Don’t get me wrong, The Legends area of Kansas City, Kansas is great. You could spend an entire vacation in that area alone. I mean you have so much shopping and so many delicious places to eat; you have a professional soccer team (KC Current), a professional baseball team (KC Monarchs) and NASCAR racing; there are several hotels including some with indoor water parks. So yes, it’s a great area. However, if The Legends is the only part of Kansas City, Kansas that you see, you are missing out. Keep reading to discover 5 more areas of Kansas City, Kansas that it is indeed more than just The Legends.
Strawberry Hill
Named for the wild strawberries that once covered the area, Strawberry Hill now offers more than just strawberries. You could spend the day, starting with coffee and a danish at Splitlog Coffee. Then walk around the area to discover all the Eastern European culture. Take advantage of the Legacy Trail Audio Tour offered by Visit Kansas City Kansas. Don’t miss places like Krizman’s House of Sausage, established in 1939, still run by the original owners grandson. Not going to find this kind of historical culture at The Legends.
Speaking of historical culture, walk over to the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center. It’s located in the Cruise-Scroggs Mansion, which was built in 1863. And next to that is the Croatian St. John’s Catholic Church and a very cool old bowling alley that has been here since 1922. End the day at one of the many unique bars in this area like Blue Palm Tiki Lounge or the 403 Club with its many pin ball machines.
Downtown Kansas City Kansas
Right next to Strawberry Hill is Downtown Kansas City, Kansas. You can continue your walking here to discover The Huron Indian Cemetery, which is a National Historic Landmark. It gives an interesting history of the Wyandot Indian Nation. It also includes the graves of the Conley Sisters, who went to great lengths to make this area happen. One even became a lawyer to fight for it and was the first woman admitted to the Kansas Bar Association. Keep your eye out for one of the many murals in the this area. Among them is a beautiful depiction of Hmong life representing the many Hmong people who came to this area after the Vietnam War. Memorial Hall is a beautiful old building on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1923 as a Memorial to WW1 Veterans and an auditorium. Many famous musicians have played there.
Quindaro Bluffs
If you’re a history lover, you can really see how much Kansas City, Kansas has to offer in that area and I’m not even done. The Quindaro Ruins is a memorial and a trail (that you need special permission to walk on). Or even better, sign up for an Urban Hike and get the most amazing guided walking tour of literally everything I have mentioned so far. This area is special because it was a stop along the Underground Railroad. The people would cross over the Missouri River from Missouri, a slave state, into Kansas, a free state. What an amazing area to witness. There is also a Museum, but I wasn’t able to visit when I was there. Another historical monument in this area is the John Brown Statue. He is a well known abolitionist who fought for human rights in Kansas in the 1850’s.
Kaw Point Park
Situated off on its own is Kaw Point Park. It has some great views of the other Kansas City, as you walk right along the Missouri or Kansas River. You can also see where the Kansas River flows right into the Missouri River and the two become one. Lewis and Clark came right through this area back in 1805 ish and there is a life-size metal statue of them for pictures if you so choose. It’s a great place to spend a little time in nature right in the heart of the city area.
Rosedale
My last area that you should visit in Kansas City, Kansas that’s not The Legends, is Rosedale. Your tummy will thank you. 🙂 This area has some of my favorite places to eat in KCK. Starting with Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. It started right here in a working gas station. And the gas station is still a working one, even as lines of people line up every day to enjoy the famous Joe’s BBQ. This is an absolute must try place if you come to the area.
Right next to Joe’s is 1889 Pizza Napoletana. Voted the best pizza in KCK, I can vouch for this amazing Neapolitan Style pie. Delish! Save room for the gelato flight, featuring four different kinds of gelato. Quadruple delish!
We used to live outside of Chicago and I had a favorite Vietnamese restaurant there. I always ordered the Bun Salad Bowl. I loved it! After we moved, I could never find a restaurant that had it as good as the one outside of Chicago…until I tried the Vietnam Cafe in KCK. It took me SEVEN years to find it! They also have Vietnamese coffee, which was another find of mine from a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma of all places. I think all the different cultures in the Kansas City, Kansas area really makes the restaurant scene something unique and extra delicious.
After your tummy is quite full head over to the Rosedale Memorial Arch to pay tribute to our veterans and enjoy a wonderful view of the area. It’s located near Mount Marty Park, which would be a good place to walk off all that food you’ve enjoyed.
Bonus: Kansas City Kansas Taco Trail
You can’t pin this unique experience down to just one area in KCK, but it is an experience not to be missed. The Kansas City Taco Trail is many things: it’s an app on your phone to check off where you’ve visited, it’s a do it yourself experience that can last for one meal or dinner every night for two months (there’s THAT many taquerias), or it’s a party bus that takes you to three taquerias in one night. I recommend them all! Turns out KCK is known for having more taquerias per capita than anywhere else in the US. I’m serious! So you must eat at at least one while you are there. I recommend the al pastor at El Camino Real.
So I hope next time to come to Kansas City, Kansas for a KC Current Soccer game or a Nascar Event, that you head a little southeast to see the culture and history of where Kansas City, Kansas began. Happy Travels!
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