docent led tour there last week with a home school group. This was our first experience with the home school group and with the museum!

First let's talk parking. There is a parking lot in front of the museum with a few limited spots, and there are several parking lots on the college campus. Depending on when you go this could prove ample, but during the school year parking can be challenging. Being summer, parking was a breeze. This doesn't mean getting to the museum is a breeze though. It's a pretty good walk no matter which entrance you use. I don't mind, I like walking, but if you're like me and have a baby strapped to you, while pushing a stroller with a 2 year old, and are keeping track of your 6 year old it seems far.

Okay, so what about strollers? The museum does allow strollers, and has an elevator to the upper level. But, if you want to see some of the exhibits in the adjoining building where they have some neat American Indian art, you'll have to drag your stroller up three stairs to get to the elevator. For me, this wasn't too big of a deal.

I like contemporary art, but will my kids? The museum is a beautiful place to stroll through. The lightshow "sculpture" outside really drew my kids in. I found the art interesting and it provided ample opportunities to engage my kids with questions. We took a docent led tour, which can be good or bad, depending on what you're expecting. The tour was setup for kids, but our tour guide didn't seem comfortable with kids...long story short, she was very nervous showing kids the art and spent as much time telling them to not touch and back up as she did discussing it. I'm certain she gives great tours to adults, but for kids, the tour appeared boring. They spent far too long on each piece for a 6 year old. (The website says a tour will include 10 works of art and last about an hour--ours was an hour and 20 minutes and we only looked at 6 pieces of art!) I recommend requesting a tour guide who loves and understands kids, or to do a self-led tour.

My 6 year old daughter loved the museum despite having a "boring" tour. She talked at length about the pieces that struck her the most on the way home, many of which weren't on our tour--just ones she walked past (another reason to do it alone--you can stop at what interests you and skip what doesn't!).

Admission is free, so I have to recommend this place for school-aged kids. My 2 year old...not so much. If you can keep your toddler in a stroller or hold their hand the entire time, it might work, but there is nothing between you and most of the art so a toddler puts the security on high alert!

Hours:
Tues, Weds, Thurs, Sat: 10 am - 5 pm
Friday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 12 pm to 5 pm
Location:
12345 College Blvd  Overland Park, KS 66210

(913) 469-3000

The City Market in Kansas City's River Market

I love the City Market. We try to go several times during the growing season. Kansas City's largest farmers market is located in the River Market area downtown. During it's most active period you can expect to see several vendors hocking everything from the expected fruits and vegetables to locally raised meat, honey, baked goods, and flowers. There are also booths with handmade soaps, and other arts and crafts. If you go on a Sunday (from 9 am to 3 pm) you never know what you might find browsing the "community yard sale." I recommend bringing your own shopping bags, although most of the vendors have plastic bags you can use if you need to.

Parking is occasionally a challenge. There are a few lots around the market, with the largest being on the Northeast side. This is where we usually park and I have always been able to find a space, but you might have to walk farther than you expect at first! But hey, at least the parking is free.

Strollers: Absolutely! Not only are they handy for your kids, if you're like us and have a hard time saying no to fresh veggies, they work well as a grocery buggy for your overloaded bags.

Are there restrooms??? Yes. There are public restrooms in the breezeway of the shopping center on the East side of the market. They aren't awesome, but they work.

Your kids will not be bored here! There is plenty to see with all the bright colors and happy faces. There is a train ride available and sometimes other kids activities too. Often there are live musicians performing, and many of the shops that surround the market are fun to browse through. My kiddos love to help us pick out our fruits and veggies and hand the money to the vendors. Last Fall we got to take a free hayride around the block and see some of the city up close, so it's worth checking out their website to see what activities might be going on the weekend you choose to attend!

