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#94841 - 21/04/02 12:53 AM Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
I'm going down to Kansas City for VICA Nationals in Internetworking the last week in June .

Anyway I love taking road trips in the Xterra so I took the option to drive over there rather than fly, they pay me $275 (the cost of the plane ticket) so gas and food getting there isn't a problem.

My question is does anybody near that area know of any places to go?
I prefer to do 4'Wheeling but I'm not sure if I'll have time so I'm looking for anything interesting.

Thanks
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-Dustin

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#94842 - 21/04/02 03:54 AM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Paul H Offline
Member

Registered: 23/08/01
Posts: 4757
Loc: Mt. Zion, IL
Check out our site here . Post a message in the forums there and see. There are lots of places to go in that area from what I hear.
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#94843 - 21/04/02 10:01 AM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
electrobuzz Offline
Member

Registered: 12/01/01
Posts: 2487
Loc: Denver, Colorado
As an ex-KC'er, I have a few ideas for you:
If you haven't already, check out
www.kansascity.com. It provides local news and general info about the city.

The Plaza is a good first stop...south of Downtown about 30 blocks. Good walking, great restaurants. There's tons of *yawn* shopping, but there is a Sharper Image store for a fun diversion. The architecture on the Plaza is reminiscent of Seville, Spain. And you can catch a movie there, too.

The biggest entertainment district is Westport -- south of downtown 20 blocks. There are some decent bars, good live bands, tho on weekends it's overrun by "21 year-old" wannabes. The Grand Emporium, near Westport, usually has the best live acts.

Remember, you will be in Missouri most of the time. In fact, if you drive I-80 E / I-29 S and stay downtown or at Crown Center (with the convention at Bartle) you will not be in Kansas during your visit to KC. That's a good thing. If you do take I-70 -- sorry about the 846 miles of the state that you have to drive thru. OK, I got the Kansas slam out of me. Actually, I think the best nearby off-roading is at an ORV site about 100 miles West of KC (Tuttle Creek?). The HXOC has been there in Winter and Summer, I believe.

For other fun drives off the blacktop, check out some of the roads that parallel the Missouri River to the Northwest of the the city. MO 45 is a two-lane highway with gravel/dirt spurs that lead to the river or climb a couple hundred feet into the bluffs. About 35 miles NW of downtown (off of MO 45) is Weston Bend State Park. There's good hiking along the Missouri River or atop the bluffs that rise above it. Five miles further is the town of Weston, with a few restaurants, several wineries and the home of cheap vodka -- the McCormick distillery.

Speaking of being driven to drinking...the Royals are in town playing Detroit (which KC should win) and San Diego that week. Kauffman Stadium is in the inner Missouri 'burbs at I-70 and I-435. The stadium is in remarkable condition that belies its 30-year age.

Two other things -- if you like (or even sort of like) barbecue, head to the 'hood at 14th and Brooklyn and get a sandwich and fries from Arthur Bryant's. Best BBQ in the world and an historical atmosphere that adds flavor to the sauce. Near there (18th and Vine) is the Negro Baseball League Hall of Fame and the Jazz Museum. Both are great tributes to a forgotten time and definitely worth a look.

Decent places to go to get out of the humidity (and at least people watch) are at one of the several Casino riverboats. There's even an Arthur Bryant's on one of the "boats". Note the quotes -- all of the boats are actually floating in tubs of water within 100 yards of the river. (A legal wiggle to get gambling passed about 10 years ago) They aren't bad for gambling tho, with Vegas rules on Blackjack and high limits on bets.

That's about all I have to say about that.

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#94844 - 21/04/02 10:59 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
kandacarlson Offline
Member

Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 280
Loc: United States
Damn electrobuzz, you don't miss KC or anything do you? Bet your mouth was watering as you were typing about Arthur Bryant's eh?

I'm in KC and second all of electrobuzz's comments except the Kansas bashing ones. There are some cool, okay, at least wierd and interesting, things to do/see on the way across Kansas. I recommend a stop in Lucas, KS for the "Garden of Eden", and a stop south of Manhattan for the Kanza prairie (close to randolph ORV area), which should be pretty and flowered last of June (depending on precipitation).
Also, Lawrence, KS (30 miles west of KC) would make a great 1/2 to full day trip with a thriving arts scene, local music, and much more if you have the time.
Avoid Topeka at all costs. Do not stop there, or even think about stopping there, even for fuel.

If you are into outdoor hiking/biking/fishing/etc.. stuff, check the Kansas and Missouri conservation department's websites for good info also (google a search, can't remember the address now).

Have a good time, hopefully it won't be 100 degrees and 95% humidity when you're here.

