Where to stay/visiting with two year old who loves trains (Kansas City: hotels, home)

[montereymadi2]

Hi. We live in St. Louis. My husband has to go to Leavenworth, KS for business next week and my 2 1/2 year old son and I are going to tag along. We're planning to stay in Kansas City so we'll have more things to do during the day while my husband is at work. We'll be without a car, so we need to be within easy walking distance to some fun things. I have researched the Plaza area. Looks like a lot of shopping, which is good, but I was also wondering about downtown or the Hallmark Crown Center area. It looked like that area had some train-themed restaurants and shops. My son absolutely LOVES trains. Does anyone have any suggestions? I like to shop, but I'm more interested in seeing some authentic Kansas city places and if trains are involved, my son would be in heaven. Also, it needs to be a safe area. Thanks so much, in advance!

[tdnp]

Look at the area around the Kansas Speedway. They have a place called Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells, WI | Great Wolf Resorts | Wisconsin Dells, WI , an awsome place--although a little expensive. There is also Cabellas(sp) and Nebraska Furnature mart as well as a new outdoor mall, Legens(i think) The Legends at Village West with alot of shopping and things to do. All of this is just NW of 435 and 70 will make a easy commute to leavenworth. Hope this helps.

[Versatile]

In KCKS there is a railroad theme cafe that has a train theme; a little train that delivers your food.IRRC it is on Roe Ave north of I-35 hwy. Check with KCKS Chamber of Commerce for more info. Just suth and adjoining KC is Belton and they have a railroad.Google for "Belton Railroad". They at times offer train rides. You will need a car to get there.

[montereymadi2]

Thanks for the great ideas. I'm still searching. The resort with the water park looked awesome, but it's almost $300/night right now. I really have to keep it under $200. It looks like so much fun for the kids though. I'm really excited about Fritz's....the train themed restaurant. We will definitely hit that one. I've read that the best one is the one in Kansas so we'll definitely go there, but we might also go to the one in Union Station. Thanks so much for the help.

[northbound74]

The Crown Center, Union Station, & Liberty Memorial area is the best place by far, IMO... tons of things for kids to do. Science City, and the Extreme Screen theater are in Union Station, as well as plenty of train stuff. Crown Center has a train store, as well as a Crayola store and restaurant. Also, the MAX bus runs through there, it's the nicest bus line in the city, running from the City Market, down to.. Waldo, I think. Anyways, it hits most of the touristy stuff in KC.
The Legends & Speedway area is full of stuff you can find anywhere. It's okay, though. It is closer to Leavenworth.

[RjRobb2]

Crown Center has a restaurant that delivers your food on trains. I think it is called Fritz's.

[kcmo]

Somebody asks where to take a kid who loves trains in KC and people tell you the speedway area???? Why??? They want to see KC, not a freaking mall in the middle of nowhere.

My kids LOVES trains. Here is what you do.

Stay in Crown Center. The Hyatt and Westin both can offer very good rates for very nice hotels. Under $150. Much less if you do priceline or something.

I would try for the Westin though.

Then you would have access to a bunch of attractions within the downtown/plaza area via taxi or max bus but much of what you will want to do is within walking distance.

Go to Fritz in Crown Center. The original one is in KCK, but the one in crown center is better in my opinion and it's the one all the tourists go to.

Also within walking distance is Union Station where you can fill a day with train related stuff.

The station itself is an amazing train station and there is a foot bridge behind the station where you can walk across one of the busiest railways in the nation. Over 250 trains a day pass under the bridge including Amtrak trains.

The station is also home to a railroad museum which is part of Science City. I think you can buy passes to the RR Museum alone or to the Science City as a package. Your son would enjoy the RR Museum as well as Science City and if you have time grab a movie playing at the IMAX or the planetarium.

There are also model trains in the lower level of Union Station and sometimes in the main hall. If you are lucky, you might even hit a model RR show which happen about twice a year at the station.

Also within walking distance of the westin or hyatt is the hallmark visitors center which might interest you as well as the WWI monument and museum.

But like I said, if you want to see even more of the city, it's all a $5 cab ride away in the downtown and plaza areas or you can take a MAX bus and most kids like to ride city buses.

Have fun. Don't come to "KC" and stay out by the speedway though. You may as well stay home and go to the mall.

[gonefishingw2boys]

I took KCMO's similar advice (from a previous post) about staying at the Crowne Center. We did stay at the Westin, very, very nice. There are more things to do there with children, even small ones, than you can do in several days.
My youngest loves trains. I highly recommend Fritz's restaurant in the Crowne Center mall (the mall is attached to the Westin). Across the street from the mall is a fountain park area that my boys loved playing in- be sure to bring a towel, camera and change of clothes.

Another Must See for the train lover is Union Station. My 2 1/2 yr old (2 weeks later) is STILL talking about seeing the trains at Union Station. You walk to Union Station in "The Link" which is a walkway above the street that keeps you out of traffice and out of the weather. Very convenient to get there as the link connects in the Westin. You must go to the Science City inside Union Station for the best view of the trains. Union Station Kansas City | A one-stop destination for family fun and learning | Trains, live theater, giant-screen movies, an interactive science center, planetarium, the Dino Lab and traveling museum exhibits
It has a wonderful hands on science kid play place that will fascinate kids and adults alike. It had my dinosaur and train loving kids both happy. My youngest just wanted to sit in the train observation area to watch the different types of trains come and go. Something like 275 trains go through a day so you should be sure to see some.

Crayola Cafe/gift shop were fun in the Crown Center mall too. Just riding the Westin's glass elevator during the day and also at night to enjoy the lights was entertaining for the kids. They also have a nice indoor/outdoor pool.

We had plenty to do without driving at all. We felt very safe in the area and had a great time. good luck on your visit!

[KCRichard]

kcmo is right on-use his post as your guide. The original Fritz's is too far and the train may or may not be working. The Speedway area is great, save it for another trip, see the real KC. Ask about the Union Station Massacre, the bullet holes are in the wall; take a cab to the Negro Leagues Meseum as well. Welcome and have a great time!

[Keeem]

Others are steering you in the right direction for a trip to KC without transportation with a train-loving child. Union Station. The Hyatt or Westin are spitting distance from it (and they have cool above ground enclosed sidewalks and it's great for fans of trains. They've also go an IMAX in there; Science City; and other goodies... then Crayola at Crown Center (if there was ever a KC mall tailored for kids that mall is it). Plaza is nice, but a kid would get tired and bored of looking at warthog and penguin fountains (and the giant FAO Schwartz bear is gone, Discovery Store is tiny and boring compared to the shop at Science City). Union Station is great - for kids and adults alike imho