Summer Outdoor Adventures in Kansas City
Summer is a time when outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers can really thrive in Kansas City! With its sprawling parks, scenic trails, and several activities, Kansas City offers a plethora of options for anyone looking to spend some quality time basking in the sun and enjoying the great outdoors. Are you on the lookout for some fun-filled activities to indulge in this summer? Keep reading to explore some of the best outdoor activities and locations for summer fun in Kansas City. So pack your bags, grab some sunscreen, and let’s get going!
Kansas City’s Outdoor Theme Parks and Attractions
Kansas City has many attractions that can keep you and your family entertained for a full day outside. These activities come with an admission fee but offer excitement, thrills, and definitely a few photo opportunities!
Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun
World of Fun boasts world-record attractions, world-famous food, and world-class events spanning over 325 acres with unique themed areas. Tickets to Worlds of Fun include access to Oceans of Fun, a 60-acre water park featuring extreme water slides, a lazy river, a kid-friendly Splash Island, a wave pool, and cabanas to cool down in. You can spend your entire day riding thrill rides and making a splash in the pool, all for one ticket price. We recommend buying tickets online to save more than $30 on gate admission. They also offer season passes for repeat thrillseekers!
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
A wild day awaits you at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium in Swope Park. The zoo is home to more than 1,700 animals and over 200 acres of space to roam. The zoo features a Sea Lion Show, Keeper Chats, elephant painting demonstrations, and other opportunities for animal encounters. The education department offers campouts, on-site and off-site classes, and guided tours The zoo’s most recent attraction is the opening of its Sobela Ocean Aquarium. Included with the purchase of a zoo ticket, the aquarium holds 650,000 gallons of water and 34 habitats of underwater creatures. Adult tickets to the zoo range from $20-22, and children 2 & under get in free. Make sure to check out the zoo’s special events like Jazoo, Locked Zoo, and more.
ZIP KC
What could be more thrilling than soaring through the trees at speeds reaching up to 50 mph? At ZIP KC offers the ultimate zip line adventure with five lines running from tower to tower and a breathtaking zero gravity line with a 12-foot free-fall. If heights aren’t your thing, ZIP KC also includes activities on the ground, like a ninja obstacle course, team building courses, and special foam parties for birthdays and special occasions. The classic zip line tour runs for about 2 hours for $90, but ZIP KC runs summer deals throughout the season.
Kansas City’s Free Outdoor Parks
Not all outdoor fun comes with an admission fee! Kansas City offers a plethora of parks and outdoor spaces that are beautiful, peaceful, and most importantly free! Kansas City and the surrounding area have quite a few parks that you can classify as some of KC’s best-kept secret parks but not all the best parks are hidden gems!
Jacob L. Loose Park
One of Kansas City’s most popular parks is Jacob L. Loose Park, located just south of the Country Club Plaza. In addition to a track for running and walking surrounding the area, the park also includes a pond, rose garden, open greenspace, playground and on-site parking.
Roanoke Park
Roanoke Park is one of the original “pods” in Kansas City’s historic Parks and Boulevards system. The expansive greenspace includes a ball diamond across from the community center, a soccer field north of the community center, and tennis courts southwest of the community center. Farther north, you’ll find the Roanoke Park Beach Volleyball Courts.
Shawnee Mission Park
Shawnee Mission Park, in Shawnee, Kansas, is a multi-use, 1,600-acre park with a beautiful 120-acre lake. The scenic lake is a popular spot for boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and more. Beyond the lake, the park has 11 spacious shelters, numerous picnic areas, nature trails, play areas, an archery range, a 53-acre dog off-leash area, and a disc golf course. While the park and the lake are free to use, canoes, pedal boats, and fishing boats are available for rent at the Shawnee Mission Park Marina.
Kansas City’s Beloved Hiking Trails
Summer is the perfect time to work on your fitness and connect with nature. The Kansas City area has several beloved hiking trails ranging in length and difficulty that can help you escape from the daily grind.
Blue River Parkway and Minor Park Trail
The Blue River Parkway and Minor Park Trail are roughly 5.5 miles long and take about two hours to complete.
Rock Ledges Loop
One of the more scenic trails in Kansas City, the Rock Ledges Loop stretches 3.5 miles and is dog-friendly. The Lee’s Summit trail also connects to trails like the Hatchet and Upper Rock Ledges Loop.
White Tail Trail – Parkville Nature Sanctuary
This trail loop measures about 2.5 miles and may take just over an hour to complete. If it’s recently rained, we suggest swapping tennis shoes for hiking boots.
Enjoy Summer Outdoor Adventures in Kansas City with Team Blake!
While we love our amusement parks and walking trails, one of Team Blake’s favorite outdoor activities is helping our people buy and sell homes in Kansas City! Beyond outdoor fun, Team Blake is here to help you navigate the ins and outs of the Kansas City housing market. We are dedicated to every client, offering an open line of communication, top-tier service, and fun family-friendly Team Blake events. If you’re looking for more summer outdoor adventures or help in making your real estate dreams a reality, please reach out to us!
