Kansas City Experience Gifts for Kids
Is your home overflowing with toys, craft supplies, and kid STUFF? Consider gifting the kid in your life a special experience! Experience gifts are on the rise this year and families everywhere are looking for something special to experience with their kids. It could be a family day out, a year-long membership, or a special one-on-one activity. Whether you live in Kansas City or just visit on occasion, there are tons of ways to experience the city with kids. I love gifting a book with an experience gift so the recipient still has something tangible and we can use it to discuss the experience. I’ve shared my Experience Gift + Book Pairings throughout the guide!
Here are some of my top picks for Kansas City experience gifts for kids and families!
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Kansas City is fortunate to have the Pogo Pass available in our city! This special pass is your ticket to over 30 attractions throughout the Kansas City metro including Wonderscope Children’s Museum, RoKC, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, Urban Air, Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter, Science City, and SO many more. Each person in the family needs a pass which will serve as your ticket into each venue on the Pogo Pass list.
You get one free admission to each location and your Pogo Pass expires one year after you redeem your pass.
The Pogo Pass KC retails for $100 each, but you can use code KIDSINKC for 50% off your Pogo Passes! I wrote a detailed blog answering everyone's most frequently asked questions about Pogo Pass KC
Keep an eye out for Black Friday sales on the Pogo Pass where you can typically save an additional $5 per pass!
Book Pairings:
Santa is Coming to Kansas City - Steve Smallman
2. Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
If you live in Kansas City, visiting the zoo is a must each year! We like to plan at least one visit each season because the animals and nature look different throughout the year. A Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium membership allows you to visit the zoo and aquarium as many times as you like throughout the year! This works really well for our family because we can focus on visiting one section of the zoo each trip instead of trying to cram it all in every visit.
If you don’t live in Kansas City, consider gifting single-day tickets to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium! The brand-new aquarium is stunning and is included in your admission. There are different tiers of memberships but I highly recommend getting at least the Premier Family membership for unlimited rides on the carousel, tram, and trains each visit. A family gift of a zoo membership will delight everyone!
A single visit to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is included in the Pogo Pass KC.
Book Pairings:
T-Rex and Tuck Explore the Zoo - Katie Marie (ages 4 - 8)
Dear Zoo - Rod Campbell (ages 1- 3)
Zoo Day - Anne Rockwell (ages 4 - 8)
The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids - Ginjer Clarke (ages 3 - 9)
3. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City and SEA LIFE Aquarium
If you have a LEGO loving kid, tickets to LEGOLAND Discover Center in Kansas City are a must! Gifting tickets or a membership with a LEGO set at Christmas is the perfect way to gift a tangible item with an experience gift. Daily tickets start at $19.99 and memberships at $49.99! Getting a dual membership to SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND is a great way to experience both attractions throughout the year. They often have special events for holidays and a membership allows you to visit for free!
The SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium usually takes our family anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour to explore. It’s a smaller aquarium so I recommend pairing it with another activity to get the most out of your time in the Crown Center district. My best tip is to visit SEA LIFE right when it opens, grab lunch at Crown Center, pack a picnic to eat on the terrace, and then spend the rest of the afternoon at LEGOLAND! Dual pass memberships to SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND are the best bargain but single-day or a dual pass day tickets make great gifts as well.
Book Pairings:
The LEGO Ideas Book - Simon Hugo (ages 6 - 9)
LEGO City 5-Minute Stories - Random House (ages 5 - 9)
What is LEGO? - Jim O’Connor (ages 8 - 12)
Weird But True: Ocean - National Geographic Kids (ages 8 - 12)
Clark the Shark - Bruce Hale (ages 3 - 6)
The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister (ages 1 - 5)
4. Indoor Play Place Membership
My kids are obsessed with indoor play places. Kanga’s and Kids Empire are some of their favorite places in Kansas City! Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter in Independence features a giant indoor playcenter, a toddler section, a swinging boat ride, rock wall climbing, a bounce house, and plenty of space to play. Kids Empire has a Lenexa and Olathe location and offers digital punch cards. My kids love the ride on cars, giant play place, steep slides, and soccer field. Learn more about Indoor Play Places in Kansas City with this blog.
A single visit to the Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter is included in the Pogo Pass KC!
