Kansas City's Country Club Plaza is the heartbeat of the rich and famous living in this midwestern city. Adorned with dozens of stylish fountains, this city-square-meets-upscale-shopping-district is a center of commerce in KC, and is the place to see and be seen.
Bordered by the Ward Parkway to the south, W 47th Street to the north, the J.C. Nichols Parkway to the east, and Jefferson street to the west, this large entertainment district in southern Kansas City, near the Kansas State Line, is sure to please first-time visitors.
With upscale eateries and shops, trendy stores, gorgeous fountains (which make Kansas city the City of Fountains), and beautiful Moorish architecture, this is truly a gem in the heart of the plains.
The Moorish architecture is a big highlight, modeled after the Andalucian architecture of southern Spain and northern Morocco. The centerpiece of the architectural wonders is the beautiful recreation of Seville's Giralda, a mosque-like tower which reaches high above the Cheesecake Factory that sits below it.
Walk around the Plaza and you'll instantly fall in love with the Moorish windows, which bring a very interesting middle-eastern flavor to the area. To see most of the Plaza, stick to Nichols Road, the main circuit through the heart of it.
Walk along the J.C. Nichols Parkway to the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, Kansas City's most famous icon. This massive fountain draws many crowds on hot summer days, so you might be waiting a while for a photo, and it might be impossible to photograph it without people in the background. The fountain backs onto the relatively large Mill Creek Park, a very nice park to stroll around with an ice cream from nearby Baskin Robbins.
Next, visit the Community Christian Church, designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and check out its signature "pillar of light." This can be found on Main Street, just north and east of the J.C. Nichols fountain.
You'll instantly notice the glamorous condos and apartments lining the Mill Creek, and backing onto the Country Club Plaza. Celebrity sightings are common here, and it can be compared to the Rodeo Drive of the midwest.
In the mood for a movie? There is the Cinemark Palace at the Plaza for those who need a goof flick. Don't miss a meal at the wonderful (and thus famous) K.C. Masterpiece BBQ (yes, the same guys who make the sauce in your local grocery store own this).
Hotels tend to be pricey at the Plaza. There is a Fairmont Hotel which backs onto Mill Creek, and the huge Mariott Hotel is just up the road from the plaza on busy Main Street.
From downtown, take I-35 South to Southwest Trafficway, take the Trafficway south to the Ward Parkway, and turn left into the Plaza. For a more direct, but slower route, take Main Street south 40 blocks until you pass the J.C. Nichols Fountain on your right, then turn onto US 56 (W 47th Street) and you're right there.
Visit online:
www.countryclubplaza.com
From journal I'm Goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City Here I Come.