My Favorite Place: Kansas City, MO
Though I love to travel, I've always been something of a homebody. To me, nowhere feels quite as "homey" as...home. I've lived in Kansas City, Missouri (the city lies squarely on the KS-MO state border and is split between the two) since I was 5 years old and I appreciate it more and more the older I get.
First of all, KCMO is beautiful.
Obviously I'm biased, but I think that our Midwest-ness means that we're not nearly as cramped for space as the East Coast, while still getting the wonderful change of seasons that you don't always experience out west. Plus, everyone really is that friendly.
Secondly, our food is great. No offense to any Texas or Nashville residents -- Kansas City knows barbecue. We've perfected this sweet and savory style that's more complex than your run-of-the-mill BBQ that only boasts "Spicy!" or "Vinegar-y!" You could honestly plan an entire trip solely around KC barbecue -- Arthur Bryant's and Gates are the classic KC eateries, but check out Q39 or CharBar for some newer, trendier settings in which to dig into a plate of burnt ends.
First of all, KCMO is beautiful.
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| A shot of Union Station in downtown KC. Source: Wikipedia Commons. |
Obviously I'm biased, but I think that our Midwest-ness means that we're not nearly as cramped for space as the East Coast, while still getting the wonderful change of seasons that you don't always experience out west. Plus, everyone really is that friendly.
Secondly, our food is great. No offense to any Texas or Nashville residents -- Kansas City knows barbecue. We've perfected this sweet and savory style that's more complex than your run-of-the-mill BBQ that only boasts "Spicy!" or "Vinegar-y!" You could honestly plan an entire trip solely around KC barbecue -- Arthur Bryant's and Gates are the classic KC eateries, but check out Q39 or CharBar for some newer, trendier settings in which to dig into a plate of burnt ends.
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| My favorite BBQ joint in KC: Joe's. It's in a gas station and Anthony Bourdain ranked it as his #1 place to eat before you die. Source: Wikipedia Commons.
Still not convinced? KC's entertainment scene is unparalleled. We boast two professional sports teams (Royals and Chiefs), a stellar symphony and ballet company, a thriving Power and Light district, the Sprint Center arena (home to the Big XII men's basketball tournament), and much more.
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| The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Kansas City Symphony. Source: Wikipedia Commons. |
I love Kansas City and, if you haven't been, you should visit. We're Midwesterners -- we're nice. We'd love to see you. We'll probably talk your ear off.
I hope you love it here as much as I do.
I know this is not one of the required commenting posts but my roommate is also from Kansas City and is obsessed with it! It seems really nice
ReplyDeleteThese pictures make it look amazing! As a Pacific Northwesterner, I'm a little apprehensive of the Midwest, but it seems like Kansas City might be worth visiting! I can definitely get behind some good barbecue, and it looks like there's a lot going on in the city - plus, you can't go wrong with nice people. I hope you get to go home for a visit soon!
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