Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Regardless of which side of the state line youre on, Kansas City offers an abundance of kids activities that will have you tucking exhausted children into bed early C with you not far behind! Whether youre looking to stimulate their brains, fine tune those motor skills, or get the artistic juices flowing, theres something for everyone.
On the Missouri side:
SCIENCE CITY
Located in historic Union Station, Science City offers children the opportunity to see inside places theyve only dreamed about with over fifty areas to explore. Train for a space mission in the astronaut training center. Run a battery of medical tests on yourself or your favorite victimer, patient. Ride a bike 30 feet in the air across a wire C without fear of tipping. Check out the media center, the miniature golf course, the crime lab, or the dinosaur dig, to name a few of the fascinating exhibits. When youre ready for a break, you can grab a snack within Science City, or venture out into Union Station, which boasts several fine restaurants in addition to the food court.
KALEIDOSCOPE
Halls Crown Center is home to some of the most exclusive shops, interesting exhibits, and finest restaurants in the area, and also houses Kaleidoscope, a unique art experience for your child. Using scrap materials from Hallmark Cards manufacturing, children can flex their creative muscles, stopping at different stations to create various art projects. For 5-12 year olds, independent creative art sessions are available. Parents are welcome to stay, volunteering as public helpers, an assistant to all of the children in that session. Forty minute family sessions are also available for those with younger children.
WORLDS OF FUN/OCEANS OF FUN
Dozens of rides, including one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, the Mamba, await you in this 175 acre amusement park. For those who cant make the height requirement, theres Camp Snoopy, an area reserved for the younger set. With rides like Pony Promenade, Snoopy Bounce, and Wacky Worm, theres something for both your daredevil and your more cautious offspring.
During sweltering summer days, Oceans of Fun has an advantage over other amusement parks, offering soothing relief. Take advantage of the one million gallons of water in the Surf City Wave Pool, a multitude of water slides C from the leisurely to the seemingly rocket propelled, a 20,000 square foot pool, and canoeing, just to name a few of your options, plus a choice of activities to capture the interest of your little water sprites. Captain Kidds pirate ship features a variety of activities including water cannons and slides. Crocodile Isle houses a 2,000 square foot pool and water slides. And dont miss Paradise Falls where a 1,000 gallon bucket of water empties onto unsuspecting passersby every five minutes. After a day of water and sunshine, be prepared to turn in early!
On the Kansas side:
WONDERSCOPE
Children ages twelve years old and under will enjoy Wonderscope, a school thats been converted into an educational smorgasbord of fun. Visit City of Wonder, driving through the bank on your way to the grocery store, where you can ring up your own purchases. At Getting The Message, the focus is on communication. You can tape a news broadcast, examine an old-time switchboard, or even print out your own newspaper. Crater City, Artworks, Nature and Science Lab, and the Hands of Mercy medical center are just a few of the other exhibits you wont want to miss. The Small Wonders Playspace is specially tailored for the 6 month C 2 year old. When youre ready for a break C and youll undoubtedly run out of energy before you run out of exhibits C the indoor picnic area provides picnic tables to enjoy your lunch and get rested.
BUMP CITY
At Emerald City Gymnastics, youll find Bump City, a bouncing, swinging, sliding fun house. A visit to Bump City includes in-ground trampolines, rope swings, zip line, tunnels, slides, a maze, and a rock climbing wall. They offer two hour sessions, with special times for 18 month C 5 year olds. Birthday rooms are available for 4-12 year olds, with your choice of structured activities versus free play. Rock climbing can be added, if desired. Now, take off your shoes and get moving!
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Take the kids back a few hundred years every weekend from Labor Day through mid-October at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. The festival offers nearly 16 acres of unique shows, activities, shops and scrumptious food C not to mention, over 500 costumed characters roaming the grounds. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your sense of adventure. You never know when you might become part of the show!
DEANNA ROSE CHILDRENS FARMSTEAD
Opened in 1978, the Deanna Rose Childrens Farmstead was renamed in 1985 to honor the slain Overland Park police officer. This versatile park offers an opportunity to see farm animals and birds of prey up close. In addition to the animals, there are several play areas, a picnic area, concession stand, hay rides, fishing pond, gardens, pony rides and petting pen. Spend the morning touring the grounds, break for lunch at the covered picnic tables, then let the kids burn off that second burst of energy at the playground.
Kansas City offers a diverse selection of activities for all ages and activity levels. In addition to those listed here, we offer fine dining, dancing, art galleries, shopping, sports, and practically any other pastime you can name. Come check us out. The breadbasket of the country, youll be pleasantly surprised to find how much more the heartland has to offer than rolling fields of wheat!
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