# What to do in Kansas City? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686 "2014-01-13T18:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/1 "2014-01-13T18:34:15Z")
I’m going to a wedding there at the end of February. Hoping to have some free time on Friday night and Saturday during the day. So anything fun to do that doesn’t take too long? Suggestions for BBQ locations are also well appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/2 "2014-01-13T18:45:00Z")
Which one? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/3 "2014-01-13T19:01:04Z")
Missouri (aren’t they right next to each other anyway?) ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/4 "2014-01-13T19:28:45Z")
Yes, I just wanted to be annoying! ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/5 "2014-01-13T19:34:42Z")
My favorite BBQ is probably Fiorella’s Jack Stack, although Oklahoma Joe’s is good too. Gates is also an old standy-by, and still sometimes my preference. For outings, are you looking for shopping (you could go to Country Club Plaza, generally just called “The Plaza”) or museums (there is a science one in the restored Union Station)? Family stuff? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/6 "2014-01-13T19:44:29Z")
You a baseball fan? The Negro League Museum is there. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/7 "2014-01-13T19:44:37Z")
Friday night barhopping in Westport, 20’s-30’s crowd. Shopping on the Country Club Plaza (U.S.'s first shopping center, mostly upscale shops). Interesting architecture, lots of good restaurants. National World War I museum, only one in the country, recently made “official” by Congress. An excellent museum. BBQ – ask ten different people what’s best, get eleven different answers. 🙂 Here are some: Arthur Bryant’s – famous, visited by presidents and such, lots of people like it but I don’t care for their sauce at all. Gates – along with Bryant’s one of the two longstanding archetypal BBQ houses in town. Excellent beans. I love their sauce. (Note that it’s not so much about the sauce, it’s the cooking of the meat that really matters, but it’s still nice to have good sauce.) Jack Stack – always good food, excellent beans. Brobecks – unknown even to many locals, but really good. Offers very nice shrimp and individual ribs (both unusual at BBQ joints). Oklahoma Joe’s – often highly praised, my wife’s favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/8 "2014-01-13T19:45:17Z")
> [@bup](#): > > You a baseball fan? The Negro League Museum is there. A great suggestion! I always forget about it, but it’s definitely worth it if you have any interest at all. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/9 "2014-01-13T19:46:03Z")
> [@bup](#): > > You a baseball fan? The Negro League Museum is there. And right next to it the American Jazz Museum. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/10 "2014-01-13T19:50:15Z")
Nelson Atkins is a wonderful free art museum. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/11 "2014-01-13T20:03:43Z")
WWI Museum is terrific. Up there with any military museum in the world- I’ve been to a few of the big ones, and the National WWI Museum holds it’s own. Arthur Bryant’s sucks balls. Surly employees, sub-standard barbecue, weird sauce. I hear that Gates’ and Stack’s are considerably better, but I haven’t had a chance to try them yet. The Hallmark Visitors’ Center is pretty neat as well. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/12 "2014-01-13T20:14:53Z")
[The Arabia Steamboat Museum](http://1856.com/) [The Toy and Miniature Museum](http://toyandminiaturemuseum.org/) [The Puppetry Arts Institute](http://www.hazelle.org/) (in nearby Independence) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/13 "2014-01-13T20:21:39Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > [The Toy and Miniature Museum](http://toyandminiaturemuseum.org/) An interesting and possibly unique museum, but currently closed for about a year. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/14 "2014-01-13T20:27:57Z")
One thing for sure: Everything’s up to date. They’ve gone about as far as they can go. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/15 "2014-01-13T20:32:51Z")
Land planes in the wrong airport? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/16 "2014-01-13T20:33:23Z")
Even if you’re not a baseball fan, the **[Negro League Baseball Museum](http://www.nlbm.com/)** is amazing. It’s an important part of history, and the exhibits are just incredibly done. And if you’re down in that area, you’ll have to get a sandwich at: **[Arthur Bryant’s BBQ](http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/index.htm)**. I don’t care what the detractors say, they’re wrong. The sauce is weird - but it’s very specific to their sandwiches, and pairs extremely well. Don’t get the pulled pork or burnt ends - they’re soaked in a different sauce, and are pretty gross. Get the beef, sliced pork, or turkey - or a combo of any 2 of those. Or the ribs. And you’ll have to find a few other BBQ places to hit. There’s **[Gates & Sons BBQ](http://www.gatesbbq.com/)**, which has really slid in quality over the last 5-10 years or so. Avoid their sandwiches if you insist on going, and stick to the ribs. If you’re looking for something a little more high end, head over to the **[Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ](http://www.jackstackbbq.com/)** on the Plaza. Probably the highest quality BBQ across the board, with white table cloth service to match. If that sounds a bit too fancy for you, then you should go to the original **[Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ](http://oklahomajoesbbq.com/about)**, located inside of a gas station. Sick of BBQ? Bring your appetite to **[Stroud’s Restaurant](http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/)**, with some of the best fried chicken in the midwest. Bring your appetite and a small army of mouths to feed - it’s served family style (the cinnamon rolls are worth saving room for). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/17 "2014-01-13T20:42:44Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > There’s **[Gates & Sons BBQ](http://www.gatesbbq.com/)**, which has really slid in quality over the last 5-10 years or so. Avoid their sandwiches if you insist on going, and stick to the ribs. I’ll grant that the quality can vary (on both the sandwiches and the ribs), but I have had many an absolutely delightful beef sandwich there. > [@](#): > > Sick of BBQ? Bring your appetite to **[Stroud’s Restaurant](http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/)**, with some of the best fried chicken in the midwest. Bring your appetite and a small army of mouths to feed - it’s served family style (the cinnamon rolls are worth saving room for). In my view, “best in the Midwest” is really stretching it. The original (no longer standing) location certainly had good chicken, and I think the North location is all right, but I was sorely disappointed at the South location. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/18 "2014-01-13T20:55:49Z")
Well, homemade fried chicken isn’t really a staple outside the South, so I thought it a fair statement - I can’t say I’ve seen any fried chicken featured on any shows or anything. But I haven’t been in years. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/19 "2014-01-14T22:51:43Z")
So, no _crazy little women there,_ eh? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686/20 "2014-01-14T22:55:42Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > So, no _crazy little women there,_ eh? You might find some in Westport. It’s the official party district. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-kansas-city/678686.md?page=2)