25 Fun Things to Do in Overland Park, KS

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Overland Park is a vibrant city located in Kansas on the border with Kansas City, Missouri. When in the city, you'll find numerous attractions to check out, from botanical gardens and museums to farmers markets and scenic hiking trails.

If you're wondering what to do when Overland Park, read on for 25 fun things to do in Overland Park, KS, and the surrounding area!

• 25 Overland Park things to do

25 Fun Things to Do in Overland Park, Kansas

Overland Park, Kansas, Things to Do

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Shop at the Oak Park Mall

The Oak Park Mall has a variety of shops and is a great place to explore, whether you plan to splurge a little or not. Stores within the mall include clothing and jewelry shops, beauty outlets, bookstores, department stores, and much more. Along with national chains, there's a good selection of local independent businesses to shop at.

After checking out all the stores, you'll find numerous places to get a meal or some snacks. Options include fast food outlets, sit-down restaurants, like Mexican and Japanese restaurants, and coffee shops.

Attend an event at the Overland Park Convention Center

The Overland Park Convention Center hosts an array of interesting events throughout the year, with an average of 330 different events to choose from annually.

Just a few of the events to attend include home and garden shows, holiday markets, and wedding shows. No matter what your interests, you'll find an event to attend at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Learn about regional history at the Johnson County Museum

Also known as the Johnson County Museum of History & All-Electric House, the Johnson County Museum has exhibits on the history of Overland Park and Johnson County. There's also an interesting 1950s electric model house to see.

As you learn about the area's history through informative exhibits, you'll be able to see artifacts, including photographs, vehicles, and clothing items. If you're visiting with children, there are also many kid-friendly exhibits for them to enjoy.

Feed the animals at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

If you're in Overland Park with kids, plan a visit to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. The farm has over 250 animals, including goats, chickens, and sheep. There's also a fun playground and some living history attractions, like an old school house and a blacksmith shop.

Buy local produce at the Overland Park Farmers' Market

Located in Downtown Overland Park, the Overland Park Farmers' Market is a top-rated attraction with locals and visitors. At the market, you can shop from various vendors, with products for sale including locally grown fruit and vegetables, freshly made candy and baked goods, and pretty plants and flowers.

If you want to mix with locals and buy some delicious produce or handmade items, going to the farmers' market is definitely one of the best things to do in Overland Park, Kansas!

Take a cooking class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City

Whether you already like to cook or want to learn, taking a cooking class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City is a fun activity to try in Overland Park. There are many classes to attend, from pastry and baking classes to those that teach you to cook healthy meals, Midwestern barbeque classics, international dishes, and more. Online classes are also available if you can't attend in person.

Fly over the city in a hot air balloon with Old World Balloonery

One of the most memorable and fun activities in Overland Park, KS, is taking a hot air balloon ride. Old World Balloonery offers hot air balloon rides around sunrise and sunset. During your flight, you'll get to enjoy breathtaking views over Overland Park and the Kansas City area. At the end of your flight, you'll be treated to a glass of champagne too!

Hang out at Foxhill South Park

If you want to spend some time in the fresh air, one of the best things to do in Overland Park, KS, is hanging out at Foxhill South Park. This local park has scenic hiking and biking trails that will take you through forests. Picnic tables are also available if you want to have a picnic with friends or family. In addition, you can access part of the Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail from this park.

Treat yourself to dessert at Tous Les Jours

Tous Les Jours is a charming French-style bakery that serves a variety of sweet treats that are baked daily. Desserts to order include cakes with cream and fresh fruit, various flavors of macarons, madeleines, and pastries. You can also buy freshly baked bread and order hot and iced coffee drinks.

Stroll around Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful Overland Park attractions. These pretty gardens cover 300 acres and feature over 1,700 plant species.

After seeing the colorful gardens, you can follow some other trails that will take you across Wolf Creek. Guided tours are also available for those interested in learning more about all the plants, trees, and flowers in the gardens.

Follow the Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail

The Indian Creek Hike and Bike Trail, or Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail, is a scenic trail that goes through Overland Park and some nearby cities in Kansas. It's ideal for running, hiking, or biking. It's also a scenic route to follow when walking your dog.

Most of the trail has gentle terrain, making it walkable for almost all activity levels. As you follow the route, you'll see forests, creeks, small waterfalls, and lots of wildlife.

View artworks at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Founded in 2007, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-visit Overland Park attraction. The gallery houses a fantastic collection, which includes photography, sculpture, and paintings, among other mediums.

While visiting this Kansas landmark, you can also see an extensive collection of Native American and Latin art. Visitors can explore the museum alone or take an informative guided tour.

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Look around the Museum at Prairiefire

The Museum at Prairiefire is a fascinating museum and a stunning piece of architecture that has to be on your Overland Park must-visit list! The exterior of the building features a beautiful colorful glass design that looks great in photographs.

Once in the museum, you can see exhibits on science and natural history, including those covering the animals that lived in the area thousands to millions of years ago.

