*Travel Tips>>>Kansas City Travel Tips

Is Kansas City a good place to live?

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My husband might get transferred there and I have only been there a couple times, so I don't really know much about it. One time I went with friends and ended up lost in the wrong side of town and it was pretty scary lol. Hopefully that was just the wrong side of town, not the way the whole place is heh. Well we probably want to move to a suburb, which is the best? Honestly I don't really like the city but I'm ok if there are places within a short drive to go to get away (like lakes, bike trails, etc), what kinds of things are there to do like that (within a short drive)? Are the people nice there? I really didn't get that impression on my few visits but hey, I only went to the plaza (snobs) and then that time in the ghetto (gangs) lol. So I'd like to hear from people who live in the metro area, what do you think of it?

Travel Tips

I live in Kansas City (Lee's Summit) and my family loves it! Depending on how you live -- you probably want to focus on more of the Lee's Summit or Brookside area. Independance is good but, we have known a ton of people who have moved out of there to somewhere else. I read someone say they have the best shopping -- totally not true! They have one of the two or three malls in Kansas City but thats about it. There is a lot of outdoor, outlet shopping in Kansas City. Don't look into Raymore, Raytown or Belton -- the population is decreasing and the cities aren't becoming any nicer... they don't have a lot of nice good things to do either. In Lee's Summit we have Longview Lake that has a long trail for walking, running, biking etc. There is also Lake Lotawanna which is right by (i think its in Lee's summit but im not sure). They are both good lakes -- not huge and great for boating, tubing and skiing etc. Don't base your idea of Kansas City on your first impression -- there is so much more to see. Lee's Summit is a great place to live -- about 15 mins from the actual "Kansas City" and its growing like crazy! We are getting tons of new shopping areas and everything. There is also Brookside which is in "Kansas City" missouri but, its a good part. If you like older homes with big trees etc... look in brookside! There is people from newlyweds to elderly people living there... two of my older siblings live there and love it. My parents just bought a house and we are renovating it and moving there. There is a lot of good restraunts and little shops around there. Um.. if you want to look on the Kansas Side -- I suggest Overland Park or old leawood area. Leawood is a city where a lot of snobby people live and think they are great because they live in million dollar houses and drive brand new escalades. So don't look in there but.. there is a part of Leawood where some of my other family lives -- Old Leawood. Its still in "leawood" but it has older houses and more "normal" people live there -- great place to live. Overland park is good also - they have good neighborhoods and fun people. Good shopping there also.
Big shopping areas --
Plaza - Kansas City, MO
Town Center - Leawood, KS
Oak Park Mall - Overland Park, KS
Zona Rosa - I think its KC, MO (its up by the airport)
Legends - Kansas City, KS -- by racetrack
Crown Center - Kansas City, MO

So, the places I would suggest looking to live in order -- Lee's Summit, Brookside, Overland Park, Old Leawood.

It also depends on your price range -- so you should get on-line and just look around at some houses on the market.
Kansas City is a very fun place to live -- we have a lot of festivals and things like that. There are the bad areas like the ghetto but, everywhere has that and Kansas City's isn't that big. We have a childrens hospital (Children's Mercy) and it is either number 2 or 3 in the nation. You will find so many nice people here... there are the snobs and then there are the normal people. Everyone at the plaza is not a snob -- plenty of regular people shop there so don't think that the plaza is only people who think they are really special.
After living in South Carolina and Pennsylvania -- Kansas City is byfar the best place to live. My dad was going to be transferred to Florida and we thought about moving and we went to FL for two months last summer just to see what is is like and we couldn't move away from Kansas City. Plus, there is so many day-trips you can do. Lawrence, KS is only about 40 mins away (University of Kansas)... St. Louis could be a weekend trip. Lake of the Ozarks -- if you are into that kind of stuff. Tablerock Lake -- a lot calmer than the ozarks --- both about 3-4 hours. Omaha, Nebraska -- 2-3 hours. Atchison, KS -- about an hour 1/2.
There is so much to do in Kansas City... you should go get a book or something on it and you will realize how great of a city it really is.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.
Good Luck!! Source(s): Live in Kansas City -- 9 years
Other Travel Tips

I live in Kansas City and I wish I didn't. If your going to move out to this area please focus on Lee's Summitt ,Raytown, and Independence Missouri they are all suburbs just outside of K.C and Independence has the best shopping that I've seen here in Missouri besides Saint Louis of course. Definitely NOT THE METRO! I'm from Philadelphia and If I had known that it was just as bad if not worse as far as crime goes I would have stayed home plus the surrounding cities have great school districts unlike Kansas City .However North Kansas City is much much nicer but can be very expensive
Hope this helps!
Check this out -MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2006: Overland Park, KS ,Lee's Summit, MO. Independence, MO. Lawrence, KS. Topeka, KS ... Find your best place....money.cnn.com/
KC is a great place to live. You will definitely want to live in the suburbs. (Definitely not Raytown or Independence like the above reads. Independence is the methamphetamine capitol of the US and Raytown has turned into the ghetto.)
I would suggest you go south to Raymore, Belton or Peculiar. These cities (towns) have restaurants, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, etc... but still have a small town atmosphere. You can drive pretty much anywhere within Kansas City in 30 minutes. You can also find reasonably priced housing in these towns. If you have a bigger budget, Overland Park, KS is also a great place to live and within 15-30 minutes of the city. The people there are more like the people you will run into on the plaza, though.

But seriously, I have lived several places and I think the people around here are just the best! Give us a chance! :-)
I wish I could move bck to kc I love the city.
I use to live in kansas city.........on both sides..........Yeah everybody else forgot to ask the million dollar question what side..........kansas city kansas or kansas city mo? I wouldn't recomend wyandotte!!! (kansas city kansas)....if you do move waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up there like anything past 75 street.....hell keep going past that!.....on the kc mo side...i pretty much agree with everybody else try ray town or lee summit....it very quite, nice homes, and you don't have to worry about a crack head walking up to your car asking for change like you do on prospect ave.
It's not too bad...but it's not that great, either.

KansasCitybabe has it right. Take her advice.