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Next Stop: Union Station

If you haven’t visited Union Station in Kansas City, make sure to add it to your list! This spectacular 102-year-old building is the second-largest active train station in the country, making it a piece of art in itself. At Union Station, visitors can shop, eat and most importantly, learn. One of the most popular and most visited features of the Station is Science City. Attached to the side of Union Station is Science City, a modern science center that has been awarded “Best Visitor Experience” internationally. The science center is geared toward children ages six through thirteen and provides them with a hands-on experience. “We are very focused on guest interaction as opposed to classroom-style learning,” explains Michael Tritt, Chief Marketing Officer at Union Station. “They don’t know they’re learning science.” Modernized in the last two years, the state-of-the-art planetarium will be showing brand new shows this year. A popular feature of the planetarium is the Live Star Tours. An educator shows the audience star patterns of the night sky using Google Universe. “You can literally tour the night sky. Every program is focused on what you’d see that night if you look up in the sky. The sky is constantly changing, depending on the season you’re going to see different stars. It’s a fascinating encounter with the night sky,” says Tritt. In addition to the Science City, Union Station provides visitors with the opportunity to learn through exhibitions. Right now, they are hosting Pompeii: The Exhibition. This exhibit allows visitors to learn about one of the most fascinating and tragic disasters in history through the many artifacts brought over from Italy. “[The Pompeii disaster] had all the makings of a feature movie – a volcano dormant for seventeen years, a thriving Roman civilization within miles of the volcano that didn’t understand the danger they were in,” says Tritt, on why Pompeii makes for such an interesting exhibit. “The culture of the Roman empire was so sophisticated that it is amazing. These artifacts were so preserved by the Vesuvius eruption. It is amazing how nature destroyed it, yet preserved it so perfectly.” As an example, Tritt describes a bowl of fruit from a marketplace that has been preserved just as it was when Vesuvius destroyed it. The artifacts range in size from tiny pieces of jewelry to larger-than-life sized marble statuary. “It is a massive exhibit in the sense that these things have never traveled outside of Italy,” says Tritt. “There are emotional, poignant body casts. You can see the raw emotion of a person’s final moment. It’s all right here but it is very respectful. A number of people who have been to Pompeii, in Italy, tell me they’ve learned more about the events through this exhibit than at the actual site.” Union Station is perfect for families because there is truly something for everyone to enjoy, but it is extra special for those wanting to learn. From the historic building to Science City and the feature exhibitions, you are guaranteed to walk away from Union Station with more knowledge than you came with.  - By Ettractions Digital Content Editor PAULA MARINO
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Visit the Hottest New Bar in Kansas City

Step into Tom’s Town Distilling Company to be instantly transported back in time to the Tom-Pendergast-era of Kansas City. Experience the tasting room, restaurant and bar, all located inside a renovated, 100-year-old building featuring an Art Deco vibe and you’ll understand why the city has been referred to as the “Paris of the Plains”. As the first distillery in downtown Kansas City since prohibition, Tom’s Town is not only responsible for the distillation and distribution of bourbon, gin and vodka but it has brought the spirit of creativity, jazz and fun back to the city, according to Kirsten McGannon, Marketing Director of the distillery. “Tom’s Town” is named after Tom Pendergast, of course, the political boss of Kansas City during the 1920s and 1930s. “He controlled the police, he controlled the city government. [Because of him] There really was no Prohibition,” explains McGannon. “All of the speakeasies were allowed to thrive, jazz flourished and it really became the Vegas of its time.” Since the distillery’s opening in January, Tom’s Town vodka has won three gold medals and one silver medal while the gin has won silver and bronze. “Our gin is really unique in the marketplace,” says McGannon, “It’s not the traditional London Dry that tastes like a Christmas tree. It’s a new, Western-style gin. It’s a more botanically-balanced gin.” This unique mixture of botanicals gives it a different flavor that gin lovers enjoy, as well as those who don’t typically enjoy gin. “Bourbon whiskey is having its moment. Millennials are loving the brown spirits and our best seller is the whiskey. We have the city’s best Old Fashioned, it’s our best-selling cocktail.” The distillery’s bar, which was voted by a local magazine as Kansas City’s Best New Bar, is serving up several delicious cocktails, all featuring Tom’s Town spirits. (The bartender was also voted one of the Top Bartenders in Kansas City!) Beyond cocktails, the restaurant features several delicious food items to satisfy anyone’s cravings. One of the most popular items on the menu? French Onion Grilled Cheese. “It’s like French Onion Soup and a grilled cheese all in one and it’s outrageously delicious,” says McGannon. “We also have brie-stuffed dates that taste like candy.” Take a distillery tour of Tom’s Town and learn the process of distillation of the three spirits as well as a brief overview of Kansas City’s history in the 1920s and 1930s. “Kansas City’s history is really intriguing to people. They are surprised to learn what it was like during the era of Pendergast. They thought he was only bad and associated with the mafia. While he was corrupt, he also did a lot of good for the city. He was charitable and built many beautiful buildings.” The distillery, restaurant and bar are open year-round and there’s never a bad time to visit. The spirits can be purchased by the bottle as well as t-shirts and more. Tom’s Town is located at 17th and Main, in the heart of Kansas City’s entertainment district, one of the most fun and thriving parts of the city and conveniently on the street car line.  - By Ettractions Digital Content Editor PAULA MARINO  
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Find Out If You Are A Baller