See a show at The White Theatre at The J

The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre, commonly known as The White Theatre, is located at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park. At the 500-seat venue, you can see a range of performances, including Broadway shows, classical music concerts, ballets, and much more. No matter what you see, you'll have a fun and memorable night out!

Enjoy tacos at Taco Naco

Award-winning Taco Naco is one of the best places to go in Overland Park to eat. At the eatery, you can order a range of delicious Mexican dishes.

You can order tacos with a range of meat, seafood, or vegan toppings, and birria-style tacos are available too. Quesadillas, tostadas, and burritos are also on the menu, plus sides like street corn, Mexican rice, and chips with salsa and guacamole.

For dessert, you can enjoy churros or fruit popsicles. Taco Naco also serves yummy drinks, like margaritas in a variety of flavors.

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Play golf games at TopGolf

TopGolf is a fun place to spend the afternoon or evening and is an excellent attraction for all ages. At the venue, you can play high-tech golf games that are fun for all abilities, from those who have never golfed to those who frequently hit the course.

You can order snacks like pretzel bites, tacos, and burgers as you enjoy the games. Fun cocktails, beer, and wine can also be ordered, along with non-alcoholic cocktails and sodas.

Go wine tasting at Aubrey Vineyards

Aubrey Vineyards is Overland Park's first winery and vineyard. They produce a variety of wines, some of which are bourbon barrel aged. Reds, whites, roses, and dessert wines are available to taste and purchase at the vineyard. During your visit, you can enjoy your wine on a scenic patio surrounded by vineyard views and snacks like charcuterie boards are available.

Skydive with IFly Indoor Skydiving - Kansas City

A fun indoor activity in Overland Park is going skydiving at IFly Indoor Skydiving - Kansas City. This venue offers a great way to experience skydiving in a more laid-back environment than skydiving from a plane. After getting lessons from your instructor, you can do some 60-second dives in a state-of-the-art free-fall wind tunnel.

Have brunch at Louie's Wine Dive and Kitchen

If you're wondering what to do in Overland Park, KS, on the weekend, going to brunch at Louie's Wine Dive and Kitchen is a must. The trendy eatery serves brunch dishes like avocado toast, fried chicken and biscuits, and churro waffles.

You can accompany your meal with a mimosa, bloody Mary, or juice. Coffee and tea are also available. If you can't make it to brunch, the restaurant also serves lunch and dinner and has a great happy hour.

Things to Do Near Overland Park, KS

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Visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is 20 minutes from Overland Park in Kansas City. The history museum showcases exhibits and artifacts relating to the Arabia, a steamboat built in 1853 that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. The boat was undiscovered for 132 years, finally being excavated in 1988.

At the museum, you can learn more about the construction of the boat, its voyages, and its ultimate sinking. You can also see cargo recovered from the sunken vessel, including fine china, clothing, and children's toys.

Check out Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri, is located next to Overland Park on the border between Kansas and Missouri. You can reach Downtown Kansas City in about 20 minutes when driving from Overland Park. Once in the city, you'll find many fun things to do.

Activities range from seeing artworks at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art or watching the Kansas City Ballet to playing retro games and getting drinks at Up-Down Arcade Bar. If traveling with your partner, you'll notably find many romantic things to do in Kansas City, like listening to jazz at the Green Lady Lounge or sipping cocktails at The Monarch Bar.

Find out about the history of US jazz at the American Jazz Museum

The American Jazz Museum is a fascinating attraction located in Kansas City, about 25 minutes from central Overland Park. The museum covers the history of jazz in the United States and has displays on some of the genre's most famous artists, like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

As you look around, you'll get to see artifacts too, such as instruments that famous artists have played, clothing from notable performances, and more. The museum also has its own jazz club, The Blue Room.

Listen to live music at The Blue Room jazz club

The Blue Room is run by and is located next to the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. It's a great place to spend the evening listening to live music by a range of local and national jazz acts.

If you enjoy this venue and want to listen to some more live jazz in Kansas City, head to the Green Lady Room. This spot has live music and a bar with a fun selection of signature cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.

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Watch a Kansas City Chiefs game

The Kansas City Chiefs NFL team plays at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Despite playing in Missouri, the team is popular across Kansas, and seeing a game is a memorable event, even for those who aren't huge football fans.

You can drive to the stadium in about 25 minutes, and games are played between September and January in the regular season.

Plan a trip to St. Louis

If you want to plan an overnight trip or weekend getaway from Overland Park, going to St. Louis, Missouri, is a great option. This bustling city has an array of Missouri landmarks and fun attractions to check out. Things to do include seeing the famous Gateway Arch, wandering around the Missouri Botanical Garden, and exploring the Saint Louis Museum of Art.

Those staying overnight will also discover a range of unique bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to enjoy. You could also see a show at venues like the Saint Louis Theatre or The Fabulous Fox Theatre.

In Conclusion

There are an array of fun activities in Overland Park, KS, to enjoy. From visiting wineries and local museums to taking your kids to a petting zoo, there's something for everyone in Overland Park!

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