Living Life and Loving It
The Kansas City Royals had an incredible season…it was fun to see the city so electric and so unified. Garbage trunks had “go Royals” signs taped on their windshields. People put signs up in their front yards that said “honk for the Royals”…a great feeling emanated from the city. Even the fountains were “Royal” blue!
Royal blue fountains for the Royals!
Royal blue fountains for the Royals!
Royal blue fountains for the Royals!
Royal blue fountains for the Royals!
Vintage postcard showing Kansas City’s Union Station
We spent a very enjoyable afternoon at Kansas City’s Union Station and Science City. First stop was the old Jones Store miniature train. It was once a popular attraction at the Jones Store downtown. Riders must be under 48″ tall (approximately 5-6 years of age and under). Members to Union Station can let their kids ride for free, but it is a fairly steep ticket price of $5/ child if not. (We did not know about the ticket price until after the ride…they had not been very vigilant checking tickets until they un-boarded the train. So we felt obligated to pay the ticket price…)
Read the sign carefully…only free to members. But the kids did enjoy it.
Behind the Jones Store train the Union Station had a spectacular train exhibit in an area that is hardly noticeable unless you know it is there. Over 8,000 square feet of toy trains. From tiny N-scale model trains to the big G-scale giants of the model train world. The detail of the exhibits is something to behold! The Model Railroad Experience is a FREE admission with any Union Station ticket!
Union Station Kansas City Miniature Train Exhibit
Union Station Kansas City Miniature Train Exhibit
Union Station Kansas City Miniature Train Exhibit
Henry and Becca doing a rubbing at miniature train exhibit Union Station Kansas City
Named one of the country’s 25 best science centers by Parents Magazine, Science City provides over 200,000 visitors annually with an engaging environment ripe for exploration, experimentation and discovery.
Its magic starts with its location. An architectural and historic marvel, Union Station provides a venue unlike any other science center in the nation. From the moment you pass under the clock tower to your first step inside the cityscape of Science City, the experience sets the stage for making memories.
There is something for everyone at Science City.
Our last trip to Legoland was not much fun. But we decided to give it another chance. The kids were bigger, the wait not nearly as long and they had their shoes on their feet (since it was not summer wearing flip-flops)…see last post on Legoland.
Henry liked experimenting in the car building area, Caroline found the large blocks. They had Andrea’s kids (first cousins once removed ?) to help entertain and overall it was a success.
My daughter Becca was the first to arrive. Not long after was my son B.J., his wife Jenn and their son Jack!
Jack comes to visit!
Jack and Bob
One fun activity was to go to the Crown Center. Jack enjoyed Santa’s Gingerbread Village. (Crown Center Shops, Level 1 Atrium.) Three locomotives travel through a Santa’s gingerbread village in the North Pole, all created by the chefs at The Westin Kansas City and Sheraton Kansas City hotels. You can see the reindeer stable, Santa’s sleigh garage, the elves’ dorm, a doll, rocking horse, and ball factory, and even Mr. & Mrs. Claus’ home.
Mayor’s Christmas Tree at the Crown Center
Santa Gingerbread Village
Jack at Santa’s Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center
Jack at Santa’s Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center
We also went to Sea Life. A most enjoyable afternoon!
Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center
Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center
Jack at the Aquarium
Jack and his dad in the underwater sea tunnel
Becca and Bob at the Aquarium
And the colorful sea life at Sea Life:
A sea horse
Jellyfish
Colorful sea life at Sea Life!
Colorful sea life at Sea Life!
Can you spot the fish? They are the vertical yellow and black stripes!
Colorful sea life at Sea Life!
The fish are the vertical yellow stripes.
I love the Messiah and this year we attended Handel’s Messiah performed by the Kansas City Symphony. The Independence Messiah Choir, along with the Symphony Chorus and the Kansas City Symphony made the perfect kickoff to the holiday season.
Handel’s Messiah and the Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah at the Kauffman Center
David Lockington (conductor), Joélle Harvey (soprano), Ryan Belongie (countertenor), Ross Hauck (tenor), Kevin Deas (bass), Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy (chorus director), Independence Messiah Choir
The performance was superb. My only hitch being I am a traditionalist. And even though the performance was brilliant, I prefer to have the alto part sung by an alto (not a countertenor as in this performance). The solo “a virgin shall conceive” makes more sense (to me) when sung by an alto. But I did not let it mar my enjoyment of the music and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Handel’s Messiah