10 Sights to See in KC The Junior National Hereford Expo comes to town July 14-21.

by Kindra Gordon

he countdown leading up to the 2013 Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) July 14-21 in Kansas City, Mo., is on. It’s a whirlwind week of Hereford hospitality, and to add to the cattle camaraderie, here are 10 Tsights to add to your “bucket list” while you’re in the Kansas City area. 1 3

Double your fun

Photos Courtesy of Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association Not to be outdone, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2013 with a major expansion to its waterpark, . A new Join the zoo crew 65-foot slide tower will feature six new slides — three of which are Aqua Your days at the show barn Launch chamber slides, where the floor suddenly drops out, sending might feel a bit like a zany zoo, riders on a high-speed, near-vertical drop and a series of loops and but why not check out the real S-curves. deal. Sea lions, tigers and polar Additionally, Worlds of Fun features roller coasters, live bears are just a few of the fun entertainment and with more than 20 rides, shows and features at Kansas City’s award- attractions devoted to pint-sized play. Also in 2013, admission is being winning, family friendly zoo. offered to these two great parks for one great price, allowing every guest The Polar Bear Passage exhibit access to 235 acres of family thrills. is home to Berlin and Nikita — two giant bears, who weigh almost 800 lb. each. Take the train At Union Station, the KC Rail 4 Experience provides a hands-on journey through the history of Ride the Meg-a-Blaster the American railroad with ghosts Thrill seekers will be ecstatic to learn that from the station’s past, including the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark a cattle baron sharing the stories 2 is debuting the tallest, fastest and “most of life long ago. Vintage railcars, extreme” waterslide ever built for the 2013 special artifacts and a locomotive summer season. A four-person raft ride, the simulator round out this unique Meg-a-Blaster speed slide will surpass the exhibit. While at Union Station, current record of 134.5 feet high and speeds of 65.2 mph. The waterpark you can also enjoy its shops, also features a surf ride, an uphill water coaster, the world’s longest “tidal restaurants and “extreme screen,” wave” river, beaches, a giant hot tub — and much more. five-story tall movie theatre.

52 / May/June 2013 Hereford.org Love those LEGOS®! Kansas City’s now boasts a very colorful LEGOLAND Discovery 5 Center. The $15 million, 30,000-square-foot 8 interactive attraction opened in spring 2012 and features a mini-exhibit which recreates landmark buildings in Kansas City out of LEGO® bricks, hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, classes from a LEGO master model builder, LEGO rides, and special party rooms for birthdays Don’t miss the College and other celebrations. Basketball Experience For those basketball enthusiasts, the Sprint Center is a must see. Visit AHA Visit the College Basketball Kansas City is also home Experience, which houses the of the American Hereford National Collegiate Basketball 6 7Association. While at the JNHE, Hall of Fame. While in the make time to visit the headquarters museum, you are led by a coach, office just a quick 15-minute drive get to impersonate an ESPNU Add an aquarium adventure from the American Royal complex. announcer and shoot buzzer- Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium beating shots. also opened in spring 2012 in Crown Center and is designed to take you on an amazing Visit these websites underwater journey from the for more information fresh waters of the Missouri River into the mighty Mississippi kansascityzoo.org 10 River then out into the warm schlitterbahn.com/kc blue coral strewn waters of the worldsoffun.com Caribbean Sea, ending in the unionstation.org Catch a baseball game deep dark abyss of the Atlantic legolanddiscoverycenter.com/kansascity The will be playing Ocean. You’ll come nose to visitsealife.com/Kansas-city baseball in their home stadium on July nose with sharks, starfish collegebasketballexperience.com 19, 20 and 21 vs. the Detroit Tigers. and seahorses. In addition, a Fireworks will even be a part of the thecitymarket.org stunning centerpiece is a huge July 19 game. tropical ocean tank with a walk- crowncenter.com Learn more about Kansas City’s through underwater tunnel. kansascity.royals.mlb.com great attractions at visitkc.com. HW

visit with some of the Hallmark In operation since 1857, the craftspeople as they demonstrate City Market is the largest farmers’ 9 hot foil stamping and die cutting to market in the region with more manufacture greeting cards. than 140 farmer stalls. Merchants Kansas City’s Harley-Davidson offer a wide variety of fresh tour center features a series of produce, meats, baked goods, displays that guide flowers, specialty foods and other you through the items from America, Africa, Europe, Enjoy free tours manufacturing and and the Middle and Far East. assembly processes Located in the heart of the Factory tours are to produce each historic River Market neighborhood, offered in Kansas City motorcycle. You’ll the City Market is open seven days at , also have the a week. The City Market also offers Harley-Davidson and chance to sit on current production a unique collection of gift shops, Boulevard Brewing Co. — and the motorcycles and visit the gift shop. authentic restaurants and the best part is they are free. As one of the largest specialty Arabia Steamboat Museum. The At Crown Center, the Hallmark brewers in the Midwest, Boulevard museum, which houses the largest Visitors Center celebrates the Brewing Co. offers complimentary collection of pre-Civil War artifacts Hallmark story from its humble tours Wednesday through Sunday; in the world, does require a ticket. beginning in 1910 to the creation of however, reservations are required. one of the world’s largest greeting Call 816-474-7095. card companies. You can even

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