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Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, Missouri

September 29, 2009 By 1 Comment
Kansas City Irish Fest poster

Kansas City Irish Fest, one of Kansas City’s favorite festivals, takes place Labor Day weekend, Friday thru Sunday, at Crown Center. Though this was our first time at the festival, 2009 marked the 7th year of celebrating Celtic pride in “Cowtown”.

Though I had browsed the website and tried to keep up with band announcements and other goings on at Tir na Blog I felt unprepared for the festival itself. I wasn’t sure just how family friendly it would be- or how crowded.

I shouldn’t have worried. After 7 years the organizers have the festival down to a science. Let me take you on a little tour…

Celtic Cows, KC Irish Fest

Are you curious about the cows? Kansas City is often called “Cowtown” because, back when cattle roamed the range and cowboys “drove” cattle instead of ATVs, many of those herds ended their journey in Kansas City before becoming a juicy steak.

Entertainment

There’s no lack of entertainment. From over a dozen great Irish bands – everything from traditional pub tunes to new sounds that don’t compromise tradition- comedians and Irish dancers there is never a question of, “Is there something to do?” it’s a question of, “How can we do it all?”

The main stages, the Boulevard Stage and the State Street Stage, are at opposite ends of the grounds; far enough that they don’t overwhelm each other.

David Munnelly Band, KC Irish Fest

In between are the children’s stage- which features puppets, storytelling, kids bands and workshops- and the Heritage Stage where you’ll learn Irish history, tips on genealogy, pick up a bit of the Irish language and maybe take a turn in a Ceili.

This year Barry FitzGerald from Ghost Hunters International was on hand telling stories about the wee folk around Ireland.

For the Kids

Don’t even think the kids are going to get bored. Sprinkled around the festival grounds are bounce houses (a fee applies for these), 3 children’s areas with activities, Irish Rock Band and Dance Dance Jig Jig Revolution. Trust me, you won’t run out of things to do!

Children's Area, Kansas City Irish Fest

Irish Organizations

Whether you’re Irish- or you just wish you were- stop by the tents run by Kansas City’s Irish Organizations. Learn what they are doing- and what they have helped to do in the past.

Food & Drinks

It’s a sad fact… You cannot get a Guinness at Irish Fest. Nor can you get a hard cider of any sort. Blame that on the fact that Boulevard Brewing Company is in Kansas City. Other alcoholic beverages are served as well as sodas and water. If buying from a beverage tent you must have drink tickets.

Food ranges from traditional Irish fare- Fish & chips, pasties- to fair foods like pizza, turkey legs and ice cream. No one will leave hungry. If you can’t find anything that suits you just leave the festival grounds (get your hand stamped for re-admittance) and head into Crown Center – where the food may actually cost less!

For a great Irish Breakfast head to Raglan Road. You won’t be disappointed.

Shops

No festival is complete without shopping. If it’s Irish you’ll find it here. Food, clothing, jewelry, penny whistles, art, photography, crafts…

Where to Go When You’ve Gotta Go

The festival grounds are lined with porta-potties. These aren’t too disgusting until late evening. A baby changing station is located near the children’s area in the center of the festival grounds.

Irish Museum and Cultural Center

With all the fun going on it’s esy to forget about the Irish Museum and Cultural Center in nearby Union Station. We stopped in to buy a book and spent quite a bit of time there listening to Tom Meehan, an Irish balladeer. He was very kind and let Brenna sing a few songs with him- Irish Rover, Leaving Liverpool and Molly Malone.

Brenna sings with Tom Meehan at the Irish Museum and Cultural Center, Kansas City

Where to Stay

Crown Center has two hotels : Hyatt Regency Crown Center and Westin Crown Center.

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Levens Hall – History for kids with a Tasty Twist!

September 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Today’s guest post comes from Zoë Dawes from The Quirky Traveller. I “met” Zoë on Twitter and she offered to share her views of travel with her 12-year-old son around the UK. I hope you enjoy her stories. I know they make me want to hop a jet and “cross the pond”!

