Our Top Ten Favorite Summer Activities for Kids in Kansas City

School’s out! That means you’ll need to keep the kids busy. Sure, they could go to camp or work a summer job, but there are so many other fun things for them to dive into this summer! 

If your kids are tired of the same old summer plans, it’s a good thing Union Station has your back. We’re counting down the top ten summer activities for kids to do before those dog days roll back around.

10. Set Your Sights on Science City

Science City is open year-round, but in the summer, kids run free on the lawn while learning about machines that make our world work! 

Simple Machines at Play is a fan-favorite summer activity for kids in Kansas City because it provides a safe, educational environment for kids to burn off all that energy! Science City also hosts special events during the summer to educate and entertain kids all summer long.

9. Pick Your Pickleball Partner

One of the fastest-growing sports in Kansas City also happens to be one of the most kid-friendly as well. No matter where you are in KC, you’re never too far from a court! 

Chicken N Pickle, Serv, and community parks like Switzer Park are all great places to spend a day. Serv and Chicken N Pickle also serve up eats, drinks, and other games that make pickleball a parent-favorite summer activity for kids in Kansas City to keep them off the couch and on the court! 

8. Fun on the Farm

Not too far from Switzer Park is one of our favorite summer activities for kids in Kansas City. At the Deanna Rose Children’s farmstead, kids can get up close to a bison, feed a herd of goats, and race their friends on the pedal tractor track! With low prices on tickets and memorable moments abound, This is hands down one of the best hands-on experiences for kids on our list.

7. Go Wild at the Zoo

Farm animals aren’t the only wild ones in Kansas City! The Kansas City Zoo is always a great place to let the kids roam free! With over 200 acres to explore, this is one of the best summer activities for energetic kids in Kansas City. The zoo features Sea Lion shows, elephant painting and is nationally recognized as one of the best animal sanctuaries in the nation.

6. Find Your Spark at Prairiefire

Kansas City has a lot of great STEM activities for kids. But none of them are quite as awe-inspiring as the Museum at Prairiefire. From a giant T-Rex, space mission artifacts, and a virtual reality theater, our list wouldn’t be complete without their amazing array of summer activities for kids in Kansas City. Check out their STEAM camps, and check out all their great experiences to plan your visit!

5. Get Going to the Gardens

Powell Gardens isn’t just one of the best places for a photo op in KC, it’s also one of the best places to let the kids learn and roam as they explore exhibits and peak summer landscapes. Fortopia is an especially whimsical collection of unique forts created by local Kansas City artists. The collection gets new additions every year and is one of the most highly anticipated summer activities for kids in Kansas City.

4. Tiny Exhibits, Big Fun

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is the most fun you can have with the tiniest art in KC. Just across from UMKC, this museum is one of the most interactive summer activities for kids in Kansas City. The featured pieces are just as interesting as they are intricate, so you’ll also find adults joining in on the fun too! From art contained within the eye of a needle to one-of-a-kind dollhouses and vintage toys, there’s no shortage of huge smiles from these tiny exhibits!

3. Get Cooking at the Culinary Center

While the kids are out of school, why not keep the learning going? The Culinary Center of Kansas City hosts classes that teach children ages 5-14 basic and advanced cooking and baking skills. This summer activity for kids in Kansas City is a parent favorite because their children develop lifelong skills while dishing out great meals!

2. Explore the Worlds and Oceans

No list of great summer activities for kids in Kansas City is complete without Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. This Kansas City staple is the source of thrills and chills for kids and adults of all ages. There is truly something for everyone between these two parks. The youngest guests can meet Snoopy and Charlie Brown. For the teen crowd, it’s a local challenge to ride the Patriot, Timberwolf, Zambezi Zinger, and Mamba in one day. Adults who visit the park get their own space as well. One of our favorite summer activities for adults is swimming up to the bar at Castaway Cove. 

1. A Celebration to Remember

Kansas City’s favorite summer activity is held right here at Union Station. The Celebration at the Station is one of the best summer activities for kids in Kansas City to experience an amazing fireworks display, the KC symphony, and all the fun of Memorial Day. The festivities kick off at five o’clock with food trucks and other live bands. Then get ready to be treated by the KC Symphony accompanied by live cannon fire as they perform the 1812 Overture. The Celebration at the Station is one of the most iconic things to do in the summer in Kansas City. So don’t miss it!

Ready for Summer?

Make this break one to remember with these great summer activities for kids in Kansas City. Get started by planning your visit to Union Station. We’re excited to welcome you aboard!