Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that the blog may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
Outside of Kansas City, Missouri’s largest city, sits several smaller, charming towns perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. These boutique locations offer history, nature, culinary experiences, and just the chance to slow down and relax. Read more for the three best day trips from Kansas City and what to do in each destination once you get there!
Day Trip from Kansas City to Weston, MO
Weston is a pre-Civil War town located in Platte County. It’s only about a 40 minute drive from Kansas City. This charming historic town was founded in 1837. Today, there’s a variety of shops, restaurants, wineries, museums, and more.
Where to Stay in Weston, MO
Weston Firefly Inn is an inviting and cozy retreat that serves fresh coffee and pastries at 7 a.m. daily and a hearty homemade breakfast at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. In the evenings, you can enjoy social hour at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with local wine, beer, spirits, and snacks.
Book the Prairie Suite at Weston Firefly Inn. The cozy suite has an electric fireplace and beautiful antique pocket doors that open up to a newly renovated bathroom that has a stand-alone deep soaking tub and rainfall shower head.
Weston Firefly Inn. Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor.
What to do in Weston, MO
TerraVox Winery and Vineyard
We’ve all heard of a Chardonnay wine, right? Well what about Starkstar or Hidalgo, or Traminette? Before Terra Vox, I had never heard of these wine varietals. Vox Vineyards specializes in growing American Heritage grapes in small batches - some of their harvest produces only a single jug of wine.
I spent some time chatting with the winemaker, and I loved how passionate he was about his career. I enjoyed this winery so much that I joined their wine club. This is the perfect way to kick off your day trip from Kansas City to Weston.
Green Dirt Farm
Following your lunch, go on a tour of the dairy farm and learn more about the sheep’s milk cheeses. On this tour, you can look at the farm, meet the sheep, glimpse inside the milk parlor, and see the cheese kitchen. Tour and tastings are $17.00 per person. Tours are in-depth and not ideal for children ages 8 and younger.
Holladay Distillery
When you tour the facilities, you’ll learn about “Real Missouri Bourbon”. To be qualified as this, the whiskey must meet federal standards for bourbon and also be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in the state. You can see the actual process that it takes to carry out all of these requirements. In addition, it has to be aged in oak barrels manufactured in the state. Ben Holladay Bourbon is Bottled-in-Bond, which is a rare designation meaning that the product was distilled, aged, and bottled all in the same location.
My favorite part of the tour was going into the giant seven-story rickhouses that store the whiskey barrels. It’s dark and musty when you go inside and it feels like you’ve entered the lower deck of a pirate ship. These rickhouses house an enormous amount of bourbon barrels and they have to account for varying temperatures between floors. It requires continuous monitoring to make sure that flavors age consistently.
For 6 years, since 2016, these bourbon barrels have been aging. They will finally be released summer of 2022, so it’s a very exciting time to visit! A tour is $25 per person, includes a Bourbon tasting, and takes about 90 minutes to complete. Note that they are closed on Sundays, so be sure to book your tour in advance.
Other Fun Activities in Weston, MO
- Go apple picking at Historic Weston Orchard & Vineyard.
- Enjoy Irish music at O'Malley's 1842 Pub.
- Visit the National Silk Art Museum.
- Ski at Snow Creek (when temperatures are below freezing).
- Hike in Weston Bend State Park.
Day Trip from Kansas City to Liberty, MO
Liberty is a suburb of Kansas City, MO, about 25 minutes outside of the city center. People first arrived in this town in the early 1800s. In 1829, they were incorporated as the second oldest town west of the Mississippi River.
Where to Stay in Liberty, MO
Rooms are comfortable and amenities are modern. There are 8 standard suites and a 1,500 square foot bridal suite. Each room has a guest diary on the desk - you can read about guest’s previous experiences, a few of which have reported paranormal activity!
In addition to the main building, there are the Old Folks Home and the Old Hospital - they are still standing but uninhabitable.
What to do in Liberty, MO
Jesse James Bank Museum
Jesse James Bank Museum. Photo courtesy of Visit KC.