“Race you to the Witch’s Hat”, Alex, my 12year old son, shouted to his mate Charlie, as we wandered around the beautiful historic topiary gardens of Levens Hall, South Lakeland, Cumbria, UK. We were at Cumbria’s annual Chilli Fest, which takes place within the grounds of Levens Hall www.levenshall.co.uk just outside Kendal. It’s famous for its Grade 1 listed Gardens, originally designed in the 1690s. Children just love the topiary, which is cut into some quite extraordinary shapes including the wonderful ‘hat’ shown opposite.

The Chilli Festival happens every August, and has lots for both adults and children to amuse themselves with. Chilli Roulette was a big favourite; spin the wheel and have a 1-in-6 chance of getting a chilli choc instead of a milk choc. Alex ‘won’ one – his face was a picture as the chilli exploded in his mouth!

Another big attraction was the Puppet Theatre, which had a witch who tried to put her victims into a cauldron to make chilli soup – a big hit with the younger children, as you can see.

Brightly coloured stalls sold every kind of chilli flavoured products imaginably, including jams, chutneys, crisps, nuts, and, of course, hot, hot, hot sauces. Other attractions which we enjoyed included Salsa dancing, a Mexican band and the Children’s Chilli Trail which took them all over the grounds.

NEW FOR 2009 – A LIVING WILLOW LABYRINTH (HUNT FOR THE HARE)

Created from willow cuttings grown at Newton Rigg, near Penrith, the Labyrinth has been created by Chris Crowder & his team of gardeners during the winter months. The Labyrinth will grow during the summer months to form a green hedge and a maze will provide paths for children and adults to explore as they hunt for the elusive hare in its centre.

Historic Gardens Play Area
A new children’s play area has been established in the historic topiary garden with challenging climbing and slides for children under-12s and picnic tables for families.

The House has lots to keep children engaged. There are cabinets full of unusual things, old costumes, swords and the Bleeding Chair … you’ll have to visit to find out what that is! But perhaps the biggest draw is the many ‘Spooky Spirits’ who supposedly live there. They include ‘The Grey & Pink Ladies’, ‘The Phantom Black Dog’ and ‘The Traffic Ghost’…

The Chilli Fest happens annually in August and Levens Hall is open from Spring until October each year. Nearby are the varied many attractions of the Lake District. For more details www.golakes.co.uk

© Zoë Dawes August 2009 http://quirkytraveller.wordpress.com
written for ’Have Kid Will Travel’
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Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis, Missouri

September 4, 2009 By 3 Comments
Gateway Arch, St Louis, MO, USA

I was totally unprepared for how stunning the Gateway Arch is on a sunny day. The stainless steel shone brightly in the sunlight, sparks seeming to shoot from the angles as the sun hit them just right. I was happy just sitting beneath the arch enjoying the vertigo as I watched the clouds float swiftly past the peak.

The Gateway Arch Riverfront includes the Arch itself, riverboat cruises, a cafe, the Museum of Westward Expansion, the museum stores and the Historic Old Courthouse. It can be rather confusing because this area can also be referred to as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; both are correct. I’m honestly not sure there is a difference other than promotionally. Here’s our experience, one bit at a time…

The Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch,St. Louis, Missouri

I admit to being clueless about the Arch. I had no idea that it was actually built as a memorial to commemorate St. Louis’ role in westward expansion. The park that surrounds it is huge with walking paths, lots of open green space and small lakes.

The Arch is the highest national monument of its kind at 630 feet- taller than the Washington Monument (555 feet) and the Statue of Liberty (305 feet)- and can be seen for 30 miles. It is truly striking and we spent a lot of time just looking at it.

To enter the Arch you approach either base. The north leg is always busier so I suggest heading to the south. It is free to enter the Arch but be prepared for airport-style screening; all bags will go through an x-ray machine and belts, coins and other items must be removed from your person before going through the metal detector.

Once below the Arch a huge expanse spreads before you. To one side is the ticket counter. Here you can buy tickets “to the top”, for river boat cruises or to see the documentary of the arch.

On either side of the ticket counter is a store. To the right is the Mercantile. While you won’t find bolts of calico or sacks of flour and sugar you will find sticks of candy, honey, handmade soaps and other “olden” goodies.

To the left is the museum store with amazing Arch photos on everything from mugs to magnets as well as the de rigueur tshirts, puzzles, keychains and other novelties. Brenna chose a scale model of the Arch.

