Crown Center Fun - Animal Tales & Trails

 Well, we are on snow day number two which will in turn give us a six day weekend.... We are going to need all the fun this weekend and thank goodness Crown Center has us all covered! I am so excited to partner with them again to bring you Animal Tales & Trails, the current free interactive exhibit located on their lower level. I snuck down this week to grab some photos, before McKinley had a chance to go, and he was beyond frustrated. Good thing we have an open weekend! We are going to tackle all the things Crown Center has to offer.

Animal Tales & Trails is incredibly interactive and will have your little ones running off all the energy! Monkey bars give them a chance to feel like they are swinging from vine to vine, crawl through tunnels on the floor like an ant, pretend to be a caterpillar, slide down an iceberg like a penguin, and set your sights high in an oversized eagles nest! 

And if that wasn't enough, you can make your way through the jungle, but not before wadding through alligator infested waters! Measure your height against an ostrich. Who's taller? Can you jump as high as a kangaroo? A trampoline might help! 

Make sure you are looking for all the little things as well. What else can you spot? I found a hopscotch, several mirrors inside the walls, and don't miss what's inside the alligators mouth! You don't want to miss anything.

I have to say, this wild exhibit is the bees knees....

The exhibit is now open and will run through May 1st! Head here to get any additional information.

Have fun exploring!

XO,

Andrea

*This is a sponsored post, but all photos and opinions expressed are my own.

Weekend Fun - Airline History Museum

If you are anything like my family, you are over winter! You miss outdoor activities that don't require six layers of clothing. However, there are some fun things to indoors that won't break that bank and I'm going to try and bring those ideas to you every Friday. Over winter break, we visited the Airline History Museum in downtown KC. We've been before, but with McKinley being heavily into aviation at the moment, we thought it would be fun to reacquaint ourselves. 

It's not a huge museum, but it does house some incredible planes inside the hanger. There is a brief video on the history of aviation and how it involves Kansas City. And it's kind of cool to sit in vintage first class seats during the film. From there, you enter the small display of relics. What I find incredibly cool are the old uniforms on display, the requirements for flight attendants (then stewardess), and the amenities on flights back in the day. Remember getting a full meal on a long flight? Remember the smoking section in the rear of the plane that was separated by a thin curtain? Remember when it was a privilege to fly and passengers dressed accordingly? I remember those days fondly.

The self-guided tour then takes you out into the hanger. Dress warmly! During that last wind storm, part of the hanger wall was torn away, leaving plenty of room for the winter wind to howl through! And masks must be worn the whole time. But that's okay, it kept us that much warmer. There are two different TWA models you can walk through. Make sure to spend some time inside the Constellation, or Connie as it's referred to, and note the way first class passengers traveled. How cool would it have been to fly in the sleeper? I remember the last time we flew and I fell asleep upright in my seat. My neck hurt for days and I'm pretty sure I did the open mouth snore during part of the flight! 

The Martin 404 is the other TWA aircraft you can walk through. This is a much smaller version than the Constellation, but take note of the curtains around the windows versus pulldown blinds, and the fact that the overhead bins don't have doors. 

And for those of you who remember Harrison Ford's plane crash in 2015, the museum just happens to have the crashed plane! See what the plane looks like in one piece and the pieces of the plane that Ford crashed. 

The museum is open Wednesday's through Saturday's. Check their websites for possible closures and events before headed down. Admission for those under $12 is free. Adults are $10. We spent roughly an hour or so inside the museum. If you haven't been, it's a quick little adventure. But while down there, check out the TWA Museum also located in the downtown airport area. 

Get out and explore KC!

XO,

Andrea

Crown Center Christmas - Your Shopping and Dining Guide

 Can you believe that Christmas is in eight days? I feel like I'm so far behind! I've got a few last minute things to buy and then there's the act of wrapping them all. In eight days! I'm overwhelmed. And if you are in the same boat, I've got you covered. Or should I say, Crown Center has you covered. Here's how!

