More than 200 years after its founding at the confluence of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails in western Missouri, Kansas City is a surprisingly modern metropolis known for its barbecue, jazz heritage and stunning Romanesque fountains. Here are some more tidbits you should know before visiting.
The best time to visit Kansas City
Kansas City rarely gets crowded, so seasonal influxes are not an issue, but weather can be. The region enjoys four distinct seasons, with cold winters and hot, humid summers.
During September and October, Kansas City experiences warm sunny days and cool nights, making fall the ideal time to visit if you plan on exploring the city in comfort.
Autumn is also when you can partake in the city’s biggest annual festival, the American Royal, held from early September to mid-November at the fairgrounds. This ongoing series of rodeos, cattle exhibitions and live entertainment centers around the World Series of Barbecue in early October, the premier such event in the entire world.
And if you happen to be visiting in March, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is sure to please. It’s one of the nation’s largest at just over a mile long, so there are plenty of themed floats, bands and performers.
Should visitors rent a car in Kansas City?
Since the city is relatively spread out, there is little traffic and parking is generally easy, we’d highly recommended renting a car for your Kansas City visit.
And whether you stay downtown or in Country Club Plaza, the city’s two most popular areas, many of the sights are far enough away to require driving.
