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How Kansas City Does Date Night
Whether it’s a first date or your first one in a while, planning is essential to the perfect night out. Even with busy schedules, it’s important to make the time to get to know your boo. Once your stars align, it’s time to enjoy a night on the town. Take a page from Union Station’s Kansas City date night playbook to plan your next date in our jewel of the Midwest!
For the Active
To get their heart racing, these Kansas City date night ideas keep the fun moving. There are so many ways to stay active in the city of fountains, so get off the couch and enjoy these suggestions!
Get Competitive!
There’s nothing like some healthy competition to get the heart pounding. Pickleball is slowly becoming one of the nation’s hottest sports. This makes Chicken N Pickle or SERV great places to enjoy some laughs, grab a bite, and keep the night moving in all the right directions.
If you’re not looking to work up a sweat, we’ve got you covered! It’s hard not to love mini golf on a fun, light Kansas City date night, so head to Puttery or Sinkers for great drinks and creative courses! For an iconic arcade date, Up-Down is a great place to enjoy classic games, great food, and even live entertainment! There are so many ways to get in the game for date night, but sometimes the best way to get closer is by getting away from it all.
Take a Hike!
There are so many great trails to explore right around the heart of our city. From easy walks in Swope Park or the Riverfront Heritage Trail to hidden gems like Cave Spring and Kaw Point, there’s a trail for everyone to enjoy an evening stroll with someone special.
Some of the most iconic Kansas City date night ideas are just out of town at Powell Gardens. Evergy’s Festival of Lights is a beautiful way to enjoy one of the best light shows in KC during the holidays. But for a special, spooky stroll through the garden, Dark Forest is a must for date night in the fall! Our city has so many great ways to keep date night moving, but some of our best date ideas make you stop and stare.
For the Artsy
Whether it’s a great concert, a new exhibit, or a pottery pop-up event, KC celebrates artists in so many ways. To support your favorite artists or spark your own creative connection, the Union Station crew has a few suggestions.
Find Your Muse
Want some great conversation starters? Masterworks from Monet, Sargent, and more are great ways to spark a creative conversation at the Nelson-Atkins. The Nelson also holds epic events, like movies on the lawn. Their calendar always has something new, so make sure to check the schedule as you plan your next Kansas City date night!
Make a Memory
If your date is more hands-on, make the night as hot as a kiln at KC Clay Guild or Driftwood Ceramics! Both are great ways to get creative, have some fun, and always have something to remind you of your date! Just make sure to schedule some time to use the studios as you plan your night. These are both top picks because both neighborhoods have great restaurants just steps away. So fire up your creativity, then find your table for a Kansas City date night full of fun!
For the Parents
Sometimes, hiring a babysitter isn’t an option. This can make it hard to plan a date night for parents in Kansas City, but don’t worry! The Union Station crew knows how to keep them entertained while you enjoy some alone time.
Keep Them Occupied
At Union Station, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and explore! Science City has great exhibits and events to keep the kiddos at bay if those Kansas City date night ideas turn into a date day. We also have the city’s largest movie screen with the latest features, keeping them entertained for hours. With hundreds of seats in the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre, it’s easy to sit a few rows back while still keeping an eye on them if you want to watch as well!
Make a Getaway
You don’t have to hop on a train to get away under our roof! The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium is notoriously romantic for stargazing, laser light shows, and more! If live shows are more your speed, the City Stage is your destination for some of the best community theatre in KC! With so much to enjoy in our stories of fun, Union Station is one of the best places to enjoy a Kansas City date night—from the first one to long after you say, “I do.”
That’s also why we’re one of the city’s favorite destinations to pop the question! Read our related feature when that date turns into happily ever after.
Historically Perfect Proposal Spots
For the Foodies
In the culinary capital of the Midwest, it’s not hard to find your favorite spot. But for date night in Kansas City, we’re always shaking things up. Before you grab a table at your usual haunt, the Union Station crew has a few suggestions! Who knows!? You may just find a new favorite.
