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Indoor Activities for Winter Vacation 2011

Posted December 18, 2011 9:07pm by Kiran

WINTER BREAK. It’s coming like a freight train (and for some, it’s already here!)  It always seems to start out great, then the boredom sets in.  And the inevitable fighting begins.  What’s a family to do?  Is there anything to do that doesn’t involve a video game?!?!?   And that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?

Here are some free, cheap or relatively inexpensive ideas for things to do with the kids that you might want to consider:

You’ll want to begin your search by heading over to www.visitkc.com.  This site is chock-full of great DEALS–especially the 2-for-1 “Season of Magic” printable coupons to many of the city’s greatest attractions!  Attractions include Paradise Park, CoCo Key Water Resort and Powell Gardens.

1. Swimming at indoor pools - lots of community centers have open swim during break for a daily fee of $3 to $7 – some of these pools are really neat with a water park feel – some of the less expensive ones include Park Hill Aquatic Center, Blue Springs and the KCMO Community Centers. We’ve got a fairly extensive list of indoor pools to check out.  Or you can check out your local YMCA for indoor pools, workout facilities and more!

2. Check out some of Kansas City’s museums with cheap or free admission – the Puppetry Arts Institute, the Johnson County Museum of History (with the new Kidscape exhibit), the National World War I Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve (for older kids) and the art museums (Kemper, Nelson & Nerman). Some of these have free admission – others will cost you a few bucks a person (with lower admission prices for the little ones).

3. Kaleidoscope at Crown Center – FREE Family Art Sessions almost every day of winter break

4. Visit Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs for free glass marble making demonstrations

5. Open Gyms - most are for the preschool crowd but there will certainly be some open to the school-aged kids over break – check our list of Open Gyms – prices range from $1 to $10 for several hours of fabulous, exhausting play!

6. We’ve written about ice skating in Kansas City–outdoor rinks can be found in Leawood at Park Place as well as at Crown Center in downtown KC.  The next few weeks will be perfect for enjoying KC’s outdoor rinks!

7. And don’t forget your local library! Many have fun holiday programming – there are regularly scheduled storytimes, craft sessions and holiday performances – or just hang out there for an afternoon for a change of scenery! Many library activities are listed in the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar.

8. Some of the local parks and recreation departments are also offering winter break camps and activities. For example, Blue Valley Rec is offering basketball camps, open gyms and art classes. I’m sure others are doing the same.

So, if Christmas has broken the bank – don’t despair. There are still great things to do with the kids that won’t involve the television, the computer or video games! Have a fantastic break!

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Baby, it’s cold outside!

Posted December 28, 2010 8:49am by Kiran

WINTER BREAK. It’s cold outside (actually, warming up the next few days, then cold AGAIN after a lovely Thursday).  What’s a family to do?  Is there anything that doesn’t involve a video game?!?!?   And that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?  We’re financially spent after a lean 2010 and school doesn’t start for another week.

Here are few free, cheap or relatively inexpensive ideas for things to do with the kids:

You’ll want to begin your search by heading over to www.visitkc.com.  This site is chock-full of great DEALS–especially the 2-for-1 “Season of Magic” admission coupons to many of the city’s greatest attractions!  Attractions include Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial and Toy & Miniature Museum.

1. Swimming at indoor pools – lots of community centers have open swim during break for a daily fee of $3 to $7 – some of these pools are really neat with a water park feel – some of the less expensive ones include Park Hill Aquatic Center, Blue Springs and the KCMO Community Centers. We’ve got a pretty extensive list of indoor pools to check out.  Or you can check out your local YMCA for indoor pools and more!

2. Check out some of Kansas City’s museums with cheap or free admission – the Puppetry Arts Institute, the Johnson County Museum of History (with the new Kidscape exhibit), the National World War I Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve (for older kids) and the art museums (Kemper, Nelson & Nerman). Some of these have free admission – others will cost you a few bucks a person (with lower admission prices for the little ones).

3. Kaleidoscope at Crown Center – FREE Family Art Sessions almost every day of winter break

4. Visit Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs for free glass marble making demonstrations

5. Open Gyms – most are for the preschool crowd but there will certainly be some open to the school-aged kids over break – check our list of Open Gyms – prices range from $1 to $10 for several hours of fabulous, exhausting play!  One of our advertising partners, Paradise Park, is offering a Winter Break deal where you can buy $20/get $5 worth of game room tokens.  They have lots to do– Foam Factory is a favorite of our kids!!

6. We’ve written about ice skating in Kansas City–the next few days will be perfect for enjoying KC’s outdoor rinks!

7. And don’t forget your local library! Many have fun holiday programming – there are regularly scheduled storytimes, craft sessions and holiday performances – or just hang out there for an afternoon for a change of scenery! Many library activities are listed in the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar.

8. Some of the local parks and recreation departments are also offering winter break camps and activities. For example, Blue Valley Rec is offering basketball camps, open gyms and art classes. I’m sure others are doing the same.

So, if Christmas has broken the bank – don’t despair. There are still great things to do with the kids that won’t involve the television, the computer or video games! Have a fantastic break!

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Fun and FREE in KC: 7/31/2009- 8/9/2009

Posted July 31, 2009 8:43am by Kiran

Who would have thought with the arrival of August we’d see temps in the LOW 80’s?!?  Seriously?  All the more reason to get outside and have some fun with the family.  Readers–we heard you!  Seems like people appreciated this “roll up” of FREE and very inexpensive happenings.  I’m more than happy to oblige and do it again–and then I’m skipping town for the weekend with my family to enjoy a little lake time with my in-laws.  Enjoy your weekend!

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Friday, July 31, 2009

Saturday, August 1, 2009

  • Mr. Stinky Feet live at Metro North Mall (Kansas City North) – 1pm – FREE!
  • Clown Day, Crown Center – 11am to 1pm – performances, balloon animals, face painting  FREE!
  • Lenexa’s Waterfest – Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 87th & Lackman – 10am to 2pm – live music, paddle boating, cane pole fishing, waterslides, moonwalks and more – FREE!
  • Live at the Legends (KCK) – live music for mom & dad; Wonderscope Kids’ Zone for the little ones! – 5pm to 8pm
  • Saturday Dive-In Movies at the Westin Crown Center (KCMO) – movie begins at sundown; food/drink available for poolside service – this week’s flick: Night at the Museum (open to registered hotel guests only)
  • Annual Butterfly Count (Powell Gardens, east of KC on U.S. 50) – 9am-noon, $3.  REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS TODAY 7-31-09.
  • Straw Hat Saturday:  (Lenexa’s Shawnee Town) – 10am-2pm.  $1.  Visit with in-character locals at work in Shawnee Town!
  • Corn Festival (KC, MO) City Market, 5th and Walnut.  10am-2pm.
  • Wyandotte County Fair, Kansas City, KS – July 28 thru August 1- carnival activities have been canceled – livestock activities held in Leavenworth

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Monday, August 3, 2009

  • Storytime by Priscilla Howe – all ages – Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 119th & Lowell, Overland Park – 10:30am – FREE!
  • Johnson County Fair, Gardner, KS – August 3 thru August 8

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Friday, August 7, 2009

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Sunday, August 9, 2009

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