The fall season offers plenty of outdoor opportunities for KC-area residents, and we want to share a few favorite places to take our families and ourselves.
Get Yourself to Some of KC’s Fun Fall Attractions
There are multiple benefits to treating your family to fun fall outings, not the least of which are:
- Reduced screen time
- A chance to enjoy nature and the automatic stress-relief catalyzed by time spent outdoors
- Automatic exercise that’s good for the heart and soul
- A chance to visit local KC attractions you’ve never seen or experienced before
Annual Harvest Festival at Shoal Creek Living History Museum
The Shoal Creek Living History Museum is worth a visit any time of t
he year. Situated on 80-acres of Hodge Park’s 1000 acres, the museum is dedicated to honoring the history of Missouri, and reflecting life in simpler times.
On October 13th, you can participate in their 14th annual Harvest Festival. At only $5 per person (and children 5 and under are free…), you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth. The event replicates an old time County Fair staffed and hosted by period-reenactment volunteers. There’s entertainment for all ages, including puppet shows, skits and demonstrations, face painting, pumpkins, live music, kettle corn and more. Once you attend, consider yourself a lifer since the kids will want to make it a family tradition.
Take a Ride on the Halloween Train
Every October, the Belton Grandview and Kansas City Railroad offer a Halloween Train Excursion. Your trip begins at their yard, which means you and the kids can check out their railway-themed museum. Once on board the train, your family can take a step back in time to the first half of the last century, riding one of their historic trains (a 1920’s era passenger coach, open-air excursion car or behind our 1950’s Diesel locomotive) through Old Towne Belton, Missouri, and the surrounding area. For a little extra $$ you can even ride in the cab of the locomotive with the engineer.
The Halloween Train Excursion adds a 10 to 15-minute stop at their pumpkin yard (with pumpkins for sale), including fun games for the kids to play and some decorated areas that make great photo ops. Halloween Trains run the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weekends in October, with trains departing at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday afternoon. To make things even more convenient, you can purchase your tickets online.
Glow: The Magic of Nature
This experience is Autumn at its finest, and it all takes place at one of our favorite places –
The KC Botanical Gardens. Glow: The Magic of Nature is only offered October 19th and 20th so get it on your calendars and purchase your tickets ASAP. You and your kiddos are invited to dress up in your finest Halloween garb and enjoy the magic of a botanical garden transformed.
From their Holiday Hall, featuring witches and wizards to their display of jumbo carved Jack-o-Lanterns (that you’ll get to vote on) there is so much to do and see. Best of all – and the part regular attendees look most forward to – you’ll have the chance stroll one full mile of paths, lined with illuminated jack-o-lanterns and accented by spooky surroundings. They also offer hay rides but those cost a little extra.
Have a safe and happy Autumn and make it a point to get outside with the family and enjoy this season’s abundance.
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