KCKidsFun

Recently, we BRIEFLY glimpsed the sun…and if you’re anything like me, you’re craving a taste of the outdoors.  How much longer til spring arrives?!?  Did you know that two Kansas City favorites remain open through the winter?

Johnson County’s Ernie Miller Nature Center and Kansas City’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center are both welcoming visitors–children and adults alike– even in the bitter cold and snow we’ve grown accustomed to!

Ernie Miller Nature Center contains displays and live animals, among other things.  During the winter, the Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9am-430pm, and on Sundays from 1230pm – 430pm.  They have interesting programming, even geared toward the preschool set.  For example, this Saturday, Jan. 30, your preschooler can have some fun with fossils and practice being a paleontologist!  Preregistration is required.  $14, from 930-11am.  For a less expensive outing, try one of their preschool “Animal Tales” storytimes.  $2 will get you stories, songs and a visit by a surprise animal friend.  Ernie Miller Nature Center is located in Olathe, KS, at 909 N. Hwy 7.

If you’d like to spend a day near the Plaza, you must plan a visit to Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center.  Located just east of the Country Club Plaza at 4750 Troost Avenue, the campus is open Monday through Saturday, 8am- 5pm.  The programming here fosters an appreciation for the bounty and beauty of nature.  You can even purchase your hunting and fishing permits, books and educational materials highlighting Missouri’s natural resources.  Upcoming events include “Regal Eagles” on Jan. 30, “Winter Patterns” on Feb. 6, and “Love is for the Birds” on Feb. 13.

And, no trip to the Plaza would be complete without a stop into Winstead’s on 47th Street for a steakburger, fries and chocolate malt!  It may be cold and windy outside, but get out of the house with the kids and check out nature…indoors!!!

It’s October in Kansas City.  Brisk mornings, sunny afternoons. Maybe a little bit of rain here and there, but all in all— fantastic weather. The leaves are at their peak and many trees have already dropped theirs for the winter.

What better time to get the kids outside! The Kansas City area has several fabulous nature centers with walking trails. We love the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in south Overland Park. Stop in at the visitor’s center for a fun scavenger hunt list for the kids to take on your walk.

For an easy stroll, there is a paved path of decent length. The Arboretum also has non-paved, mulched walking trails through the woods. The walk is beautiful and full of things to see, especially for little eyes that like to spy critters and “perfect” leaves.

Other similar spots to check out around town include:

• Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center in Olathe – check their schedule for fun storytimes and exhibits at the Nature Center in addition to their gorgeous prairie walking trails

• Anita B. Gorman Discovery Conservation Center in Kansas City – just a hop, skip and a jump from the Plaza, Midtown and Brookside, can you believe it? The Discovery Center has FANTASTIC Saturday programming for kids and it’s all usually FREE!  Don’t miss BIG BROWN BATS on Halloween–Oct. 31, 2009!

• Burr Oaks Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs – four great trails to walk and super programs for kids and babies.

• Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty – several walking trails (several are handicapped accessible) and wonderful kids’ programs and events.  The annual Fairy Tale Forest just concluded, but you’re sure to find fantastic programming in November, too!

• Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City – in Swope Park near the Zoo, you can hike the trails with a naturalist.

• Wilderness Science Center in south Overland Park – this nature preserve is owned by the Blue Valley School District. Located behind Blue River Elementary School and Blue Valley Middle School, its building is primarily intended for use by school groups but the trails are open to the public after school hours and on weekends. A lovely walk in the woods.

• Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Blue Springs – located in Fleming Park, you’ll find everything from fossils, reptile and wildlife displays, gardens, walking trails and more!

Many parks around town also have great walking trails if you’re not looking for the formal educational offerings of a nature center. Pack some water, some snacks and a kid or two or four and head to:

• Kill Creek Park, Olathe

• Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa

• Longview Lake Park, Kansas City

• Weston Bend State Park, Weston, MO

• George Owens Nature Park, Independence, MO

For more ideas:

• Bike and Hiking Trails

Get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall!  The city has so much to offer— better yet, it doesn’t cost a thing!!!