15 Adventurous Pursuits in Kansas City
For the Thrill of It
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin
There’s an old blues song called, “The Thrill is Gone.” It’s about a relationship that started out hot, but has cooled quite a bit. But in Kansas City, our thrills—from coasters to haunted houses, unusual culinary dishes to paintball—are sure to keep you exhilarated year round.
A World of Fun
Hair-raising excitement for the entire family is what you’ll find at Worlds of Fun. The 235-acre park features more than 100 rides and attractions and a wide array of what they call “aggressive thrill rides” sure to raise your heartbeat more than just a notch.
Achieve the sensation of hang gliding on the RipCord, punctuated by a 190-foot tethered free-fall between 60 to 80 miles per hour. And there’s the ThunderHawk, rising 60 feet high before its gondola inverts riders, rotating them in a circular motion backwards and forwards. The Mamba, one of the tallest, longest and fastest roller coasters in the world, offers a heart-palpating 200-foot climb before plunging at 75 miles per hour toward Earth.
Get Your Motor Runnin’
Have a need for speed? Then KC’s got some high-speed, gas powered experiences for you. Located at Kansas Speedway, the Richard Petty Driving Experience offers the adrenaline pumping thrill of NASCAR with you in the driver seat.
With 600 horsepower under the hood, choose from the Rookie Experience with eight face-paced laps; the Kings Experience for 18 unforgettable spins; the Experience of a Lifetime, allowing you to hightail it over two dozen times; or the Racing experience, 50 intense laps that’ll leave you breathless. If you’d rather not drive, ride shotgun with one of their trained professional at 165 miles per hour!
For a more mild-mannered but no less titillating driving experience, Sadlers Indoor Racing just might be the driving ticket (pardon the pun). Featuring high-performance go-karts imported from Germany, the Sadlers experience was inspired by European go-kart tracks. Different featured courses of the day include an Oval, European-Style Road Race, and Grand Prix, allowing drivers to reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour while competing for the checkered flag.
A Different Kind of Painting Party
Tired of big brother or sister picking on you? Is your mother-in-law getting on your last nerve? Then bring them to Jaeger’s Subsurface Paintball for some good-natured family fun.
Billed as “the world’s first and only underground paintball arena catering to all skill levels of the game,” Jaegers—set in the hillside of one of Kansas City’s oldest limestone mines—features five underground recreation fields plus a two-man speedball field. Armed with compressed air guns, paintballs and safety gear (and trained referees!), You’ll find ample barricades to hide from the enemy as you creep around, duck and shoot family and friends ‘til your heart’s content. Jaeger’s also offers four outdoor fields from spring until fall.
Fright Nights
Claustrophobics and crybabies are invited to The Beast and The Edge of Hell, where dragging you out of your comfort zone is of the utmost priority. Scaring thousands of fans during the Halloween season, they have been ranked among the 10 scariest haunted attractions in the nation.
The Beast, one of America’s largest Haunted Houses, takes fright fans through a series of blood-curdling scenes, including an abandonment issue-evoking quarter-acre werewolf forest where you roam about in complete darkness while werewolves hunt you like prey.
Situated in a converted five-story warehouse, the Edge of Hell utilizes the newest state-of-the-art technology to create life-like scare tactics, such as giant anaconda eyes and a lunging vampire, coupled with a cast of 45 menacing live performers. When you’ve had enough, the only exit is via a steep, four-story vertical slide landing you right into the arms of the Devil himself.
The Macabre Cinema Haunted House, staged as a 1930s haunted movie theater is also part of the frightening experience here. Let the nightmares begin!
Go Climb a Tree!
And that’s exactly what you’ll do at Tree Climbing KC. Designed to offer a different kind of thrill while fostering good ethical treatment of our environment, Tree Climbing KC offers spectacular bird’s eye views of the Kansas City area and beyond.
Here, adventurers of all physical abilities and backgrounds wear a rope and harness while learning to maneuver a series of knots to rise above the earth and break free of the bounds of gravity to swing or lounge amidst beautiful treetop canopies.
Zip It!
Located just a stone’ s throw away from the Legends Outlets Kansas City and Kansas Speedway in Bonner Springs, Zip KC is a 143-acre park featuring several different zipline tour options. The Hike and Zip encompasses a half mile of hiking in between three challenging and fun ziplines. On the Tower Tour, climb a 65-foot tower then soar about a quarter mile across five different zip lines from tower to tower. Or, indulge yourself in an exhilarating Hike and Zip/Tower Tour combo.
Gastronomic Thrills
Back in the 1970s, kids sometimes called school cafeteria food “mystery meat,” meaning they had no idea what was in it. In Kansas City we call them extreme culinary adventures, designed for those who enjoy a few unexpected yet wonderfully delicious surprises on their plate.
