When my children were toddlers, travelling wasn’t something that our family enjoyed. My kids really thrived in the familiar, and travelling was stressful despite the moments of fun we experienced. I’m thankful we continued to road trip several times a year to establish a few foundational skills for travelling.
Now that my boys are tweens, they have been bitten by the travel bug, and love to explore new places. We tend to go to Kansas City several times a year when we need a quick getaway and change of scenery, and when our athletic schedules allow it. My husband loves to coach sports, and my children love to play sports, so naturally, we seek out athletic oriented activities when we head out of town. We have plenty of choices in Kansas City!
Catch A Game
There are several Professional sports teams to watch. The Royals (MLB) have a Blue Crew that has allowed for special activities for kids when they attend. The Blue Crew is getting reimagined for 2022! The Chiefs (NFL), Sporting KC (Major League Soccer,) FC Kansas City (Women’s Soccer,) Kansas City T-Bones (American Association of Independent Professional Baseball,) Missouri Mavericks, (Central Hockey League,) Kansas City Storm (United Women’s Football Association,) Missouri Comets (Major Indoor Soccer League,) Kansas City Blues (USA Rugby Division I,) and the Kansas City Rogues (USA Rugby Division II) are all professional and semi-professional teams that play throughout the year.
Kansas Speedway
NASCAR has several races that are free for kids 12 and under. It is located near Legends which boasts tons of shopping and a variety of restaurants to spend the rest of your time while you’re in KC.
The College Basketball Experience
If you have a basketball player, they will love attending the interactive museum attached to T-Mobile Center in the Power & Light District. They can bring their shoes and play a game on a full sized court. You can learn a little bit about what made the college players so great, and compete against each other in a 3 point contest. Check their website for operating hours as they are closed most week days. Masks are required at this time. There are lots of restaurants and dessert spots in a very walkable urban area.
Indoor Skydiving
iFly Kansas City is an indoor flight experience that is family friendly. It is located in Overland Park. First time flyers are required to do a training class before you fly one-on-one with an instructor. Flyers can be aged 3-103 and at least 40″ tall. Overland Park has lots of shopping and restaurants to enjoy your day.
TOPGOLF
Your golf loving family will enjoy hitting golf balls at targets year round in the climate controlled hitting bays. Their unique games are fun for beginners to aspiring pros to score no matter your swing. You don’t even have to worry about scoring as they balls score themselves! There is a bar and restaurant complete with breakfast, desserts, and a kids menu. Don’t forget to reserve your time before you go!
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Check out the self-guided tour that features text panels, hundreds of photographs, artifacts, and several film exhibits that give a timeline of baseball and African American history. The tour would be a minimum of an hour to fully experience the exhibit. There is a variety of restaurants nearby.
Our family has loved being active when we head out of town, and there’s so many fun experiences just a few hours away in Kansas City!