Farmers' Market Schedule

March - October

Saturday 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

November - February

Saturday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Kansas City's Shakespeare in the Park

Kansas City's Shakespeare in the Park is an annual event held each summer in the Southmoreland Park next door to the Nelson-Atkins Museum. It's also called the "Heart of America Shakespeare Festival." I've been several times and always enjoy myself. This is a "free" event, but the donation takers are pretty persuasive! They generally have a few activities before the performance you can enjoy, which is good because you want to get there early. Seating is first come first serve (besides a few sections of reserved seats you can purchase--see the website for more information). People bring camping chairs or sometimes blankets to lay on the ground. You're welcome to bring a cooler and a picnic with you to enjoy while you watch the play. People often bring wine.

In the past I've brought a blanket to lay on the ground, but honestly, the play will most likely be long so you may prefer a chair if you have a bad back!

So, should you bring kids? Well, they do have a few events before the show for kids, and it's always good to expose your kids to theater, right? Sure, if your kids will want to sit through a 2+ hour play spoken in Shakespearean English they don't understand while getting bitten by mosquitoes. Some kids will enjoy this, some kids won't. Mine would not. I brought my son when he was a few months old and he slept through it, which worked out well. Once a kids is 8 or 9 I think they would do alright as well...it's those ages in between that worry me.

Parking: You can park on the street, although this may be hard to find. You can also park in the parking garage across the street at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. In the past the fee was $5.

Tips: Bring some kind of bug repellant. Bring enough cold drinks to get you through the play (it is usually very hot!). Get there early to get a good seat. Use the restroom before you arrive unless you're cool with port-a-potties.

If you like this, you'll probably also enjoy the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade is a tradition with a lot of families in the area. It's held on St. Patrick's Day each year in downtown Kansas City. Since the holiday often lands mid-week, people even take long lunch breaks just to go. If you like parades, I recommend it. There are a few hassles to consider before you head out.

Parking is difficult to find. But if you keep looking, you will find it! I say to bring a stroller for your tot in case you have to walk a long ways to get to the parade route, but be warned that it will be difficult to maneuver once you're on the sidewalks of the parade route.
Get there early if you plan to sit on the street. We brought camping chairs to sit in, and I'm glad we did because it would be a long time to have to stand. A lot of people do stand though.

There are other activities for the kids besides the parade. These change from year to year, but you can count on vendors walking the streets selling green novelties! I enjoyed taking my daughter, but it isn't something I feel compelled to do every year.

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is an institution in the Kansas City area. This place is a fantastic way to spend a day with your kids. Admission to the farm is free on Monday through Thursday and only $2 on Friday through Sunday, making it one of the most affordable activities around. The farm features several fee-based activities to help generate income and has a general store and ice cream shop as well, but your kids will be entertained without spending a dime if need be.

Activities include pony rides, bottle-feeding baby goats, and fishing. Your child can also pedal around on a tractor or play on one of the playgrounds available both inside and outside the farm. Structures on the grounds include a dairy barn, schoolhouse, teepee, and bank, with plans to add more in the future.

The farm has several animals, not all of which are farm animals. The animals on display can change, but we've seen a bobcat, bald eagle, buffalo, and a great-horned owl. The farm animals include your standard pigs, goats, and cows, but they also have ducks and rabbits. There is a butterfly garden and working vegetable and flower garden plots, as well as a short nature trail area. In the Fall the farm offers hayrides and pumpkins, for a fee.

Location:
3800 Switzer Rd
Overland Park, KS 66221
913-897-2360

Hours: 

9am to 5pm

It's only open from April 1 - Oct. 31

I definitely recommend taking your kids here. My babies love this place! 

If you would like to do some of the paid activities, consider getting a combo ticket. Other things to note are that they do not allow outside food and drinks. This excludes water bottles and children's snacks (and therefore is sort of a vague rule) They offer birthday party packages but those seemed kind of pricey to me.

Strollers are certainly allowed and can go just about everywhere without too much trouble. The only problem is that, being a kids place, there are a lot of strollers, so expect some traffic jams! There are a few bathrooms scattered around the grounds. I've found the ones in the dairy barn often have lines.