Looking for free or low-cost activities this summer in the Kansas City metro area? Sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Interpretive Site Coalition, Kansas City’s Passport to Adventure’s free annual program has information about 22 nature and wildlife centers, museums, gardens, historical sites, and education centers in the Kansas City metroplex. At any one of these locations, participants can pick up a password booklet that gives information about the participating centers. It’s a great resource to help you get to know the area and get back to nature.
I am on day 3 of exploring this passport and have been to five nature trails and three museums. I am sunburned but having a blast! I also found a 23rd nature trail near Lakeside Nature Center that I’ve added to the list.
Lawrence, Kansas
Baker Wetlands Discovery Center
Baker Wetlands and Discovery Center covers 927 beautiful acres full of a variety of wildlife and beautiful wetlands. Part of Baker University, the center is open to the public as well. The center also has 11 miles of hiking trails. The hiking trails and wetland are open from dawn to dusk. The Discovery Center’s summer hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Prairie Park Nature Center
Prairie Park Nature Center is 100-acres of wetlands, woodlands, a five-acre land, wildlife sanctuary, and prairie habitats. Walking trails are available as well as an education building that features live animals, displays, and dioramas. The center is closed on Mondays and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Edgerton, Kansas
Lanesfield Historic Site
Lanesfield, Kansas, originally served as mail stop on the Santa Fe Trail and the limestone Lanesfield School is the only standing structure from that time. The restored schoolhouse allows visitors to experience what school was like in 1904. It’s Johnson County’s oldest surviving one-room school. Adjacent to the site is a short nature trail, that is part of a 79-acre prairie. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Olathe, Kansas
Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center
Ernie Miller Park and Ernie Miller Nature Center is a 116-acre park consisting of meadows, tall gas prairies, and a stream to explore on a hot summer’s day. The Nature Center has exhibits to help you learn about native wildlife; Life animal exhibits include birds, fish, turtles, and reptiles. The hiking trail is three miles long and is available from dawn to dusk. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated to help feed the animals.
Where to find it? (Map)
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
An original stone farmhouse built in 1857, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm offers visitors an opportunity to discover 1860s farming, stagecoach travel, and life on the Kansas frontier as a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The farm also offers opportunities to see live oxen, horses, chickens and other era-appropriate livestock. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance fee is $3 for adults, $2 for children ages 5-11.
Where to find it? (Map)
Overland Park, Kansas
Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center (Museum)
Explore the history and culture of Johnson County, such as exploring a 1950s house. A wide range of images dating from the late 19th century is also available in the museum. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and the admission fee is $5 for adults.
Where to find it? (Map)
Leawood, Kansas
Ironwoods Park & Oxford School House
Established in 1877, the Oxford School House is one of the oldest schoolhouses in Kansas. It was moved from its original location at 135th (Santa Fe) and Mission Road in 2003 to its present location in Ironwoods Park. Ironwoods Park is a 115-acre park that includes a nature center, lodge, challenge course, amphitheater, shelter, and playground. Oxford School House operated as a school until 1955 and was then used as a church from the 1960s to the mid-90s. Summers hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Prairie Oak Nature Center
Part of Ironwoods Park, the Prairie Oak Nature Center has nature-themed exhibits including live reptiles, amphibians, bird feeding area and butterfly garden, and a water garden. The park also offers a 2-mile walking trail with a small lake. The nature center is open in the summers Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Lenexa, Kansas
Legler Barn Museum
Built in 1864, the Legler Barn was originally on the Santa Fe Trail and was relocated in 1983 to its present location. The barn houses Lenexa’s History Museum, which houses a collection of historical artifacts and exhibits. Additional exhibits and artifacts include a renovated Prairie Schooner “Conestoga Wagon,” a sod house, a train depot, waiting station, and an herb garden. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Shawnee Kansas
Shawnee Town 1929
Shawnee Town 1929 is an open-air living history museum that is a recreated 1929 farm town. The small village offers tours, exhibits such as a barbershop, old cars, and the opportunity to wash clothes with a washboard. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission for adults is $3.
Where to find it? (Map)
Fairway, Kansas
Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site
Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site is a historic 12-acre landmark of 19th-century buildings with Native American exhibits, plus living history events. The site was established as a training school for boys and girls from the Shawnee, Delaware and other Native American tributes from 1839 to 1862. It also served as an early territory capital and supply point on the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. The mission is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for youth.