The shops at Crown Center are full of local flare. And isn't it the best when you give a gift from a local merchant? There are so many favorites too. The Crayola store is the best place to get your child's creative juices flowing. All the things you need in one shop! Crayons, markers, modeling clay, and more. I can smell the wax crayons! There was nothing more exciting than your own box of 64 crayons, with built in sharpener, and the pointed tip of the brand now colors. My favorite color was always red. Simple, I know, but it's my all time favorite color. What was yours?

McKinley's favorite store is Toy Time. Hands down, it was the store where we spent most of our time when he was little. And he often walked out with a pullback car. Didn't matter what make, model, or style. He just loved their cars. Then we updated to Bruder toys, the mega size of all toys, and there are plenty to choose from inside the store as well. And the stuffed animals are plentiful. Your child will get lost in this amazing toy store.

Hosting a party or just going to one? You will definitely find something for any party, or occasion, in Occasions. This home decor and giftable store is darling! So many amazing Christmas ideas, especially those Nutcracker pieces, and some you didn't even know you needed. I've purchased several things from here in the past and I've always had such success. You will too.

Speaking of unique gifts, you definitely need to check out The Best of Kansas City. And, if you are heading out of town, take KC with you! Bottles of local BBQ sauces, memorabilia, even Ted Lasso are all things you will find inside. Okay, maybe not the real Ted Lasso, but how cute is that tee! Show your pride for your hometown by gifting it to others. 

For Christmas, McKinley get his Granddaddy a tin of Topsy's popcorn. It's an eight year old tradition for us, but Topsy's has been in KC for 60! For our out of town guests attending our wedding, we gave them small Plaza Lights tin of their butter popcorn. It's always a great gift idea. We personally love their trio of butter, caramel, and cheese. Don't think you can eat through a whole tin? That's okay, grab a couple of smaller bags. You won't be sorry! A bowl full of KC's favorite will help you get through those holiday movie nights.

There are loads of other places to shop. Just check out their shopping directory to get the 411 on all the ideas. 

And when it comes to wrapping all those gifts, their Customer Service department has you covered with their custom gift wrapping. Located on the second floor, above The Coterie, they will get you all taken care of. And if you're unsure of what to get that hard to shop for loved one in your life, you can always pick up a Crown Center gift card. So many ways to shop this holiday season!

With all that talk of shopping, one gets hungry! But no worries, the eateries are plentiful as well. And I'm hungry just thinking about all of the different options. The place we spend our most time is Fritz's Railroad Restaurant. Hands down, this is our family's favorite place to dine. If you haven't been, you must! Order from a corded phone at your table and watch all the meals be delivered by trains on an overhead track! Your little ones will get a paper conductor hat and will be amazed at all the model train exhibits throughout the restaurant. It's a total immersive experience.  

Another favorite is SPIN! pizza. Their menu is extensive, yet we always get the same thing! A 14" pepperoni pizza and split the Sonoma salad. McKinley always gets the kids cheese pizza that comes with a small drink and a gelato. However, Joel has branched out in the past and ordered the Italian meatballs and loved them. This definitely one for those who love pizza! 

There are so many other notables like Unforked, Burnt End BBQ, which is home to an award winning and Food Network featured chef, and the new La Fuente Mexican Street restaurant, a place I'm dying to try! 

And when your sweet tooth takes over, why not head into Chip's Candy Factory and take home all of your childhood favorites! McKinley and I load up on way too much, but always share the extras, with Joel and my parents. All time favorite, waxed bottles that look like soda bottles, cinnamon bears, gummy cola bottles, and Fun Dip! 

Doesn't this sound like a true one stop spot for shopping and dining? Yes should be your answer. And don't forget to head outside and burn some extra energy under the Mayor's Christmas Tree or on the Ice Terrace skating rink. 

And if you haven't already, get your visit in with Santa while he's still in town! He heads out Christmas Eve around 5:00. Gingerbread Station is amazing! Just see for yourself.

Want to see the Big Guy? Well, you will have to head down to see him in person!

Happy Holidays!

XO,

Andrea

*This is a sponsored post by Crown Center, but all photos and opinions expressed are my own.