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3 Days in Kansas City Missouri, Itinerary for First-Timers
It is difficult to determine how to best use 72 hours in Kansas City Missouri, there are so many fun things to see, do, and eat. This 3-day itinerary is jam-packed with must-see sites and top attractions, including, the National WWI Museum, American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Union Station, Country Club Plaza, City Market, Power and Light District, Kansas City BBQ, wine tasting, distillery tours, and a bottomless mimosa. It is possible to travel the world with limited PTO, here’s a day-by-day guide to visiting Kansas City Missouri in 3 days. Have more time? Check out these 50 things to do in Kansas City Missouri to add to your stay. Enjoy your time out of the office!
Read Top Things to Do in Kansas City Missouri
72 Hours in Kansas City Missouri, Day by Day Itinerary
Arrival Evening: Kansas City Whiskey Tasting
Arrive at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and grab a rental car. Check into your hotel and settle in. I stayed at the historical Crossroads Hotel in the heart of the Arts District and loved it! Grab dinner on-site at Lazio, an Italian restaurant, before having a rooftop cocktail toast to the beginning of a great weekend getaway. This boutique hotel is in the gallery district and is surrounded by over 400 artists and 100+ studios.
If you arrive early enough in the day, head down to the Missouri River. Take a walk on the Riverfront Heritage Trail with the Christopher S. Bond Bridge in the background to stretch your legs after a long flight. Then head over to J. Rieger & Co. for a distillery tour and an introduction to Kansas City Whiskey. Be sure to also taste their vodka, gin, and Caffe Amaro. Wander the Pre-Prohibition Museum and glide down the famous slide while there.
Day One: Coffee, Wine, and Chocolate Tasting
8:30 am: Join Urban Hikes for a coffee walking tour of the West Bottoms and Crossroads Art District. Learn about Kansas City’s past, check out the mural alley, and enjoy coffee and goodies along the way. No time for the full tour? Stop at Messenger Coffee. This three-story coffee shop is located in the old coffee district and roasts in-house. Grab a pastry from Ibis Bakery and head upstairs to talk to the roaster or just relax on the rooftop enjoying the sun. Or, visit Hi Tides creative collaboration featuring Meshuggah Bagels, Donutology Donuts, and Dole Whip. If you have never had a Dole Whip, you are missing out and I loved the Prickly Palm Lemonade. Both stops are within walking distance of Mural Alley.
Noon: Take a look around the Power and Light District before a quick lunch at Guy Fieri’s Dive & Taco Joint (and a Jell-O shot or two). Walk across Grand Blvd to the T-Mobile Center and climb up onto the Heart KC Sign for a selfie.
1:30 pm: Visit the National WWI Museum and check out the view from the Memorial Tower. I loved this museum and I am not a history buff. Did you know the famous Uncle Sam Army Recruitment Poster (I Want You) was a self-portrait of the artist?!? Drive down the hill and see Union Station’s Grand Hall before moving on.
4:00 pm: Missouri has amazing wine! Make your way to KC Wineworks for a tasting. This small-batch, small-craft business is the first grape-to-glass winery in the Crossroads Arts District and has its own wine lab. The wine is excellent and tastings are reasonably priced. Be sure to take a few cans of Show Me Sangria back to the hotel and I highly recommend grabbing a wine slushy to go.
Then, walk a few doors down to Christopher Elbow Chocolates. This pastry chef evolved into a chocolatier who uses traditional techniques infused with natural herbs and spices to make incredible chocolates and caramels. I can’t imagine walking out the door without your own box.
7:00 pm: Enjoy dinner “Where the Steak was Born” at Golden Ox located in the Red Iron Building of the Old Stockyards District. I recommend ordering family style beginning with The Dover, a 56 oz Ribeye, and a variety of sides and sauces. Be sure to check out the grand staircase and old stockyards receipts board of this National Historic Register building.
9:00 pm: Visit Swordfish Tom’s for a speakeasy nightcap, so much fun!
Day Two: Museums and Kansas City BBQ
8:00 am: Grab a coffee and start the day with a walk through The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden. Have brunch and check out the Country Club Plaza stores. Be sure to walk across the street to the J C Nichols Memorial Fountain, one of Kansas City’s many fountains.
12:00 pm: Make your way to the Jazz District and purchase a combo ticket for the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Pay attention to the time, there’s a lot to see in both museums.
5:30 pm: Join an evening tour with Just One Day Travel Tours and see what all the Kansas City BBQ hype is about. It doesn’t get much better than being chauffeured around to the BBQ hot spots with someone who knows exactly what to order at each location. If you opt out of this suggestion and DIY it, the top BBQ spots are Gates, Boyd’s, Slaps, Joe’s, and Arthur Bryant’s.
9:00 pm: Visit Mean Mule Distilling Co for a nightcap and learn about American Agave from an expert who ferments, distills, and bottles 100% organic Blue Weber Agave in Kansas City.
Day Three: Mimosas and the City Market
8:00 am: Enjoy breakfast at Farmhouse for a bottomless mimosa and cinnamon roll, the omelet is amazing as well. Walk down the hill to the City Market; browse the stalls and pick up a few souvenirs. Visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum for a self-guided tour of the American Frontier or make your way to the Central Library for a selfie with the Community Bookshelf and rooftop game of life-size chess.
Noon: Visit Fountain City Winery in the historic West Bottoms for a cellar tour and wine tasting. Be sure to taste the Pour Les Jeunes and Perennial if you enjoy sweet wine, I bought a bottle of both. Wrap your wine well and head for the airport for your return flight.
Have more time? Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art or the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Have an extra day or two? Head to Missouri Wine Country!
Be sure to check the Kansas City Tourism Board for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Bookmark and Pin 72 Hours in Kansas City Missouri
Many thanks to Visit Kansas City and Missouri Wines for providing such a wonderful experience! As always, all opinions are my own.
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Kansas City Missouri Attractions and Day Tours
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