What could be better than a perfect playground day in Overland Park with friends? Here's an idea: a delicious coffee to perk up that playdate!
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Overland Park
Overland Park is ready to play! If you're looking for family activities to keep your crew active and entertained, we've got you covered. This list has over 20(!) things to do with kids in OP so you can get straight to the fun.
Pack your bags, air up the stroller tires, fill those snack cups and get going - there are so many kid-friendly activities waiting for you in Overland Park!
Fun & Games
AdventHealth Sports Park At Bluhawk
One of the newest attractions in Overland Park, this incredible facility is every active kid’s dream. Ice skating, an arcade, esports, bowling, basketball, soccer, laser tag…the list goes on at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk! Thrill seekers will love the zipline high above the gaming floor and adults will enjoy the mezzanine's open view of the fun below.
Pickleball
Did you know Overland Park was named the “Most Pickleball Obsessed City" in the nation? Find out why! At SERV, you can play a round of Pickleball, eat something delicious from one (or all) of their five food stalls, then play some more with lawn games like cornhole. Look for special events too, like the ice skating rink at Chicken N Pickle during winter.
Dave & Busters
Burn off some energy playing at Dave & Busters, one of the region's largest arcades. From classics like Skee-Ball to high-tech games like Star Wars Battle Pod, there’s something to fit every gamer's style. When you need to stop and refuel, there's plenty of options on hand at their in-house restaurant, even for picky eaters.
Cardboard Corner Cafe
Perfect for a rainy day or any day at all, Cardboard Corner Cafe is a family-friendly tabletop gaming cafe. Gamers of all ages will get excited looking through the library of free-to-play board games. Not sure where to start? They're happy to make a recommendation! It gets even better with snacks - their specialty waffles are sure to add to the fun.
Hands On History
Johnson County Museum
The Johnson County Museum and KidScape is one of the most kid-friendly places to play in OP, featuring immersive, interactive exhibits of different periods in the region's past. Work on the farm, perform at the theater, teach in the school, deliver mail, drive the trolley, care for patients at the hospital, or serve up lunch at the diner - they can do it all!
Museum at Prairiefire
Got a dino-lover? The Museum at Prairiefire is a kid-centric museum with a full-scale Tyrannosaurus Rex and more. Kids will especially love the Discovery Room activities such as smelling the moon and digging for dinosaur bones. For more kid-friendly fun in the Prairiefire district, stop by Fat Brain Toys, Chicken N Pickle, or AMC Movie Theater.
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
From April to October, bring the kids to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. This treasured local favorite makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to a turn-of-the-century Kansas farm. It's home to nearly 200 animals (including baby goats to feed!), vegetable and flower gardens, a blacksmith shop, mining camp, a Kanza village, and a fishing pond.
Thompson Park
At Thompson Park in downtown OP, kids can play where history happened. Not far from the splash pad and playground is the Strang Carriage House, once used by Overland Park's founder. In the summer, be on the look out for live music events at the open air performance stage - the one that looks like a giant paper airplane!
Outdoor Adventures
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
For kids, the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a 300-acre playground. In the train garden, model trains run through miniature mountains, bluffs, streams, and a replica of historic downtown Overland Park. In the children's garden, kids can visit the frog pond and story tree, climb a spiraling walkway, explore a shrinking tunnel, or study animal footprints.
Strang Park
Overland Park’s first inclusive playground, Strang Park features a 30-foot tower and slide, sensory tunnel, climbing cargo nets, and in-ground trampolines. You’ll also find a separate toddler playground featuring an adorable Farmers’ Market-themed play area, a gaming promenade with cornhole, checkerboard tables and oversized lawn chess.
Indian Creek Hike & Bike Trail
If you're a family that loves the outdoors, the Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail is one spot you'll want to find a trailhead and just go. Get to know the "park" part of Overland Park as you explore the trail under streets, over creeks, and through waterfalls. Feel free to bring your leashed dog too if you're traveling with pets!
Pools & Splashpads
OP knows how to keep cool and have fun in the summertime! From free splash pads at select parks around town to pools with cooling fountains and whale slides, kids will love playing in the water. There's zero entry pools for littles, while bigger kids (or kid-at-heart adults) can take to the diving boards or 31-foot-tall water slide.
Arts & Crafts
Hawaii Fluid Art
We bet you haven't done family arts and crafts like this! Hawaii Fluid Art uses a special technique where paint is poured onto the canvas, making every design a completely one-of-a-kind artwork.
Paint Glaze Fire
Rainy Day? Snow day? Just a day for creativity? Paint Glaze & Fire has pottery to paint, glass fusion, canvas painting, and raw clay projects. Be sure to have a coffee, smoothie, chai tea, or latte while you and the kids relax and create!
The Ceramic Cafe
Let the kids explore their artistic side at The Ceramic Cafe, a paint-your-own-pottery and glass fusing studio. Their Creative Assistants will guide you through the whole creative process, making it easy to create a masterpiece.
Shopping
SCHEELS
There's much more than shopping to do at the mega-sports Scheels store in Corbin Park. Watch an employee scuba dive into the 16,000 gallon aquarium to feed the exotic fish, or take a $1 ride on the 65-foot indoor Ferris Wheel. Then try the sports simulators and capture the moment at selfie stations. For snack time, find Ginna's Cafe in the back.
Fat Brain Toys
This isn't your typical toy store. Fat Brain Toys at Prairiefire caters to those seeking better toys and games for the children in their lives. No licensed, violent, or disposable toys here! At the store, you can play before you buy with the wide selection of toys that were curated to educate while they entertain.
Oak Park Mall
There's plenty for kids to do at the largest mall in Kansas! Take a spin on the carousel before visiting classic stores like Build-A-Bear Workshop and the LEGO store. When it's time for a break, stop by one of the children's play areas or head to the food court for yummy treats.
Thrills & Action
iFly
For the thrill seekers in your group, iFly is an unforgettable indoor skydiving experience. This is a family friendly activity where children over the age of 3 can soar to new heights in the wind tunnel, all while getting a hands-on STEM lesson!
Topgolf
This outdoor, three-tiered golf range is always perfect for a round of golf, even in the rain and snow. Topgolf has kid-friendly games featuring Angry Birds characters, Sonic The Hedgehog, Capitan America and others. The "donut hole-in-ones" from the full-service restaurant are worth the trip themselves.
Urban Air
You'll find the ultimate indoor playground for the entire family at Urban Air Adventure Park. Let the kids loose on the warrior course, let them fly on the Sky Rider, get dizzy with spinning bumper cars or save the day in virtual reality.
If you've read this far, you might want to know even more kid-friendly things to do in Overland Park! Check out the posts below to keep exploring.
