5 of our Favorite Things You’ll Need When Moving to Kansas City With Kids: Make the Best of It!
Kansas City has earned quite a reputation for being a family-friendly city. Excellent employment reports and school ratings have led to the city becoming a haven for families with young children and upward-moving professionals. You can expect a lot from Kansas City, especially if you have kids. Be sure to check out our Guide to Things to Do With Kids in KC
We’ve got the top five things you’ll need when moving to Kansas City with kids:
1. A Car
If you decide to move to Kansas City, you will most definitely need a car. Whether you drive it or ship it, you can’t get around without your own vehicle. For cheap car shipping, your best bet is to get some quotes online from various companies. If you choose to drive to KC, remember to plan your stops along the way because depending on where you’re coming from, you may go miles without seeing anyone before you get there.
Once you’re in Kansas City, you will realize cars are a necessity in the area because it does not have much in the way of public transport. To get anywhere, you need one. If amenities within walking distance are important to you, you’ll need to look into the different neighborhoods, as some have more to offer than others.
For example, Prairie Village is full of young families and has parks, coffee shops, and plenty of restaurants within the area. Leawood is a more upscale area home to excellent schools and lots of families. The trendiest neighborhood with plenty of things for kids is Overland Park. You’ll find lots of fun stuff to do within walking distance of most communities, including these.
2. Gear for Every Season
Kansas City is one location that truly experiences every season and the extremes that can come with them, so you need gear for each one. It snows, and we get ice occasionally, so you’ll need the proper clothing and stuff to handle iced windshields and snow-covered sidewalks. Summer also comes on with a bang as it gets pretty hot during those months. You’ll need the right clothes to handle the heat and you’ll be able to explore plenty of places you can cool off by checking out our KC Pools Guide. Spring comes with plenty of rain, and fall brings on the always gorgeous changing of colors. If you’re from the Midwest you already know about the glorious changes of seasons.
With the seasons come various holiday celebrations. Kansas City, Missouri, has an impressive Christmas display every year that is lit on the night of Thanksgiving. Nearly 300,000 lights come on at the flip of a switch, and it’s like you can feel the magic of the season. St. Patrick’s Day has its own parade and is considered one of the largest in the country, thanks to the influence of the Irish population in the area.
3. Appreciation for the Outdoors
You’ll find hundreds of fountains and parks available for your enjoyment. The city boasts over 200 fountains in the metro area alone. It’s not surprising that Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains. As a bonus, there is a fantastic fountain designed for children in Waterworks Park. Moving to Kansas City from the extreme north or south opens new doors to enjoying our outdoors year round!
Looking at parks alone, you have over 220 different parks to explore. If you and your family enjoy hiking or taking the occasional weekend trip to the outdoors, Kansas City is the place to be. You’ve also got several places to go fishing and seasonal opportunities to pick apples.
If your children are kiddos with special needs, you also have opportunities to take them out to enjoy various options designed to be inclusive of all children. Our Guide to Parks for Kids with Special Needs provides tons of options all over town. There is a park for everyone, from parks with spaces for young children like Penguin Park or the fairy-filled Enchanted Garden at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
4. Love of Art and Farmers’ Markets
When you’re in the Midwest, you expect farmers to be there, and along with farmers, you get a vast array of farmers’ markets. Given the abundance of open-air markets, you can find local goodies to enjoy with your family. It’s worth noting that the City Market at the River Market has been in existence since 1857, so when you visit, it’s like becoming a part of history in the making.
Moving to Kansas City allows you to explore the arts community we have in Kansas City. It’s quite the journey in itself. The art scene has grown extensively over the past few decades. You and your family can enjoy everything from classical art to performance art. If you are more into contemporary art, that’s easy to find, too. Our Guide to KC Farmer’s Market will keep you up to date on the new schedules and options to grab local fruits, veggies, meats, and baked goods too.
5. A Multicultural Food-friendly Palate
You would not believe the array of foods available in Kansas City. Yes, there is BBQ—lots of it. Our Guide to KC BBQ is worth bookmarking! You would not be hard-pressed to find various styles of pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and more. In Kansas City, you will find over 50 barbecue places to enjoy. Remember, it’s all about the sweet and tangy sauce in KC, so if the sauce is excellent, you’ll find even better cuts to enjoy.
If barbecue isn’t your thing, you will also find an array of food from other nationalities. You can enjoy Italian American food at family-friendly Garozzo’s Ristorante. For a good steak, visit the Golden Ox on date night. When you have that craving for a good taco, stop by the Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio just across the border in Kansas City, KS. If French food is what you want, Kansas City, MO, has that, too. Waldo Thai has earned a reputation for delicious Thai food that is not to be missed. Our Guide to the Best Pizza in KC showcases the small mom & pop places that you may not have heard of, but are worthy of a pit stop no matter what part of town you’re in.
A Few Last Words on Moving to Kansas City With Kids
Kansas City is known for being family-friendly, so if you have kids, you can rest assured that you will all enjoy what the city has to offer. Wherever you come from, remember to bring your car. If you don’t have one, you’ll need one, so keep that in mind. You’ll also need gear to handle every season for you, your family, your house, and your cars. Once you’ve got those things squared away, you’re ready to explore the outdoors and visit one of the many farmers’ markets in the area. When that’s done, you can make your way over to one of the many different multicultural restaurants the city has to offer. Even the pickiest child will find something to love.
As you get settled in KC, you’ll enjoy these guides to family fun and resources in the metro:
Things to Do with Kids in Kansas City
Guides to Best Preschools in KC
Family Friendly Breweries in KC
Date Night Ideas in Kansas City
We love love love learning about new families moving to Kansas City with kids. The more the merrier. Our community is always better when it’s growing and learning. Plus, join our Parents Group on Facebook and connect with local parents, grandparents, caretakers, and more.
From our family to yours,
iFamilyKC