Directly across from the ticket desk is the Museum of Western Expansion. The museum follows a circular pattern with areas very clearly marked.

Muesum of Westward Expansion collage, Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

Begin by standing beside President Jefferson gazing westward. The Lewis and Clark Expedition comprises the outer ring that ends at the wall of American Indian Peace Medals. Inside you will see a tipi and bullboat, learn about the buffalo, explorers, cowboys, the railroad and everything else that took the United States past the Mississippi River.

Getting to the Top

A tram ticket will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-15. It’s really an interesting experience- even if you have a bit of hesitation about heights, like I do. The first area you enter gives the history of the arch. A bank of phones explains how the arch was built as images appear before you. You are surrounded by images of the arch being built and have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken. The entries in the north and south leg do differ a bit with the south being a bit less stark once in the actual loading area.

Gateway Arch Collage, St. Louis, Missouri

Once you enter the loading area it’s a tiny bit surreal. Almost 50′s sci-fi. You line up at your assigned door and wait for your “pod”. There are eight “pods”, each holding 5 people. It’s a very smooth ride and interesting as well, as each “pod” has windows so you can see the interior of the Arch. The ride up takes 4 minutes and the ride down takes 3.

It’s rather surreal to walk the final steps to the top of the arch. The area is large enough for 200 people and, unless you are incredibly tall, you can stand straight in it. Of course most people are bent over, leaning against the ledge, peering out the window.

Looking out the Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

The view is staggering. Behold- very large river boats as viewed from 630 feet:

View of riverboats from the Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

And the view of downtown… Breathtaking.

Downtown St. Louis, Missouri, as viewed from the Gateway Arch

To truly “do the Arch” I would allow 3 hours; more if you like history as the museum is very interesting. If architecture is your thing be sure to check out the documentary of the building of the Arch.

Riverboat Cruises

Having grown up on Mark Twain tales I have a fondness for riverboats. There are many types of cruises to choose from; dinner and brunch cruises, blues cruises, lock & dam cruises and the one hour sightseeing cruise, which is what we did. Prices range from $14 for adults, $8 for children for the one hour cruise to $52 for an adult dinner cruise. You can buy your tickets at the Arch or at the riverfront. We got ours at the riverfront and the girls bought sailor hats ($5) in anticipation of their first cruise.

The boats are large replicas of early 19th century steamboats. We boarded the Tom Sawyer. The other riverboat, in sticking to theme, is the Becky Thatcher.

Tom Sawyer Riverboat, St. Louis, Missouri

We had a fine day for a cruise; the Arch is incredible when seen from the river. We had both the riverboat captain and a park ranger from the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial serve as our guides, each sharing information about sites along the river.

The second photo in my collage is the Captain’s Return statue (Lewis,Clark & Seaman) by Harry Weber. It sits at the edge of the Mississippi and is in sight of William Clark’s house.

The third shot is the President’s Casino- built on an actual riverboat. The boat itself has an amazing history beginning in 1907 as a side-wheeled steamboat, being remodeled in 1940 to an art-deco excursion riverboat and then becoming a nightclub in 1979 before being purchased, restored and becoming the President’s Casino on the Admiral.

The riverboat has a snack counter on board. If you need more sustenance casual dining options are available at the Arch View Cafe, near where you board the boat, and can be taken on board the cruise.

If a riverboat tour isn’t your idea of fun you may be interested in the helicopter tours nearby. If we would have had more time I would have loved to rent a quad bike which can seat 4-6 people and has up-front seating for little ones. It just looked like fun!

Quad Bike at the Gateway Arch Riverfront in St. Louis, Missouri

If you get hot or thirsty look for this distinctive ice cream truck.

Ice Cream truck at Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis, Missouri

Historic Old Courthouse

Historic Old Courthouse, St. Louis, Missouri

In 1846 Dred Scott, a slave, and his wife Harriet sued for, and won, their freedom in this St. Louis courthouse. The US Supreme Court later overturned that decision which helped to hasten the beginning of the civil war.

Virginia Minor also had a rather significant case here dealing with the womens suffrage movement in 1872.

Directly behind the Old Courthouse is Kiener Plaza and amphitheater. Many city events take place here but the day we discovered it all was quiet and children were playing in the waterfall and pool.