At Grinders and Grinders West in the Crossroads District, their claim to fame includes their chicken wings which come in half, full and “Big Ass” sizes served with your choice of Wimpy, Molten or "Death Sauce." Of the latter the folks at Grinders say, “This sauce is so HOT! It will blow your mind and burn off a few taste buds.”
And last but not least, after eating at Extra Virgin, any purity you previously claimed could go right out the window. Among the unusual yet scrumptious specialties at this Spanish tapas-inspired restaurant created by nationally renowned and James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Smith, are the sea urchin pasta, duck tongue tacos, crispy pig ear salad and beef heart tartare. (Try bringing one of those to your next potluck gathering!)
So, if you haven’t caught on by now, KC’s got a little bit of everything for the not so faint at heart.
There's more to see in KC
1827 Log Courthouse
Region: East
Phone: (816) 325-7111
Visit WebsiteAdventure Oasis Water Park
Region: East
Phone: (816) 325-7370
Visit WebsiteAmerican Jazz Museum
Region: 18th and Vine Neighborhood, Downtown
Phone: (816) 474-8463
Visit WebsiteAmerican Royal Association
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 221-9800
Visit WebsiteAmigoni Urban Winery
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (913) 890-3289
Visit WebsiteBeast Haunted House, The
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 842-4280
Visit WebsiteBrush Creek Community Center
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 513-0730
Visit WebsiteBruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 513-0700
Visit WebsiteChicago and Alton Depot
Region: East
Phone: (816) 325-7955
Visit WebsiteCinder Block Brewery
Region: North KC
Phone: (816) 298-6555
Visit WebsiteCity Hall Observation Deck
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 513-2689
Visit WebsiteElmwood Cemetery
Region: East
Phone: (816) 231-0373
Visit WebsiteEwing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden
Region: Midtown
Phone: (816) 932-1260
Visit WebsiteGangster Tour
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 471-1234
Visit WebsiteGreat Wolf Lodge
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (913) 907-2954
Visit WebsiteHallmark Visitors Center
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 274-3613
Visit WebsiteHeritage League of Greater Kansas City
Region: Downtown
Phone: (913) 715-2551
Visit WebsiteHorace M. Peterson III Visitors Center
Region: 18th and Vine Neighborhood, Downtown
Phone: (816) 474-8463
Visit WebsiteJohnson County Museum
Region: Kansas, Overland Park, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 826-2787
Visit WebsiteKaleidoscope
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 274-8301
Visit WebsiteKansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities
Region: Crossroads, Downtown
Phone: (816) 513-5000
Visit WebsiteKansas City Fun Trolley Tours LLC
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 500-5417
Visit WebsiteKansas City Northern Miniature Railroad
Region: Northland
Phone: (816) 746-5663
Visit WebsiteKemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Region: Country Club Plaza, Midtown
Phone: (816) 753-5784
Visit WebsiteLakeside Nature Center
Region: South KC, Swope Park
Phone: (816) 513-8960
Visit WebsiteLanesfield Historic Site
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 893-6645
Visit WebsiteLenexa Convention and Visitors Bureau
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 888-1414
Visit WebsiteLoose Park
Region: Midtown
Phone: (816) 513-7500
Visit WebsiteLouisburg Aquatic Center
Region: Overland Park
Phone: (913) 837-3555
Visit WebsiteMacabre Cinema Haunted House
Region: Downtown, West Bottoms
Phone: (816) 472-4467
Visit WebsiteMahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 971-5111
Visit WebsiteMidwest Genealogy Center
Region: East
Phone: (816) 252-7228
Visit WebsiteNational Frontier Trails Museum
Region: East
Phone: (816) 325-7575
Visit WebsiteNegro Leagues Baseball Museum
Region: 18th and Vine Neighborhood, Downtown
Phone: (816) 221-1920
Visit WebsiteOld Red Bridge Love Locks
Region: South KC, Swope Park
Phone: (816) 513-7500
Visit WebsitePenguin Park
Region: Northland
Phone: (816) 513-7500
Visit WebsitePlatte County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (816) 270-3979
Visit WebsitePuppetry Arts Institute
Region: East
Phone: (816) 833-9777
Visit WebsiteQuindaro Ruins Underground Railroad
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (913) 609-1587
Visit WebsiteRose Garden
Region: Northland
Phone: (816) 784-5300
Visit WebsiteScience City at Union Station
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 460-2020
Visit WebsiteSouth Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 761-7660
Visit WebsiteSpring Hill Cemetery
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 592-3664
Visit WebsiteStarlight Theatre
Region: South KC, Swope Park
Phone: (816) 363-7827
Visit WebsiteThe Bay Water Park
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 965-9218
Visit WebsiteThe Edge of Hell Haunted House
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 842-4279
Visit WebsiteThe Money Museum at Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 881-2683
Visit WebsiteTony Aguirre Community Center
