Welcome to KCK Insiders Blog!

Winter temperatures can strike early in the Midwest, but that is no reason to go into hibernation. With tons of attractions, restaurants, and events offering indoor venues, visitors can find plenty to see and do. 

Making more time for family is always something we strive for during the holidays and in the New Year. What better reason to gather together than to fill your bellies with food and laughter? These Kansas City, KS restaurants are locally-owned and will have your entire family licking their plate clean!

Cold weather months don’t have to mean that all of your family’s fun and travel are put on pause. Since the time around holidays and the New Year can be so chaotic, our family often finds that this is when we need to disconnect from our daily life and unwind more than ever. We did just that as we celebrated our daughter Caelyn’s birthday at Great Wolf Lodge! She was turning 4 years old, and we wanted to make it a special adventure for her.

The holiday season is here! And if it's the holidays then shopping is high on everyone's to-do list. What kind of shopper are you? Are you someone who prides herself/himself for thoughtful, handpicked gifts for your friends and family? Or do you go for gift cards? If you see yourself in the first group, then I have some good news for you! Every family has a foodie, and food and beverage gifts that are also local to Kansas City, KS is a win-win for sure! I decided to round up some unique items for the food-lover in your life.   

Whether you can believe it or not, it will soon be time for the halls to be decked, the figgy pudding to be eaten and the gifts to be given! Here are some holiday events in Kansas City, KS that are sure to make your days merry and bright! 

As the air turns crisp and our days of bright sunshine become shorter and shorter, it’s easy to want to put on our sweatpants and binge watch something on our streaming devices until spring thaw. Before you select your new eight season dramedy, here’s how you can still get out while keeping the fun indoors in Kansas City, KS! 

Do you love soccer? I love soccer. I love playing soccer, watching soccer, and reading about soccer. I grew up playing soccer. Nearly every day of my childhood included playing soccer at Ed Alvey park right down the street from where I grew up.

So, rightfully, I love that Kansas City, Kansas, is such a vibrant home to soccer. In my youth, I never imagined soccer being so popular in our community. The Swope Park Rangers are something that my wildest dreams couldn’t fathom.

The team is

This past weekend I combined two of my very favorite fall activities: nature hikes and haunted houses. It was certainly an October evening to remember. Nothing beats spending time in nature at the on-set of chilly fall weather - leaves crunching under your feet and the faint smell of burning wood somewhere in the distance. Paired with an eerie, unfamiliar path and over 45 minutes of being chased, frightened and thoroughly disturbed, you’ve got the ultimate heart-pounding experience.  

When people think about Kansas City, the first thing that comes to mind is BBQ - and for good reason! Kansas City is home to some of the world’s tastiest bbq spots. Sweet and saucy is the name of the KC bbq game, but that doesn’t stop local joints from coming up with their own tangy, smoky, or spicy spin on flavors, meats, and wood smoked treats. 

Have you ever wanted to go back in time? Well, now is your chance! Every fall in Kansas City, The Kansas City Renaissance Festival allows you to step back into Medieval times. The Ren Fest runs from September 1st to October 14th, every weekend from 10am - 7pm. Visit Kansas City Kansas sent me to the festival on opening weekend and I was blown away! There is truly something there for everyone - wax hands and man-powered rides for children, whiskey and bourbon tasting for adults, and even a romantic date option for medieval couples!