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Welcome to my town. I was born and raised in Kansas. For most of my life, up until the age of 22, I lived right outside of the Kansas City area. Kansas City is interesting, because, well, there are two: Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. What divides them is a river. Kansas City, Kansas is not what most people think about when they think of the city, it's the Missouri side. To me, they just kinda bleed together. Both of them feel like home and are just extensions of each other.
This Christmas, I was back home and asked my budding photographer of a sister to travel all over town to snap pictures of me at some of my favorite places. She agreed. She and I, along with our kids, my husband, and my mom hit up some highlight places. It was freezing, but I'm so glad we braved the cold because I've been wanting to introduce you to my hometown for quite some time. I'm going to focus on Kansas City, Missouri in this blog and I'm going to cover three different areas of the town that I think are noteworthy: The Rivermarket, The Crossroads, and The Plaza. At each place, I will give you a place to eat, something to do, and a place to stay. In the end, I'll give you a place to worship. It may be a tad lengthy, but, it will be fun. These are my stomping grounds and I have a lot to show you.
I used to come to this part of town a lot when I was a teenager. I came with one of my best friends and her family to the City Market that is located in the area.
HOTEL: THE SAVOY
In 2012, my husband deployed and I went home to live in KC. A family friend gifted us with a night at The Savoy to have one last evening together before he headed out. This hotel has been around since the late 1800s and it's got the old-time vibe going on. They just recently did a $50 million dollar renovation and it looks really good. I like unique and The Savoy is unique. Though now it is called 21C Museum Hotel. But, The Savoy is what it was when I stayed there, so I'm sticking with that for now.
I know, same place, right? There is the coolest, old-school gangster, gunslinging restaurant connected to the hotel. It's dark, rich with polished wood, and the mirror behind the bar has real bullet holes in it from days gone by. For breakfast, eat at the hotel, too. It's in a different room, but the coffee is....auhmazing.
THING TO DO: STEAMBOAT ARABIA MUSEUM
The steamboat is a huge part of American history. On September 5, 1856, the Steamboat Arabia sank in the area and was lost for 132 years. Then, in 1988, a farmer noticed something in his field and what he found was the lost ship with much of its cargo preserved. You can tour the museum and see what was found and learn all about this important part of our history. Kids will love it.
The Plaza is a high-class shopping and dining location. It's located in one of the more wealthy parts of town. The Plaza is a neat place to see at Christmas time with all the white lights making the buildings glow. There are fountains and statues galore. We didn't get a ton of pictures down here, because the kids were just about done for the day. Lol!
My husband and I stayed here for our 8th anniversary which seems like a lifetime ago, but then...it doesn't. The hotel is beautiful and lush. You'll feel very special staying here. There's a downstairs bar I recommend that sometimes has jazz or other local musicians.
PLACE TO EAT: ANYWHERE. JUST PICK A PLACE.
I'm sorry I can't recommend a place, but you'll be okay. Just pick a place. I've eaten at nearly all the restaurants down on The Plaza and you won't go wrong unless you pick some lame chain whatever place. There are some chains down there, but don't choose those. Pick Gram and Dun, The Capital Grille, The Classic Cup Cafe, Jack Stack BBQ, Chaz on the Plaza, Grand Street Cafe, to name a few. Go! Enjoy!
THING TO DO: WINTER--CARRIAGE RIDES, SUMMER--WALK DOWN BY BRUSH CREEK
If you are there in the winter grab some hot chocolate and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. They are a great thing to do when all the holiday lights are up. If you are there in the other seasons take a walk down by Brush Creek and enjoy the architecture and people-watching. Brush Creek isn't a muddy forest creek. It has nice paved sidewalks along it and it's well maintained.
The Crossroads is a unique part of town. It's between The RiverMarket and The Plaza. It's got old buildings that are being remodeled and there are loads of cool places to eat. What I like about these downtown areas is that they have character. The buildings are interesting and seem to tell a story. There is always something to look at and discover.
The building that this hotel now resides in was once home to the KC Costume Company. It's a historically certified hotel and they have done a great job of bringing the building into the 21st century, but still keeping that downtown feel. It's right in the heart of The Crossroads, so it's ideally located for dining, shows, and shopping at Crown Center.
My college roommate introduced me to Chez Elle several years ago. It's a crepe place with savory and sweet ones on the menu. I recommend getting a savory crepe for yourself and a dessert one to share. Or do it backwards! I've had several on the menu and they are all delish. They even have gluten-free crepes which makes me very, very happy.
THING TO DO: UNION STATION OR WWI MUSEUM
If you have kids, I'd suggest Union Station. What a magnificent building it is. At Christmas time, it is richly and beautifully decorated. There is a huge model train set-up which kids love. Whenever I go in here, I can imagine the way it must have hummed back in the day with ladies in their dresses with gloves and men in their suits and fedoras. There is always a rotating exhibit here. I saw the Titanic artifacts exhibit one year and right now it's all about dinosaurs.
However, if you don't have younger kiddos and want to learn about WWI, I'd suggest going to the WWI Museum right across the street. Before going, I knew very little about WWI and this museum does a great job of teaching you. Little kids won't enjoy it much, but older teenagers may find it interesting if they are into history. Either one of these places is a great way to spend your day and if you have time, I'd go to both.
CHURCH: CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
This beauty of a church sits right in downtown KC. On the spot where this golden dome cathedral sits is where the first Catholic Church in Kansas City was erected back in the early 1800s. You can spot the golden dome anywhere in the city; it's easy to find in the skyline. There are many Catholic Churches in KC, but if you are there, I'd give this one a try first. I recently found out that Kansas City, Missouri was founded by a Catholic man--Francois Chouteau. I grew up there and never knew this bit of history. Our Catholic faith is everywhere!
There you go! I hope you've enjoyed your tour around my city, but, most importantly, I hope you visit someday. There are many other things I could have suggested, but time just doesn't allow for it. I'm so glad you let me show off Kansas City because I'm pretty proud of it!
Till next time, travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!
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