Kiener Plaza, St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis surprised us with all it has to offer- and we didn’t do as much as we would have liked to. It’s a great family destination.

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , ,
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St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park

September 2, 2009 By 5 Comments

zoo
Who doesn’t love a zoo? St. Louis has an amazing free zoo in Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the US. We spent a very enjoyable afternoon here.

Although the zoo is free street parking is sparse and it will cost you $11 to park in either the north or south lots. It’s a small price to pay- most zoos this nice would cost more for a family of four to enter. Parking in a lot will also get you a coupon book with saving on snacks, souveniers and zoo memberships.

We entered through the south gate into the Lakeside Crossing area. Just inside the gate are guest services areas. Get a map of the zoo here or buy tickets to various attractions throughout the zoo. A Safari Pass ($10) is a great deal as it includes admission to the Children’s Zoo, the Zooline Railroad, the sea lion show, the Conservation Carousel, and the Motion Simulator.

To get the “lay of the land” we made our way to the Zooline Railroad. The zoo appears much larger than it actually is when you look at the map; it’s easily walkable. That said, the girls loved riding on the train and waving at the trains as they passed. A round-trip train ticket, with hop-on-hop-off feature is $5. The trains are ADA accessible.

Our first stop was the Conservation Carousel. I am a sucker for a good carousel. Especially when the animals go up and down. We watched the carousel for a bit, the girls trying to decide what animals to ride. Brenna chose a zebra and Caelan picked a puffin. The carousel is $3 per person; adults accompanying small children are free. The carousel is ADA and wheelchair accessible.

From here we wandered through The Wild peeking at the penguins and watching the bears.

Discovery Corner was next. If you have smaller children this is where they will gravitate to. We began in The Living World. This is the zoo’s north entrance which houses restrooms, a large souvenir shop and the amphibians exhibit. Just outside is the elephant fountain- photo op!

In front of elephant fountain at St. Louis Zoo

We found the sea otters just in time to view their dinner- fish frozen in ice cubes. It’s always great fun to see them slip and slide around their pool.

Just around the otters pool is the play area. Kids can climb the path (or stairs) and choose from two slides- one of which goes through the otters pool! Get cozy with a hippo or pretend to be a spider. This is a great break from looking and a terrific time for activity.

Just opposite is a large boa in a cage (when it’s warm out) and the entrance to the Children’s Zoo is close by. If you you want to get up close to critters- and even touch some!- this is the place for you. Just be careful in the goat pen- they may try to eat your bag! The children’s zoo has a $4 admission charge.

The insectarium is back here, though this is as close as we got to a dung beetle.

I’m sad to say that in the 3 hours we spent at the zoo we didn’t see it all. The closest we got to the Red Rocks area was our views from the train. Ditto for Historic Hill and the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage. We did see a few of the animals in River’s Edge but most seemed to be hiding from either the humans or the sun.

I suppose that just means we must return one day…

Fast Facts:

Hours, prices and directions can be found here.

There are plenty of places to dine within the zoo. Picnic lunches may also be brought into the grounds.

The zoo is ADA accessible. Wheelchairs, scooters and strollers are available for rent at the north and south gates.

Forest Park

Forest Park was dedicated on June 24, 1876. It covers 1371 acres and is larger than New York’s Central Park. Inside Forest Park are the World’s Fair Pavilion, the Missouri Historical Society, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, the Muny, playgrounds, sports parks, trails, lakes, statues… It’s absolutely amazing. I wish we had had time to explore it.

As it was, the only time we had there was during our wait to eat at the Boathouse. This restaurant sits at the edge of Post-Dispatch Lake and, as its name suggests, you can rent paddle boats here. It is open year round and does a brisk business during the summer. We arrived about 6:30 pm and were told our wait would be 45 minutes to an hour so Doug and Brenna set off to explore. Caelan and I stayed close and met the dogs who are welcomed on the patio.

I was disappointed in our dinner at the Boathouse, and it had nothing to do with the food. It was the disorganization we witnessed outside. The restaurant and patio were packed yet there is no pager system to let people know when their table is ready. And if you are not within range to hear your name called, well, you’re out of luck. Our wait for a table ended up being almost two hours (yes, we should have left before then) and by that time the girls were tired and cranky.

