When you visit Overland Park, Kansas, it won’t take long for you to see that the name says it all. There is natural beauty abound in this part of the state.
In many cases, you’ll find the best of both worlds. It’s minutes from Kansas City, Overland Park has a nice mix of all the benefits of a city, museums, places to eat, and excellent shopping. But the area is also full of parks, trails, and botanical gardens giving you a way to escape to nature if you need it.
In this post, we’re going to let you know what there is to see and do in Overland Park.
What to See and Do in Overland Park
Plenty is going on in Overland Park, but these are some of our favorite hot spots to enjoy.
Museum at Prairiefire
The Museum at Prairiefire was opened in 2014. It has a fascinating concept; it’s a museum that hosts exhibits from other museums. You can learn quite a bit from a rotating set of world-class exhibits that you might only see in some of the prominent name museums around the world.
Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
You won’t get a better experience of the natural beauty around Overland Park than spending time at the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The park is run by the city and is home to over 800 species of plants and flowers. It also offers hiking trails and even arts and sculptures to enjoy.
Catch a Jazz Performance
Jazz lovers often flock to nearby Kansas City to visit the American Jazz Museum. That culture of jazz flows to Overland Park too. There are some cool jazz spots in the area, including the Gaslight Grill, where you can take in some of the latest and greatest jazz musicians.
Overland Park Farmers’ Market
When you’re in America’s heartland, you better bet that you’ll find some incredible farmer’s markets. Overland Park Farmer’s Market has been attracting locals and visitors alike for over 30 years. If you want to make a picnic lunch or grab some snacks for the road, this is the perfect spot to shop.
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Are you visiting Overland Park with your kids? Take them to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. It has a petting zoo, replica one-room schoolhouse, and a bunch of fun playgrounds and activities to keep the little ones happy.
Getting There
Overland Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump — otherwise known as a 25-minute drive — from Kansas City. It’s about an hour from Topeka and three and a half hours from Omaha. Overland Park is very close to the intersections of Interstates 70 and 35, giving road trippers excellent access in any direction.
If you’re driving through the area, make sure you don’t overlook Overland Park. Even as a day trip from Kansas City, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied and explore.