Solo in KC for 24 hours? Here's what to do
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CAFÉ CÀ PHÊ. Photo: Abbey Higginbotham/Axios
👋🏼 Hi, Abbey here with a guide to spending 24 hours solo in Kansas City.
The big picture: I got this idea after a solo weekend in D.C. I museum-hopped, ate at fun restaurants, met strangers and came home wondering: Why don't I do that here? Kansas City is easy to move through alone, if you give yourself the excuse.
Start above the skyline
Drive to Kessler Park early and walk up to the bluff before the dog walkers and photographers show up. You'll see the river, the skyline and a corner of the city that rarely feels crowded.
Grab a little pick-me-up
Head to Splitlog Coffee in Strawberry Hill. It's quiet, unfussy and doesn't make you feel like you should be doing something. Sit by the window. Let the sun hit your face and zone out.
Browse, then disappear
Stop at Flagship Books in the West Bottoms. It's small and well-stocked. Browse slowly. Read the back of something you'd never normally buy. Then buy it anyway.
- Last time, I left with "Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch," a weird, brilliant novel set in 1600s Germany about a woman accused of witchcraft. Not my usual pick, but I couldn't stop reading it.
Go where the wild art is
The Rabbit hOle is an immersive museum for children's literature, but it's for adults too. Wander through oversize pages, literally climb into storybook scenes and remember a book you forgot you loved.
- Timed-entry tickets are $16, with free admission for children under 2 and discounted rates for military and income-qualified visitors through the Museums for All program.
Dinner, your way
Treat yourself and end the night at Voltaire. Slide into a velvet booth or grab a seat at the bar — both are good. Start with the oysters on the half shell ($22) and a pile of pommes frites with jalapeño aioli ($12). Add a glass of cava ($11) or a spritz ($12), something cold and celebratory.
- The lights stay low. The menu doesn't rush you. It's the kind of dinner that makes staying in town feel like getting away.
Next morning
End the 24 hours at Cafe Cà Phê in Columbus Park. Order the mango sticky rice latte ($7.50). The coffee shop is vibrant, crowded and joyful. Somehow this place feels relaxing while also being loud and bustling.
The bottom line: You don't have to wait for anyone else — you can explore your city in a new way all by yourself.