Summer is in sight, and vacation plans are coming together. If you’re looking for an easy summer road trip with the family, we’ve got five reasons to choose Overland Park as your destination!
1. Take a Dip & Doze Off
We know the hotel stay is a critical component when traveling on vacay. Even with daytime adventures, wherever you stay must be more than a place to catch some Zs. Dozens of hotels in Overland Park offer indoor pools as an extra perk for kiddos, and for those of us who are kids at heart. Book a traveler favorite like the Doubletree, Embassy Suites, or Sheraton, or check out this page for a complete list of hotel options!
2. Caffeinate In Style
If there’s anything we love more than a barbecue in Overland Park, it’s coffee. There is no shortage of specialty coffee shops to check out for that caffeine fix! Jinkies is known for its 1970s nostalgia and funky coffee and tea creations. Plus, the Scooby Doo-themed lemonade menu is a favorite for younger patrons.
McLain’s Market is the perfect spot if you want to enjoy a fresh-baked pastry with your cup of joe. And if you’re hanging around Downtown Overland Park, check out Parisi or Homer’s. The milkshakes and latte freeze at Homer’s are especially delicious on a warm summer day!
3. Grab a Bite
You knew this was coming so we’ll start with the obvious – barbecue. Q39, Jack Stack, and Brobecks are our go-to spots around Overland Park. Visit any of these for a mouth-watering ’cue or make a meal for the family with specialties from all three! The combinations are endless, but we would start with something like the “Best Wings on the Planet” (yes, that’s their actual menu name) and baked vanilla cheesecake from Q39, Jack Stack’s famous cheesy corn bake, and pork spare ribs, and some burnt ends and baked beans from Brobecks.
If we haven’t sold you on a diet of barbecue for your weekend away, there are plenty of other local eateries to check out! d’Bronx, Martin City Brewing Company, and Minsky’s are paradise for the pizza lovers. For Asian cuisine, check out family-owned and operated Bo Lings, or Gyu-Kaku for interactive Japanese barbecue! And if the group just can’t agree, that’s where Strang Hall comes in. Located in Downtown Overland Park, the food hall features a collection of six unique restaurants spearheaded by some of the top chefs in town.
4. Game On
From arcades to games of strategy, Overland Park covers every option. If your ideal game involves a set of clubs, swing through Topgolf. Or, head to local favorites like Chicken N Pickle and SERV for a family pickleball tournament!
Tackle physical, mental, and skills-based challenges at BRKTHROUGH. With 35+ high-tech game rooms, BRKTHROUGH is the perfect place to test your group’s problem-solving skills. And for a classic gaming experience, it’s tough to beat a trip to Dave & Buster’s.
5. Save The Splurge
There’s a reason Overland Park is consistently ranked among the best places to live. From interactive museums to suburban farmsteads, planning a weekend of quality family fun (without breaking the bank!) is easy in OP.
Deanna Rose Farmstead is the perfect place for the animal lovers in your crew. The suburban farm is home to nearly 250 animals, and there’s plenty more to experience between the fishing pond, gardens, and replica turn-of-the-century buildings and shops. Admission is $5, and free for children 2 and under.
Take things indoors with a visit to the Museum at Prairiefire! The Museum at Prairiefire features traveling exhibits along with a Discover Room, a hands-on space for ages 3-12 to reconstruct dinosaur skeletons or hold some of the museum’s live critters, including a hissing cockroach. Admission is $5, and free for children 3 and under.
At the Johnson County Museum, located inside the Arts & Heritage Center, KidScape offers kiddos a chance to travel back in time and learn about local life across the decades. They can experience life on an 1870s farm, sell produce at a local market, or practice building a new house for a family. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children 1-17, and free for children under 1. The Johnson County Museum also offers a maximum family daily fee (must reside in the same household) for $23.
For a little thrill, there’s always the 65-foot Ferris wheel at Scheels. You can also check out some of our amazing parks! The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens has plenty of walking trails to explore the serene landscape. Roe Park, Thompson Park, and Sapling Grove Park are a few of our favorites with playgrounds and splash pads, but you can find a full list of our parks here.
