Visiting Kansas City, MO - suggestions?

So my husband and I will be spending a long weekend in Kansas City in a few weeks. By ourselves, no children! Neither of us have been there before.

What suggestions do you have about where to stay, and where to go? We both love barbecue (and are Kansas City Barbecue Society certified judges :D) and beer (and Boulevard is definitely a must-go). We're also thinking about seeing the WWI Museum and the Negro Leagues Museum. Any ideas you all have are most welcome!

I'm not a local, but my wife and I went down there last year for a long weekend. We stayed at the Intercontinental by the Plaza - it was pretty nice, but more expensive. I've also stayed at the Marriott near the Plaza, it was also fine. I liked staying in that area - there are a ton of places to eat within walking distance and some nicer (more high-end and expensive) retail establishments if you're into that.

We also went to the Alamo Drafthouse when we were down there, mainly because I just wanted to experience it. If you like slightly more upscale movie theaters, I'd recommend it. I'd highly recommend the WWI museum, that was incredible. I didn't expect much from a KC museum, but it's beautiful and surprisingly big. The place is split into two sections: pre-US and post-US involvement. We spent five hours there and four of that was in the first half. You could easily make a full day or even two shorter days if you take your time.

I've been to Jack Stack's BBQ before and liked it. It kind of comes down to whether you want a nice polished sitdown experience or if you want the experience of hunting down the hole-in-the-wall "best" BBQ around. Jack Stack's is more the former; you'd have to find someone more local to recommend the latter.

I went to school there for two years. The only thing I can remember doing that was any fun, besides going to the giant lawn dart museum for my Fine Arts credit, was the Backyard Burger joint in Olathe.

Go to four of the five best BBQ places in the nation.

Jack Stack
Oklahoma Joes
Arthur Bryants
Gates

Visit the KC Art Museum.

Take in an evening at the KC Symphony

Drive around some of the old neighborhoods to see gorgeous residential architecture.

Have dessert at Andre's.

I really don't care for BBQ (despite being a KC guy), but Oklahoma Joes is really good (if you can get in!).

If you are going to be downtown -

I really like this place (it is a bit hipster, but the food and drink are awesome) -
http://antonskc.com/

This place is really dope as well -
http://www.grinderspizza.com/

Where in the city are you staying?

Sally,

Sorry I missed you last time I was out there (two weeks ago). I was out there visiting my brother who just retired from the KC Symphony.

One of these days we will grab a beer and bring justice to the mean streets of Overland Park.

We don't know where we are staying yet, and would love suggestions. People are recommending the Plaza - I just want to be sure that Country Club Plaza is the same as the Plaza, because we were looking at a hotel near CC Plaza.

Great to have recommendations for places other than BBQ. As much as I love it, BBQ fatigue will doubtless settle in.

The Plaza is nice and you should definitely go there - but I like up North a lot more. Has more character.

The Plaza is the Country Club Plaza. If pizza sounds better than BBQ, try the Minsky's at 51st and Main, just south of the Plaza, great stuff and normally they have decent beer. There is a nice fondue place on the Plaza, the Melting Pot is fun, pricy but good. Haven't tried the Alamo Drafthouse but I've heard some good things about it. Andre's Tearoom is an excellent choice, very limited menu so check the website to see what is being offered that day.

The few times I've had Jack Stack BBQ failed to impress, but its popular. Gate's BBQ has been consistently decent, just be ready to be bellowed at when you walk in. RJ's is a smaller BBQ joint in Mission (southwest of the Plaza, easy to get to) that I liked when I worked over in that area a few years ago.

I cannot recommend the Nelson-Atkins Museum enough. The permanent displays are really amazing, the building itself is beautiful both outside and in, and the grounds around the Nelson are fantastic. It's one of the few things I miss since leaving KC.

Bloo Driver wrote:

I cannot recommend the Nelson-Atkins Museum enough. The permanent displays are really amazing, the building itself is beautiful both outside and in, and the grounds around the Nelson are fantastic. It's one of the few things I miss since leaving KC.

