Ameristar Casino

Interstate 435 at Highway 210, Kansas City.

Phone 816-414-7000. Toll-free 888-440-7700. Probably the most popular casino in town, this two-boat operation offers poker, roulette, craps, blackjack and slot machines. A luxury hotel, a live-entertainment venue, restaurants, child-care facilities and a movie theater are also on the premises. Monday-Thursday 8 am-5 am, Friday and Saturday 24 hours, Sunday 9 am-4 am. No admission charge. Argosy Casino

777 N.W. Argosy Parkway, Riverside.

Toll-free 800-270-7711.

In a Mediterranean-inspired riverboat, Kansas City's newest casino features coinless slot machines, blackjack, roulette and various forms of poker. Entertainment and restaurant facilities are also available. Theme parties are often offered. Sunday-Thursday 8 am-5 pm, Friday and Saturday open 24 hours. No admission charge.

City Hall and Observation Deck

414 E. 12th St., Kansas City. Phone 816-513-1313. City Hall is one of many lovely art-deco buildings around town. At 30 stories up, the observation deck affords a grand, panoramic view of downtown and beyond. (Note: Visitors must walk up the last two flights of stairs.) Parking is limited—grab a spot on the street if you can. Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm (weather permitting). Free.

Community Christian Church

4601 Main St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-561-6531. Located just east of Country Club Plaza, the original church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1940s. The spectacular "Steeple of Light," visible for miles on weekend nights, was part of Wright's original vision for the church, but the necessary technology wasn't available until about 50 years later. Monday-Friday 9 am-4:30 pm (the steeple is only lit Friday-Sunday nights). Donations welcomed.

Fountains

Phone 816-842-2299 for more information. The basis for the town's reputation as the City of Fountains, Kansas City's waterworks range from classical pieces to more modern designs. A fountain even graces the outfield of Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. Others include: the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain at 47th and Main, the Barney Allis Plaza Fountain at 12th and Wyandotte (beautifully lit at night), the Crown Center Fountains on the square at Grand and Pershing (an elaborate spectacle of lights) and the reflecting pools and fountains at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Most of the fountains are turned off during winter.

Harry S. Truman Home

223 N. Main St., Independence.

Phone 816-254-2720. Located 1 mile from the Truman Library, this is the house where Bess Wallace was raised. When she married a young fellow named Harry, he moved into the house as well. After Truman's term in office, he and Bess lived in the beautiful 14-room Victorian mansion. Tours available. Daily 8:30 am-5 pm. Closed on Monday from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

Liberty Memorial

100 W. 26th St. (near Union Station), Kansas City.

Phone 816-784-1918. This World War I museum and monument, dedicated in 1926, contains extensive exhibits about a number of European and American individuals who fought and perished in the Great War. The collection includes photos, artwork and personal effects. The soaring memorial, with its observation tower and "Great Frieze" is a must-see for first-time visitors to Kansas City. Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm., Union Cemetery

227 E. 28th St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-472-4990. The historic graveyard is the city's oldest cemetery and the final resting place for many Civil War soldiers. Several of Kansas City's founding fathers are buried there, too. (You'll recognize their names from driving the city's streets.) Tuesday-Saturday 8 am-3:30 pm. Free

Union Station

30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City.

Phone 816-460-2020

Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. Free. City taxpayers contributed millions to return this historic 1914 beaux-arts structure to its former beauty and grandeur. The expansive Grand Hall is the most impressive part of the building, filled with dozens of shops and restaurants. Stop by the Old Town exhibit to see memorabilia from the 1800s to the present. Kids and adults will enjoy the Science City interactive exhibits. Call for current parking information as the surrounding area is part of a long-term construction project.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

43rd Street and Broadway, Kansas City.

Phone 816-561-8387. Dedicated in 1986, this somber memorial to all Vietnam veterans includes a wall bearing the names of those from the Kansas City area listed as missing in action or killed in action. The remarkable fountain and park benches surrounding the memorial make it a popular resting spot. Free.

American Jazz Museum

1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City. Phone 816-474-8463. Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm. Located in the historic 18th and Vine District, the heart of Kansas City's early jazz scene, the museum has a video jukebox, more than 100 recordings, artifacts and other exhibits devoted to such greats as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Arabia Steamboat Museum

400 Grand Ave., Kansas City.

Phone 816-471-4030. The Arabia sank in the Missouri River in 1856. The river eventually changed course, and the vessel was left buried in a farm field. More than a century later the site was excavated, and steamboat enthusiasts found the boat and its cargo remarkably well preserved. The museum includes many of the ship's original parts and its cargo, including European glassware, firearms and tools. Monday-Saturday 10 am-5:30 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm.

Hallmark Visitors Center

2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City.

Phone 816-274-3613. Displays examine the 90+ years of history of Hallmark greeting cards. You'll find a variety of interactive exhibits and movies. One exhibit features the popular Keepsake Ornaments. Tuesday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Free.

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum

500 W. U.S. Highway 24 (at Delaware Street, about 10 miles from downtown Kansas City), Independence.

Toll-free 800-833-1225 One of the permanent exhibits reproduces Truman's Oval Office, including a Dumont television (Truman was the first president to have a TV in the White House). Truman's original "The Buck Stops Here" sign, given to him in 1945, is also on display. The library contains some 10 million papers, books and other historical documents relating to his life and administration. Monday-Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Thursday 9 am-9 pm..

Kansas City Museum

3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City.

