State-straddling Kansas City (KC to friends) embraces several vibrant districts across Kansas and Missouri.
Clients seeking a culturally rich experience in the heart of the US should pay close attention to this authentic, affordable destination, with plenty to tempt food, music and sports fans.
In 2026 Kansas City will be in the spotlight as one of the American hosts of the Fifa World Cup 2026, with the area around the National WWI Museum and Memorial set to host the official Fan Festival.
In fact, those who follow US sports will be in their element whenever they visit, with American football’s Kansas City Chiefs, winners of the 2023 and 2024 Superbowls, among big name local sides and the world’s first stadium purpose-built for a professional women’s team among landmarks.
With KC as part of their itinerary, visitors can also enjoy live performances in the Power & Light District, award-winning restaurants in the Crossroads Arts District, and open-air browsing in the historic River Market area. They might also track down the famous giant shuttlecocks outside The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, an acclaimed and sprawling institution offering free admission daily.
But if your clients are new to Kansas City they’ll do well to start with its trio of traditional draws: jazz, barbecue and fountains.
Unesco-listed jazz
From the roaring ’20s to the early ’40s, jazz reigned supreme in Kansas City. The historic 12th Street was particularly known for its music clubs, which along with its gambling parlours and brothels, earned KC the nickname Paris of the Plains.
Today, live jazz endures with an impressive 40 dedicated clubs across the destination and KC is the United States’ only designated Unesco City of Music.
Your clients may enjoy smooth keyboard performances at Green Lady Lounge or late-night jam sessions at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.
They can also learn about local legends including Charlie Parker and other icons such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald at the American Jazz Museum in the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District.
Barbecue capital
With more than 100 barbecue outlets, Kansas City is synonymous with the cooking style. Some even call it the Barbecue Capital of the World.
Each restaurant has its own house specialties, but the basics remain – the meat must be cooked low and slow for anything up to 18 hours then served with sweet and smokey sauces.
Burnt ends - the crispy edges from the smoked meat, far from being thrown away have become a popular snack on many menus.
Such is the city’s love of the grill it even welcomed the world’s first Museum of BBQ this spring.
A KC BBQ Experience app will help your clients track down the best eateries using themed trails. And if they’re a fan of the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso they shouldn’t miss Arthur Bryant’s BBQ restaurant, which is referenced in the show.
City of Fountains
KC has more than 200 fountains and European visitors may be particularly surprised to learn that surpasses any city in the world bar Rome.
Originally erected in the 19th century to provide public drinking water, fountains now proliferate in parks, courtyards and avenues. Among the most popular are the dancing fountains at Crown Center Square and those forming part of the firefighters’ memorial at the south end of Penn Valley Park.
Each April, the city celebrates Fountain Day, the annual switch on after winter, which in 2026 will be backed by musical performances.
How to travel and where to stay
At the heart of the US, Kansas City is 3.5 hours or fewer from several major cities meaning plenty of choice for connecting flights and twin- or multi-centre itineraries. A new terminal at Kansas City International Airport also helps smooth arrivals and departures.
Once downtown, the KC Streetcar is a free and easy way to get around, particularly as a major extension is about to take it to popular entertainment districts and cultural institutions.
Among notable places to stay in KC, the arty Crossroads Hotel in one of the city’s creative districts holds a Michelin Key, while Hotel Kansas City, a Hyatt situated in a heritage building, was included in Travel + Leisure’s list of best new hotels in the world upon its 2020 opening.
