Kansas City Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(Kansas City, Missouri - MO, USA)

Since its establishment on the southern banks of the Missouri River in 1821, Kansas City has grown substantially. Kansas City has become a thriving metropolis, with a number of interesting districts, vibrant locations and historic neighborhoods.

The city now extends in every direction, including across the state border with Missouri. Most sightseeing highlights in Kansas City are located on the Missouri side of the border along with the most enticing concentration of hotels, restaurants and after-dark hot spots.

18th and Vine

Just east of downtown Kansas City is 18th and Vine district, the heart of Kansas City's African-American culture and cradle of the region's famous jazz scene. The neighborhood is a veritable gold mine of historical Kansas City buildings, fascinating museums, enticing shops and soulful music clubs that pay homage to the city's blues and jazz legends. With the introduction of the Negro Leagues Baseball Team and the American Jazz Museum in the 1990s, interest in Kansas City's 18th and Vine district has been renewed and it currently features as one of the hottest spots for both tourist activity and local patronage.

Brookside District

Best-known for its gamut of great shops, Brookside has been one of Kansas City's most popular neighborhoods and districts since the 1920s. Extending outwards from the University of Missouri-Kansas and permeated by trees and greenery, Kansas City's Brookside district is characterized by attractive white buildings and an elegant English ambiance. Brookside's retail delights range from upscale boutiques to bohemian secondhand stores, with shopping highlights including Kansas City's favorite children's bookstore, The Reading Reptile, and Stuff, where the work of over 200 local artists and craftsmen is displayed in one stylish space.

Downtown District

Often mistakenly perceived as covering a more extensive area of the city, the original 'Downtown Kansas City' district is in fact distinct from the metropolitan region that incorporates River Market, 18th and Vine, and the Crossroads Arts District. Perched above the vital artery of the Missouri River, the downtown Kansas City district is located inside the freeway loop made up of Interstates 29, 35, 70 and 670, and is intersected by Main Street, from which a plethora of Kansas City's most exciting attractions are easily accessible. Downtown Kansas City's elevated position allows spectacular views over the city and its fabulous selection of distinguished hotels, first-class restaurants and stylish shops make it a magnet for tourists and sightseers. Fans of architecture will be in their element in this central Kansas City district, with superb Art Deco edifices, historical hotels, 19th-century warehouses and ultramodern skyscrapers liberally scattered across its urban surface.

Crossroads Arts District

Frequented by Kansas City's artist community and home to galleries galore, the Crossroads Arts District is located on the perimeters of downtown Kansas City, in the region around 18th Street and Grande Avenue. One of the Kansas City's most appealing neighborhoods, the Crossroads Arts District boasts an irresistible selection of colorful shops and excellent eateries. On the first Friday of each month, the area becomes a bubbling cauldron of social festivities, with art retailers and boutiques opening their doors until well after nightfall, offering entertainment and snacks.

River Market District

Located on the southern banks of the Missouri River, directly above the downtown Kansas City freeway loop, the River Market district is a buzzing commercial and retail district that offers some of the best buys and oldest buildings in Kansas City. River Market has been going strong since the 1800s and encompasses the largest open-air farmers' market in the state, the City Market, as well as a myriad of mouthwatering eateries, art galleries, antique shops and eclectic specialty stores. It is possible to wander for hours through this captivating district of Kansas City, taking in the vivid colors of fresh fruit and flowers at the City Market, perusing tempting retail outlets, enjoying the plentiful live music and absorbing the vibrant local atmosphere.

Westport / Plaza District

As hip as it is historic, the Westport area is Kansas City's trendiest entertainment hub, with multiple bars, cafés and nightclubs located between and sometimes inside the district's prolific 19th-century buildings. Kansas City's Westport district is also somewhat of a shopping Mecca, with boutiques, jewelry stores, art galleries, bookstores, contemporary interior outlets and funky traders peppering the length of Westport Road and culminating in a dense concentration of retailers located at Westport Marketplace. Located south of the downtown district in Kansas City, covering 40th to 43rd streets, Westport is the city's most popular after-dark haunt, offering a prolific selection of blissful culinary venues and a thriving social scene. A short walk south of Westport lies the Country Club Plaza district, home to America's first mall and characterized by stunning, Spanish colonial architecture. While not as hip or as laid back as Westport, Kansas City's Plaza district is a notch or two more upscale, with a spectrum of stylish stores, elegant eateries, plush hotels and historical guest houses.