2 days of jazz and a night out in two Missouri cities

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   Morning

   Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

   The art museum of Kansas City, in a stone building of 1933 with a glass wing added in 2007. Four giant shuttlecocks sit on the lawn, and a sculpture park surrounds it. Choose a few rooms rather than all of them, and check ahead on the opening.

   Go when Morning, when the rooms are calm.

   Local tip Count the shuttlecocks on the lawn first, then pick a few rooms rather than all of them. The sculpture park is a good walk if the weather is fair. Check ahead on the opening.

   

   About 15 min by car or transit3.2 mi
2. 2
   Morning

   18th and Vine District

   The historic center of Black life, business and music in Kansas City, where jazz grew in the 1920s and 1930s. Walk the blocks slowly and look at the old buildings and the plaques before the day warms up.

   Go when Morning, while the streets are calm.

   Local tip Read the plaques and look up at the old buildings. The two museums here make a natural pair, so keep the middle of the day for them. A late evening of live music is possible, so check ahead on who is playing.

   

3. Lunch

   Fried chicken with greens and cornbread

   Crisp fried chicken with long cooked greens and a square of cornbread, a plate of the American South that suits the jazz district.

   Local tip Eat the greens with a splash of hot sauce, and take the crispy skin with it.

   About 3 min walk0.2 mi
4. 3
   Midday

   American Jazz Museum

   A museum of the jazz story of Kansas City, with photographs, recordings and instruments, and a nod to Charlie Parker, who grew up in the city. Listen at the stations and take your time. Check ahead on the opening.

   Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.

   Local tip Put on the headphones at the listening stations and let a few tracks play through. Jazz is about the sound, so slow down here. Check ahead on the opening and on any evening music.

   

   About 16 min by car or transit3.8 mi
5. 4
   Midday

   Country Club Plaza

   A shopping and dining district opened in 1923 and built in a Spanish style, with tiled towers, fountains and sculpture along its streets. Wander for the buildings and the fountains, since it is a place to walk, not to rush.

   Go when Midday into the afternoon, for the fountains in the light.

   Local tip Walk the streets and look up at the towers and tiles. Many fountains have a story, so read the plaques. In the cold months the walk is shorter, so duck into a doorway if the wind rises.

   

   About 13 min by car or transit2.7 mi
6. 5
   Afternoon

   National WWI Museum and Memorial

   The national museum and memorial to the first world war, set around a tall tower on a hill above the city. The museum below tells the story with objects and film. Keep a quiet tone, and check ahead on the tower and the opening.

   Go when Afternoon, as an indoor stop.

   Local tip It is a memorial, so keep a quiet tone and give the museum time. The tower has a view over the city, but check ahead on the opening and on the stairs and the lift.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
7. 6
   Evening

   Union Station Kansas City

   The old railway station of 1914 with a vast hall under a high ceiling, now home to exhibits and still used by passenger trains. Look up in the hall and watch the people cross it, and check ahead on what is on.

   Go when Late in the day, once the hall softens.

   Local tip Stand in the middle of the hall and look up. Trains still use the station, so you may hear one. Check ahead on the exhibits and on what is open.

   

8. Dinner

   A Kansas City strip steak

   A thick cut of beef steak with a crust, a nod to the old stockyards that made the city a meat town, served with a baked potato.

   Local tip Ask for it cooked to your taste and leave the sauce on the side.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Drive from Union Station Kansas CityAbout 4 h 59 min by car233.4 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   Midday

   Forest Park

   The city park of St. Louis, bigger than Central Park in New York, where the 1904 World's Fair was held. Walk by the lakes and the lawns, and see how many museums and gardens sit within it. Wear comfortable shoes.

   Go when Morning, by the lakes and lawns.

   Local tip It is a big park, bigger than Central Park, so decide on one or two corners and skip the rest. Rent a bike if your legs are tired, and carry water in the warm months.

   

   About 21 min by car or transit5.5 mi
3. 2
   Afternoon

   Gateway Arch National Park

   The park on the Mississippi riverfront around the Gateway Arch, a stainless steel arch finished in 1965 and said to be the tallest arch in the world. A museum lies under it, and a tram climbs to the top in a small pod. Check ahead on tickets and the weather.

   Go when Afternoon, then again in the light at (about 7:27 PM).

   Local tip Walk right up to the legs and look straight up. The tram to the top is in a small pod and needs a ticket, so check ahead, and skip it if you dislike tight spaces. The museum below is worth the stairs.

   

4. Lunch

   Toasted ravioli

   Meat filled ravioli, dipped in crumbs and deep fried, served with a bowl of tomato sauce for dipping, a St. Louis snack.

   Local tip Share a plate and dip while it is hot.

5. Dinner

   A pork steak

   A thick cut of pork shoulder, grilled and brushed with barbecue sauce, a St. Louis backyard dish.

   Local tip Add slaw or beans on the side, and wait for it to cool a little.