Kansas City has a completely free StreetCar, which stops at various places around the downtown area. The closest stop to the hotel is at 16th and Main and is located directly in front of a Starbucks. The track extends from the Crown Center in the south to the River Market in the north! You can download the "CityPost" app for real-time StreetCar tracking from your phone!
Great little shop for lunch! Amazing sandwiches, salads, teas, and coffees! Located in Crossroads and close to the hotel!
In Crossroads, and very close to the hotel! Messenger is well-known in the Kansas City area, and locals LOVE it. Lauren strongly feels that the extra 5 minutes to drive or 15 minutes to walk to the Roasterie is worth it, but if you're looking for something closer, Messenger is great!
The Roasterie is unique to the Kansas City area, and has phenomenal coffee and bakery treats! They have free factory tours, which are fun and informative! The Roasterie is located in Crossroads, which is the same neighborhood as the hotel block and venue!
Kansas City's local brewery! They do guided brewery tours (which include generous tastings)! Even if you can't make it to the brewery, stop by any HyVee or grocery store to pick up a case. Spencer's favorites are the Boulevard Wheat, the KC Pils, and Space Camper!
Kansas City natives love Crown Center at Christmas time more than anything (maybe even more than their barbecue)! Check out where Spencer ice skated for the first time and go for a skate yourself at the outdoor ice rink in Crown Center! Accessible via free StreetCar!
The Power and Light district is the most well-known neighborhood in Kansas City. If you have a free night, check out some of the bars, or spend the day walking around and visiting some of the restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping. Power and Light is accessible from the hotel via the free Street Car, but could be easily walked to.
The River Market is our favorite neighborhood in Kansas City. While it's likely too late in the season to attend the City Market-- an outdoor farmers' market right in the middle of the neighborhood-- there's a ton of cute boutiques and restaurants to visit on Delaware Street!
KC Taco Co. is a hip little restaurant in the River Market neighborhood of Kansas City. We used to live right near KC Taco Co. and ate there more than we are proud to admit. Try their nachos and their seasonal sangrias!
The. Best. Ice. Cream. EVER. We know you'll be visiting in December. It doesn't matter. You want this ice cream. Betty Rae's has two locations-- one in the River Market, which can be reached via the free StreetCar, and one in Waldo, which is the neighborhood we live in!
Kansas City is famous for its barbecue. People will fight tooth and nail about who has the best barbecue, but Spencer and I think Q39 is best, hands down. It's a little bit further south, in a neighborhood called Midtown, but the 15-20 minute drive is worth it for their burnt ends and their mac 'n' cheese!
Spencer's favorite beer in Kansas City. Local to Kansas City, and located right across from where we live, KC Bier Co. offers a variety of German-style beers at their outdoor biergarten or semi-enclosed bierhalle. . . we know it's December, but KC Bier Co. offers discounts depending on the temperature! 55 degrees: 15% off 50 degrees: 25% off 45 degrees: 35% off 40 degrees and below: 50% off