The Kansas City Zoological Gardens is so new and improved you won't even know you're at a zoo! With over 200 acres housing 1,200 animals that represent 260 species, the Kansas City Zoo is one of the finest in the country.

Open year round, the zoo's recent $50 million dollar renovation and expansion has added a new Australian exhibit, the Okavango Elephant Sanctuary and a 95 acre African exhibit. The authentically recreated environments will fool you into believing you're actually visiting these distant continents.

The Zoo is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily April 1 through October 14, and 9 am to 4 pm daily October 15 through March 3 1. Admission is $8.50, senior $7.50 children 11 and under $5.50, under 3 years old is free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Keep in mind, Tuesdays are $3 all day for everyone! For more information call 816-573-5700.

Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are two side-by-side amusement parks on the east loop of I-435. Worlds of Fun is a 230 acre amusement park based on the Jules Verne tale "Around the World in Eighty Days" and offers more than 140 rides, shows and attractions. Worlds of Fun is open weekends in the spring and fall and daily through the summer.

Oceans of Fun is 60 acres of water slides, lakes and pools! It's the Midwest's largest water park with a million gallon wave pool. Oceans of Fun is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. More information on both parks is available by calling (816) 454-4545

This 1930's art deco building at 414 E. 12th St. has a fantastic view of Kansas City from 30 floors up!

Having too much fun? Visit the Federal Reserve Bank! Seeing high speed machines count, sort and destroy 72,000 bills an hour is sure to dampen anybody's day!
One of only 12 in the country, the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank is the bank for all other banks. Completely restored, the lobby and mezzanine of this original 1921 structure is home to a permanent exhibit, which explains the various roles of the Reserve, (which includes shredding old money. Oh, that hurts my heart!)
What's even worse is there are no samples. (I had to ask!) The Federal Reserve Bank is located at 925 Grand Blvd. and is open 8am-5pm Mon. through Fri.

Kansas City has plenty to offer for the sports fanatic!
Baseball
The Kansas City Royals play hard ball with everyone they meet! The 1985 World Series Champions play from April to early October at Kauffman Stadium. 816-921-8000.
The Kansas City T-Bones compete in the 10-team independent league. A T-Bone game makes for a fun alternative.

Football
The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs always play to capacity crowds at Arrowhead Stadium, so get your tickets early! 816-920-9300.

Arena Football
If you just can't get enough football in your life, take in a Kansas City Brigade Arena Football game at the brand new Sprint Arena. The Brigade is the newest team in town with their first season starting in 2006. (So now would be a good time to get season tickets so you can pass them down from generation to generation like the Chiefs!)

Golf
There are numerous public golf courses in the Greater Kansas City area. One of the more well-known is Dub's Dread, named to Golf Digest's original top ten list in the mid- I 960s. It's located on the Kansas side at 12601 Hollingsworth.

Horse Racing
At the Woodlands Racing Complex, from mid-August through September, you can enjoy exciting and competitive horse racing and, from November to mid-August, you can enjoy heart-pounding greyhound racing at The Woodlands on the Kansas side at 9700 Leavenworth. 913-299-9797.

Car Racing
NASCAR has found a new home at the Kansas Speedway’s 1.5 mile oval track.

For the gardener in the group, Powell Gardens, located 45 minutes east of Kansas City in Kingsville, Missouri, is 800 acres of botanical gardens, nature trails and modern sculptures- A formal garden, including a perennial garden, rock and waterfall garden and vegetable garden, make up 15 acres of this garden of Eden.

Open year round, Powell Gardens is located at 1609 N.W. U.S. Hwy 50 Kingsville, MO or call 816-697-2600.