Food at the Boathouse, Forest Park, St. Louis,Missouir

The food was good, though not memorable. The best part of the meal was the Basil Hummus. The warm pretzels we got for the girls were rather bland and they didn’t appreciate the cheddar ale dip. Doug’s hamburger was quite good and the chicken strips were the same as you would get anywhere else. I ordered the Flank Steak Rarebit. Flank steak is a difficult meat to cook. It needs to be cut and cooked correctly and mine was neither. It was tough and undercooked. The rarebit sauce was very tasty, though. A big plus: our waiter Carlos was exceptional.

If you plan to go to the Boathouse in the summer be sure to go early- like 3:30 or 4pm. Or don’t take kids. It’s a place to “be seen”, at least on a Saturday evening.

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , , ,
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City Garden, St. Louis, Missouri

August 31, 2009 By 5 Comments

City Garden in downtown St. Louis is, quite possibly, one of the best sculpture parks I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying a lot because sculpture is really not “my thing”. But the way this park is set up and laid out you can easily forget that you are viewing sculpture- it’s more like fancy playground equipment set around splash pools and walking paths.


Take the untitled sculpture that look like two rabbits. They were been created by Tom Claassen – who may or may not be a famous sculptor, I have no idea – but to my girls they were a great place to climb and slide. Not to mention they are entirely too cute.

Or how about Kindly Geppetto by Tom Otterness (the large photo, bottom right). He just made me smile.

The large head, Eros Bendato by Igor Mitoraj, that the girls are exploring inside of sat at the top of a flat fountain. Other sculptures sat in the center of small pools and children crawled in, out and around them.

Sure, I could tell you about the environmentally friendly green roof on the Terrace View Cafe or I could explain the three bands that represent the geographic features of St. Louis and its surroundings and each of their water features. I could even go into the plants in City Garden- 109 different species of trees, flora and fauna.

But really, why go in to all that when the most important thing I can say about City Garden is this: City Garden is probably the most serene place you can find set in the middle of a city. It is a perfect spot for a family outing. With plenty of shade for sitting under and all the places for kids to splash; it’s idyllic. Take a picnic and enjoy life.

Oh, and be sure to find the “hidden” music spot near the Pinocchio sculpture. It’s not on the map (which does list every sculpture).

City Garden is free and open every day from sunrise til 10 pm. Terrace view hours are Monday through Thursday – 7 am to 7 pm, Friday through Saturday – 7 am to 10 pm, Sunday – Closed. Every path is handicapped accessible. Park Security is on site and very noticeable in their bright yellow shirts.

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The Magic House, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

August 27, 2009 By 4 Comments


Photos from the Magic House website: the original house to the right and the expansion below.

The Magic House came highly recommended to us by my cousin who remembers visiting when he was a child and now takes his kids there when they visit St. Louis. The Magic House is a sprawling, interactive children’s museum. What began in 1979 in an historic Victorian home has expanded multiple times and now includes such fun things as a 3-story beanstalk to climb, a 2 story “twisty” slide, a replica Oval Office, a construction site and so much more. We spent almost 5 hours there and didn’t come close to seeing everything!

In fact we hadn’t even entered when the girls were stopped by this amazing gizmo of pulleys, tracks, springs, balls and other assorted gadgets. We stood and watched it work for 10 minutes- at least. “Which way will the ball go this time?” Brenna would ask. “Let’s watch and see,” was the consistent answer.

At the Magic House, St. Louis, Missouri

Upon entering we were drawn to the left and the Music Play – Play Music exhibit. The girls had so much funn with the strings and chimes that they didn’t even notice…

Music Play at the Magic House, St. Louis, Missouri

…the 3-story Jack & the Beanstalk climber just behind them. This amazing climber is great for kids age 2 and up (younger if they are really steady). The leaves are large and carpeted for traction and they are layered just right for even the most novice climber. The beanstalk became the preferred method for getting from one floor to another in the “new” addition.

While on the top floor we tried to solve a mystery and the girls pretended to be worms. We didn’t make it to the sunshine classroom, an outdoor garden exhibit.

Then it was all the way to the lowest level, via the beanstalk, where Caelan became infatuated with the air-mazement exhibit.

