KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sure, visitors can drop a bundle whiling away hours in Kansas City’s born-again downtown, with its shiny new Sprint Center and Power & Light dining and drinking fun zone. But budget-minded travelers also have a buffet of penny-pinching options in the city of fountains, including rock solid offerings from the holy trinity of summer fun: good food, baseball and jazz. After all, is anything else really necessary?
→BASEBALL: Tickets for the Kansas City Royals start at $14 and go up to about $50. Cut costs by tailgating in the massive parking lot with just about everybody else; http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/.
But budget-minded travelers also have a buffet of penny-pinching options in the city of fountains, including rock solid offerings from the holy trinity of summer fun: good food, baseball and jazz. After all, is anything else really necessary?
→BASEBALL: Tickets for the Kansas City Royals start at $14 and go up to about $50. Cut costs by tailgating in the massive parking lot with just about everybody else; http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com.
→BARBECUE: What’s the point of a trip to Kansas City without sampling its saucy, smoky barbecue, which can be found in just about any part of town? Stalwarts such as Gates — www.gatesbbq.com — and Arthur Bryant’s — www.arthurbryantsbbq.com — pack in diners for the massive slabs of ribs, chicken and sandwiches for reasonable prices. Both restaurants have several locations. A full slab of ribs will set the family back about $20. Try the Beef on Bun. Help yourself to extra sauce. The burnt ends at Bryant’s are exceptional.
But there are lesser-known spots that locals also swear by.
Oklahoma Joe’s is in a gas station in Kansas City, Kan., at 3002 W 47 Ave. Try the Hog Heaven, pulled pork with sliced sausage on a bun. There’s also a Pig Salad: pulled pork topped with, what else, barbecue sauce; www.oklahomajoesbbq.com.
LC’s Bar-B-Q, 5800 Blue Parkway, not far from Kauffman Stadium where the Royals play, is a stop to load up on tailgating fodder; www.lcsbar-b-que.nv.switchboard.com.
→MORE TO LIFE: Kansas City’s museums include the venerable Nelson-Atkins, where admission is free. Some highlights are the spanking new Bloch Building, which features a Noguchi sculptor garden. Let it all soak in while you sprawl out on the lawn in the shadow of the massive shuttlecocks; www.nelson-atkins.org.
The nearby Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art also is free and hosts family, movie and other events. Check the calendar at www.kemperart.org/home.asp.
→SPEAKING OF FAMILY: The Coterie Theater at Crown Center has live theater for kids and the family. Afterward, if it’s hot and muggy outside, the fountains in front are good for romping. Bring towels; www.coterietheatre.org.
The Toy Museum near the University of Missouri-Kansas City showcases items from miniatures to puppets; www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org.
→SHOPPING: For general shopping, the Country Club Plaza, Zona Rosa in north Kansas City, and The Legends in Wyandotte County, Kan., have the staple choices for shopping and lollygagging; www.countryclubplaza.com, www.zonarosa.com and www.legendsshopping.com.
by the associated press
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