Kansas City

Kansas City is a beautiful city that we truly enjoyed while we were there. So much fun and excitement and beautiful scenes great food all the wonderful things and I will definitely be back and I highly recommend that if you've not been you go to check out this cool city.

U know tha big cities r all tha same!This one has a funny arch n is serious abt BBQ.Kool vibe!Triqxee approved

For my milestone 500th review, why not choose the place on this planet that I know best? The place where I've been born, raised, and the place that will always be home no matter where I am. The place that can feel like the hottest or coldest place on earth in a matter of weeks. The place where the sports scene will break your heart or be the highest high...KANSAS CITY.What an amazing, five star city for so many reasons. First and foremost:PEOPLE. The friendly, supportive, creative, down-to-earth folks in Kansas City are as good as it gets. You won't find anyone sneaking in front of you in line at a restaurant, but instead they'll hold your spot for you. The city is full of proud locals that don't brag as much as they prop up their city or hometown so that everyone who flies over it thinks about checking it out. Local businesses often choose collaboration over competition which makes for a hyper local influence that permeates the city. It's a practical, family-oriented, sports loving, BBQ eating collection of good folks.And what would any city be without:ARCHITECTURE. Talk about underrated nationally when it comes to amazing architecture. From the beautiful skyline anchored by the newer Kauffman Center to the Spanish influenced Plaza, there are so many well blended styles of building in KC. I love so many older neighborhoods with big front porches and a blend of old and new. ART. The Nelson Atkins really is second to none. I can't even put into words how beautiful their exhibits are, whether permanent or passing through. To get a feel for it, grab a spot on the steps overlooking the sprawling lawn on a summer Sunday evening and you'll instantly get it.TEAMS. It's no secret that sports are almost too big of a passion for me. From the Royals, Chiefs, even the Blades growing up... the city takes them in like their own family members.These teams will break your damn heart. In fact being born in '85 only months old for the Royals World Series, I was a kid who grew up with the Royals going through turmoil. 100 loss seasons, players getting stuck in the tarp... but all that gave way when the "tell-your-kids-about" catcher Salvador Perez drove in the winning run in a wild-card walkoff. That opened up the floodgates to ease 30 years of frustration with a wild run to the World Series, only to be capped off with a World Series win the next year. The parade downtown on a 73 degree November day will go down as one of the best days of my life. I remember being a kid coming out of church where everyone sips lemonade and talks. Not us. My dad herded us to the car so that we could get home before noon to watch our Chiefs. The firmest belief I picked up on Sundays was a disdain for the Raiders. I grew to love the Chiefs so much that when I was old enough to read, I'd read the paper in the middle of the summer desperate for Chiefs updates. My first real job out of school was over at One Arrowhead Drive where I got to feel a part of the organization I've always loved. While we're waiting on that February, trophy-filled parade (any year now), I'll support and love this squad no matter what. WEATHER. You know, it would be wonderful to have San Diego weather, I won't lie. But I wouldn't trade the constant roller coaster of seasons that we get in KC. I love an evening with fireflies lighting up the evening before a big midwestern thunderstorm rolls through as much as the cool, crisp, football weather nights of the fall. Or what about the cold, echoey, still evenings in the winter where you can here the train whistles from downtown throughout the city? And the optimism that spring builds in this city when winter finally runs it's course and everyone is out at the parks, eating on patios...even if it's just a "balmy" 55 degrees. GROWTH. Look, downtown KC used to be abysmal when I was a kid. Buildings were abandoned and people went to their jobs and fled outwards at 5:00 on the dot. It didn't have a positive urban vibe at all. Flash forward under some solid leadership, and you'll see a streetcar full of people going down Main Street. P&L, while not my destination to go out, adds a central gathering place for people during sporting events and everything else in between. People are moving to KC, or coming back after college and actually wanting to live downtown or in the Crossroads. Sounds simple to someone from a big city, but this fundamental shift has made our city so much more vibrant. What's more is that KC is doing it right -- repurposing old buildings and hopefully stalling the suburban sprawl that took KC damn near to Lawrence. That's not to knock the suburbs that have great neighborhoods, schools and a sense of community. One more positive to this fair city.At the end of the day, I could move someday but no where else will ever truly be home. This is the kind of place that I want to grow, but almost want to keep a secret that everyone who lives here is in on.

I came in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It has the feel of a genuinely large city, but never breaks from a relaxed character. Lots of art and a great nightlife if you find the right venue.

Since I started writing about cities...Las Vegas being my latest one I figure I should write about Kansas City and what I thought about it after several visits there.I have several very dear friends that live in and around Kansas City. At first glance I didn't think that KC had a huge tourist industry, much like my former place where I resided, Denver. From the aforementioned city above the tourist industry is smaller in these Midwestern cities and that is how I like it! This gives cities their own groove, vibe and depth instead of trying to please expectations for people who really have no intention of staying there with any permanent reasons.KC is different though from the cities that I have extensively visited. For example the 'riff raff' doesn't seem to dwell in one part of the city but tends to go into middle class neighborhoods and follows any neighborhoods that may spring up. There are of course sketchy neighborhoods in this town. My friends live in an odd area. One block there are derelict houses literally falling apart and the next block all of the houses are perfectly restored and everything is in pristine condition.Of course there is good shopping here in KC but you have to know where to go and that is when the friends come in. I have discovered such great neighborhoods here! The West Bottoms, Downtown, The Plaza, the Country Club area and so much more! Some of those carriage houses are amazing and so beautiful! Not even in Denver's most high end neighborhoods are there houses like this! Rush hour providing that you live in a bigger city is a piece of cake!Another great thing is that lots of events that go down in KC are free! One time I went to a block party and took in a fashion show and saw drag queens playing it up in storefront windows as mermaids! Quality entertainment!I don't know very many celebrities or bands that come out of KC other than the electro band Ssion but I'm sure if I dug deep enough I would know more!Despite having dear friends out in KC it would not be a place I would consider living. The humidity truly makes me melt and the winters would really and truly be the end of me. KC itself is fairly liberal but outside of it in MO itself it is not...obviously. I have a hard enough time living in a battleground state so I would have to pass.That doesn't mean though that KC is not worth visiting copious amount of times!

What to LOVE about KC:Plaza DistrictAbundant fountains and sculpturesWestport DistrictFantastic museumsImprov comedyGreat vegetarian restaurant optionsZona RosaFriendly people everywherePolite drivers that let you change lanesPolite peopleFree parking in plaza districtThe "In remembrance of " signs to mark accident victims. Really nice.Hy-VeeOnly huge turn off--airport.While quick and efficient, it's not comfortable. Looks like a bomb shelter. . . and the restrooms suck.I heart KC!

The only thing that really sucks about KC is the winter.Maybe the schools.Some of the road surfaces. LOL And the isolation from other larger urban centers. This is not the east coast, where everything is 6 hours away... max.Otherwise, this is a great place to live. Lots of interesting parks, museums, attractions, food, art, shopping, history, and people. Traffic is light comparatively speaking. KC does not get many votes when people are deciding where to visit. A few weekends a year here and you will do yourself right... KC has it going on. : )