Phone 816-483-8300. Located in a beaux-arts mansion from the early 1900s, the museum focuses on regional and natural history, including hands-on exhibits and dioramas about the city's history and climate. There's also a 1910 soda fountain and a planetarium. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Sunday noon-4:30 pm. Sky shows Friday at 1:30 pm, Saturday every 45 minutes 1-3:15 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City.

Phone 816-561-3737. A wonderful modern building with contemporary sculpture, prints, paintings and multimedia works. The food served in the museum restaurant is often as creative and inspiring as the art on exhibit (and is usually easier to digest). Look for the leggy spider sculptures outside the museum. Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-4 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm. Free.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

1616 E. 18th St. (in the same building as the American Jazz Museum), Kansas City.

Phone 816-221-1920.

Often referred to as the "Negro Leagues Hall of Fame," this museum chronicles the story of African-American baseball players who were excluded from the major leagues until 1947. Exhibits include memorabilia, films and Legend's Field, a baseball diamond with life-size sculptures of Negro Leagues stars. Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

4525 Oak St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-751-1278. The European and American pieces are prestigious (the collection includes works by Renoir, Monet and Thomas Hart Benton), but the Asian collection is what distinguishes this museum. The Chinese Temple Room is exquisite, and don't miss the gallery of delicate scroll paintings. The sculpture park, featuring works by Henry Moore and the mammoth Shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, is a nice place to take a break between galleries. With so much to see, multiple visits to this museum are suggested. The museum is currently undergoing its first renovation since 1933, with ongoing construction planned until 2007. Visitors may wish to call ahead to guarantee that their favorite exhibits are available for viewing. Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-4 pm, Friday 10 am-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. Free, with occasional fees for special exhibits.

Science City

30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City.

Phone 816-460-2000. Located in Union Station, this interactive children's museum lets visitors explore a cave, travel through the human body and put together a live newscast. Set up as a city, hands-on exhibits such as the Crime Lab, Astronaut Training Center and the Science City Skycopter will spark children's imaginations. Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm (extended summer hours). Thomas Hart Benton Home

3616 Belleview, Kansas City.

Phone 816-931-5722. This magnificent structure was home to artist Thomas Hart Benton from 1939 until his death in 1975. The studio exhibits Benton's paintings, lithographs and sculptures as well as many of his tools. Self-guided tours only. Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm (summer) or 11 am-4 pm (winter).

Toy & Miniature Museum

5235 Oak St., Kansas City.

Phone 816-333-2055. Located in a restored 1911 mansion, this museum's extensive collection of miniatures spans the early 1800s to the present. It includes toys, dolls, dollhouses, model cars and more. Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 1-4 pm.

  18th and Vine Historic District

Phone 816-474-8463 (the American Jazz Museum) A hotbed of jazz in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, the 18th and Vine District was revived in the 1990s. The area is now home to many of Kansas City's museums and must-see attractions, such as the Blue Room, where many of the city's top jazz acts perform, and museums dedicated to jazz and the history of baseball. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to this old neighborhood. The restored 1912 Gem Theater hosts a concert series (jazz, of course) during the winter months, and the 17-ft. statue of native son Charlie Parker offers a year-round reminder of the district's legacy. Many of the false storefronts remain from Robert Altman's Kansas City, which was filmed in the neighborhood.

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

8909 W. 179th St. (just west of Highway 69), Stilwell.

Phone 913-685-3604. Carved out of about 300 acres of wooded hillside, the park and gardens encompass several separate ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, prairies and many gardens. The 5 miles of paths include some that are quite remote. A visitors center provides lots of information. Pets are welcome. April-October daily 8 am-7:30 pm, November-March daily 8 am-5 pm. Free

Powell Gardens

1609 N.E. Highway 50 (30 miles east of Kansas City), Kingsville.

Phone 816-697-2600.

April-October daily 9 am-6 pm, November-March daily 9 am-5 pm. Chapel: Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4 pm. 7 April-October, November-March. 

A 915-acre botanical garden with pathways, a wildflower meadow and eclectic architecture. The rock-and-waterfall garden is beautiful in warm weather. Visit its Web site to learn what should be in bloom during your time in Kansas City. A trolley runs on weekdays in summer.

Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun

4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. (take Exit 54 off I-435), Kansas City.

Phone 816-454-4545.

These adjacent amusement parks contain several roller coasters, including the Boomerang, which corkscrews forward and backward, and the Mamba, which is tall, long and fast. The water park has slides and a wave pool. Paradise Falls, an interactive water funhouse, debuted in 2003. The parks open at 10 am, but closing time ranges from 6 pm to midnight, depending on the day of the week and the time of year. Closed on weekdays Labor Day-Memorial Day.

Kansas City Zoo

6700 Zoo Drive (just west of I-435 and Gregory Boulevard, in Swope Park), Kansas City.

Phone 816-513-5700.

Exotic animals in natural environments. Don't miss the free-roaming kangaroos and the African exhibit with lions, gorillas, giraffes, chimpanzees and other animals. In early 2004, the zoo welcomed the birth of a female black rhino. March-October daily 9:30 am-5 pm, November-February daily 10 am-4:00 pm. An extra fee applies for the IMAX theater. 

Weston Bend State Park

Off Highway 45 (near Weston and Fort Leavenworth), Kansas City.

Phone 816-640-5443. Perched on a hillside overlooking the Missouri River, this beautiful park has trails that are well marked, easily accessible and equipped with parking, water and restrooms at the trailhead. There are also a few undeveloped trails that let you feel as if you're alone in the woods. Offers camping and fishing, too. Daily 7 am to sunset. Admission to the park is free.