101 Things Do Over Summer Break in Kansas City

Summer break is in full swing in Kansas City and you probably need some fresh ideas to get through until back to school! Never fear, we’ve pulled together 101 ideas for your family to get out there and explore all that Kansas City has to offer and make some great summer memories with your kids. A big thanks to Atlas 9 for sponsoring this list!

1. Visit Atlas 9 for a unique one of a kind experience this summer! The new fully immersive attraction in the Legends/Village West area has plenty to offer including a mystery to solve, tons of photo ops, and delicious food. Use code KCMOM for 20% off tickets and make sure to read our guide for helpful tips for an enjoyable visit!
2. Join Kansas City Mom Collective for Summer Bash on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to oon at Park Place in Leawood! The event is FREE with international and soccer themed family fun, giveaways and good vibes!
3. Score big at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at the National WWI Museum featuring 18 days of free summer festivals with live music and culture.
4. Attend the Future Stages Festival on Saturday, June 14 at Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, featuring powerful vocalists, aerialists, jazz bands and folk dancers.
5. Participate in the Kids Bowl Free Program.
6. Do your kids want to learn something new or explore a new hobby? Find summer camps, new ones being added all the time!
7. Plan a last minute day (or two) trip to one of these 20+ family vacation spots within 5 hours of KC.
8. Sing along to the kids’ favorite music from K-Pop Demon Hunters Laser Show at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station, on Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m.
9. Stop by the free interactive exhibit featuring Mo Willems: The Pigeon Comes to Kansas City at Crown Center.
10. Cheer on the boys in blue at Kauffman Stadium. Visit our guide for helpful tips before you go!
11. Visit the entertainment district at AdventHealth’s Sports at Bluhawk for bowling, laser tag, sports simulators, an arcade, and more. Don’t miss their Red, White & Bluhawk on July 3!
12. Get energy out at a trampoline park like Urban Air, Get Air, Sky Zone, or Above All.
13. Relax a bit and let your kids play at Kidscape at the Johnson County Museum. The entire exhibit is enclosed in one room.
14. Take a walk and admire the view on the Rock Island Bridge.
15. Check out Dozer Kids and Dinozaur, for themed indoor sandbox play facilities!

16. 

    Learn about the history of America’s favorite pastime at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

17. Take a trip back in time at Missouri’s Fort Osage National Historic Landmark.
18. Teach the kids how to roller skate at a local rink like River Roll, Skate City or Winnwood Skate Center.
19. Head out to Powell Gardens for Dragons and Fantastic Beasts and Festival of Butterflies.
20. Ride the ponies and feed the goats at Deanna Rose Farmstead.
21. Feel the need for speed? Race to K1 Indoor Go Kart Racing in Lee’s Summit and opening soon at Village West or Andretti in Overland Park.
22. Discover The Peace Pavilion where kids can learn kindness, empathy and emotional awareness through play.
23. Jump into the bean pit at the new Museum of BBQ in Crown Center.
24. Get crafty at one of Creative Culture’s two locations (and enjoy a fancy milkshake!)
25. Ride the miniature train at Kansas City Northern Railroad. Rides are only $1 and the track has expanded!
26. Paint your own ceramics at a local studio like Imagine Studios KC, Ceramic Cafe, Potter’s Cottage or Dabble & Drip.
27. Enjoy a break from the heat at an indoor play space like Summit Play Village, Fun Run, or K&B’s Fun Town. You can find a list of our other favorites here.
28. Take your basketball fan to the College Basketball Experience.
29. Bounce around at the Aqua Park at KC Watersports.
30. Shop at a local children’s toy or bookstore like The Learning Tree, Toy Time or Typo’s Bookstore (opening soon in Downtown Parkville).
31. Have an unforgettable outdoor adventure at Go Ape or Zip KC.
32. Design your own donut at Donutology or Duck Donuts.
33. Take a stroll through The United Tweets of America Story Walk, an interactive, outdoor exhibit at the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty. It features storyboards along a scenic, paved trail displaying the 50 U.S. state birds, based on the illustrated book by Hudson Talbott.

34. 

    Visit Ya-Ya’s Alpaca Farm in Garden City, MO.

