<p>I was thinking of going to NOLA for Jazz fest- I would really like to- but it frankly sounds like a bigger trip at a more expensive time than what I want to take on right now.</p>
<p>Instead- I am thinking of going to Kansas City in early May. I haven’t been to MO, since I was three- I have a lot of 2nd cousins there ( my maternal grandparents are from Missouri but they moved to Seattle when my mom was in junior high) , I have been wanting to visit- but for some reason all the family reunions are in August. not very appealing.</p>
<p>May could be better- but what to do? ( After I see Pearl Jam)</p>
<p>The Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The baseball museum is amazing–it’s our favorite thing to take visitors to. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art are both good if you like art. And of course, some Arthur Bryant’s barbecue.</p>
<p>I was deciding between St.Louis and Kansas City, but I think most of my relatives farm around Pattonsburg- .
( I suppose my diet will be not any healthier than if I went to New Orleans- but sounds yummy)</p>
<p>The Plaza area (Country Club Plaza) is a popular destination for shopping and eating, and I think it is pretty close to the Nelson -Atkins museum mentioned above. The Rafael hotel has been refurbished, as has another hotel alongside the Plaza that I can’t remember the name of.</p>
<p>Ref KC BBQ, you will get many different recommendations based on personal preference. My family are big Oklahoma Joe fans. BBQ restaurant (ok, bbq joint) is located in a gas station.<br>
[Oklahoma</a> Joe’s BBQ In Kansas City](<a href=“http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/]Oklahoma”>http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/)</p>
<p>If you go to a KC Royals baseball game, aim for a Friday night, since there are free fireworks shows at all Friday night home games.</p>
<p>I miss fireworks. In Seattle, we used to have fireworks after every winning game at the Kingdome, or home run I can’t remember :(, but now at Safeco, we don’t have any.</p>
<p>I guess the concert is going to be at the Sprint Center. I usually prefer outdoors, but I hear the sound is good.</p>
<p>If my H goes with me, he is a big history buff, so anything that is old will fascinate him ( and if we fly, then he can’t take it home with us- which is a plus)</p>
<p>Southwest flies into Kansas City Airport(MCI), if that’s an option for you. I think it’s only about 20 minutes to the Truman Library in Independence which might interest your H.</p>
<p>I agree with the others who recommend Country Club Plaza, it’s a great area. We stayed in the Courtyard Country Club Plaza, originally an old, historic apartment Building, which was very nice and conveniently located. Our first stop whenever we hit KC (S#3 at KU) is Jack Stack. :)</p>
<p>Sacchi, don’t know if you have been to KC lately, but the KC Zoo and Science City at Union Station are major disappointments and waste of $$. There are other IMAX theaters in town, so no big deal there. Other suggestions good, but nix those two.</p>
<p>Seriously, KC’s zoo is good?? Compared to what? Large African area was nice when new several years back, but now is in decline due to funding and lack of visitors. </p>
<p>Family was member of Friends of Zoo for years so that we could travel and visit world class zoos for free or discount. Every one put KC Zoo to shame. Heck even the Wichita Zoo is much better than KC’s.</p>
<p>We spent a couple of months in the KC area last year when H had some training there. I had never been there and thought it sounded terribly boring. I was wrong! I really loved it. We went to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and we are not art people at all. We felt pressured to go because it was one of the things you “have to do” if you go there. Oh, my. We loved it, and made sure to go a second time.</p>
<p>There is a casino in KC that we went to for a concert. It was really fun. The Plaza area is great, too.</p>
<p>A history buff shouldn’t miss the Steamship Arabia Museum. The Arabia was loaded with merchandise to take west when it sank in the Missouri River in 1856. The river changed course and the ship was buried for many years until recovered. See the story here [Steamboat</a> Arabia Museum](<a href=“http://www.1856.com%5DSteamboat”>http://www.1856.com). (Sorry, don’t know how to make those spiffy links.) If you go to Kansas City, don’t miss it. </p>
not very appealing.</p>