Region: Westside/Southwest BLVD, Downtown
Phone: (816) 784-1300
Visit WebsiteTrailside Center
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 942-3581
Visit WebsiteVaile Mansion and Arboretum
Region: East
Phone: (816) 503-6700
Visit WebsiteVietnam Veterans Memorial
Region: Midtown, Westport
Phone: (816) 561-8387
Visit WebsiteVisit Shawnee
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 631-6545
Visit WebsiteArabia Steamboat Museum
Region: River Market, Downtown
Phone: (816) 471-1856
Visit WebsiteUnion Station Kansas City
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 460-2000
Visit WebsiteThe Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Region: Country Club Plaza, Midtown
Phone: (816) 751-1278
Visit WebsiteOlathe Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 764-1050
Visit WebsiteLegends Outlets Kansas City
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (913) 788-3700
Visit WebsiteCrown Center
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 274-8444
Visit WebsiteVisit Independence
Region: East
Phone: (816) 325-7575
Visit WebsiteKansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Region: South KC, Swope Park
Phone: (816) 595-1234
Visit WebsiteNational WWI Museum and Memorial
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 888-8100
Visit WebsiteVisit Kansas City Kansas
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (913) 321-5800
Visit WebsiteKansas City Royals
Region: East
Phone: (816) 921-8000
Visit WebsiteLEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 471-4386
Visit WebsiteThe National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
Region: South Plaza, Midtown
Phone: (816) 235-8000
Visit WebsiteSEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 471-4FUN (4386)
Visit WebsiteServaes Brewing Company
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 608-5220
Visit WebsiteOverland Chauffeured Services
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 381-3504
Visit WebsiteBoulevard Brewing Co.
Region: Westside/Southwest BLVD, Downtown
Phone: (816) 701-7247
Visit WebsiteChicken N Pickle - Kansas City
Region: North KC
Phone: (816) 537-1400
Visit WebsiteBlade & Timber Power & Light
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 343-8489
Visit WebsiteJ. Rieger & Co.
Region: North East
Phone: (816) 702-7800
Visit WebsiteCity of Lenexa, Kansas
Region: Kansas, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 477-7500
Visit WebsiteBingham-Waggoner Estate
Region: East
Phone: (816) 461-3491
Visit WebsiteErnie Miller Nature Center
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 826-2800
Visit WebsiteBlade & Timber Town Center
Region: Kansas, Overland Park, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 205-5421
Visit WebsiteCity of North Kansas City, Missouri
Region: North KC
Phone: (816) 274-6000
Visit WebsiteCity Market
Region: River Market, Downtown
Phone: (816) 842-1271
Visit WebsiteGardner Chamber of Commerce
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 856-6464
Visit WebsiteBorder Brewing Company
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 469-5287
Visit WebsiteHarry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
Region: East
Phone: (816) 268-8200
Visit WebsiteCasual Animal Brewing Company
Region: Crossroads, Downtown
Phone: (816) 648-0184
Visit WebsiteCity of Grandview, MO
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 316-4800
Visit WebsiteiFLY Kansas City
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 305-4359
Visit WebsiteMissouri Town Living History Museum.
Region: South KC, East
Phone: (816) 229-8980
Visit WebsiteJackson County Parks + Rec
Region: South KC, East
Phone: (816) 503-4800
Visit WebsiteMartin City Brewing Company
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 268-2222
Visit WebsiteHistoric Garment District Museum of Kansas City
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 513-0726
Visit WebsiteKansas City Automotive Museum
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 322-4227
Visit WebsiteFactory Cafe - The Roasterie
Region: Westside/Southwest BLVD, Downtown
Phone: (816) 931-4000
Visit WebsiteKansas City Renaissance Festival
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (913) 721-2110
Visit WebsiteGEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Region: East
Phone: (816) 920-9300
Visit WebsiteKemper Outdoor Education Center
Region: South KC, Westport, East
Phone: (816) 229-8980
Visit WebsiteTom's Town Distilling Company
Region: Crossroads, Downtown
Phone: (816) 541-2400
Visit WebsiteBrew Lab
Region: Overland Park, Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 400-2343
Visit WebsiteNorthland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Region: Northland
Phone: (816) 455-9911
Visit WebsiteShawnee Town 1929
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 248-2360
Visit WebsiteVisitor Services at the JCPRD Administration Building
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 888-4713
Visit WebsiteSplash Cove Aquatic Center
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 631-7177
Visit WebsiteSpring Hill Kansas - Historic Downtown
Region: Kansas, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 592-3664
Visit WebsiteKansas City Chiefs
Region: East
Phone: (816) 920-9300
Visit WebsiteStrange Days Brewing Co.
