looking for family-friendly inexpensive fun in Kansas City? see ideas below!
Our employees live literally across a 50-mile radius in each direction of the Kansas City Metro – from Olathe to St. Joseph to Lee’s Summit to Archie to Overland Park to North Kansas City to Brookside to Lenexa to Adrian to Raytown to Shawnee to Waldo. This not only helps us assign our technicians to regular routes in areas they live and frequent (causing more efficient routes as they understand the areas), but we also receive great advice from each other on hip new restaurants, bars, family-friendly weekend activities, and fun areas of town in each “city” within Kansas City! Here are the activities in Kansas City they came up with.
Below, a few of our employees have compiled a list of favorite inexpensive activities suggested by a few of our employees in the areas of town that they reside!
Meet Debbie, Our Lee’s Summit Resident Employee:
Debbie is a grandma and seriously LOVES her time with family. Her favorite Lee’s Summit activities revolve around inexpensive fun that she can enjoy with her children and grandchildren.
- Paradise Park: WHAT: bumper cars, arcade, you name it!
WHERE: Colburn Rd in Lee’s Summit
PRICE: $6-$30 depending on if you choose one activity or all-day fun!
WHERE: Lea McKeighan (Chipman Rd) and Miller J. Fields Park (SE 3rd Terr)
PRICE: Free!
**check out this KC Fun Water Guide on KCparent.com for more water park ideas!
- For the adults 🙂 –Stonehaus Farms Winery
WHERE: 24607 N. E. Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit
WHAT: family-owned and operated winery since 1996
Meet Jay A.K.A Gunter president And Brookside, Kansas City Resident Employee:
WHAT: 40-year-old family Mexican joint with THE BEST margaritas in town!
WHERE: On the Kansas City Boulevard: 2856 Southwest Boulevard
PRICE: Apps and margs under $10
- Ward Parkway Lanes: Fun Fact: president Jay Gunter Besheer started bowling here with his Hale Cook grade school friends in the 6th grade and he still bowls WITH THE SAME FRIENDS at the same alley over 50 years later!
WHAT: Ward Parkway Lanes is a Kansas City community staple that’s been open since 1959
WHERE: 1523 W 89th St, Kansas City, MO 64114
PRICE: Under $10 per game with shoes
WHAT: Kansas City music venue with four indoor and outdoor stages
WHERE: 2715 Rochester, Kansas City, MO 64120
Meet Deb, Our Adrian Missouri Resident Employee:
Deb is also a proud grandma! One of her favorite things to do is attend her granddaughters’ softball games. Her granddaughters play and her sons actually coach! Deb loves hanging out at the lake and finding fun new things to do with her friend Susan (an ex Gunter employee actually!) Below are a few of her favorite activities for a sunny or rainy weekend day out with friends or family!
WHAT: bowling alley!
WHERE: 32 E Main St, Adrian, MO 64720
PRICE: Under $10
WHAT: Known for amazing milkshakes and sandwiches!
WHERE: 57 E Main St, Adrian, Missouri 64720
PRICE: Under $10
WHAT: Wetland habitat offering wildlife viewing, hunting, trapping & fishing pond, hiking trail opportunities. Deb’s favorite = target shooting range
WHERE: 37111 E 360 1st street, Garden City, MO 64747
Meet Catie and Hayley, Our Midtown Kansas City Resident Employees:
Catie and Hayley are both in their twenties and love traveling. To fulfill that travel bug when they’re in town, they both like to adventure around Kansas City.
- Boulevard Drive-In:
WHAT: double-feature drive-in movies at a classic, family-friendly venue with a snack bar & a playground. Literally, the comfiest thing to do on a Sunday night! Fold the seats down in your SUV or hatchback and layer with comfy blankets and pillows or bring lawn chairs and pop up outside of your car!
WHERE: On the Kansas City Boulevard: 1051 Merriam Ln, Kansas City, KS 66103
PRICE: $10/adult, kids 11 & under = FREE!
- Cave Spring Park: Kansas City nature trails and hiking: 39-acre historic site and nature park
WHAT: Nature Center with Exhibits, 4 Miles of Hiking Trails, Wildlife Pond and Habitats, Water Garden, Cave, Minor Waterfall, Historic Ruins, Camp Grounds, Fire Pits.
WHERE: 8701 E Gregory Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133
PRICE: Free!
- Ça Va: Midwestern French Bistro & Champagne Bar in Kansas City.
WHAT: cutest date night spot in Kansas City with a tiny, mood-lit cocktail lounge with a European style outdoor patio.
WHERE: Westport Kansas City: 4149 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111
PRICE: $10/per cocktail and apps
- Shawnee Mission Park: the 1,600-acre park surrounding a 120-acre lake
WHAT: Boating, fishing, sailboarding, paddle boarding, canoeing on the lake. (In season, there are canoes, pedal boats, and fishing boats available for rent at the marina.)
The park also has eleven shelters for grilling and chilling, tons of nature trails, play areas, an archery range, a disc golf course, and is a great place to enjoy mountain biking and horseback riding. 53-acre Shawnee Mission Park off-leash dog park features long trails and ends with the lake where the dogs can swim! On the weekends check out: The Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park Beach, and Shawnee Mission Park Marina.
PRICE: Free (unless you want to rent a boat, shelter, or attend Theatre in the Park show!)
We hope these recommendations from our Gunter office crew will help spur a few ideas for cheap fun weekend activities in Kansas City! Happy adventuring! We are also proud of the non-profits we work with in Kansas City.