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Lakeside Nature Center
Lakeside Nature Center
Swope Park
view website4701 E. Gregory Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64132
816-513-8960
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Science & Nature Museum
Nature Center
Hiking
Lakeside Nature Center Description
Tucked away within the same city park that houses the Kansas City Zoo, Lakeside Nature Center offers kids a chance to view critters native to the Kansas City area and Missouri up close. Part education center and part wild animal rehabilitation center, Lakeside's ambience immediately engages kids with ample displays featuring everything from a variety of snakes, a playful squirrel, and several large birds of prey (including a pair of bald eagles).
Kid Tips
Babies: Bring a sling or backpack carrier for hiking the Fox Hollow Nature Trail — it's not stroller-friendly, but the nature center is.
School-Age Kids: Point kids to the hallway opposite the raptor exhibits, where a secret hiding place awaits and more creatures are tucked away behind small doors hidden in the walls (have them lift the large fake rock to see who is hidden inside, too).
Planning Notes
- Free parking and admission. Donations help run the nature center; encourage kids to deposit some cash in the box near the front desk at the entrance.
- Visit on a weekend. Stop in for special "weekend wildlife programs" featuring live animals and fun activities for kids and naturalist-led hikes every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
- Take a hike. Wear sturdy shoes and explore the two-mile Fox Hollow Nature Trail, which meanders in a loop around the nature center.
- Enjoy a picnic. After visiting the nature center and taking a hike, stop for lunch at the picnic area located to the left of the main entrance.
Just the Facts
Hours: Tue.-Sat.: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: 2 - 4 hours
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