Book Pairings:
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? - Eric Carle (ages 4 - 8)
That’s Not My Kangaroo - Fiona Watt (ages 1 -3)
Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Kangaroo - Jennifer Bove (ages 4- 8)
6. Wonderscope Children’s Museum
Hands-on learning at Wonderscope Children’s Museum is a MUST in Kansas City! This children’s museum has it all: water play, dress-up, a covered wagon, outdoor play spaces, engineering, sports, and so much more. I specifically love that Wonderscope is fun for children as young as 6 months! The baby and toddler section features a gate, changing area, lots of floor and wall play, and even stroller parking. We’ve been visiting Wonderscope for years and a membership for our family of four pays for itself after just 3 visits! Give the gift of learning AND fun with Wonderscope Children’s Museum tickets or a membership.
Want more info on Wonderscope? Check out this blog I wrote about it!
A single visit to Wonderscope is included in the Pogo Pass KC!
Book Pairings:
Water WOW! - Melissa & Doug (ages 3 - 5)
National Geographic Kids Everything Sports - Eric Zweig (ages 8 - 12)
The Yellow Bus - Loren Long (ages 3 - 7)
7. Local Play Cafe Membership
Kansas City is home to multiple play cafes located all throughout the metro. A Play Cafe is a place for young children to explore, play, and socialize while parents enjoy time to connect with a friend over coffee or maybe even get a little work done! My kids love play cafes and exploring the new toys. It’s kind of like hosting a play group at your house but you aren’t destroying your home simultaneously. WIN!
Check out Inspired Play Cafe (2 locations), MY Play Cafe (3 locations), Rough and Bumble in Bonner Springs, or Busy Bean Play Cafe in Liberty! Each have membership options, daily tickets or giftcards.
A single visit to MY Play Cafe is included in the Pogo Pass KC!
Book Pairings:
What Do People Do All Day? - Richard Scarry (ages 2 - 5)
Aesop’s Fables - Aesop (ages 3 - 8)
Hello, Baby Animals: Black and White Board Book for Babies - Duopress Labs (ages 0 - 2)
8. Rainbow of the Heartland
Picture this: an outdoor playset showroom where kids can play and test out the equipment. That’s Rainbow of the Heartland in Olathe, KS! This unique indoor playspot allows kids to explore and get out their energy on these high quality jungle gyms, play sets, trampolines, and basketball courts. My kids always love visiting Rainbow of the Heartland! I love the indoor play option especially on freezing or rainy days. They offer punchcards so you can save money on your visits! Grab one of these punchcards or a single day pass when you visit their Olathe location.
A single pass to Rainbow of the Heartland is included in the Pogo Pass KC!
Book Pairings:
Paint by Sticker Kids: Rainbows Everywhere! - Workman Publishing (ages 5 - 8)
Raindrops to Rainbow - John Micklos Jr. (ages 3 - 5)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Rainbow Colors - Eric Carle (ages 0 - 3)
9. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
One of the most affordable memberships in this Kansas City experience gift guide for kids is one of our favorites: Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Open from April-October, we visit Deanna Rose multiple times a year. This was the first membership we bought when we moved to Kansas City and was especially great for having little ones. This is one of my top picks if you have babies or toddlers who like to roam! Daily tickets are only $5 each and a family membership for up to 5 children is only $50! Snag a membership now so you will be ready when the Farmstead opens in the spring.
Book Pairings:
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (ages 5 - 10)
Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown (ages 1- 4)
The Three Billy Goats Gruff - Paul Galdone (ages 2 - 5)
10. Union Station Kansas City
The most iconic attraction in all of Kansas City has to be Union Station. It offers stunning architecture, history around every corner, a free mini-train exhibit, stunning national exhibits, and two excellent kid-friendly experiences.
Science City and the Planetarium are included in a Union Station membership. Visit each of these attractions all throughout the year for an excellent price. With a Union Station membership, you also save money on the Bank of American exhibits like the previous Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing! exhibit and current Disney 100 exhibit.. Union Station is also part of the ASTC network of national museums, so by having a Union Station membership you can get into tons of other museums for a discount or free!
Book Pairings:
Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids - Christina Shul (ages 5 - 9)
ABCs of Science - Chris Ferrie (ages 0 - 3)
Steam Train, Dream Train - Sherri Duskey Rinker (ages 2 - 5)
11. Swimming Lessons at Emler Swim School
My kids look forward to their Emler Swim lessons every week! This would be a great gift for the emerging swimmer or a child wanting extra pool time in the winter months. Gift a month of swimming lessons or sign up a child for a swimming camp! Emler Swim School has three Kansas City locations: Kansas City (Northland), Kansas City (Westwood), and Leawood, KS.
Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off lessons until the end of the year!
