This welcoming city may have one of the highest populations in Kansas, but it retains a small-town, country vibe that is hard to resist.
Overland Park combines classic rural Kansas charm and friendliness with all the conveniences of a big city. Expect a warm welcome when you arrive in this lovely place, where outdoor attractions abound and farming is still celebrated alongside an appealing cultural scene.
Start your trip to Overland Park with a rich cup of locally roasted coffee at one of the coffee shops in the downtown area. Afterward, explore some of the city’s open-air spaces, such as the gorgeous Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. This nature-filled park is a great place to wander or have a picnic. Events such as Enchanted Forest Fun for kids are regularly held here. Alternatively, put on your walking shoes or rent a bike and follow the waterside path of Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail.
For a change of pace, explore the galleries of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Take photos of the beautiful and understated modernist building housing the artworks.
Bring your kids for interactive educational fun at the natural history Museum at Prairiefire of Overland Park or let them meet the animals at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, a reconstructed turn-of-the-century farm. Explore the sprawling grounds of this living museum, complete with an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse, beautiful flower and vegetable gardens and more than 250 different animal residents.
In the evening, enjoy a hearty dinner at one of the family-owned restaurants downtown. Finish the night by seeing a blockbuster film at Cinetopia Overland Park’s huge movie theater with luxury seating and gourmet concessions. Alternatively, visit the wonderfully retro Rio Theatre, an old-fashioned masterpiece of a building where independent pictures are screened.
Drive to Overland Park from Kansas City International Airport in about 30 minutes. Come in summer to enjoy the scenic hiking trails around the city or in winter to join local residents on the snow-covered hillsides for some sledding fun.