Where to find it? (Map)
Kansas City, Kansas
F.L. Schlagle Library & Environmental Learning Center
The Mr. & Mrs. F. L. Schlagle Library and Environmental Learning Center is a year-round interactive library and is one of only two public library environmental learning centers in the United States. The library, located inside Wyandotte Count Lake, offers a nature center, self-guided nature trails, butterfly garden, bird-feeding area for bird watching, and a Lewis and Clark historical site with garden. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Kansas City, Missouri
Trailside Center
Trailside Center is a tourist center and museum that provides information for historians and researchers of the Santa Fe Trail and of the Civil War. It is connected to the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Historic Trails and is connected to the Indian Creek Trail. The center highlights historical pioneer sites like Watts Mill and the New Santa Fe, along with museum panoramas of the Battle of Westport. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center
Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center is a hands-on discovery center about eight blocks from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The center is surrounded by 10 acres of gardens, wetlands, walkways and wildlife near the banks of Brush Creek at Troost in Kauffman Legacy Park. Located downtown, the Discovery Center’s educational programs focus on helping urban children and adults appreciate nature and learn outdoor skills such as hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and growing native plants. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the first and third Saturday, the center hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The walking trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio Historic Site
Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site is a historic site and studio of Regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton. Future artists would enjoy both his home and his studio; his paintings are preserved for visitors to see. A trip to the site gives a glimpse into how the renowned painter, sculptor, lecturer, and writer lived and worked. Summer hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3.50 for ages 6 to 17.
Historic site established in 1977 at the home & studio of Regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton.
Where to find it? (Map)
Kansas City Community Gardens and Beanstalk Children’s Garden
Kansas City Community Gardens is a gardening organization dedicated to helping home gardeners and help people in the urban core grow food for themselves in backyards, vacant lots and at community garden sites. The Beanstalk Children’s Garden is to provide nutrition and environmental education to Kansas City’s youth. Children can explore the vegetable, fruit, herb, grain, curiosity, and water areas and learn how to grow their own food. Summer hours (June through October) are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays in the summer from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Self-guided tours are free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Where to find it? (Map)
Lakeside Nature Center
One of my personal favorites, Lakeside Nature Center is a nature preserve and park surrounded by Swope Park, a 1,800-acre wooded park. Three hiking trails are situated behind the center and offer a peaceful place to observe wildlife, birds, butterflies, and more. The center has exhibits about local native wildlife, including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, squirrels, and fish. You can walk around and view the birds, such as the bald eagles that they have rescued and rehabilitated. They also have a drop-off center for injured wildlife. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Where to find it? (Map)
Blue Springs, MO
Fleming Park Nature Preserve and Kemper Outdoor Education Center
Fleming Park Nature Preserve and the Kemper Center features nature trails, rock and fossil exhibits, a natural resource library, butterfly and water gardens, wildlife viewing areas, an arboretum, a shelter house, large pond and a day camp site. Hands-on environmental education can be found in the Outdoor Classroom as hikers can explore the wetland, prairie, woodland and cactus glades. The hours in the summer for the center can vary due to camps; please check the website for details. Self-guided tours are free of charge.
Where to find it? (Map)
Burr Oak Woods
Just minutes from downtown Kansas City, Burr Oak Woods is a nature preserve of forest, native grass, prairie and ponds nestled in the center of 1,071 acres. The park has five hiking trails, a picnic pavilion and a Discovery Nature classroom. The Educational Center has hands-on exhibits and includes a 3,000-gallon native fish aquarium and a glass wildlife viewing room. The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The park and walking trails are open daily from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time, and 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
Lee’s Summit, MO
Missouri Town, 1855
Missouri Town 1855 is a 30-acre outdoor living history museum with more than 25 authentic buildings dating from 1820 – 1860. The structures also use original furnishes and equipment. Interpreters in period attire tend to livestock and answer questions regarding the time period. The town is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from March through November 15th and weekends only during the rest of the year. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for seniors and children.
Where to find it? (Map)
Sibley, MO
Fort Osage National Historic Landmark
Fort Osage National Historic Landmark is a reconstructed 1800s fort and trade center that was built under the direction of General William Clark, of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. Established in 1808, it is now a living history park. The Fort Osage Education Center is a newer edition built in 2007 that has interactive features on local flora and fauna relative to the period of the fort, the Hopewell Indians, Osage Indians, the Lewis and Clark expedition, geology, and the Missouri river. Fort Osage is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission fee is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for seniors and youth.
Where to find it? (Map)
Liberty, MO
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
The Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is a 100-acre nature sanctuary that is open to the public for hiking, nature study, birding, photography, sketching and relaxing. The nature center has live animal exhibits, fossil display, and a bird feeding station. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The animal sanctuary and trails are open April through September from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the rest of the year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission/donation is $5 per car.
Where to find it? (Map)
Bonus
Cave Springs Park, Kansas City, Missouri (Raytown, Missouri)
While it isn’t on the 22 locations, Cave Spring Park is another great day-trip adventure where you can walk the trails along the original Santa Fe Trail. Also known as William M. Klein Park, it is open from dawn to dusk. It has a small museum and business office that is open on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the opening to the park. Admission is free.
Where to find it? (Map)
For more information, visit Kansas City’s Passport to Adventure.
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