She was in charge of changing the flow of the air. With the flick of her wrist she could stop balls and scarves in their tracks or shoot them out a different exit. So much fun! We had to, quite literally, drag her away from this exhibit. But there was so much more to see!

We entered the kids’ construction zone next. The girls wore hard hats for safety while Doug showed off his strength.

Kids Construction Zone at the Magic House

The girls built a firehouse, scooped rocks into cement mixers, worked with PVC pipe and sat in a real skid loader. Which was all very fun so it was difficult to get them to leave this area… But we needed to move across the hall to the Star Spangled Center.

It was here that I “signed my name” to the Declaration of Independence- after being asked if I still wanted to do it if my life were at risk (YES), the girls played judge and witness and Brenna had a photo op as President.

Star Spangled Center at the Magic House

Wow… After all this activity were were hungry! There is dining available at the Picnic Basket Cafe (soups, sandwiches, salads, etc.) on site, but we chose to visit a St. Louis icon: Imo’s Pizza, just 3 blocks away.

We returned to the Magic House full of energy and ready to explore more! Up we went to the electrostatic generator, played in the ball room, worked out in the fitness center, experimented with air power, created bubbles, gave great first impressions, explored the West with Lewis and Clark and created art and goo in the expericenter.

Electrostatic Generator at the Magic House
Expericenter at the Magic House

Our time was almost through so we went out to spend a few minutes in the amazing garden- complete with maze, an island surrounded by a moat, a mosaic hopscotch patio and a hop-skip&jump path.

You would think that with everything we did we would have seen it all. We didn’t. And what we did see we could have spent much more time doing. The Magic House is definitely worth a stop if you’re in the St. Louis area.

Just the Facts

Location: 516 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122 Map It Here
Hours: Vary during the year. Click here for correct information.
Cost: $8.50 ages 1 and up. Look into membership if you live in the St. Louis area. Group rates are available.
Free Fridays! The third Friday of the month from 5:30 – 9 pm. Sponsored by Target.
The Magic House is on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , ,
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Our Trip to St. Louis

August 24, 2009 By 3 Comments
Gateway Arch, St Louis, MO, USA
Gateway Arch viewed while laying on ground below

Thanks to the generosity of the St. Louis CVC my family spent 2 1/2 days in a city I probably wouldn’t have ever thought to visit. And now… We anticipate our next trip! I was, honestly, amazed at all St. Louis had to offer- and much of the great stuff is free!

I am always amazed when I visit a city with majestic landmarks that the “natives” can be so nonchalant about them. I suppose it comes from viewing them continuously… I was not prepared for the absolute awe the Gateway Arch inspired in me. I could have laid on the grass below it and watched the clouds blow by all day. Nor did I realize that there is an amazing museum below the arch.

The free activities around St. Louis are incredible. The St. Louis zoo is absolutely amazing and it sits in the most beautiful parkland. Both the Anheuser-Busch brewery and Grant’s Farm have free admission and the new City Garden is great fun for the family.

While we did visit the Magic House we didn’t spend as much time there as the girls would have liked and we didn’t make it to the City Museum.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be taking you on a tour of our St. Louis exploration. Here’s what I’ll be sharing:

The Magic House
The St. Louis Zoo and Forest Park
Anheuser-Busch Brewery & Grant’s Farm
The Gateway Arch, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and the Gateway Arch Riverfront
Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch
City Garden
What we ate in St. Louis

To plan your our St. Louis adventure visit ExploreStLouis.com or the Explore St. Louis Facebook page.


Full disclosure: While we are paying for our gas money to get to St. Louis and back all of the expenses we incur while there will be covered by the CVC. While the CVC is sponsoring our trip all the decisions and thoughts about where we go, what we do, see, eat, etc. will be my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more specific information.

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Missouri Rest Area a Fun Stop With Kids

July 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Two miles south of the Iowa border along I-35 southbound sits a new rest area. It is rather over-named the Eagleville Welcome Center and Rest Area but it is a really nice rest area- especially if you have kids and the weather is nice.

It has all your “regular” rest area amenities: travel information, restroom facilities, vending machines, and picnic tables. And then it has a bit more…

The first thing we noticed was the tall grass “pet area” behind the building. It’s more than a pet area. Some of the grasses are mown to create walking paths back to the scuptures- which appear on the horizon of this photo as small, dark figures.

