KANSAS CITY, Kan. — This city has long lived in the shadows.
For most Americans, the mention of Kansas City immediately brings to mind Missouri: barbecue, jazz, downtown skyscrapers, and professional sports. The Kansas State side has too often been left on the back burner.
That is changing.
With the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs relocating here in the next few years, KCK (whatever the cool kids call it) is poised to take on a much more prominent role on the national stage. But the city’s development is not just about soccer.
It has been quietly reinventing itself over the years.
Kansas Speedway helped transform Wyandotte County, including the city, into a tourism and entertainment corridor, hosting NASCAR and other major racing events and spurring significant economic investment. Around it, a vast district has sprung up with shopping, restaurants, and hotels.
Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City is one of them.
My recent stay was my first time visiting the Margaritaville facility and I came away really impressed.
It is comparable to traditional luxury brands such as Westin. While too many chain hotels embrace increasingly bland, interchangeable modernity, Margaritaville offers something far more transitory. Its décor is immersive, playful, and resort-oriented without compromising its sophisticated feel. So this is more than just another hotel. It feels like a vacation.
The vast outdoor pool alone is worth a second stay. Enjoy the island resort atmosphere without the need for passports, airport hassles, or airfare for the whole family.
For many readers, KCK is a practical long weekend destination.
I would happily visit again, if for no other reason than to spend a few days next to its huge pool and enjoy the authentic resort atmosphere without leaving the country.
But what struck me most about Kansas City wasn’t just its new development.
That was its history.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Strawberry Hill.
This historic district is architecturally and culturally attractive. Walking down that street reminded me more of the Rust Belt than of the eastern Great Plains. Think Pittsburgh and Erie in Pennsylvania, Milwaukee in Wisconsin and Rochester on the Erie Canal in New York.
There seemed to be a towering church on every block or two that recalled Kansas City’s Croatian, Slovenian, Polish, and broader European ethnic heritage.
These were not common modern structures. They were traditional churches in the true architectural sense. Think Gothic Revival with limestone, pointed arches, or Romanesque Revival with round arches, bell towers, and masonry craftsmanship. They reflect a time when churches were built for permanence and beauty.
Some are still active chapels. Some have been repurposed for other purposes or no longer serve Christian congregations. But they all exist as lasting reminders of how previous generations built sacred spaces.
Their architecture speaks of a confidence, seriousness, and respect that is absent from many contemporary designs. These were buildings intended to inspire, sustain, and anchor communities.
My chance trip across Missouri’s West Bottoms also provided a glimpse into the metro’s broader transformation. Straddling the unmarked border between Kansas and Missouri, this area was once a run-down industrial area but is quickly emerging as a hotspot for lofts, restaurants, and other redevelopment. I suspect it will be completely redeveloped within five years.
Between professional sports, a growing hospitality scene, and an incredibly rich heritage, Kansas City, Kansas is no longer just a neighbor. It’s an unexpected destination.
If you go
In Strawberry Hill, head to Beverly’s for a bite to eat. The family-friendly establishment is a local favorite. Other dining options include Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, part of the KCK BBQ Trail.
Wyandotte County’s only winery, Low Ridge Vineyard & Winery, offers a fascinating glimpse into Kansas’ fledgling wine industry. The wines produced from hybrid grapes grown in the estate’s vineyards are distinct in style and compare surprisingly well with bottles from other emerging, non-traditional wine regions.
I have always had a fondness for the Arc de Triomphe. The Rosedale Memorial Arch is a scaled-down homage to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, built to honor veterans of World War I and later expanded as a memorial to those who served in subsequent conflicts. This is probably one of the most overlooked hidden gems in KCK.
If Margaritaville isn’t your hotel of choice, consider Chateau Avalon Hotel. Quirky and overtly quirky, this hotel offers a unique blend of boutique hotel and B&B accommodation.
Complete travel planning resources are available from Visit Kansas City, Kansas.
Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post.
Dennis Lennox writes about travel, politics, and religious issues. He has been published in publications such as the Financial Times, Independent, Detroit News, and Toronto Sun. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter.