Region: River Market, Downtown
Phone: (816) 469-5321
Visit WebsiteKansas City Parks & Recreation
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 513-7500
Visit WebsiteJohnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Region: Overland Park, Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 826-2787
Visit WebsiteThomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 631-0054
Visit WebsiteKansas City Museum
Region: North East
Phone: 816-702-7700
Visit WebsiteVisit Overland Park
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 491-0123
Visit WebsiteShawnee Historic Murals
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 631-2500
Visit WebsiteThe Regnier Family Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 643-6700
Visit WebsiteCrown Center Ice Terrace
Region: Crown Center, Downtown
Phone: (816) 274-8411
Visit WebsiteBlack Archives of Mid-America, Inc.
Region: 18th and Vine Neighborhood, Downtown
Phone: (816) 221-1600
Visit WebsiteVisit KC
Region: Downtown, Power & Light
Phone: (816) 691-3800
Visit WebsiteLewis and Clark Lookout, Case Park
Region: Downtown
Phone: N/A
Visit WebsiteKC Wine Co. & KC Pumpkin Patch
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 484-6251
Visit WebsiteTransport Brewery
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: 732-998-5899
Visit WebsiteDowntown Shawnee
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 631-2500
Visit WebsiteAubrey Vineyards
Region: Overland Park, Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 909-2926
Visit WebsiteExBEERiment Brewing
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 938-4175
Visit WebsiteThe College Basketball Experience
Region: Power & Light, Downtown
Phone: (816) 949-7500
Visit WebsiteAmazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure-Kansas City
Region: Midtown, Westport
Phone: (805) 603-5620
Visit WebsiteBreakout KC - Park Place
Region: Overland Park, Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 298-1081
Visit WebsiteBreakout KC - River Market
Region: River Market, Downtown
Phone: (816) 945-CODE(2633)
Visit WebsiteRockcreek Brewing Co.
Region: Kansas, Johnson County/South
Phone: 913-218-0017
Visit WebsiteT-Mobile Center
Region: Power & Light, Downtown
Phone: (816) 949-7100
Visit WebsiteCallsign Brewing
Region: North KC
Phone: (660) 541-0420
Visit WebsiteSinkers Lounge
Region: Downtown, Power & Light
Phone: (913) 374-0105
Visit WebsiteKansas Speedway
Region: Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas
Phone: (866) 460-7223
Visit WebsiteGhost Tour, Haunted Taxi Ghost Tours & 1322 Maple House Of The Dead
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: 913-205-9775
Visit WebsitePinstripes Overland Park
Region: Johnson County/South, Kansas
Phone: (913) 681-2255
Visit WebsiteDowntown Lee's Summit
Region: South KC, East
Phone: (816) 246-6598
Visit WebsiteKirk Family YMCA
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 842-9622
Visit WebsiteBRKTHROUGH
Region: Kansas, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 948-5800
Visit WebsiteRiver Bluff Brewing
Region: River Market, Downtown
Phone: (816) 255-2360
Visit WebsiteCity Barrel Brewery + Kitchen
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 298-7008
Visit WebsiteStockyards Brewing Co.
Region: Downtown, West Bottoms
Phone: (816) 945-7729
Visit WebsiteOak & Steel
Region: Downtown, Crossroads
Phone: (816) 610-8955
Visit WebsiteChicken N Pickle - Overland Park
Region: Kansas, Johnson County/South
Phone: (913) 703-5950
Visit WebsiteRaytown Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Region: South KC, Westport, East
Phone: (816) 353-8500
Visit WebsiteRestless Spirits Distilling
Region: North KC
Phone: (816) 492-6868
Visit WebsiteFull Moon Escape
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 842-4280
Visit WebsiteKC Rainbow Tour
Region: Downtown
Phone: (574) 226-9550
Visit WebsitePuttery
Region: Country Club Plaza, Midtown
Visit WebsiteKC Wheel
Region: Downtown
Phone: (816) 608-6918
Visit WebsiteFaulkner's Ranch Event Venue
Region: South KC
Phone: (816) 761-5055
Visit WebsiteKansas City Tour Company/Black History KC
Region: South KC, Westport, East
Phone: (816) 286-5298
Visit WebsiteLarks Entertainment Kansas City
Region: West Bottoms, Downtown
Phone: (816) 832-8238
Visit Website