Up-close and personal visits show the buffalo roaming on the plains and a Native American on horseback. It’s art that actually makes sense.

The girls had a great time running through the grass and burning some energy after a couple of hours in the car- with a couple more to go.

Another great addition if you have kids is a small play area. Send the kids over to climb and slide before you all load in the car and continue on your way.

 

Filed Under: Driving, Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , ,
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Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri

July 29, 2009 By 10 Comments

Crown Center is an all-in-one family fun zone. Truly. From shopping to dining, free entertainment indoors and out, live theater, Kaleidoscope, and the Hallmark visitor’s Center this is an attraction unto itself!

Map of Crown Center
Map of Crown Center

Crown Center was designed as a mixed-use development and covers 85 acres. First envisioned by the founder of Hallmark Cards and his son the Crown Center development has helped to redevelop the area. Crown Center has more than 2 million square feet of office space, 300,000 square feet of leasable space in the shopping center , a six-acre residential community and two hotels: the Westin Crown Center and the Hyatt Regency Crown Center.

Probably the greatest part of the entire area, though is Crown Center Square, home to Kansas City’s largest fountain – a very popular place to cool off in the summer – free summer movies and concerts, the Ice Terrace in the winter and great local events all year long.

Free things to do:
The Hallmark Visitors Center: With exhibits that are always changing and the chance to visit with the craftiest people at Hallmark. The tour is interactive so it’s fun for everyone. Don’t forget to download a coupon for a free gift after your tour!
Kaleidoscope: A free hands-on art experience for kids ages 5-12; sponsored by Hallmark.

Events: Check the events calendar for free events going on both in Crown Center and outside on the Square. Concerts, movies, kids activities… There is always something going on!

Shopping:
Dozens of shops are in Crown Center, including Hall’s (FYI: $$$). Luckily other shops are much more affordable. This interactive map gives you an idea of the diverse offerings.

We made a quick stop in Chips Chocolate Factory where handmade chocolates and imported truffles sit side by side tempting you. Of course the decision isn’t easy. Jumbo peanut butter cup? Chocolate dipped Twinkie sprinkled with M&Ms? Fresh fudge? Or maybe some choose-your-own M&Ms? I recommend the Australian Kookaburra Licorice. Mmmm…

Dining:
From 4-star to fast food you’ll find all the variety you need. The interactive dining map will direct you to everything from burgers to bagels, custard to creme brulee, steaks to scallops.

Fritz collage

For really good burgers and a server like you’ll find nowhere else check out Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant. The railroad theme is everywhere with model trains running throughout the restaurant. The menu is simple- mainly burgers- but quite good. I highly recommend the Jody Burger (and not just because it bears my name, though that is why I got it!) Orders are placed by phone. But it’s the delivery that will wow you:

For kid -and parent- friendly food the Crayola Cafe is a safe bet. The placemats double as an artist’s canvas. There are plenty of food options including salads, sandwiches and wraps, pasta and fish. I suggest splitting an entree and saving room for dessert!

Meals at the Crayola Cafe, Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri

Theatre:

Coterie: Performances for the family plus classes!

American Heartland: Live, Broadway-style productions in a relaxed and personal theatre.

Off Center Theatre: More edgy productions.

Nearby:

Union Station

WWI Memorial

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

July 23, 2009 By 15 Comments
Union Station as viewed from the Westin
Union Station as Viewed from the Westin Crown Center Hotel

We’ve been to Kansas City many times yet, somehow, I never knew anything about Union Station. I can plead nothing but ignorance. Luckily I am ignorant no more and can’t wait to return to Kansas City to see and do more at Union Station!

The Beauty of Union Station
The Grand Hall and North Waiting Room

Union Station was built in 1914, opening on October 30. In 1917 almost 80,000 trains came through the station. The Union Station Massacre, an attempt to free mobster Frank Nash, happened here in 1933.

As the airline industry grew and rail traffic declined many shops in the station began to close. In 1973 only 6 trains were coming through the station per day and by 1983 only Amtrak and the Lobster Pot restaurant remained in the building. Amtrak left in 1985 followed by The Lobster Pot in 1989.

