Kansas City, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa
Kansas City, St. Joseph, South Eastern Nebraska and South Western Iowa have some very interesting sights to see. You might not hear much about this area outside of the great BBQ ,but its worth visiting for many great reasons. Kansas City is know as the “City of Fountains” and you can see fountains and architecture throughout the city. You can visit the stunning National WWI Museum, the Hallmark Headquarters, Shop in the Crown Center or catch a game at one of the many sport venues in the city. Nearby in Independence, Missouri you can visit the Harry S Truman Presidential Library. You can also take a day trip to St. Joseph, Missouri to see where Jesse James was killed and where the Pony Express was headquartered. You can continue in the Old West by going to the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center and museum in Nebraska City. In Iowa you can visit the Waubonsie State Park to hike and visit hills in Iowa. I have visited the area a couple times the most recent being 2015.
Getting to Kansas City and Transportation
Other than driving into Kansas City or taking an Amtrak train into the city, flying into Kansas City International Airport is the way to get to the area. Most major airlines fly into Kansas City International airport and its central location in the country means its a relatively short flight to get to Kansas City. The airport is one of these easiest to transit through in my opinion. The baggage claim is next to the gate and rental cars are close by. The best bet in Kansas city if you want to branch out of the downtown area is to get a rental car. Kansas City has a bus system and a limited downtown rail system. We used our rental car to see Kansas City and also visit St. Joseph, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.
National WWI Museum
The gem of Kansas City is the National WWI Museum. It is an extremely well done museum that has many artifacts from “The Great War”, recreations of the terrible trenches, and many interactive exhibits. You start by walking over a clear bridge over a field of poppies symbolizing those who died in WWI. The museum goes over the causes of the war, and chronicles each year of the war. Its a truly sobering museum going over a war you do not hear a lot about in comparison to other wars. While at the museum you can go to the top of the over 200 foot tall Liberty Tower to visit the open air observation deck and get a great view of downtown Kansas City. The architecture and the temporary exhibits in this 1920s built building are also something to see. This museum will take a few hours to visit and its worth every minute.
Hallmark Headquarters and Visitors Center
A short walk from the National WWI Museum is the Hallmark Headquarters and its visitors center. Its a free museum where you can learn about the cards and ornaments that have made Hallmark famous. It goes over the history of the Hallmark company and you can watch a video about the employees and company in the past and the now. You can even get a free Hallmark bow from the bow making machine. It is a nice museum that will take 30 minutes to an hour to go through.
Harry S Truman Presidential Library
Located around 20 minutes from downtown Kansas City you can visit the Harry S Truman Presidential Library. It was the first presidential library built and is the final resting place of the 33rd president. Truman was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Vice President when he died making Truman the President at the end of WWII. He decided to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan and also saw the beginning of the Cold War. He also was President during the Korean War. The museum chronicles his life before the politics, his time in office, what went on in the world as he was president and his time after office. You can also see some of the gifts he received from other nations. The Harry Truman and the First Lady are buried at the library. Truman is famous for his “The Buck Stops Here” sign on his desk and you can buy one at the gift shop. The ‘S’ in his name actually is just an S (he does not have a middle name). Its a great museum that shares the interesting times at the end of and right after WWII. It will take an hour or two to tour the museum. Its worth the short drive to Independence from Kansas City.
St. Joseph, Missouri
After spending time in Kansas City we took a day trip that included the historic city of St. Joseph along the Missouri River. The city is famous for being the home and death site for outlaw Jesse James and the headquarters and starting point for The Pony Express. We spent quite a bit of time in this small city visiting the several great museums there. We visited the Jesse James Home Museum where he was killed. He was straightening a picture when a man shot him from behind. You can still see the bullet hole in the wall from the bullet that killed him. Its a small house and museum but an interesting one. We also went to The Pony Express Museum located in the stables where the riders started their journey delivering the mail across the West. Its a great museum that has a replica of a way station, the history of the short lived Pony Express and exhibits on the dangers and routes the riders took. We also went to one of the best Western museums in the country called the Patee House Museum. Its in an 1800s built former hotel. You can see a train, the Pony Express headquarters, cowboys, guns and many other artifacts from the Old West. It will take an hour or so to walk through. All three museums are well worth the one hour drive North from Kansas City. There are also quite a few hotel options if you want to spend the night as we did for one night.
Waubonsie State Park, Iowa
Located in the far South West corner of Iowa is the Waubonsie State Park. It is part of the Loess Hills Land form that comes from ancient silk from glacier runoff. The hills are an interesting sight in what is mainly flat plains in Iowa. You can see the endless plains of Iowa and farmland from the hills. We spent a little time hiking in the quiet and pretty forest a top the hill and ready about the unique land form. There were few people there and the park was unmanned so its a nice area to get away from it all. We drove through quite a few farming areas and a very small town that was very desolate on a Sunday (as expected). After a short visit to Iowa we heads over to Nebraska.
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitors Center, Nebraska City, Nebraska
After quick stop in Iowa we wanted to stop by Nebraska (we want to go to all 50 states and have made it to 46 so far) and go see something interesting in the state. We went just over the border to Nebraska City to see the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitors Center. It is a nice facility near where Lewis and Clark stopped to camp as they explored the West. The center has a trail where you can see an Earth Lodge replica of a Plains Indian tribe, see the plant life and animal and get a view of the Missouri River. In the visitors center there are exhibits about the boats used, the animals they encountered and some history about Lewis and Clark and their explorations. There are interactive exhibits and exhibits for kids. Its a nice small center and worth stopping by if you are in the Nebraska City area. It will take about an hour to go through.
Other attractions and tips for Kansas City and the area
There are many other things to do in Kansas City and the general area. In Kansas City one thing to do is try one of the many great Kansas City BBQ places like we did while we were there. There are other museums and attractions in the Kansas City area from art and science museums and great sports teams to watch. Like many cities you can visit breweries in the area as well. There area unique museum such as the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Check out the many fountains in the city as well. There are other sites to explore as well. If we went back we would try out some of these other items. A stop inside Union Station to see beautiful architecture is something nice to do while in the downtown area. If you want to drive South the City of Fort Scott, Kansas is neat with the well preserved Fort Scott National Historic Site where you can visit an old frontier fort. The Civil War Battlefield of Mine Creek is near by Fort Scott. We visited both sites on a previous trip to the area many years ago. Kansas City is a great place to go and easy to navigate. Give it a shot and visit!
If you are Interested in this trip:
Contact Donna Miller and she can help you book your dream trip today including trips like Kansas City. Her travel planning services are completely free if you book with her. Contact her at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today!
