The Ultimate 2026 Kansas City Family Bucket List (Fun Things To Do With Kids)

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “we should really get out and do more this year” — this one’s for you.

Kansas City is packed with incredible things for families, and 2026 is the perfect year to start checking them off together. From classic KC experiences like the zoo and Union Station to hidden gems, seasonal traditions, and simple memory-making days, this 2026 Kansas City Family Bucket List is designed to make planning easier (and more fun).

Whether you’re looking for free things to do, outdoor adventures, rainy-day ideas, or new traditions to start with your kids, this list has something for every season and every age. Print it, hang it on your fridge, or keep it saved on your phone — and see how many you can complete by the end of the year.

A fun, memory‑making checklist for KC families — save, print, and check off all year long!

🎢 KC Classics & Must‑Do Experiences

• ☐ Kansas City Zoo
• ☐ Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
• ☐ Worlds of Fun
• ☐ Oceans of Fun
• ☐ Ride the KC Streetcar
• ☐ Ride the KC Wheel
• ☐ Boulevard Drive‑In Theatre
• ☐ Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant
• ☐ Science City at Union Station
• ☐ The Rabbit hOle
• ☐ Wonderscope
• ☐ Crayola Store at Crown Center
• ☐ Union Station exhibits
• ☐ Money Museum at the Federal Reserve
• ☐ Lakeside Nature Center
• ☐ Overland Park Farmers Market
• ☐ Ride the mini train at Sar‑Ko‑Par Trails Park

⚾ Sports & Game Day Fun

• ☐ Kansas City Royals game
• ☐ Chiefs watch party or game
• ☐ KC Mavericks hockey game
• ☐ Kansas City Comets indoor soccer game
• ☐ Kansas City Monarchs baseball game
• ☐ Sporting KC soccer game
• ☐ KC Current soccer game
• ☐ College basketball game (KU, K‑State, or local)
• ☐ Youth sports tournament weekend
• ☐ Watch a parade

🌿 Outdoor & Nature Adventures

• ☐ Rent fishing poles from the library + go fishing
• ☐ Visit Shawnee Mission Park
• ☐ Hike at Burr Oak Woods
• ☐ Walk the Overland Park Arboretum
• ☐ Picnic at Loose Park
• ☐ Explore Parkville Nature Sanctuary
• ☐ Visit Ernie Miller Nature Center
• ☐ Go creek stomping after a rain
• ☐ Fly kites at a local park
• ☐ Family bike ride on the Indian Creek Trail
• ☐ Nature scavenger hunt
• ☐ Sunset at the WWI Memorial lawn

🎨 Creativity, Learning & Indoor Fun

• ☐ Nelson‑Atkins Museum (kids area + lawn)
• ☐ Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
• ☐ Library storytime
• ☐ Library makerspace or craft class
• ☐ Paint pottery together at Ceramic Cafe
• ☐ LEGO or building activity day
• ☐ Visit a local bookstore + pick out a book
• ☐ Kids cooking or baking class
• ☐ Children’s theater performance
• ☐ Attend first Friday or local art fair

✨ Pro tip: You don’t have to do it all. Pick a few favorites each month and let memories be made!

🍦 Food & Sweet Treat Adventures

• ☐ Try a new Ice cream shop (Betty Rae’s, Fairway Creamery, Sylas & Maddy’s, etc.)
• ☐ Try a new donut shop
• ☐ Family BBQ at a KC BBQ staple
• ☐ Breakfast date at a local diner
• ☐ Find the best hot chocolate in KC (winter)
• ☐ Snow cone stop (summer)
• ☐ Picnic + takeout night at a park
• ☐ Coffee shop stop with a kid‑friendly drink
• ☐ Make s’mores together

🎉 Seasonal & Holiday Fun

• ☐ Visit a pumpkin patch
• ☐ Fall festival or Oktoberfest
• ☐ Apple picking
• ☐ Holiday lights drive
• ☐ Union Station at Christmas
• ☐ See a live holiday show
• ☐ Meet Santa
• ☐ Easter egg hunt
• ☐ Fourth of July fireworks
• ☐ Outdoor summer movie night
• ☐ Fall hayride
• ☐ Visit a local Christmas market

💛 Community & Feel‑Good Moments

• ☐ Volunteer together (age‑appropriate)
• ☐ Donate toys or books
• ☐ Support a local small business
• ☐ Leave kindness notes around town
• ☐ Attend a school or community fundraiser
• ☐ Attend a KC Moms Club or KC Dads Club event
• ☐ Explore a new KC park
• ☐ Create a monthly family tradition

📸 Bonus Fun Challenges

• ☐ Recreate a childhood KC memory
• ☐ Visit 12 parks in 12 months
• ☐ Take photos at KC murals
• ☐ Plan a family “Yes Day”
• ☐ Rainy‑day adventure challenge
• ☐ Free‑only weekend challenge
• ☐ Toddler‑friendly adventure day
• ☐ Big‑kid adventure day

Tip: Print this checklist, hang it on your fridge, or keep it in a family binder and see how many KC memories you can make in 2026!

Let’s make 2026 a year full of fun, connection, and Kansas City adventures.