Excelsior Springs and Nearby Attractions:

There are many interesting things to do on your Missouri vacation in Excelsior Springs and the greater Kansas City area.  Spend a fun-filled day with attractions and activities below that match your interests.  

Excelsior Springs has many activities planned throughout the year for you to enjoy.  Annual festivals include
Gatsby Days, Waterfest, Bar-B-Que Contest, and Fly-in on the River. Businesses decorate for the Christmas holiday and there is a beautiful Hall of Trees exhibit inside the world's longest mineral water bar. Other holiday events include a Holiday Homes Tour, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, and a holiday parade and caroling.  Popular
year-round events include Art Crawls in various downtown galleries and businesses as well as Girl's Night Out.

To view the latest events in Excelsior Springs, visit the     .

Or to find out what's going on in Kansas City, visit the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 
or VisitKC or check out Missouri happenings by going to VisitMO.

Nature Lovers
Do you love the great outdoors including hiking, animal watching, parks, and beautiful scenery?

The Inn boasts 2 small crescent-shaped lakes where guests can enjoy fishing, paddleboating, or relaxing in the hammock under the age-old pine trees.  Enjoy wandering with your loved one on the Inn's nature trail where you
might see wild turkeys, deer, turtles, or a blue heron fishing on the banks.                                  

Go biking or hiking at the beautiful Watkins Mill State Park just 4 miles from the Inn.  The park boasts over 4 miles of paved bike trails, beautiful scenery, a historic woolen mill, and a lake for swimming and picnics.

In Kansas City, tour the beautiful scenery and gardens at Powell Gardens.  Or enjoy watching the wild animals at
the Kansas City Zoo.

Sports Enthusiasts
Whether you like to play sports or watch sports, there are many things to do near by!

Schedule a tee time at the beautiful public golf course in Excelsior Springs called
Excelsior Springs Golf Club.  Several golf tournaments are held here each year including the
Gregg Williams Tiger Golf Classic, Chamber of Commerce tournament,
Good Samaritan Center Spring Scramble and the vintage Hickory Stick Golf Tournament.

For more than 50 years, the Mineral Water Bowl football game has been played in Excelsior Springs and now features teams from the NCAA Division II.  

Or try your hand at bowling at Victory Lanes right here in Excelsior Springs.  Enjoy horseback riding at the stables
in Smithville at Bell Oaks Stable or in Independence at Misty River Equestrian Center. 

Catch the Royals at a major league baseball game at Kaufmann Stadium.  Watch the Kansas Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.  Or tour the world-famous Negro League Sports Museum.


Supporters of the Arts
Do you enjoy visiting museums and going to theaters?

Visit one of Kansas City's many fine museums and theatres including the Nelson-Atkins Museum, KC Ballet, Kemper Museum, New Theater, or the Unicorn.


Music Lovers 
Music Lovers rejoice!

In Kansas City, visit one of the many places to relive the history of music or listen to live music including the
American Jazz Museum, KC Symphony, Lyric Opera, and Starlight Theater.

History Buffs
Are you a history buff at heart?  
There are many historical sites right in Excelsior Springs and in nearby towns.  Founded as a spa resort in 1880, Excelsior Springs still offers a unique atmosphere in architecture, parkways, and people.

Attractions inside the City of Excelsior Springs include the Hall of Waters, a magnificent Art Deco building, which features a community history tour inside the water bar area. Adjacent to the Hall of Waters is the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives, another magnificent building designed by Louis Curtiss. This bank is where Frank James
was known to have made "deposits" instead of "withdrawals."  Several films have been made using the original bank's vault as a backdrop.  Inside the old Francis Hotel is an art gallery, more museum displays and historic archives.

Drive just a couple of miles and visit the infamous Jesse James Farm  to relive the history of the Wild West. The museum holds a treasure of Jesse James and James family artifacts including three of Jesse's guns, the boots he
was wearing when he was killed and the family Bible, with inscriptions written in Zerelda's own hand.

Just 15 minutes from the Inn, visit Lexington where the famous Battle of Lexington is re-enacted each summer. 

Travel just 20 minutes and visit Independence, home of President Harry Truman, and visit the Truman Library 
and Truman Home.

In Kansas City, you'll be able to visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum and visit one of the largest collections ever of the Civil War era.  Discover how life was on a famous steamboat back in the 1800s.

Fun Seekers
Just 20 minutes from the Inn are loads of fun and excitement for you thrill seekers!

From April through October, visit Worlds of Fun, a huge amusement park with roller coaster rides guaranteed to thrill.  You can also explore the waves and water slides right next door at Oceans of Fun.

Try your luck at one of the many casinos all within 25 minutes: Ameristar Casino, Harrah´s North Kansas City Casino, Argosy Kansas City Casino, and Isle of Capri Casino. 

You can also tour the Harley-Davidson Plant to see all the latest Harleys!

For an evening of fun, visit the new Power and Light District and Sprint Center, with a courtyard that will hold 1000 people, surrounded by restaurants and bars.

Shop Til You Drop
For unique local stores that will give you undivided personal attention visit Annie's, Olde Towne Antique Mall,
Olde English Garden Shoppe, Redmond's, Willow Springs Mercantile (where local wine tasting is its own experience) and the Wooden Spool.

If you're going into Kansas City, admire the fountains and shops at the Plaza or enjoy the many stores at Zona Rosa.

Restaurants
Within a two-mile radius of the Inn are many delightful restaurants for your dining pleasure.

Applebee's -  Mainstay cuisine
El Maguey's - Authentic Mexican cuisine 
Elms - Wonderful seafood and prime rib buffet on Fridays and Saturdays 
Goodtimes - Bar and Grill with steaks and local flavor
Hunan - Excellent Chinese food and will deliver to the Inn
Outpost Grille - Family Bar and Grill with steaks and home cooking with an outdoor woodsy decor
Ray's Diner - Authentic 50's diner - enjoy their cheeseburgers for lunch
Ryan's Pizzeria - Try their calzones or have pizza delivered to the Inn
Ventana Gourmet Grille - Tempting American/Italian dishes with a piano player
 on Friday and Saturday nights
Wabash BBQ - Award-winning BBQ and guaranteed large portions

For a different and wonderful gourmet experience, make reservations at the Justus Drugstore in Smithville and be absolutely delighted.