Book & Gift Pairings:
Bluey: The Pool - Penguin Young Readers (ages 2-5)
Swimmy - Leo Lionni (ages 2-6)
Frogglez - swimming goggles for ages 3-10
12. Monster Jam or Disney on Ice Tickets
An annual event at the T Mobile center and perfect for a holiday experience gift! We loved both of these events and if you have a monster truck or Disney fan in the family, this would be the ultimate experience gift. Make sure you pack noise-reducing headphones or earplugs for Monster Jam. For Disney on Ice, my kids like to dress up in a Disney costume. You can also bring in your own bubble wands or small glow wands to save a ton of money.
Monster Jam - January 10-12
Disney on Ice: Let’s Dance - March 20 - 23
Book & Gift Pairings:
Mighty Machines Monster Trucks - Clive Gifford (ages 6-10)
Bubble Wand (Buy and bring with you to attend Disney on Ice!)
Disney Storybook Collection (ages 2-6)
13. ScreenPlay! Movie Experience
Attending a blockbuster movie at the ScreenPlay! theatre at B&B Theatres is the best way for kids to view movies! Arrive 30 minutes before the show starts to play at the indoor playplace. Then the lights will dim and the on-screen countdown will prompt everyone to find their seats before the movie begins. We only select this type of theater if my kids are highly invested in the movie being shown because it encourages them to stay in their seats. There are three locations in the KC metro area.
Liberty, MO
Shawnee, KS
Overland Park, KS
Lee’s Summit, MO
Book & Gift Pairings:
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies - Laura Numeroff (ages 2 - 6)
Blank Movie Script for Kids Activity Book
14. The Rabbit Hole
The newest museum in Kansas City that is perfect for book lovers of all ages! This unique, children’s literature museum is a must-visit. Gifting a family membership or day passes is a great way to experience this wonderful Kansas City museum. They offer storytimes, a full children’s bookstore, immersive exhibits, and multiple levels of discovery. Read more about The Rabbit Hole on this blog!
Address: The Rabbit hOle - 919 E 14th Ave North Kansas City, MO 64116
Book Pairings (that are featured at The Rabbit Hole):
My Father’s Dragon - Ruth Stiles Gannett (ages 4 - 8)
Bread and Jam for Frances - Russell Hoban (ages 3- 6)
Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein (ages 4+)
15. Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun
Kansas City’s own theme park with rides for all ages! We loved our Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun membership over the past year. You get both theme parks with one membership and it is a huge savings! When you buy a Gold level membership you get access to both parks (during the operating season) all year long plus free parking and 2 free preschool passes. It pays for itself after your second visit! Worlds of Fun opens in April so this holiday experience gift would be cashed in later for a season of fun.
Address: 4545 Worlds Of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161
Book Pairings:
Amazing Structures: Roller Coasters - Rebecca Pettiford (ages 7 - 11)
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster - Mo Willems (ages 4 - 7)
Roller Coaster - Marla Frazee (ages 3 - 7)
16. Ice Skating Tickets
Visit one of Kansas City’s many ice skating rinks during the winter months for a fun family day or night out! There are many to choose from and some outdoor rinks last through March with others offering year-long indoor access. Gift a membership, skating lessons, hockey lessons, figure skating lessons, or tickets for open skate. See all the local ice skating rinks listed on this blog.
Book Pairings:
Skating Shoes- Noel Streatfield (ages 8 - 12)
A Day for Skating - Sarah Sullivan (ages 3 - 7)
Dream Big, Little Big! - Kristi Yamaguchi (ages 3 - 7)
17. Sporting Event Tickets
Kansas City is home to many professional and semi-professional teams! Gifting tickets to any of our local teams will surely impress even the pickiest sports lover. Choose from the KC Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, KC Current, KC Mavericks, KC Comets, Kansas City Monarchs, Sporting KC, or a local university team!
One single ticket to the KC Mavericks and KC Royals is included in a Pogo Pass KC.
Book Pairings:
The Night the Kingdom Rose Again - Jason Sivewright (ages 3+)
Kansas City Chiefs ABCs - Rob Peters (ages 1 - 5)
It’s a Numbers Game! Baseball - Jr. James Buckley (ages 7+)
Experience gifts give you the gift of creating memories together. If you want to have incredible experiences with your children throughout the year, I highly recommend these Kansas City experience gifts and book pairings!
Looking for more fun in Kansas City? Check out my free A-Z Adventure Guide in Kansas City!
11/16/2023 - Gabrielle Isom
photographs are copyright of kidsinkc
