In this post, I’ll be writing about my trip to Kansas City, Missouri.
Home of the Chiefs
Kansas City is the home of the Chiefs, indeed!
This was so apparent as you walked through the city. People were wearing Chiefs gear, a Mahomes reference was made in seemingly every conversation, and there were countless LVII Super Bowl Champion banners all over the place.
Make no mistake, I’m not hating on this at all. While the NFL has its fair share of issues, I loved that people had so much pride in their team. It almost seemed as if football, and the Chiefs specifically, was embedded into the fabric of the city in a way that I have not seen in other cities I’ve visited.
Why was I even in Kansas City?
No offense to anyone that’s from the city, but I think this is a pretty fair question.
Kansas City isn’t necessarily known as a tourist hotspot…
I’m not sure I would’ve made it to Kansas City otherwise, but luckily the AAMC GSA-OSR conference brought me there.
In what was likely one of my last “hoorahs” as a full-time employee at my current job, I facilitated a presentation on supporting students politically during the Step 1 and 2 dedicated study periods. For anyone unfamiliar, Step 1 and 2 are board exams that medical students have to take in the United States.
A Charming City
The city itself was charming. I was grateful to be in the downtown area, close to a good number of bars, breweries, and barbecue spots.
Fortunately, I got the pleasure of making it to Guy Fieri’s Dive and Taco Joint where I ate the super flavorful Fajita Rajas tacos. I also had a super hoppy Space Camper IPA that I was drinking pretty much the entire weekend.
My favorite part of the city has to be the Power and Light District. It’s an open area with a huge stage and at least 10 bars and restaurants. I don’t think that Kansas City can ever claim to be anywhere close to a city that never sleeps, but I imagine that this area can get lively on summer weekend nights.
A note on that: As charming as Kansas City is, you might be disappointed to learn that most of its breweries and bars close around 10 pm or 11 pm. Not all of them; we were able to find a couple of spots that closed later, but the vast majority closed pretty early. Coming from a city like Miami or New York City, this might leave you longing for more, as it did me.
The Loews Hotel
I stayed at the Loews Hotel, a beautiful and elegant five-star hotel right in the heart of Kansas City.
To be completely honest, I would not have stayed at the Loews if I was paying. Not because it was missing anything but simply because the price sets you back around $250 per night. Shoutout to my university for paying for this!
When I say this hotel had everything, I’m not exaggerating. Awesome gym with a view overlooking a main highway and avenue in downtown Kansas City, a huge pool, hot tub, and a fancy bar with a fireplace area for nightcaps.
My favorite part, without a doubt, was that hot tub. Still thinking about how relaxed I felt at that moment…
Final Thoughts on Kansas City
As you can probably tell by this post, I enjoyed Kansas City. Is it somewhere I am dying to get back to? Not really. Would I go again, though? Sure.
My experience in Kansas City was not great because of the city, itself, though. Rather, it was the people I was with. Getting to go out for drinks with my boss and colleagues and having a chance to connect outside of work was what made the trip what it was.
No shade on Kansas City for that. I think this is the case with a lot of places around the world. It’s not the place itself, but the people–something I’m learning the more and more I travel.
Have you been to Kansas City? Are you from there? Let me know in the comments below!
‘Till Next Time Travel Friends!
