Lights, Camera, Plaza!

There’s nothing like being in the midst of the annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony on Thanksgiving night. Before the lights are turned on, live music fills the streets, providing a festive soundtrack as families stroll around the picturesque district. Just as memorable is the test lighting, which happens the day before Thanksgiving from 2 to 6 a.m. I’ll never forget waking in the wee hours, pulling on my coat and scarf and grabbing a hot cup of coffee before walking through the Plaza, the cheerful twinkle of the lights especially breathtaking amid the peaceful stillness as the rest of the city sleeps on, with dreams of turkey, stuffing and potatoes dancing through their heads.

5 Dazzling Holiday Light Displays: http://t.co/2xCmL425K7 @VisitKC @visitduluth @ExpCols @ChooseChicago @PureMichigan pic.twitter.com/iUy6S1XudI

— Midwest Living (@MidwestLiving) November 19, 2014

Crown Jewel

Crown Center is always a must-see attraction, but it’s especially inviting during the holidays. One of the nation’s first mixed-use developments, Crown Center was envisioned by Hallmark Cards founder Joyce C. Hall and his son, current Hallmark chairman Donald J. Hall. Inside Crown Center, an array of shopping and dining awaits, including the newly renovated Halls department store that has the perfect gift for everyone on your list. The kids will have a blast at Fritz’s, a casual restaurant where diners place orders by phone and food is delivered by miniature trains that constantly traverse an impressive network of tracks.

Once the kids have full tummies and are outfitted with cardboard conductor hats, stroll outside for a family photo op by the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, a towering, 100-foot tree that’s lit the day after Thanksgiving. And don’t miss Crown Center’s Ice Terrace, one of the city’s public, outdoor ice skating rinks. There’s nothing quite like gliding around the open-air rink and glancing up as the downtown skyline moves past. Think of it as a wintry retreat amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

See You on the Slopes

The best thing about the winter holidays? Snow, of course! There might be a shortage of mountains in Kansas City, but that won’t stop you from treating your kids to a winter sports paradise at Snow Creek, located a short drive from Kansas City in Weston.

Once you get there, watch your kids’ eyes light up as they take in the towering hills that are covered in a deep, fluffy layer of machine-made snow. More than 60 snowmaking machines crank out 12 inches of snow in 24 hours. If your family has a need for speed, Tornado Alley is your destination. You’ll go hurtling down a 700-foot long slope before riding the conveyer carpet, Twister, back to the top for another adrenaline-fueled ride.

New to snow sports? No sweat (pun intended)! Snow Creek Sports School offers a full range of lessons for adults and kids. Weekend hours begin Dec. 13; Snow Creek is open through early March.

Polar Bears and Penguins and Primates, Oh My!

The Kansas City Zoo remains a perennial favorite, especially during the winter months, when some of the zoo’s most beloved inhabitants thrive in the cold temperatures. Stop by Polar Bear Passage to meet the zoo’s fun-loving polar bear, Nuniq. He gets especially playful in the snow and loves to roll around—perhaps he's making a polar bear version of a snow angel? Watch while Nuniq cranks out lap after lap on a regular basis.

Speaking of swims, one of the zoo’s newer exhibits, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, is a paradise for a variety of species, including around a dozen Humboldt penguins and about 50 cold-water penguins. The penguins love to splash, play and slide, a sight that always delights the younger zoo visitors as they giggle and cheer on the speedy animals. Swooping ice slopes provide the perfect trajectories on which the penguins can launch themselves into more than 25,000 gallons of cool saltwater. Sounds refreshing, doesn’t it?

Coffee Break

You’ll need plenty of energy to enjoy all of the holiday excitement—and you’ve arrived just in time. Kansas City is in the midst of a coffee renaissance that’s introduced a number of local coffee shops to the area so you’re never far away from a tasty baked treat and a warm beverage. A few favorites include longtime Kansas City staple The Roasterie, which started in founder Danny O’Neill’s basement before the company’s convection air-roasting method attracted national acclaim. Other must-see shops? Newer kids on the downtown block include Quay Coffee (pronounced “key,” after the coffee shop’s home in an area formerly known as the River Quay); Thou Mayest Coffee, which also has a full bar; The Filling Station, a former gas station that’s home to the best assortment of pastries, pies and other treats; and Broadway Café, a local coffee shop so popular that it’s rumored to have put a nearby Starbucks out of business.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

No travel escape is complete without unforgettable local dining. Kansas City’s unofficial cuisine is barbecue, and nobody does it better. Nationally celebrated Oklahoma Joe’s is always a great choice (and well worth the wait). Pro tip? Order the Z-Man sandwich. For a slightly more upscale experience, try Q39 or Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue. Other local favorites include Gates Bar-B-Q, home to the signature phrase, “Hi, may I help you?” and Arthur Bryant’s. Other notable dining options include local gastropub Gram & Dun (with beautiful views of the Plaza Lights); Novel, created around owner and head chef Ryan Brazeal’s “novel American cuisine” concept; farm-to-table purveyor The Farmhouse; or Port Fonda, a Mexican food truck so popular it became a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Now that your holiday travel wish list is complete, it’s time to make it happen! Before you go, be sure to check the weather so that the kiddos are comfortable throughout their stay. And when people ask you how you’re celebrating the holidays this year, tell them you’re “goin’ to Kansas City”—we can’t wait to see you!

Discover more local favorites and winter events with the Visit KC Official Visitors Guide