If you put a lot of pressure on yourself during the season of love, fret not—we looked at all Kansas City has to offer and got the ball rolling for you.
The following date ideas are fit for specific types of couples. There’s a date for active duos, another for animal lovers, and so on, but only you know you. Mix, match, add, and subtract.
A Date for Active Duos
For some, it’s not a day well spent if you don’t break a sweat.
For a unique day out, start with brunch at The Big Biscuit on Mill Street, then head up—and then underground—to RoKC Underground, a bouldering gym in a revamped cave system below Mercier Street. If you’re feeling up to it after climbing, take a walk around Penn Valley Park, the location of the National WWI Museum and Memorial that offers great views of downtown Kansas City.
A Date for Animal Lovers
There are few better locations for animal lovers in Kansas City than Swope Park. Consider petting the stingrays at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium or touring the nearby Lakeside Nature Center, which is free to enter and has rescued turtles (including Wilma, the 80-plus-year-old box turtle), birds of prey, coyotes, snakes, squirrels, and more.
We should also mention that you don’t need a dog to go to Swope Park Off-Leash Dog Park.
A Date for Book Lovers
Prospero’s Books, a staple on West 39th Street since 1997, is a book lover’s wonderland. The main floor and basement are tightly packed with books, reading nooks, and sliding library ladders; the top floor has an open floorplan with ample natural light and comfy places to read. Go in, explore the stacks, and buy a book to enjoy with your reading buddy.
West 39th Street has plenty of places to grab coffee and snacks, too. OurHouseKC is a great option for both.
A Date for Low-Key Couples
If you don’t want to make a big fuss out of Valentine’s Day—or your anniversary, or whatever occasion you’re celebrating—consider a weekend stroll through one of the many museums in Kansas City. For some, there’s nothing quite like admiring art and learning things with the one you love.
Some of our favorite museums are the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (which is free to enter this month), and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.
A Date for Romantics
Don’t overthink it, romantics (or partners of romantics). Dinner and a show never goes out of style.
For a delicious dinner, read Jenny Vergara’s list of romantic restaurants in Kansas City. Experiences range from the “sophisticated sparkle and shine” of Urban to castle dining at Wandering Vine. As for the show, it’s hard to go wrong with a film with a live score by the Kansas City Symphony. Tickets to Casablanca in Concert this weekend are still available, and the rest of the symphony schedule is banger after banger.
A Date for Whiskey Lovers
J. Rieger & Co. is a storied Kansas City whiskey producer that rose from the dead nearly a century after prohibition took it down. Its distillery in the East Bottoms is a phenomenal visit for whiskey lovers and history lovers alike. Peruse the historic exhibits, take a tour and tasting, then tip back at any of the four on-site bars. If you’re not tired out, catch a concert at Knuckleheads across the street.