chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I'll be traveling to Kansas City in late May, will have a couple of ops for photos and will have a car. Suggestions (within, say, 30 minutes from city center)?

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Practially all of Kansas City is a photo op. How about 30 seconds from downtown? There is the Union Station, inside and out. The liberty memorial along with the World War l museum. The downtown architecture. the murals all over the place. The trolley system (which is free). It runs from the river market through downtown to the Union Station. From there you can walk to the Liberty Memorial which sits across from the Museum. You will also go to the Kaufman Center and you can also see the Giant Seti Satellite array (disguised as sculptures) on top of Bartle hall, which is as suspension conference hall overhanging I 670. These are all within walking distance of downtown except for the River Market, but like I said, there is the trolley and it only takes a few minutes to get there. You won't find much parking at the River Market. Oh, and within the River Market is the Arabian River Boat museum. It is pretty cool. It encases a river boat dug out of the Missouri river that sank in the 1800's with most of its' cargo intact.

A little farther out, but still within minutes of downtown would be the Nelson Atkins art museum which has those famous, giant birdies on its' front lawn. Just south of downtown is the Plaza, which is a photo op in its' own right. Tons of beautiful fountains just in that area along with its' own style of architecture. There are more fountains in K.C. than there are in Rome, Italy.

Almost forgot the 18th & Vine Jazz district and perhaps the Negro League baseball musem, which is also pretty cool.

This ought to keep you busy for awhile. Oh, and the skyline of downtown Kansas City can be photographed 360 degrees day or night. Very beautiful also.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...definitely all I will need. Thanks! I'm there for a reunion at the downtown Marriott so this is good news, maybe I don't need a car after all...

jackinkc Loc: Kansas City

Don’t forget the Truman Library and Truman homem in Independence.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

I guess by default Kansas City is the one in MO?
If that sounds a little SA it isn't intended. I'm genuinely curious.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

There is a great view of Kansas City, Missouri from Kansas City, Kansas. Right where the Kansas River meets the Missouri River.

The Liberty Memorial /WW1 Museum is freaking amazing.
Our French visitors took 2 days to look through it.
Luckily, I think you get 2 days' admission with one ticket.


You really need to try the BBQ here too. Gates, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant’s... just so many!
Best Chicken...EVER! in KC, KS El Pollo Rey

Union Station from WW1 Memorial


Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts


View of KC, Missouri from KC, Kansas

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

LOL Even Google Maps is biased. If you plug in Kansas City without inputting the state, you get MO by default. (My family is from KC,KS)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

My wife's family is from there.
Yeah, it's often overlooked, but there are good things to be seen and eaten there.
There is a big NASCAR track (not a fan) by the KC Sporting soccer stadium (big fan).

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Nice shots! (they weren't there at first)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Thanks!
Took a few minutes to find them.
I was in my iPhone at first.
Went to the computer upstairs to add the photos.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum is one of my favorite places.
They have photography exhibits there almost all the time.
Admission is free to the main museum, though some special exhibits are extra.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Thank you for all the info. The next time we take a trip in that direction I will refer to it.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...yes! Thanks to all, this is great...

joanloy Loc: St. Louis, MO

One of my favorite places to go when I'm in KC is the Black Baseball Museum and the Jazz Museum BUT no cameras are allowed. Another place I go which is a little further out is Ft. Leavenworth, KS to see the Buffalo Soldier Museum. The museum is outdoors and built around a pond with a fountain. Also, Ft. Leavenworth is an open post.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some ideas -

https://kansas-city-photography.com/2017/02/03/top-10-photo-locations-in-kc/
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/missouri/kansas-city/kc-best-places-take-photos/

Bill P

It's interesting, the question is it the one in MO? The truth is the one in MO and the one in KS are right next door to each other. If staying in the downtown Marriott, that's in MO. and it's a nice hotel, easy walking to several nice restaurants, and only a bit farther to the big downtown entertainment district.The one is KS isn't a bad place but for many years was a super blue collar town, housing for all the workers in the car factories just over the river. You know, folks that are too busy trying to keep their families fed and clothed to support art museums and eat $50 steaks.

But the Kansas City metro area is the home office for urban sprawl, so KCK is getting better.