In 1996 voters in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson County in Kansas approved a one-eighth of a cent bi-state sales tax to restore and redevelop Union Station and create a science museum. The tax raised $118 million toward the total $250 million project. The remaining money was raised through private donations and federal funds. November 10, 1999 marked the opening of the fully restored Union Station. Amtrak returned in 2002.

It’s an amazing history for a truly glorious building.
And while there is much to do there, the history of the golden age of rail travel remains. A huge model train display sits at the west end of the Grand Hall across from the post office. It fascinated my girls! There is also a Lionel Train display in an area off the North Waiting Room. Follow the signs to the Freight House Bridge, formerly the Pencoyd Railroad Bridge, which serves as a pedestrian crossing over the train tracks. From here you can look down upon trains in the yard below and maybe even stand above a train as it passes through!

Trestle Bridge, Union Station
The Freight House Bridge

You can also get a “hands-on” with trains at The Great Rail Experience; explore vintage rail cars, see artifacts, learn about the people who rode and worked the rails and try the locomotive simulator.

Another spot of great interest to me was the Irish Museum and Cultural Center. Located in the lower level of the west wing, at the base of the escalator, we were drawn here instantly. It’s a lovely little center with plenty of information on anything Irish in Kansas City, a very nice genealogy room and a kids corner with books and activities to keep the kids busy.

Irish Cultural Center at Union Station

I think the “star” of Union Station, though, is Science City, an interactive science museum. There is no end to the things you can do there. We didn’t do half of it… And we spent the better part of a day there. My girls played with water, made music, dug for dinosaur bones, slid through “sewer” pipes, worked with pulleys, saw animals, climbed in a helicopter and so much more. Some of the areas were definitely geared toward older kids- things like exploring the human body, a crime lab and S.O.A.R. Laboratories. Nice.

We took a break from Science City to take in a movie on the Extreme Screen but couldn’t fit in one at the Gottlieb Planetarium.

Union Station also hosts traveling exhibits. We saw the Narnia Exhibition and are very interested in upcoming exhibits like Chocolate the Exhibition and Ink and Blood.

Union Station also features live theater at City Stage.

If all the exploring makes you hungry there are a few options within Union Station:

  • The Harvey House Diner serves a full breakfast menu all day long and has Blue Plate lunch specials, burgers, home made pies and hand dipped shakes.
  • Fast Tracks Deli offers a quick bite when you’re on the go; sandwiches, salads and brick oven pizzas
  • Pierpont’s is known for it’s steak and seafood- some say it’s the best in Kansas City.
  • The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory- ’nuff said
  • There is also a concession stand near the Extreme Screen with drinks, popcorn, nachos,pretzels and candy.

Helpful Information for your Visit

Much of Union Station, except the shops and restaurants, is closed on Mondays. Except on certain holidays. The schedule can be found here.

Entering Union Station is free but the exhibits and attractions do charge fees. Pricing packages are as follows:

First Class Ticket $19.50
A First Class Ticket includes admission to the fallowing attractions: KC Rail Experience, Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium, and one Regnier Extreme Screen movie.

Round Trip Ticket $14.50
A Round Trip Ticket includes admission to the fallowing attractions: Science City, and Gottlieb Planetarium and one Regnier Extreme Screen movie.

Express Ticket (General Admission) $9.50
Admission to: Science City, and Gottlieb Planetarium.

One Way Ticket $6.50
Your choice of the following: Gottlieb Planetarium, KC Rail Experience or one Regnier Extreme Screen movie.

Tickets may be purchased by phone or at the ticket counter.

An ATM is available on the lower level Theater District.

Lockers are availabe to rent for 50 cents. These are located in the Theater District near the restrooms and at the Science City entrance on the lower level.

A nursing area is available in the women’s restroom in Festival Plaza.

Strollers and wheelchairs are available on site. Strollers are for rent, wheelchairs are first come first served but carry no fee.

There is both a parking garage on the west side of Union Station and parking in front of the building. Charges may apply.

Directions to Union Station can be found here.

Where to stay:

Kansas City has no shortage of hotels. Within walking distance are the Westin Crown Center and the Haytt Regency Crown Center. Or search with the link below to find the best rates.

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: , , , , ,
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