Kansas City sure was a surprising little trip for me. Coming from Chicago, one of the greatest cities on the planet, I usually have pretty low expectations for small towns especially in Middle America. Let me say, though, that Kansas City really blew me away! It’s hilly, there’s lots of parks and trees, it’s neighborhoody, everyone is super nice, and can also be very chic and fancy. You can really see a lot of what there is to be seen in KC in about a weekend, and below is my suggested itinerary!

Arrive either by car or by air and stay at The Truitt. This boutique hotel is super cool, chic, and heavy on detail and design elements. You will sleep really well, and you’ll be blown away at how gorgeous this place is. Read all about our stay at The Truitt here!

Depending on when you arrive, and what the weather is like, hang out at The Truitt in the afternoon, or take a walk over to Country Club Plaza for a little shopping.

For dinner, check out the Fox & Pearl. You can either drive or uber, and get ready for some super delicious food. Definitely check out the various cheese and charcuterie options they have, as well as some of the craft beers and delicious cocktails. Check out my review of Fox & Pearl here!

The next morning, take a five minute walk and check out the Nelson-Atkins Museum. This art collection is diverse, and the outdoor sculptures are fun. Don’t forget to check out their most famous work – John the Baptist by Caravaggio! Check out my tips on this museum here.

After spending a few hours there, take a 20 minute walk for brunch at Westport Cafe. This place is a cute little french bistro, and the food and bloody marys are awesome! You will definitely full after a lunch or brunch here, and ready for more tourist attractions! Read my review of the Westport Cafe here.

From there, take an Uber to the National World War I Memorial and Museum. Spend several hours here perusing the different exhibits, movies, and don’t miss going up to the top of the tower. If this is too much, you can also do this the next morning, although note that it is closed on Mondays. Read my overview of this Museum here!

Afterwards, go back to The Truitt to clean up and chill before dinner. In spite of a few service snafus, I would still recommend checking out Corvino for dinner, because the food is really top notch. Read my review of Corvino here.

On your last morning/afternoon before you leave Kansas City, if you didn’t get a chance to check out Country Club Plaza, definitely take a walk around here, but your priority should be getting really good barbecue! You absolutely have to get some barbecue in Kansas City, and I would recommend none other than the world famous Joe’s Bar-B-Que on the Kansas side of KC. Don’t be scared of crazy long lines, this place is a well-oiled machine and you will have a belly full of some of the best barbecue in the world before you know it. Read my overview and tips for Joe’s here.

Once you’ve had the BBQ, you’ve experienced the best of Kansas City! Enjoy this super cute and welcoming city right smack in the middle of America!