I’ve traveled the globe, far and wide, but would you believe until last weekend I’d never actually had a hotel “staycation” in Kansas City? I mean, sure, we’d stayed downtown for weddings and a few special events, but never just to relax and enjoy our beautiful city! Well, now I can confidently say that we will be making this an annual family holiday tradition!
Last weekend we made the impromptu decision to do a one-night stay at the Loews Kansas City Hotel located in the heart of downtown KCMO, that way we’d be able to visit all of our traditional holiday spots and try out some experiences for the first time, all while staying right downtown!
On Saturday morning we packed one small suitcase for our family of 3 (plus our Scout Elf, Coconut, of course) and headed off for our first destination; Crown Center.
Our first Crown Center activity was seeing A Charlie Brown Christmas at The Coterie Theater, which was absolutely adorable. All the children were mesmerized by the character (especially Snoopy with his hilarious dance moves), and the show gave my husband and me all the nostalgic vibes. After the show, we grabbed waaaaay too many sweets from Chips Candy Factory.
After a little shopping, we crossed the street for a little outdoor fun under the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. I mean, is it really Christmas time if you haven’t spent half an hour freezing while your child laughs, climbs, and plays on the playground on Crown Center Square? But seriously, visiting Crown Center Square during the holidays brings me so much joy. My parents brought us every year when I was growing up, and I love that we’ve continued the tradition with our family.
Around 4pm we hopped in the car and drove 1.5 miles over to the Loews Kansas City Hotel to check in for the night. Imagine our excitement when we walked into the gorgeous lobby all dressed up for Christmas; glittering garlands, oversized wreaths, the reflection of the Kauffman Center’s red and green glow, and a stunning two-story Christmas tree. And the elation didn’t stop there! Our room was located on the 18th floor, and it was a stunner too. The view was incredible, and we had a lot of fun pointing out places we’d been, and teaching our daughter some Kansas City architectural history. The room itself was spacious and elegant, but also cozy and relaxing.
My husband and I poured a glass of wine and settled into our hotel room's living room to watch the KU basketball game, and our daughter did typical kid-in-a-hotel-room things like jumping on the bed and opening every drawer and closet. That’s the best part—Loews loves families, so even though the hotel is smart and elegant, we always felt comfortable and welcome, even on a busy Saturday night with holiday parties going on. Oh, and speaking of family-friendly—Loews is also a pet-friendly hotel, so if you have a four-legged friend at home, Loews welcomes them to join you on your staycation!
One of the best amenities of Loews Kansas City, especially for families, is the indoor pool and spa. We invited my brother and his family to come over for a swim, and everyone had a blast splashing in the warm saltwater pool with the city lights sparkling in the background.
We finished the evening with Spin Pizza delivered to the room, and then before my brother and his fam took off for home the adults shared a few drinks while the kids watched frozen. It was the perfect homey night in after a long day.
After a wonderful night’s rest we got up and took the elevator down to The Stilwell, the restaurant located just off the hotel lobby. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet with fresh fruit, bacon and breakfast sausage, eggs and omelets, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and more. With our bellies full, it was time to check out of Loews for another day of adventure in KC!
Within 5 mins (1.2 miles) we arrived at our first destination of the day; Union Station. This is a must-see during the holidays, as the Grand Plaza is transformed into Holiday Reflections, which features sky-reaching lights, decorated trees, singing penguins and reindeer, the Mini Holiday Express Train, and so much more. This year they had a virtual sleigh ride which was awesome for kids who have aged out of the train ride. My daughter thought it was “awesome!” (and so did I).
After enjoying our Holiday Reflections experience my daughter and I did a quick costume change and said goodbye to Dad, and hello to Grandma! Us girls grabbed a quick bite to eat at Mildred’s, and then drove over to the Kauffman Center for Winter Wonderland at The Dining Experience and The Nutcracker ballet.
Winter Wonderland was adorable; festive wait staff in sequin holiday sweaters, a hot cocoa cart with toppings galore, and cheerful holiday cocktails. It was a great pre-show activity, and I highly recommend it to anyone heading to Kauffman Center for a show.
At 5:00 we settled into our seats to enjoy the Kansas City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. It. Was.Fabulous, and I mean, fabulous. Gorgeous costumes, adorable young dancers, a few hilarious modern twists, and extremely talented leads. It was a magical experience, and one I hope we can enjoy in years to come. After the show, Grandma asked Everly what she thought of the performance, and her exact words were “That was AMAZING”.
And you know what? Our entire weekend was amazing. I highly recommend choosing a night over the holiday break to go downtown and take in our beautiful city and all the holiday festivities it was to offer. Weekends like this are what memories are made of! āØ
