Pre-Trip Fun for Kansas City, Missouri

"The Wizard of Oz" -- It's set in rural Kansas, not Kansas City, but the tale of Dorothy's search for the man behind the curtain certainly put Kansas in the minds of children. (School-Age)

"Truman" -- Gary Sinise stars as U.S. President Harry S. Truman, a native of Independence, Missouri, who left his boyhood home to work in Kansas City as a bookkeeper. (Many scenes for the film were shot in the Kansas City area). (Pre-Teens & Teens)

Burnt Ends: Slow cook tenderloin tips in authentic Kansas City barbeque sauce (available online from barbeque joints like Arthur Bryant's and Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbeque). Don't forget to keep paper towels handy.

Steak: The stockyards are gone, but a perfectly grilled strip steak remains a Kansas City dining staple.

Sweet Potato Cornbread: Soul food is another Kansas City staple; try making cornbread with bits of sweet potato like they do at Kansas City's Peachtree Restaurant.

"S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet" -- Engaging artwork and instructive text combine to give school-age kids a solid sense of Kansas history, industry, and culture. (Ages 4-8)

"S is for Show Me: A Missouri Alphabet Edition" -- Parents will want to give equal time to the other state that claims Kansas City. (Ages 4-8)

"We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" -- A beautifully illustrated, evocative history of an era when segregation still existed but heroes still prevailed. A nice tie-in for a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum located in Kansas City. (Ages 9-12)

"Kansas City: Then & Now 3" -- Produced by the Kansas City Star, this most recent entry in the series compares older images of Kansas City to modern ones. (Teens)

Gift Card Envelopes: Make like the kids at Crown Center's Kaleidoscope and create something new out of old greeting cards -- in this case, an envelope for gift cards.

Swirly Stones: Before visiting the Crayola Store at Crown Center, make this pretty melted crayon combination craft.

Key Chain Pennants: Whatever sport your kids are into, whether its the Kansas City Royals, T-Bones, Chiefs, or Jayhawks, get kids into the spirit of your trip by making this cute keychain pennant in a Kansas City team's colors.