Welcome to KCK Insiders Blog!

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! 

Let’s be honest, we all love to experience those memories that make us look back and think, “I was so in the moment I forgot to take any photos!” There’s also something satisfying (maybe some of us are more willing to admit it than others) about snapping the perfect fall photo, complete with warm tones, leaves, pumpkins and maybe even a glass of red wine. So if you are in search for that one seasonal backdrop, here’s a few spots in Kansas City KS that will seamlessly flow with your fall

Before you know it the air will turn crisp and the fall will be in full swing – complete with busy schedules and little time to relax. Don't say so long to summer just yet. Here are five reasons to pack up your car and take one more quick trip to Kansas City, KS.

Dorothy returns to Kansas
The Wizard of Oz is a treasured tale to people all over the world, and this August you can catch one of the most unique adaptations to date in Bonner Springs, KS! Catch Dorothy, Toto and all of their friends at

Winter in the Midwest can be a mixed bag of surprises. The old saying about Kansas is that if you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes and it will change. While it may not be that drastic, we can experience a wide variety of temperatures in one week. After a couple of months of these fluctuations, we were ready for a break, but wanted to stay close to the hometown. No problem with that, since there are plenty of places to escape to right here in Kansas City, Kansas.

Recently my boss signed our office up to visit Exit Games KC in Bonner Springs for a team-building exercise, and a way for us to familiarize ourselves with the facility to better assist visitors. I had been wanting to check it out for a while, and I jumped at the chance to leave work at 2:30 pm on a Friday and start my weekend off with an exciting new adventure. 

As the New Year begins, with it comes an air of excitement, fresh starts and new beginnings. What better way to enhance your list of plans and goals than to seek out new experiences that exist right outside your own front door. January in Kansas City, Kansas brings about several fun activities that you probably haven’t considered or possibly even been aware of until now.  I urge you to broaden your horizons and clear a little space in your calendar to take advantage of these great local events happening this month.

Fall in Kansas City always holds a lot of significance for me. A change of pace, change of wardrobe, and crisp, beautiful weather that seems to have a funny way of inducing the most pleasant nostalgia. It is my favorite time of year to get out and explore what the city has to offer. While I’m always interested in checking out a tasty new restaurant or a trendy boutique, there are a few activities that I have adopted as required fall traditions. 

Hey, I can fly. Let me explain… I can fly with the help of a zip line, a few D-rings, and some great tour guides. But in the pictures, it looks like I can fly!

I recently visited Zip KC - a zip line course that sends you flying through the forest at speeds up to 60 miles per hour! I had never been zip lining before so I wasn’t sure what to expect - maybe I’d hit a tree, maybe I’d drop my camera, maybe a tree would drop my camera (anything is possible), but luckily none of that happened and I had an amazing time!