Lace up your sneakers and get ready to immerse yourself in plenty of invigorating, interactive exhibits for all ages at The College Basketball Experience. More than just history and statistics, this attraction brings a traditional sport Hall of Fame to the next level. Celeste Lupercio, Director of Sales, Marketing and Events, provides an insider look at what makes The CBE a “must-visit” for your Kansas City itinerary.  What is The College Basketball Experience? We’re a Hall of Fame, first and foremost, the official Hall of Fame for Men’s College Basketball. It’s the only national hall of fame for college. It was designed as a place to honor the individuals who have had a wonderful college career but don’t necessarily go on to play in the NBA. We induct players, coaches and contributors. What makes The CBE unique? We’ve created an experience that gives people a better appreciation for what they’re visiting with interactive exhibits. Interactive experience is key, especially in bringing back visitors. What different types of exhibits are there? There are over twenty different interactive exhibits that utilize every skill you’d possess in order be a successful college basketball player. Everything is authentic—[for example] the rims, nets and flooring. Nothing is artificial and everything is full sized. We have a full sized court and also a 3-on-3 challenge court. Since dunking on a 10 foot hoop is pretty difficult, we also have 9 foot, 8 foot and 7 foot hoops for slam dunking. There’s a 3-point challenge, “Beat the Buzzer” challenge and exhibits to practice free throws and passing. Other less physical exhibits are just as fun as far as the experience goes, such as measuring vertical jump and wingspan. What is the most popular exhibit? Everyone seems to gravitate toward the “Center Court,” the main court when they come in to dribble and shoot a round. The “ESPNU Desk” is probably the second most popular. You can sit behind an ESPNU broadcasting desk, choose a well-known basketball game and call the highlights as the announcer using a teleprompter. After, you can email the video recording to yourself. It’s a very popular exhibit for both adults and kids. The adults take it very seriously, trying to get it perfect. The kids just like seeing themselves on TV.  When is a good time to visit The CBE and how much time to allow for a visit? Any time is a great time to come, we are open year-round. During the summer, we are open for 77 straight days. Typically, you will spend about 2 hours in here if you’re going to go through and do everything once. If you love the history of college basketball, you’ll be in here longer. -By Ettractions Digital Content Editor, PAULA MARINO
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Oldest Distillery West of the Mississippi