Downtown Liberty Farmers Market
For more information, visit the Farmers Market site to check on location, directions, and times.
Liberty Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Visit Liberty.
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is made up of nearly 100 acres of conservation land. There are 4 miles of trails, most of which are less than a mile in length. There are 12 different trails, two of which are asphalt. (Pets are not permitted.)
There are no fees to hike the grounds, but a donation of $5 per vehicle and $2 per person for 4 or more people is requested.
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
Belvoir Winery
There are four red wines and four white whites to try, some are dry however a majority are on the sweeter side. After a complimentary tasting of Belvoir wines, you can stroll around the 170 acres of land with breathtaking vistas. Note that on wedding days, the winery closes at 6 p.m. and at 5 p.m. in October.
Other Fun Activities in Liberty, MO
- Go apple picking at Taylor Family Orchard.
- Listen to live jazz at Johnnies Jazz Bar & Grille.
- Watch a movie in a MX4D® Motion EFX Theatre at B&B Theatres.
- Roller skate at Northland Rolladium, a Liberty classic for 35+ years.
Day Trip from Kansas City to Excelsior Springs, MO
Excelsior Springs is a hidden gem in the local community. It’s about 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City. Much of the historic sites and landmarks of this town have been maintained, including the Hall of Waters and Cultural Museum (Art Deco building built in the 1930s) and the Elms Resort and Spa (100-year old historic hotel).
This town gained its popularity due to the belief that its mineral wells and springs had healing properties. There are more groupings of mineral water in Excelsior Springs than anywhere else in the world. Popularity of spas and clinics began to decline in the late 1950s and early 1960s, however Excelsior Springs remains a charming destination for a day trip from Kansas City (or weekend trip)!
Where to Stay in Excelsior Spings
What to do in Excelsior Springs, MO
Grotto Experience at the Elms Resort & Spa
Start your day with a massage or facial treatment at the Elms Resort & Spa, followed by the Grotto Experience. The Elms is renowned for their spa, which is within a 25,000 square foot facility. Their Grotto is a modern twist on a Roman bath.
Access to the Grotto is complimentary with a spa service or a day-use Grotto pass can be purchased for $75 per person. The Grotto provides a therapeutic intersensory environment to relax in. Inside the dimly lit, steamy grotto, guests can experience the dry sauna, the steam sauna, the hot tub, a cold plunge shower, and a steam shower. There are cold towels available as well as an exfoliation and mud bar.
Willow Spring Mercantile
The mercantile is on the main floor and the bistro is downstairs in the wine cellar. The Willow Spring bistro serves fresh sandwiches, salads, wraps, pizzas, and more using local ingredients. Their seasonal spinach salad is amazing, especially with the poppyseed dressing. They are also open for dinner and regularly host wine paired dinners.
Willow Spring Mercantile is also a great spot to pick up some local souvenirs, including gourmet chocolates, handcrafted soaps, jewelry, artwork, gift baskets, and more
Trolley Tour
If you do select a Wine Tour, note that it begins with brunch at 10:15 a.m. check-in and ends around 5:00 p.m., so your spa experience may need to occur the following morning. This $99 trolley tour includes brunch at Willow Spring Mercantile, transportation, and full tasting experiences at three other local wineries/venues. If you are staying at the Elms or several other popular locations, the trolley will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation.
Private trolley rentals and tours are also available for $150 per hour with a 2-hour minimum.
Other Fun Activities in Excelsior Springs, MO
- Explore the Hall of Waters Museum.
- Play golf on an 18-hole 1912 golf course.
- Hike or bike the nearby trails in Watkins Mill State Historic Park.
- Go shopping in the historic district to find antiques, apparel, art, and more.
- Go on an evening ghost tour with Elms Resort, the Hall of Waters, or with the Trolley.
~ Have you been on any of these day trips from Kansas City? If so, which one was your favorite? Which of these will you try first? Let me know in the comments below! ~
Author Bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
