Museums in Kansas City, MO

Up North but easy to get to KC Northern Miniature Train http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/816-north/article151456947.html

Ameristar Casino has a full sized caboose inside the mall. They also have rooms in the buffet that you could hold a party in. Give them a shout for more details.

Yep, the Kansas City Northern Railroad would be awesome. It's in the Northland at NW 63 rd and Waukomis http://www.kcnrr.com/

Heritage Park in Smithville has a train car.

Check out the rental options and train at the Ag Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs. http://www.aghalloffame.com/

Midland Railway in Baldwin City, KS

The KC Rail Experience at Union Station

Indy Zoo.

I've heard that the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina had a good indoor area. Great Wolf's Lodge near KC might tucker them out pretty well on the way down. I'll keep thinking on it and ask a friend from Salina. Cosmosphere may be too advanced with a two year old. We did an emergency trip to Montana from KS last month with 2 year old and kept a goody bag of toys and snacks next to Momma AND used Daniel Tiger on the kindle. God bless him!:) Happy trails!

Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, KS http://flinthillsdiscovery.org/

Sternberg Museum Hays Ks right along I-70. Rolling Hills zoo near Salina

Indy has the indoor water slides at a hotel, can't remember the name but have seen it on 465. Indy Children museum and zoo are good places to stop at

I would try Andre's (51 st and Main). I'll be curious to see what other people suggest. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz_vuZXEfOtnUThRcnhCVzg1 dE0/view

We always get https://www.facebook.com/78871987939 Cupini's

Harvey's at Union Station if they're open for lunch. I'd also suggest/second Pierpont's. There are a lot of good places in crown center right there, but I think they are all chains. You're also a really close shot to Westport, which opens up options like Char Bar or Green Room.

The Homesteader Cafe.

https://www.theworldwar.org/visit/over-there-cafe the cafe there looks good imho

West Side Local

that museum will blow him away. it is SO WELL DONE. i went there a few weeks ago for the first time and was just amazed. You need several hours minimum to get through it all... 4-5 to get everything probably.

Since you're right by Union Station, it's worth it to walk down the memorial, past the fountains and walk through one of KC's greatest historical buildings. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor walkway to see pictures of Union Station before it was restored, when the roof threatened to collapse and the building was under water. Walk along The Link (covered, heated walkway from Union Station to Crown Center to the Hyatt. You can take the elevator there to the 45th floor and see downtown from a great view. Back outside, you can grab a beer just south in Westport, or walk around the Plaza further south. Southwest Boulevard is southwest of where you'll be by less than a 7 minute drive, and contains great authentic Mexican restaurants, along with Boulevard brewery. (Walk in and ask if you can take the tour if it's open, often you can get in without registering; free sample tokens!) I'd like to second the recommendation for Grinders, on 18th between Oak and Locust. Great beer selection, eclectic enough to entertain with great food. There's tons of places to stay, but I'd keep close to where you want to go, so somewhere around Main to Grand, between 6th and 47th St. Marriott is popular downtown with parking available, and you'll be close to the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center to the west and the Power and Light District to the east. If you go to the Nelson-Atkins museum (Great), you're already at 47th, go to GATES for BBQ, there's locations all over, including 47th and Paseo. (Hot & spicy sauce on the side.) Send me a message if you need anything else or recommendations.

If you're into the whole historical museum thing, the Museum at the Harry S. Truman library just over in Independence is pretty good.

There's tons of good places to eat down there. Hamburger Mary's, Grinders, etc.

Guns and Roses is supposed to be playing at KC Live

Depending on your family's taste, the [Nelson-Atkins](http://www.nelson-atkins.org) is a great art museum (and free).

The Kansas City Repertory is showing History if Kisses downtown, and the Lyric Opera has Cosi Fan Tutti (if he likes that sort of thing). The American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center is showing The Marvelous Wondrettes. These are all pricier theatre choices though.

late chiming in, and this has probably been mentioned, but the civil war cemetary (Union Hill?) across the street is cool as hell....

Urban Table for brunch!