by Elizabeth T. McArthur

Created on: August 30, 2010   Last Updated: August 31, 2010

Winter in Kansas City, MO, is usually cold and occasionally wet. However, don’t despair, there are still plenty of things to do in the metro area. From museums and malls to sledding and skiing, Kansas City offers an array of entertainment options even in the dead of winter.

Indoors
If you want to stay nice and cozy, inside a warm building, there is no better place than the

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This well-known museum features a variety of beautiful art, as well as roving exhibits. Their collections range from Asian to Ancient and include dazzling works by masters such as John Singer Sargent, Caravaggio and Manet. Best of all, admission to the museum is free (although some special exhibits do require a ticket purchase).

Another choice for indoor entertainment is the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Located very near the Nelson-Atkins, this museum is just as intriguing, although it features a much more modern collection, from artists such as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Arthur Craft and Georgia O’Keeffe. This museum is also free.

If you’re looking for a way to keep the kids occupied on a cold winter day, try Wonderscope, a children’s museum. Filled with interactive exhibits that kids will both love and learn from, Wonderscope is a great option.  From making pretend pizza to checking out at a “grocery store” and more, the kids will enjoy their afternoon. Admission varies based on the child’s age, but for most is $7.

Last but not least, a mall is a great way to spend a cold afternoon indoors and out of the elements. Try Oak Park mall in Overland Park, which features many stores, including Barnes and Nobel, Macy’s and more.

Outdoors
If you’re ready to take the cold on head first, there are plenty of outdoor adventures in Kansas City, too. During the winter months, an outdoor ice skating rink at Crown Center is an extremely popular attraction. Get there early to see professionally training skaters practicing, but at any time of day it’s a fun way to get a little exercise and have fun outside.

Another great winter activity is snow skiing, although you do have to travel a bit out of Kansas City proper for that. Head north to Snow Creek, where they have both skiing and snowboarding available all winter. Try going on a late night session, when the runs are lit up by huge lights.

Sledding is a fun and extremely low cost way to spend an afternoon in the snow. Grab a sled from your nearest mass retailer and find a hill—any hill will do. Ride the sled down, laughing all the way, and then run back up the hill to do it again. Guaranteed to amuse children of all ages for several hours.

Enjoy the winter in Kansas City however you’d like: indoors or out. There are multiple attractions available for lovers of both.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth T. McArthur.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.