Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza - America’s First Shopping Center

Country Club Plaza Events Historic Westport

Developed in 1922, Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza is considered the first shopping center in America built to accommodate the automobile. One of the most exquisite neighborhoods of Kansas City, the 14-square block Plaza is noted for its romantic Spanish-style architecture, dazzling fountains, wrought-iron encompassed courtyards, tree-lined boulevards, mosaics, statues and European art. Nestled against Brush Creek - Kansas City's river walk - the Plaza's tiled roofs, stucco exteriors and playful fountains complement hundreds of world-class boutiques, unique restaurants, and thriving nightspots in a charming, European atmosphere. Architecturally stunning, Country Club Plaza is a shopping and entertainment paradise, featuring an elegant collection of more than 200 fashionable shops, boutiques, restaurants, outdoor cafés, entertainment venues and nightlife hotspots. Enjoy romantic horse-drawn carriage rides, browse the shops and relax at one of the many wonderful eateries along the Plaza! Two nationally renowned art museums are located nearby: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Country Club Plaza Events. The Plaza offers many exciting events throughout the year, including Plaza Live with free live music in May, and September’s nationally recognized Plaza Art Fair, a celebration of art, music and food that showcases artists from around the country. The city’s most spectacular event happens on Thanksgiving night, when the Plaza comes to life with the Plaza lighting ceremony. The Plaza is transformed into a holiday fantasy land as thousands of colorful holiday lights are strung along the facades, rooftops and windows of the buildings and shops. At one moment, the switch is thrown turning the entire Plaza into the largest celebration in Kansas City. The lights become part of the Plaza's persona through January. Www.countryclubplaza.com.

Historic Westport in Kansas City. A popular nightlife district, Westport is one of Kansas City's historical treasures, a cultural legacy that allows visitors to travel back to the days of mountain men, wagon trains, and Civil War battles. In the 1800s, Westport stood as a bustling outpost offering the last taste of European civilization at the doorstep of the great West. Once a thriving town through which the California, Oregon and Santa Fe trails passed, Westport marked the passage into the western frontier and set the precedence for what is today a thriving entertainment and shopping area. While Westport’s 19th-century charm remains, with historic buildings, old-style lampposts and tree-lined boulevards, the area features diverse restaurants, funky shops and a variety of bars and clubs, including Kelly’s Westport Inn, a popular pub housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings. The history of Westport is evident in the beautiful buildings lining the town's vibrant streets.  [Top]