I just took a look at the website. There are some fantastic exhibitions on now. That's going on the list. Thanks!

concentric wrote:
Bloo Driver wrote:

I cannot recommend the Nelson-Atkins Museum enough. The permanent displays are really amazing, the building itself is beautiful both outside and in, and the grounds around the Nelson are fantastic. It's one of the few things I miss since leaving KC.

I just took a look at the website. There are some fantastic exhibitions on now. That's going on the list. Thanks!

The sculpture garden is worth the walk.

concentric wrote:
Bloo Driver wrote:

I cannot recommend the Nelson-Atkins Museum enough. The permanent displays are really amazing, the building itself is beautiful both outside and in, and the grounds around the Nelson are fantastic. It's one of the few things I miss since leaving KC.

I just took a look at the website. There are some fantastic exhibitions on now. That's going on the list. Thanks!

It is also free on Sundays, FYI.

If you're already on the Plaza and tired of BBQ, check out Gram & Dun. We had dinner there last summer, it was phenomenal. Other great restaurants in the area:

Lidia's Kansas City - Italian

The Blue Koi, a fantastic Chinese/Taiwanese place, which I think has two locations now. They do a Chinese pot roast over soup that is so, so good.

Frida's, down off of Metcalf, is some of the best Mexican I've ever had. If you happen to go here, order the Chile en Nogada. It sounds bizarre - poblanos stuffed with steak, apples, nuts, a cheese sauce with walnuts and pomegranate seeds - it tastes amazing.

As far as activities, although I've never been there I'm told the Steamboat Arabia is fascinating.

Totally agree with the Lidia's recommendation. That is my favorite area of the city, and is one of my favorite restaurants.

Anyone mind wee bit of necromancy?

Due to the impeding arrival of my new niece, it looks like I'm heading to KC next week. Great suggestions in this thread, and I'm definitely going to hit Nelson-Atkins Museum now. However, my 8 and 11 year old will be in tow, so I was wondering if the collective you had any suggestions for things to do with offspring? It doesn't have be capital F "Family Fare" per se, as I we explored San Francisco last month with no age specific pandering. Oh, and Schilterbahn is already on the agenda.

Thanks for any ideas. Bonus points for leads on Modest Mouse tickets (I have kitchen pass for a couple nights while I'm there).

Well, we were planning to go back in a couple of years with our children, so that we could go to the Lego Discovery Center and some other places. I was printing out a bunch of stuff for the trip today and noticed that to go to the Lego Center, you MUST be accompanied by a child. I'm glad that the restriction does not apply to the shop, which we will definitely visit.

Now I will hand it over to the people who really know...:)

My wife and her friends did a girls-only weekend in KC last month and they seemed very impressed with a thing called Schlitterbahn.

Nice call on the Lego center, concentric. My oldest will eat that up.

Glad to hear Schlitterbahn was well liked. I've already got the kids hyped about it, and I'm hoping the Verrukt is open by the time I get there.

Backyard Burger.

I'm going to be in Kansas City next month for a conference. Here's a weird question: Are there any barbecue places that do good vegetarian stuff? I don't think I've even heard of vegetarian barbecue. My coworker is pescetarian and I'm sorta leaning that way these days myself which is why I ask.

I'll definitely try and check out that art museum while I'm there. That looks very cool.

The Nelson is great - you will have a great time. We lean pescatarian too, but I can't think of any bbq that caters to that. Where are you staying?

The Marriott Downtown.

Joe's Kansas City has a Portobello version of their Z-Man sandwich. I also think it's the best BBQ place in town - definitely worth checking out!

Sheazy wrote:

Joe's Kansas City has a Portobello version of their Z-Man sandwich. I also think it's the best BBQ place in town - definitely worth checking out!

This is the re-named Oklahoma Joe's, right? Definitely a highlight of the city. Does it beat Arthur Bryant's? Hmm....tough call.