Let’s Do Drinks
When was the last time you grabbed a drink with your favorite person? No, we’re not talking out of the fridge! We’re talking about going the whole nine yards. To get an atmosphere and drinks to die for, you’ll need to venture a bit further out of your comfort zone than The Peanut.
Our favorite cocktail lounges for a Kansas City date night replace the big screens with intimate conversations. With its lively atmosphere and amazing drinks, we always recommend The Green Lady for a true KC jazz club experience. But recently, In The Lowest Ferns has taken the scene by storm with its steamy atmosphere, sultry drinks, and secluded location in the West Bottoms. No matter how you do drinks in KC, the ultimate date nights are had by candlelight.
Candlelight Done Right
There’s nothing sexier than a great conversation, but the right candlelight dinner can take your Kansas City date night ideas to a whole new level. The best aphrodisiacs in Kansas City sadly aren’t found at Arthur Bryant’s (unless you really like barbeque). To make Valentine’s Day every day, Union Station has just the table for you.
At Union Station, you’ll find our little slice of culinary heaven called Pierponts. The menu consists of flavors sure to get the conversation going, from appetizers to dessert. In addition to some of the most locally loved drinks and food, Pierpont’s boasts an atmosphere that’s unmatched anywhere in Kansas City.
Outside of Union Station, you’ll find a variety of great candlelight dinners. For old-school favorites, we recommend Café Provence and Saltwell Farm Kitchen because of their classic tastes and timeless atmosphere. For a modern flare, Novel, Westport Cafe, and The Melting Pot keep the tastes fresh and the conversation lively! Trying something new should be fun, so always be on the lookout for new restaurants as you plan your next Kansas City date night.
For the Fun
Sultry, romantic nights are a great way to enjoy a low-key night with your special someone. But sometimes you just gotta cut loose! For a night of fun and memories that last a lifetime, we have a few ways to enjoy your next Kansas City date night.
Go for a Ride
Who says date night has to start at night? Worlds of Fun is the perfect way to feel like a kid again on your next date. With so much to do in one park, you’ll likely need multiple dates to experience it all! That’s why we recommend building a plan. To start, we recommend focusing on the main attractions. To experience the Worlds of Fun like a true KC local, take on the wildest rides in the park. See how many you can check off your list in one date!
The KC Local Challenge
After hours of thrill rides, we recommend a relaxing ride on KC’s other famous ferris wheel. The Skyliner is a classic way to end your perfect day at the park. To enjoy a frightfully good time in the park after dark, Worlds of Fun’s Halloween Haunt is an iconic Kansas City date night experience. When the sun goes down, ghouls rule the park alongside exclusive fun houses, drinks, eats, and extended hours to ride the rails late into the night.
See a Show
Worlds of Fun puts on quite the show, but they’re not the only ones! KC hosts some of the world’s best shows on iconic stages across the city. From rock shows at RecordBar to symphonies at The Kauffman Center, there’s a ticket for every taste and mood.
For a casual Kansas City date night, there’s nothing like a night with your favorite artists under the stars at Starlight Theatre. If outdoor experiences are your thing, enjoy a night with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. With different productions every year, KC Shakes makes it easy to plan a romantic, annual outing!
If you’re looking to go all out, there’s no shortage of venues with amazing lineups for the year! Some of the best comics and artists in the world come to the T-Mobile Center, The Uptown, Arrowhead Stadium, and even Legends Field! You never know who’s coming to town next, so keep an eye out for more Kansas City date night ideas!
Save the Date
Whether you’re just starting out or keeping the flame alive, we’ve got one final piece of advice for planning your Kansas City date night: Never stop going on dates! There’s always something exciting, romantic, and fun happening in our jewel of the Midwest. So what are you waiting for? Plan your next date with these suggestions, and stop by Union Station to make history where thousands of Kansas Citians have for over a century!