Top 5 Retirement Activities in Kansas City, Missouri

Let’s face it, retirement isn’t the most exciting word. It also might not sound like that much of an exciting part of life. The one thing that is certain: everyone retires (or stops working) at some point.

This part you know is inevitable. Here’s the thing, going into retirement isn’t actually all bad. You have more free time for yourself and your family. You get to pick up on new and old hobbies. Was there a country you’ve been wanting to visit, but you never had the time?

Sometimes, retiring means you want to move to a different place. That whole start fresh, start anew, kind of thing. Believe it or not, Kansas City isn’t a bad place to retire to.

Now, we know what you’re thinking, but hear us out. Kansas City, the second-largest city in Missouri has a lot to offer. This ever-growing hotspot has landed its position in a list of the best places to live in the United States.

Kansas City is affordable, full of culture, and a great place to retire. The Kansas City metro area is full of benefits for retirees looking for any lifestyle from rural to urban. Let’s look at the numbers.

If you retire in Kansas City with $1 million in assets, you can live on that money for 25.5 years. That’s more than the national average, 20.9 years. Are you now seeing the picture? The Kansas City region is the 11th most affordable in the country for a comfortable retirement.

The numbers don’t lie. Now it might not sound like too bad of an idea, right? 

Well, we’ve made a list of the top 5 retirement activities in Kansas City..

Kauffman Memorial Garden

If you’re a lover of nature and all things flowers, then the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden offers a sight of beauty. There’s so much to see. 

When you’re looking for a place to relax but also feel stimulated, this garden will offer you that. We know that sometimes you need to get away from your home. What’s the best place to go when you have to do that? A garden.

This garden gained its name in honor of beloved Kansas City husband and wife philanthropists, Ewing and Muriel Kauffman. The garden draws inspiration from the couple’s journey through life and their commitment to share with others.

The Kauffmans’ world travels inspired the creation of a space comparable to parks throughout Europe. Bronze sculptures by Tom Corbin are one of the features of the garden. Lush and colorful annual and perennial plants, pruned foliage with stone walls, brick walkways, and playful fountains framing them.

If you’re thinking that this garden closes during the colder seasons, guess again. The Memorial Garden is open all year round and the Kauffman legacy continues to grow.

Country Club Plaza

Shopping is and always will be part of the top 5 retirement activities. Kansas City is one of the best places to go shopping.

The unique and luxurious Country Club Plaza has more than 100 stores. If you’ve never been a fan of shopping, dining is also an option! There are over 34 different restaurants for you to dine in. Asian, Italian, desserts, and the good ol’ burgers. They have it all.

Of course, shopping and dining isn’t the only experience that the Country Club Plaza offers. Live music events and art displays are also part of the experience. 

Shop your heart out, eat until your merry and stimulate your mind with art and music events! The Country Club Plaza is the place for endless opportunities.

City Market

It’s starting to get more exciting. Farmers’ markets are top attractions in any city. It’s not only about the goods, but also the overall atmosphere. If you’ve been to a farmers market, you know from experience that it’s always busy and bustling.

Another great activity is to visit the City Market. Visiting this market on a beautiful summer day, you can soak in so much Missouri delight.

Dating way back to 1857, the City Market will let you experience some of the finest offerings from farmers around the region. You can experience this right in the heart of downtown Kansas City.

Given how large the crowd turnout is, you’ll feel the appreciation KC locals and those in the surrounding areas have. Who doesn’t love a good opportunity to enjoy the sights of a farmer’s market?

Some of the finest meat and produce in the area are available, so we know your next barbeque is one you’re never going to forget. Not to mention, the delicious pastries. If you're a lover of meat, vegetables, or bread, you’ll never run out of options here.

Soak yourself in the homemade charm of the items available and revel in the laughter and chatter of people around you.

Loose Park

We’re already into our fourth activity from our top 5. The next stop, Loose Park. At 75 acres, Jacob L. Loose Park is KC’s most popular, beautiful, and historical. The park is well-known locally as the major site for the Battle of Westport.

If you’re a history buff, then we know where your first stop is. In 1926, Ella Loose bought the property from the Hugh Ward Estate. She wanted to turn it into a park so that she could honor her husband, Jacob Loose and the property has passed to the city since 1927.

The Rose Garden in Loose Park is the realization of a dream that began in 1931; a group of citizens under the leadership of Laura Conyers Smith established the Kansas City Rose Society. The first garden had 120 rose plants. Today, there are roughly 3,000 roses with over 130 varieties in the 1.5-acre garden.

We’re not done yet. The Loose Park Garden Center was built in 1957 for meetings and horticultural exhibitions. The Garden Center has two large meeting rooms with small kitchens attached. They also have a Japanese Tea room to hold Japanese tea ceremonies.

Other activities and facilities you can enjoy:

• Gilham Robert Park Pickleball Court

• Big Shoal Creek Trail

You’ll, no doubt, forget what boredom means.

Plaza Art Fair

Once summer passes, you’re going to wonder what you can do in the fall. Well, we’re going to make sure that you’re not stuck at home all day.

Visit the Plaza Art Fair. Every late September, KC opens a three-day art fair. The art fair is held on a weekend, so you better keep that one open.

During the Depression, while companies were failing, the Plaza looked for new ways to attract customers. The Plaza Art Fair started in 1932 to draw shoppers to the area and lift their spirits. It started off as a promotion. 

The art fair began on an empty lot on the southwest corner of Nichols Road and Central, where Tiffany & Co. is now. Over 90 artists started to display their paintings by leaning them against trees and benches. Painting prices varied from one dollar to ten dollars.

The artists enjoyed interacting with each other and conversations with those in the crowd about their work. The art fair was a success and continues to this day.

Now, the art fair encompasses nine city blocks and welcomes a crowd of over 250,000. The evolution of the Plaza Art Fair is now a top-ranked, national art event. What’s even more impressive is that this is the weekend where people celebrate art and each other. It’s also Kansas City’s unofficial welcome to the fall season.

You can appreciate the beauty of art and enjoy the company of the locals. Another great way for you to get to know the city and its people.

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end, but don’t worry there are a lot more exciting things that Kansas City can offer you. In the city where you can feel the diverse cultures, the history, the people and the various activities, you’ll never feel bored in your retirement.

If you plan on retiring to Kansas City or already live here, feel free to reach out and we’d be happy to show you around.

And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to our advisors should you need assistance with your personal finances!