35. Take a day trip to Springfield, Missouri to check out Wonders of Wildlife and the drive thru zoo, Wildlife Safari Park.
36. Visit the Kansas City Zoo for the new Giraffe Crossing which will allow visitors to view Giraffes inside or outside every day the Zoo is open!
37. Make a day trip to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Museum in Topeka.
38. Need to get some work done? Check out one of these spots where mom’s work while kid’s play.
39. Play a round of mini golf at Cool Crest, Parkville Mini Golf, Prehistoric Putt or Tap Ins at the Greenhouse.
40. Explore the nature playground and Train Garden at Overland Park Arboretum.
41. Spend the day at Kids Empire in Olathe or Lenexa and opening soon at Zona Rosa. Your receipt lets you come and go all day!
42. Step into the past at Mahaffie Stagecoach Shop and Farm Historic Site.
43. Spend a day in Downtown Overland Park.
44. Help your child find their passion by exploring a new activity. Explore our Guide to Extracurricular Activities in Kansas City for a great list of ideas!
45. Visit the Louisburg Cider Mill. You can get fresh cider and donuts year-round!
46. Have a family staycation or buy a day pass for the pool at Margaritaville Hotel, a little slice of paradise.
47. Pamper yourselves at a “mom and me” pedicure at one of these local salons.
48. Enjoy a budget friendly movie on the big screen with the Summer Kids Series at B&B Theatres or Summer Movie Camp at AMC.
49. Take your family on a hike at one of the many local trails.
50. Visit a library with a fun children’s section.
51. Explore one of the many nature centers in the metro.
52. Check out the new castle park at Michael Gunn Park at Platte Meadows or find. Visit our guide to the best parks in Kansas City for more fun options!
53. Spend a day on the water at Lake Olathe.
54. Play a board game at Cardboard Cafe, Pawn and Pint, or ReRoll Tavern.
55. Take a day trip to Atchison to explore the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.
56. Participate in the Read, Score, Roar Summer Reading Program from your local library system.
57. Join the area’s largest lawn party on July 19 at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art from 4-8 p.m. for family friendly activities, food trucks, and live performances.
58. Cheer on a global soccer match at a local watch party.
59. Looking for a free activity? Kaleidoscope is the perfect spot, and you can drop by anyone of their studio sessions!
60. Root for the ladies who score at a KC Current game.
61. Cool off at one of the metro’s splash pads.
62. Let the kids get messy (outside your house) at Rainbow Slime at Union Station or Bubbles & Goo in River Market.
63. Make a visit to the Money Museum.
64. Attend Bluey’s Big Play at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, August 21-23.
65. Check out the Hallmark Visitors Center.
66. Explore the Parkville Nature Sanctuary.
67. Visit the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure in Lee’s Summit.
68. Ride the KC Streetcar now extending all the way to the Plaza. Some fun free stops would be the model train gallery at Union Station and the Central Library.
69. Check out the murals in the Crossroads district.
70. Try a new ice cream flavor at a local ice cream parlour.
71. Make and donate some Happy Kits for Children’s Mercy.
72. See a demonstration of how a marble is made at Moon Marble Company.
73. Spend a day at Scheels in Overland Park. They have $1 mini-bowling and Ferris wheel rides as well as an indoor play area, candy store and a restaurant.
74. Shop for fresh produce and discover new local food vendors at The City Market or another farmer’s market in the area. 
75. Enjoy live theatre at one of the upcoming performances: Pete the Cat at The Coterie, Wicked at The Music Hall or read our Summer Theater in Kansas City guide for more options!
76. Go swimming at a local community center. Most have day passes and open swim hours.
77. Combine art and mini golf into one at the Art Course at The Nelson-Atkins. 
78. Visit Legends Field for a Monarchs game.
79. Take in the sights of Kansas City from 150 feet in the air on the KC Wheel.
80. Cool off at Tiffany Springs Aquatic Center.
81. Play shuffleboard and shop for KC gear at Made in Kansas City Marketplace in Lenexa.
82. Splash around at the Central Park Fountains at Zona Rosa.
83. Step into the pages of your favorite childhood books at The Rabbit Hole.
84. Get two for one fun at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.
85. Take a short road trip to St. Joseph to explore the new InspireU Children’s Discovery Center Museum.
86. Catch more soccer action at a Sporting KC game.
87. Watch KC Diamonds, professional softball team, at Legends Field.
88. Check out the discovery room and dinosaur bones at the Museum at Prairiefire.
89. Visit a local arcade.
90. Explore The Kansas City Museum and head downstairs for a treat to the soda foundation, Elixir.
91. Go for a family shopping day at Tanger Kansas City at Legends. The outlet stores and entertainment options like Dave & Buster’s make for a full day!
92. Try a new flavor of shaved ice at Jarvy’s, Lilo’s or a Kona Ice truck!
93. Visit a state park in Missouri or Kansas.
94. Turn your dream of flying into reality with indoor skydiving at iFly.
95. Find your family’s new favorite restaurant.
96. Pick your own berries for a fun and delicious activity! Check out our guide for tips before you go!
97. Participate in a Vacation Bible School program.
98. Challenge your family to a pickleball match at Chicken N Pickle, SERV, Char Bar or any of these other great spots.
99. Immerse yourself in the land of play at The National Museum of Toy & Miniatures.
100. Learn about the history of aviation in Kansas City at the TWA Museum.
101. Take a day trip to Lawrence to visit the National History Museum and wonder at the historic Panorama, live snakes and insects, fossils, flora and fauna of the Great Plains.