With bourbon being one of the hottest trends right now, there is no better time to check out the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River. Located just forty-five minutes Northwest of Kansas City in Weston, Missouri, the Holladay Distillery has been distilling, aging and bottling whiskey for 160 years and counting. Discover, experience and enjoy the bourbon-making process at Holladay Distillery, as tours are now open to the public for the first time in twenty years.  Jordan Germano, Tourism Marketing Manager at Holladay Distillery, cites the recent “bourbon boom” as a reason for the distillery opening its tours again, this past April. “People are interested in bourbon and not only if they’re bourbon drinkers. If they haven’t been to Kentucky or Indiana, most likely they haven’t seen learned the history or seen the process itself,” she says. The tour showcases the labor-intensive process, taking guests “from the water to the whiskey” as Germano describes it. “From the beginning water source—limestone spring water, which is a very important part of making bourbon, all the way to our state-of-the-art bottling line. It’s very hands-on and unique.” Covering over 150 acres, the distillery sits on its original site and everything has been restored to maintain its history. The distillery has a great sense of pride with its history as Germano describes its founder, Benjamin Holladay, an impressive man quite overlooked in American history. “He was the founder of the stagecoach line, which brought goods out West and was at one time the largest private employer in the United States. He was very influential during the late 1800s and got his start in Weston.” Weston is a small, storybook town, according to Germano. Downtown Weston is very well maintained—lined with neat, little shops, and filled with history. With several antique shops, restaurants, bistros, wineries and even a brewery, it should come as no surprise that Weston has been voted “Best Day Trip” for the past thirteen years. The Holladay Distillery is open year-round and a great time to visit Weston is in the summer and fall when there are a lot of festivals, says Germano. The Distillery is perfect for all age groups and is family-friendly. Guests 21 and over are welcome to sample two of the Distillery’s premium products at the finale of the tour. The most commonly asked questions from guests is “When can I get the bourbon?” To which the answer is, simply put, you have to be patient. The minimum-age process of bourbon is two years. At Holladay, their bourbon is aged for three-years. Good bourbon comes to those who wait.  -By Ettractions Digital Content Editor, PAULA MARINO
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Kansas is the Sunny Sunflower State

Kansas is the heart of the Midwest and home to several major cities, quaint towns, and plenty of attractions that make this state a top destination in the West. The Sunflower State offers plenty of history, being the birthplace of Amelia Earhart and is the setting of L. Frank Baum's famed book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 1. Hit the Greens Kansas is a beautiful state full of rolling hills and beautiful sunflowers. The area is home to many award-winning gold courses. Rolling Meadows has been rated 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest, and features 29 bunkers and 6 lakes for golfers that are great for golfers of all skill levels. Colbert Hills is a championship course has a unique lay out with bunkers, tall grass, bent grass, and more for those looking for a challenge. 2. Visit Sunset Zoo The Sunset Zoo has over 250 animals ranging from A to Z. Guests can get up close and personal with exotic animals including tigers, flamingos, and monkeys galore. The Zoo also hosts plenty of special events, such as their SPOOKtacular around Halloween, and just for adults they have a Wine in the Wild event. 3. See Great Performances at McCain Auditorium Since 1970, McCain Auditorium has been a staple part of Kansas State University. The Auditorium seats 1,750 people and hosts over 30 events a season. They see all sorts of famous names grace their stage, from Carol Burnett and Bill Cosby to Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma. Be sure to check their website and see what events are currently showing.
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A Kansas City Winter Wonderland

Kansas City is famed for BBQ, jazz, their numerous fountains, and for being one of the friendliest cities in the Midwest. The city is a popular family destination with numerous activities for everyone to enjoy, especially during the holidays. 1. National World War I Museum Escape the cold and head indoors to visit the #1 ranked attraction in Kansas City, The National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial. As the only American museum dedicated to preserving World War I artifacts through its numerous exhibits, it is truly one of a kind. Through the displays of photographs, videos, personal belongings and more, this museum goes beyond history textbooks and puts you in the shoes of everyday living of the soldiers. There's so much to see tickets are good for two days.  2. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Come see a treasured holiday favorite, "The Nutcracker" at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. It's the home to the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Ballet, and features two performance halls. Visitors rave about its acoustics as well as its exterior architecture and modern interior design. View their schedule for a full listing of events or check out their website for regularly scheduled tours that cover architectural highlights and give a thorough overview of the project. 3. Union Station KC's central hub for transportation is a historical destination that features shops, exhibits and more. Find your holiday spirit at Union Station with the annual Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train. For 16 years, this train has been bringing Santa Claus and his elves back to Kansas City. Visit with Santa and take a tour of the special train that includes a smiling tank car, a flatcar carrying Santa's sleigh, reindeer, a gingerbread boxcar and more surprises for the whole family to enjoy.  4. Kansas City Zoo There's no better time to visit the Kansas City Zoo than during the holiday season. Mingle with Santa, his elves, and Mrs. Claus during the Holiday Wild event. Then watch Santa plunge into the penguin exhibit. The Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with the Polar Bear Passage becoming the North Pole and the Helzberg Penguin Plaza turns into the South Pole. See what lions do during enrichment time with Christmas trees decorated with meatball ornaments. The zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals; you'll certainly see your fill of animals exotic, aquatic and everything in between. - By Ettractions Digital Content Editor PAULA MARINO
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