Is it spring yet? After several mild winters over the last several years, this Kansas City winter and its weather seem extra brutal and spring weather seems so far away. While an escape to warmer weather sounds like the best option, most of us will have to brave the weather. However, it does not mean our days have to be devoid of fun things to do. Even though most of Kansas City’s iconic buildings and obvious things to see are located on the Missouri side of our city, there is still plenty of fun to be had and great places to go on our side of state line in the beautiful, albeit sometimes freezing, Sunflower State. Some of our very favorites are listed below.
Take a walk at IKEA.
6000 Ikea Way, Merriam, KS 66202
Open Monday through Sunday 10am-9pm
Looking for a warm place to walk with your senior loved one? Look no further than IKEA! The many accomodations the store has made makes it highly accessible for wheelchairs and those with walking impairments. Between the showroom floor and the marketplace shopping area, there is plenty keep your eyes entertained as you walk. If you are there around meal times, you can stop off for a quick bite to eat (and maybe a cinnamon roll?) in the cafeteria, too!
Accessibility: IKEA has many large elevators to help you reach every floor and wheelchair accessible areas in the cafeteria and bathrooms, but not many places to rest throughout the floors (unless you stop for a rest on the floor model furniture!)
Pet the cats at Great Plains SPCA.
5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam, KS 66202
Open Wednesday through Friday 12pm-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm
If your senior loves animals, spending some time in the cat rooms at Great Plains SPCA could be a great place to pass part of a morning or afternoon. The cats love the attention and you may just find one (or more!) who would make a great addition to your senior’s life!
Accessibility: The building and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible, but the cat area itself is very cramped. It may be difficult to get a wheelchair through, but there is a large room where a wheelchair could easily fit. Canes and walkers would do fine, and there are many places to sit and take a break.
Grab a coloring book at Half Price Book Store
2 locations: Overland Park location- 8997 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212 (at the intersection of Metcalf Avenue and 91st Street), Olathe location- 15309 W. 119th Street, Olathe, KS 66062 (at the intersection of west 119th and Blackbob Road)
Open Sunday through Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-10pm
Coloring can be a great way to engage your senior loved one and help them keep his/her fine motor skills sharp. Having coloring supplies on hand at home can also give your senior an independent activity to work on if he/she spends time alone. Half Price Books is my favorite place to buy all my books, but especially coloring books. Plus there is so much to look at, it is easy to pass an afternoon just browsing!
Accessibility: There are so many books located in all Half Price Books stores that the narrow book sections may be difficult to maneuver a wheelchair through. All stores and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, though, and if you go during the day you may have less people to maneuver around. There are limited to no places to sit and rest in the store, depending on which store you visit.
Explore the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on the Campus of Johnson County Community College
12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 6621O
Admission: FREE
Open Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 10am-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10-8, Sunday 12-5
Does your senior loved one love fine art? The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is a hidden gem in Overland Park on the campus of JCCC. The art collection includes Native American and Latino works, ceramic and pottery, photography, sculpture, student works, and much more. If you are looking to make a morning or afternoon of the trip, you can grab lunch at Cafe Tempo located right next door to the gallery. It’s open 7am-3pm with breakfast from 7am-10am, lunch from 10:30am-2pm, and coffee, pastries, and deserts served from 7am-3pm.
Accessibility: The Museum is ADA compliant with two floors and two wheelchairs available for use at the museum. Sturdy wooden stools for portable seating and large print labels for the permanent collection are available upon request. Handicap accessible parking is available in front of the building in the circle drive, but the museum staff recommends parking in the Regnier Center parking garage and using the available elevator to go to the lobby, and the museum is located just across the way.
Step back in time at The Johnson County Museum located in the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center
8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212
Open Monday through Saturday 9am-4:30pm
Admission: $4 Seniors 60+, $5 Adults, $3 Children Ages 1-17, Children under one FREE
If your senior loved one spent significant time growing up in or living in Johnson County, this museum will be like a walk down memory lane. The space is full of our county’s history, from large iconic signs from around town to vintage cars and the electric house, this museum is jam packed with history from the beginning of settlement here to present day.
Accessibility: The entire Arts and Heritage Center is ADA compliant, and you can rent wheelchairs at the museum on a first come, first serve basis.
Is your senior loved one wanting to get out of the house and but in need of transportation and companionship? A Senior Helpers’ Caregiver is ready to accompany your loved one for time out on the town. Call us today at (913) 851-4800.
Looking for something fun to do on the Missouri side of state line? Check out our list of Great Things to Do with Seniors during the Winter Months in Kansas City, coming next week!