Where to stay

To be in the midst of Kansas City nightlife, stay in Westport, a perfect place for hopping between piano bars, karaoke joints, and social clubs that offer bocce ball and croquet. In the morning, return for some of the city's best brunch options. Not to be confused with Westport, the eclectic Westside offers accommodations near brewing companies and multicultural eateries, great for a low-key night out. The quieter West Bottoms also has burgeoning breweries and craft cocktail bars as well as local hangout, The Ship, a favorite since the 1930s. Alternatively, stay in Downtown Kansas City, or in the nearby Power and Light District, home to the nightclub-rich Kansas City Live! complex.

Stay in the soul of Kansas City: The Crossroads. This neighborhood with a strong creative scene has dozens of galleries and local artist studios; try to stay here during one of the bustling First Friday block parties. Midtown and Crown Center District is where to look for a room if you want a slice of KC history, including the National World War I Museum and Union Station. And what's a Kansas City visit without barbecue and jazz? Choose accommodations in the 18th and Vine District for perennial favorite Arthur Bryant's Barbecue, plus the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

To mingle with KC locals stay at Country Club Plaza, with its inviting open-air, European-style shopping center and recognizable JC Nichols Memorial Fountain. The world-renowned Nelson-Atkins Art Museum is steps away. Make your home away from home in a Brookside hotel, where you can walk or bike the Trolley Trail, shop at boutiques, and pop into hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Stay in the River Market District and wander for hours along the Missouri River, grabbing coffee, shopping for local produce at the City Market or for global items at Al Habashi Mart, and snapping photos of the Heart of American Bridge from the lovely Riverfront Heritage Trail.