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#94845 - 22/04/02 09:18 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
Thanks for all the suggestions, now I don't think it will be possible for me to get bored down there.

I'll be driving down from SLC to I-70 then I-70 east till I get to KC. I've been in mountains all my life so it will be interseting to see someplace flat for once. Once the novelty wears off (the other 843 miles) I'll just rely on caffeine and loud music to get me the rest of the way.

I'm more interested in the outdoorsy stuff but on the other hand I'm not sure how much free time I'll have so I may be spending most of my time in the city.

Thanks again!
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-Dustin

Xterra101.com

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#94846 - 22/04/02 11:02 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
electrobuzz Offline
Member

Registered: 12/01/01
Posts: 2487
Loc: Denver, Colorado
Not really jonesin' for KC. I grew up there, so I know it well! [Wave] OK, I am freaking dying for decent barbecue. [Freak]

And, agreed, the flat landscape can be therapeutic. Remember the Simpsons episode where Lisa talked Homer into the sensory deprivation tank? Really, the slow change and, amen, loud tunes, can make for a fun road trip.

Lucas, Kansas, eh? Kanda, I want to party with you dude! And well, I guess I (and Laura) have got a little more to say about that laugh :
39 degrees North and 98 degrees West

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#94847 - 25/04/02 08:02 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
hotairX Offline
Member

Registered: 11/02/01
Posts: 230
Loc: Kansas City, MO
Dustin, this is Greg...we met at GOX last year. I'm now the pres. of HXOC and we could get a group of folks and take you to our favorite 4x4 spot when you are here, which is about 2-1/2 hours west of KC. Let me know when the time gets closer and we'll set something up!
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#94848 - 26/04/02 12:21 AM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
That sounds good. smile

One of my frustrations with all of this is that I still don't have any idea of the itinerary they've set.

Maybe if I don't have any free time during the competition I could stay an extra day and do something before I leave, it would be a Saturday or Sunday so an outing would fit in nicely.
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-Dustin

Xterra101.com

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#94849 - 26/04/02 06:00 AM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
TK1 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/12/01
Posts: 671
Loc: Taylorsville, UT
Dustin, you're not going to drive to KC on those slicks you call tires are you!? laugh
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#94850 - 29/04/02 01:04 AM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
If I get my tax return by then I hope to have better tires.

If not then Iu'll keep riding on them till they blow out then I won't have any excuse to upgrade. wink
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-Dustin

Xterra101.com

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#94851 - 15/05/02 01:21 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kampy in CA Offline
Member

Registered: 14/05/02
Posts: 10
Loc: Los Angeles / Orange County
As an ex-KC guy myself, I can corraborate all of electrobuzz's suggestions. Especially Weston Bend. Don't think you can do any four-wheelin there... but it's great for mtn biking, hiking, etc.

Also, Union Station is really impressive - a giant restored train station that has great restaurants, theatres, museum etc and it's right across from great shopping at Crown Center.

One of my favorite bars in KC is O'Dowd's on the plaza, which is an actual, centuries-old, Irish Pub that has been transplanted from Ireland.

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#94852 - 15/05/02 01:30 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kampy in CA Offline
Member

Registered: 14/05/02
Posts: 10
Loc: Los Angeles / Orange County
one more thing Kerensky... Just in case you're new to I-70, try to time it so that you're crossing over the Rockies during daylight hours. The scenery is incredible. My favorite stretch is Glenwood Canyon, just east of Glenwood Springs, CO... The Interstate is actually perched on "shelves" hanging from the sides of the canyon walls... absolutely beautiful...

Eastern Colorado and Kansas are boring as hell. You won't miss anything if you drive them at night...

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#94853 - 16/05/02 10:32 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
Yeah I went through there when I was driving my Xterra back from Chicago, it's gorgeous and scarry as hell.
I'm trying to make it to Denver by sundown just so I don't have to drive through the mountains at night.
I figure that once I'm to Kansas I can set the cruise control and as long as my alignment is ok I can take a nap and wake up in Kansas City. laugh
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-Dustin

Xterra101.com

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#94854 - 21/06/02 12:36 PM Re: Kansas City, and surrounding areas.
Kerensky97 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
Quote:
Originally posted by hotairX:
Dustin, this is Greg...we met at GOX last year. I'm now the pres. of HXOC and we could get a group of folks and take you to our favorite 4x4 spot when you are here, which is about 2-1/2 hours west of KC. Let me know when the time gets closer and we'll set something up!
It's kind of last minute but the competition gets over Friday (28th) evening so I can do something between then and Sunday (30th) afternoon if anybody can get together on short notice.
I'd be down for anything you guys come up with.
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-Dustin

Xterra101.com

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