Kansas City has been hiding its light under a bushel for too long – this is a buzzing place with a lot to shout about. Jazz clubs ooze out of this city’s streets and into the night, while barbecue lovers have long known that Kansas City is the king of the grill. Add in a smattering of superb museums, neighborhoods with a variety of atmospheres and friendly locals and you’ve got a great city, no matter what brings you here.
Kansas culture
Few cities can boast as quirky a range of museums as Kansas City. Start at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which combines neoclassical good looks with a playful side – such as the giant shuttlecock that sits on the lawn outside it. The collection here runs the gamut from European classics – Caravaggio, El Greco, Bosch, Rembrandt – through to Impressionists, Asian pottery, American painting and a sculpture garden with a Rodin.
The 1926 Liberty Memorial towers over the city’s museum dedicated to World War I – it’s a sober place that looks not just at the role America played in The Great War, but also at the effect on the whole world. Elsewhere, you’ll find the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, an insight into when America’s favorite pastime was still segregated, and the kid-friendly National Museum of Toys & Miniatures. The tens of thousands of toys span over 100 years of history.
In search of the best barbecue
When the President of the United States orders a takeout from your barbecue for his next Air Force One flight, you must be doing something right. Barack Obama and his staff enjoyed some of Oklahoma Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, and you can join him by heading to one of three branches in the city. The pulled pork here is the stuff of legends – enjoy it in the ‘Rocket Pig’ sandwich dressed with bacon, cheese, BBQ mayo and jalapenos.
Of course, many natives will have their own favorite, and you’ll find a great spot in every neighborhood. Some talk in hushed tones about Woodyard Bar-B-Que, others about Arthur Bryant’s, which smokes with a combination of both oak and hickory. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you trying it all if you want to find your favorite.
The Jazz Age
Jazz isn’t just a piece of history in Kansas City, it lives here too. Head to the American Jazz Museum and you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s merely a retrospective – albeit a superb one with cascades of memorabilia. Afterwards, head into its very own club, the Blue Room, and you might just catch a show.
Jazz continues to thrive here, inspired by the spirit of city son Charlie Parker, especially in the 18th & Vine district. You can take it in at the Green Lady Lounge, one of the more stylish spaces for music here, or dive into the speakeasy vibe at The Phoenix, where you can grab a great sandwich while local musicians play.
Wherever you choose, the town is suffused with the jazz spirit, and with car rental in Kansas City, you can head to wherever you want to seek it out.
