A Foodie's Getaway in Overland Park
Overland Park is only a quick two-and-a-half-hour drive from Wichita, but the food and activities made it feel like a true getaway.
Keep reading for some great adventures (and even better food) we enjoyed during our three day stay there.
Where We Stayed: DoubleTree Hotel
Upon arriving in Overland Park, we checked in to the DoubleTree Hotel first thing and were happy to find it was conveniently located right next to HWY 69 and I-435. From our room on the 13th floor, we had a wonderful view overlooking the city and the treetops. Hilton even surprised us with a nice basket of goodies! The hospitality was excellent throughout our entire stay.
Day 1
KC Craft Ramen
Our first stop was KC Craft Ramen, and I was so excited to finally try it after hearing so much about it. It exceeded the hype. When you walk in, you're greeted by a small Asian market filled with exclusive drinks, desserts, and other goodies. There were also some cool anime figurines for sale. Most importantly, the food was top notch!
We ordered the KC Black Ramen, Miso Ramen, KC Bun, and Handmade Gyoza. The broths were full of flavor. The black garlic was great, and the miso might have been my and my daughter’s favorite. You have to try the KC Bun—it was the best dish of the entire trip. The bun had the perfect thickness, filled with crispy pork cutlets and a delicious house-made KC sauce. Way bigger than expected for a bao bun. A must-try!
Prairiefire Summer Music Series
After dinner, we headed over to the Prairiefire district in Overland Park. Every Thursday during the summer, they block off the streets and feature a live cover band for the Prairiefire Summer Music Series. The streets were full of people sitting in lawn chairs, and lots of folks were up dancing and having a good time. We saw bars set up along the street and even a snow cone machine! The nearby restaurants had their garage doors open so the music flowed in. The energy was great—it was a whole vibe.
Craft Putt
To end the night, we went to play some mini golf at Craft Putt. There’s a bar and a solid food menu, but we were mainly there for the putt-putt. It’s indoors, dark, with black lights and neon throughout. The course wasn’t too hard and had 9 holes that we went around a couple of times before finishing at hole #10. There was also a golf-ball version of shuffleboard we played before heading out. All in all, it was a super fun way to spend the night!
Day 2
Aurora Cafe & Bakery
I’m not usually an early breakfast person, but Aurora Cafe & Bakery is worth it. Everything is made in-house and it’s amazing! We tried their Crème Brûlée Concha, Almond Croissant, Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Guava Cream Cheese Concha, Chocolate Cuernito, and the Ham & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich. Yes—we went all out because we saw their TikTok videos and they lived up to the hype.
The conchas were soft, nothing was overly sweet, and the flavors were on point. My favorite was the almond croissant, and my daughter couldn’t get enough of the breakfast sandwich with their house-made aioli on a croissant. This bakery is a hidden gem. It’s located on the bottom floor of an office building, but with how good they are, I wouldn’t be surprised if they expand soon.
Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue
For lunch, we went to Jack Stack Barbecue and I was excited to revisit and experience a taste of authentic Kansas City BBQ. I had a faint memory from a past visit, and as soon as I tasted the sides, all those memories came back. We ordered ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, and sides like their famous BBQ beans, cheesy corn, and potato bake — you can’t go wrong with any of them. I also recommend the Martin City Mayor Sandwich. It comes with chopped brisket, pork, and sausage on perfectly soft bread. It was really good with their signature BBQ sauce.
American Jazz Museum & Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Visiting these two museums—located on opposite sides of the same building in the 18th & Vine Jazz District —was a highlight of the trip. The American Jazz Museum starts with an intro video and then leads into an exhibit filled with the rich history of jazz, especially Kansas City’s contributions.
On the other side, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum dives deep into the stories of the players who changed the game despite incredible adversity. The exhibits are powerful and detailed, and I know I’ll come back again and learn something new each time. The display of team jerseys was awesome, and I had to grab a hat from the merch store before leaving.
J. Rieger & Co. Distillery
After the museums, I went on a whiskey tasting tour of J. Rieger & Co. Distillery. It’s a great experience to learn about the process of making spirits and the history behind the company. We got to sample a few of their products too. The building itself is really cool—there’s a restaurant, a big outdoor patio, and even a speakeasy in the basement.
Double Tap Arcade Bar
To finish the night, I stopped at Double Tap, an arcade bar that happened to have karaoke night going on. I played some nostalgic arcade games and enjoyed the performances (some talented, some hilariously off-key). One of the coolest things was their shot map—a different shot themed for each of the 50 states. I’ll have to come back to try their VR games, too!
Day 3
Red Kitchen KC
For breakfast, we visited Red Kitchen KC in Downtown Overland Park. It’s a cozy little spot with an incredible menu of breakfast burritos, tortas, tamales, and desserts. They also serve a great selection of coffee and aguas frescas. We ordered a jumbo burrito, chilaquiles, chorizo torta, and a birria torta. Everything was delicious! The carne asada was tender, the salsa was flavorful, and the jumbo burrito called the Lombardi was a trip highlight. No wonder it was packed!
Overland Park Farmers' Market
Just a short walk from Red Kitchen KC is the Overland Park Farmers' Market, held on Saturday and Wednesday mornings. This was the biggest farmers market I’ve seen in-person. The street and two parking lots were lined with vendors selling produce, drinks, baked goods, and other local items.
If we weren’t already full from breakfast, I would’ve definitely joined the long line for what I heard were incredible bagel sandwiches at Luca Bagel. We ended up grabbing a watermelon and some fresh corn instead. The energy was great—families, dogs, babies, good vibes all around.
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
We made our way to the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens next. There’s a helpful map that leads you around to different gardens and sculptures. We started in the International Sculpture Garden and loved the artwork there. The Train Garden was one of our favorite spots—it featured different miniature villages with incredible detail, including little figurines riding inside the trains. They also offer guided tours, hiking trails, an education center, and art galleries. I was really glad to take my daughter and she’s already planning to come back with her sisters. It was the perfect way to end the trip!
Overall, Overland Park really surprised us in a great way. From the food to the family-friendly activities and vibrant local businesses, I’m here to tell you that the trip from Wichita—or even beyond—is absolutely worth it.
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