A Family-Friendly Road Trip From Wichita to Overland Park
If you haven’t spent much time in Overland Park before, this Kansas gem needs to be added to your must-visit list ASAP!
There is so much to do and see in this Kansas City suburb that it definitely deserves a trip of its own. It’s a kid-friendly town with so many things to do, which make it the perfect weekend getaway for families with little ones.
We spent two whole days exploring and still have things we had to save for another visit! If you are looking for the perfect family friendly weekend in Overland Park, keep reading for our full itinerary.
Stay At The Marriott Kansas City Overland Park
We stayed at the Marriott Kansas City Overland Park on Metcalf Ave during our visit. Centrally located to everything, it was the perfect place for our family. The rooms are spacious and updated, and there is both an indoor and outdoor pool. There is a breakfast buffet that you can purchase, and a Starbucks located in the lobby for that early morning pick-me-up.
Shop Local At The Overland Park Farmers Market
Start your weekend by exploring the Overland Park Farmers' Market. Open from 7:30 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays, it’s a great way to support local vendors and discover new small businesses. We grabbed lunch from McGregor’s Butcher & Bistro and let me tell you, the BLT and Italian were both fantastic, plus they had $5 kids meals!
There is a ton of baked goods, fresh produce, soap, flower bouquets, and other specialty items to shop. I highly recommend coming hungry and tasting your way through the pavilion.
On the day we visited, there was live music, sidewalk chalk and bubbles. We enjoyed our lunch on a shady bench while listening to the band play, and my kids loved listening to the music and dancing around.
Learn And Play At The Johnson County Museum & Kidscape
Next, head to the Johnson County Museum to check out Kidscape. They are open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays (closed on Sunday), admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children under 17.
Kidscape is an fun, interactive exhibit that takes kids back in time to learn a little bit about history through play. They can serve up hamburgers at the vintage diner, take care of sick patients in the hospital, teach lessons in an old schoolhouse, tend to the farm animals, shop in the 1900s market, put on a play in the theater, and more. This is truly a place where their imagination can go to run wild. Plus, there is tons of seating so parents don’t have to sit on the floor!
The exhibits here are so immersive that your kids will NOT want to leave this adorable spot! When you finally pry your kiddos out of Kidscape, don’t miss a walk through the rest of the museum to learn about the history of Johnson County.
Grab A Treat At Kate Smith Soirée
Next, check out this Instagram worthy premier bakery in the heart of Downtown Overland Park, Kate Smith Soirée. Choose from two display cases stuffed full of baked goods and confections, as well as coffee and monthly specialty drinks. We sampled the cake pops, cupcakes, macarons and cookie bars, and let me tell you – it tastes as good as it looks! Make sure to snap a photo in front of the adorable flower wall!!
Check Out The Museum At Prairiefire
No visit to OP would be complete without a stop at the one-of-a-kind Museum at Prairiefire. The museum’s exhibits blend science, natural history and nature in a way that captivates curious minds, from life-size dinosaur skeletons and prehistoric fossils to virtual reality activities.
The Discovery Room on the upper level is the perfect place to spend the afternoon with your kiddos, filled with interactive displays that engage kids in subjects like paleontology, space exploration, and wildlife conservation. Here, they can complete a life-sized dinosaur fossil puzzle, watch a box turtle catch her lunch, and engineer a tower to withstand the force of an earthquake. It’s the ultimate place where nature, learning and hands-on exploration come together.
Admission to the museum is $5.00 for everyone 3 and older. Don’t forget to pose for a picture by the breathtaking exterior on your way into the museum!
Ride The Ferris Wheel At Scheels
Right next door to the Museum at Prairiefire is Scheels, a fun, quick and inexpensive stop that your kids will love! We took a ride on the Ferris wheel, which only cost $1 per person, and then wandered around to see the fish tank and candy store. There is also a bowling alley and some cool wildlife displays.
Grab Dinner And Play Yard Games At SERV
For dinner, I highly recommend checking out the local restaurant SERV. With seating both indoors and outdoors, it is the perfect place for families with little ones who can be extra wiggly at mealtimes.
With several different types of food, a full bar, and a nice sized kids menu, you won’t have any problem finding something for everyone to eat. Play a game of chess, ping pong, or cornhole while you wait for your food to arrive. After dinner, relax and enjoy a drink on the incredible patio while your kids enjoy the space.
Grab Coffee And Pastries From McLain's Market
We started our second day hungry, so we decided to check out a local coffee shop: McLain's Market. They offer a full breakfast menu, as well as grab and go items and a huge variety of freshly baked goods. There are plenty of donuts, cinnamon rolls, and pastries to please even your pickiest eaters. I highly recommend the chocolate croissant and chai latte, and my 5-year-old said the chocolate Long John was the best one he’s had in his entire life.
With inside seating, a covered patio, and a drive through, you can grab and go or sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. If you are looking for a local coffee shop during your time in Overland Park, I highly recommend checking out McLain’s.
Make Sure To Visit Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Alright, if you only have time to do ONE thing in Overland Park, this right here is what you should choose. Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is truly a one-of-a-kind place. Take a peek into pioneer life by visiting this nostalgic farm. While there, you can take a horse drawn wagon ride, bottle feed a baby goat, go cane pole fishing, watch a live cow milking demonstration, explore a one-room schoolhouse, and watch a real life blacksmith hard at work.
Plan to spend the whole morning (and some of the afternoon!) exploring this unique farm. There are some incredible playgrounds that your kids will not want to miss, and plenty of shady benches for you to sit down and relax.
Pack your lunch and have a picnic, or order from one of the onsite concession stands. I highly recommend ordering a scoop (or two) from the ice cream parlor, then heading next door to the Blacksmith’s shop, where you can sit in the shade and watch her work while enjoying your treat.
Admission to the farm is $5 for everyone 3 years and older. You can purchase additional activities, such as horse drawn wagon rides ($3), a bucket of worms for fishing ($3), and milk bottles to feed the baby goats ($1). Make sure to bring some quarters to feed the sheep and goats!
Explore The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
A stop at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was the perfect end to our fantastic weekend. This 300-acre garden is absolutely stunning, and the perfect spot for littles to run around and explore. My kiddos loved exploring the old train car and watching the model trains in the children’s garden. And there is an adorable adventure playground that is the perfect spot for kids to burn some energy and use their imagination!
I hope this helps you plan your next road trip to Overland Park. We had such an amazing time and with it being less than three hours way from Wichita, we will definitely be back!
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