Kansas City Travel Guide
A long, fun weekend in the Midwest.
The Journey to Kansas City: Flying Southwest and Trading Points for Wheels
Jumping on a Southwest Airlines flight from LAX to Kansas City (MCI) was a breeze. I opted for the Wanna Get Away Plus fare, which allows for transferable flight credit and same-day changes. I watched the fare daily, shaving off dollars before taking off. Southwest has this nifty feature that allows you to change your fare if it decreases. It's like a price guarantee, but without the hassle. See my Southwest tips here.
The local airport is Kansas City International Airport, which is about 15 miles north of downtown.
For KC transport, I swapped my Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a Hertz rental. It may not be the maximum point redemption, but it's a simple, efficient transaction that had me out of the airport and heading to downtown Kansas City in no time.
Jack Stack Barbecue: A Kansas City Institution
The roots of Jack Stack Barbecue, a restaurant chain in Kansas City, can be traced back to 1957 when Russ Fiorella opened a small barbecue joint. Under the Fiorella family’s leadership, the establishment has experienced significant growth.
Fiorella’s Jack Stack of Martin City was founded in 1974 by Jack Fiorella, Russ’s oldest son, and would later grow into a chain of barbecue restaurants. The menu now offers a wide range of meats, seafood, and side dishes.
From its humble beginnings, Jack Stack Barbecue has evolved into a full-service wood cookery, operating five Kansas City restaurants, a catering company, and a nationwide shipping division. The restaurant smokes its meats using hickory wood and traditional barbecue techniques.
Standout Regional Cuisine: Kansas City Barbecue
Kansas City barbecue is renowned for its sauce that combines sweetness, tanginess, and spiciness, with ingredients like ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, and spices. The sauce is used to enhance the flavors of pulled pork, pork ribs, brisket, chicken, and sausage.
Burnt ends, a famous Kansas City barbecue specialty, consist of meat chunks taken from the smoked brisket’s point half. The Kansas City barbecue dry rub typically includes a mix of brown sugar, paprika, and various spices.
The smoky flavor of Kansas City barbecue is enhanced by using hickory wood for smoking. What sets Kansas City barbecue apart is its sauce and rub, which are high in sugar.
Jack Stack Barbecue and Kansas City barbecue are intertwined, with Jack Stack embodying the city’s barbecue heritage. Jack Stack’s adherence to traditional methods and consistent quality has made it a revered institution in Kansas City, where the distinctive regional cuisine of Kansas City barbecue is still celebrated.
The Architectural Marvels: Taking a Ride on the KC Streetcar and Embracing the City's Architectural Splendors
There’s no shortage of things to do in Kansas City. We explored the city by hopping on the free KC Streetcar. It's like a mobile sightseeing tour that doesn't cost a dime. Our favorite spots included the Kansas City Library, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, which is as beautiful as it sounds, and the grand old Union Station, a testament to the city's rich history.
A Step Back in Time: The National WWI Museum and Memorial and the Steamboat Arabia
Our time travel continued with a visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial. This iconic site offers an immersive journey into the causes and environment of that time.
Where we stayed: Hotel Kansas City
One of the best places to stay in Kansas City is the Hotel Kansas City. This beautiful property, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, is housed in a Gothic Revival-style building from 1922. Each room is a perfect blend of historic charm and modern comforts, making it an ideal base for our city explorations.
So there you have it - a long weekend in Kansas City packed with savory delights, architectural gems, rich history, and a comfortable retreat. Visiting Kansas City isn’t top of mind for a lot of people, but I think it deserves a second look. Of course, in addition to the tips I mentioned above, you should check out VisitKC, the local visitor’s bureau. They can help you plan an itinerary that meets your needs and budget. See you in the City of Fountains (you didn’t know it was called that, did you?)!