Make it Downtown Kansas City Day!

If you’re heading to Crown Center for the Thomas & Friends™ exhibit, turn it into a full day of fun in Downtown KC! Here’s a family-friendly itinerary packed with free (or almost free) adventures—all walkable or accessible by the KC Streetcar.

🎨 Kaleidoscope (Hallmark)

Let your kids get creative at Kaleidoscope (TikTok Video), a free hands-on art experience where kids use leftover materials from Hallmark to create their own art projects. Sessions are about 40 minutes and require reservations, but they’re completely free.

📍 Inside Crown Center
🔗 Reserve a spot here
✅ Great for ages 3–12 ( My kids at 14 and 15 still enjoy this with their younger cousins.)

🏆 Hallmark Visitor Center

Right next door to Kaleidoscope is the Hallmark Visitor Center, where you can learn about the history of Hallmark, watch the bow-making machine, and explore seasonal exhibits. Also free and family-friendly.

📍 Hallmark Visitor Center – Crown Center Complex
🔗 More info here

🚂 Union Station

• Walk the Link skywalk from Crown Center to Union Station
• See the free model train exhibit
• Watch real trains from the viewing area outside

🚋 Ride the Free KC Streetcar

Hop on the free KC Streetcar right outside Union Station and take it north through Downtown. Kids love the ride—and it’s stroller-friendly!

📚 Central Library (Kansas City Public Library)

• Stop at the Library stop (9th & Main)
• Visit the Children’s Library and check out free activities or displays
• Go up to the rooftop terrace for awesome downtown views
• Snap a photo in front of the giant bookshelf mural

🌳 Oppenstein Park & Cosentino’s Terrace

• Chill out at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park—a tiny green space with seating, walking spot, and more views of the city, and public art
• Walk to the terrace above Cosentino’s Downtown Market for skyline views and a snack break

💰 Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank

Perfect for older kids and curious learners! See a real vault, learn how money is made, try to life a gold brick, and even leave with a bag of shredded cash as a souvenir.

• Free admission, no reservations needed (TikTok Money Museum)
• ID required for adults
  📍 1 Memorial Dr., just south of Crown Center
  🔗 Visit website

Makes for a great free to mostly free adventure this summer in Downtown Kansas City. Check out this year free to almost free Summer Adventure ideas for Johnson Country.