Overland Park, Kansas: Where Fun and Adventure Collide – Best Things to Do and Places to Visit!

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art costs nothing to enter, and the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden covers 300 acres with a Monet Garden, an Erickson Water Garden and a Train Garden. The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead runs 12 acres of farm animals. Oak Park Mall has over 180 stores. The All-Electric House was built in 1953 and still has its pink kitchen. Chicken N Pickle does fried chicken and pickleball.

Welcome to Overland Park, Kansas, a city that covers a broad range. Art lover, outdoor enthusiast, anyone who takes food seriously or a shopaholic, all four are catered for here. The Indian Creek Trail through to the Museum at Prairiefire, the attractions in this city will hold you.

Artsy people do well working through the city’s galleries, museums and theaters. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center and the New Theatre Restaurant are a few of the places to start. For outdoor time, hike, bike or paddle through the city’s parks, trails and lakes. The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex are the ones to know.

Traveling with family, with friends or with a partner, Overland Park works for all three. Amusement parks through to escape rooms, cooking classes to wine tastings, shopping malls to farmers markets, there is plenty to do together. Pack the bags and grab the camera.

Key Takeaways

Overland Park, Kansas, offers a variety of attractions for all kinds of travelers.
The city has something for art lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, and shopaholics.
From art galleries to hiking trails, from amusement parks to farmers markets, Overland Park has it all.

Artsy Overland Park

Art lovers are in the right place in Overland Park. Modern art museums through to galleries, this city covers the range.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is where art enthusiasts should start. The modern art museum carries a diverse collection from established and upcoming artists. Paper drawings and ceramics through to sculptures and photography exhibits, the range is broad. It also costs nothing to enter.

Museum at Prairiefire

The Museum at Prairiefire is the other stop for art lovers. The museum shows the best of the Prairiefire District and carries American Museum of Natural History exhibits. You come away knowing more about this part of the United States than you did.

American Jazz Museum

Jazz people should not miss the American Jazz Museum. The museum preserves and promotes the history of jazz. The exhibits cover some of the most famous jazz musicians in history, alongside interactive displays that let you hear the music properly.

Art Galleries

Overland Park is home to several art galleries worth the time. The Rice Gallery of Fine Art carries a diverse collection of contemporary art. The Images Art Gallery specializes in local and regional artists. The InterUrban ArtHouse is a community art center running classes, workshops and exhibits for artists at any level.

Modern art museums, jazz music or local galleries, Overland Park covers all three. Pack the bags for a trip built around art, exhibits and sculptures.

Outdoor Adventures

For fresh air, Overland Park has plenty of outdoor activities. These are the places to explore:

Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail

The Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail is where to get the heart going. The trail stretches from Foxhill South Park to the University of Missouri Kansas City, with the scenery running alongside it the whole way. Serious cyclist or someone after a leisurely stroll, both work on it.

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden

For a slower outdoor day, head to the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The 300-acre garden holds a range of themed gardens, the Monet Garden, Erickson Water Garden and Train Garden among them. Take a stroll and let it do the work.

Foxhill South Park

For a place to play, Foxhill South Park is the spot. The park runs a baseball field, a soccer field and a playground. Pack a picnic lunch and take the day outdoors.

Whatever kind of outdoor day you are after, Overland Park has it. Grab the hiking boots, the bike or the picnic basket.

Family Fun

For a family day out, Overland Park has plenty of options. Petting zoos through to interactive exhibits, the range covers children of any age.

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead

The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is the attraction families should find. The 12-acre park holds farm animals, cows, pigs and goats among them, alongside interactive exhibits covering farm life. There is a horse-drawn wagon ride and a butterfly garden too.

Children’s Discovery Garden

For something more hands-on, head to the Children’s Discovery Garden. The interactive garden runs activities for children, a giant treehouse, a maze and a water play area among them. There is a butterfly garden and a vegetable garden where they learn about growing food.

Discovery Room

Children who like science will take to the Discovery Room at the Johnson County Museum. The interactive exhibit runs hands-on activities covering the history and culture of Kansas. They explore a prairie dog town, dress up in period costumes and try milking a cow.

Overland Park carries plenty of family-friendly attractions. A petting zoo or an interactive exhibit, both are covered.

Culinary Delights

Anyone who takes food seriously will do well in Overland Park. This city carries a long list of places worth eating at. Farm-to-table restaurants through to wineries, it is all here. These are the places to find in Overland Park.

Farmers’ Market

For the local flavor of Overland Park, head to the Farmers’ Market. Fresh produce, artisanal cheeses and baked goods are all there. The market opens on Saturdays from April to November. Live music and cooking demonstrations run alongside it.

Topgolf

Topgolf is not only a place to play golf; it is also a place to eat. You get food and drinks while playing with friends. The menu runs burgers to tacos to salads. And the signature cocktails are worth trying.

Chicken N Pickle

Chicken N Pickle combines two things nobody would put together: fried chicken and pickleball. You eat the chicken and play the pickleball at the same time. There is a rooftop bar too, with drinks and a view.

Wineries

Wine drinkers have some strong wineries near Overland Park. Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery is one of the finest in the area. You get a wine tasting and a tour of the vineyard. They also run a restaurant serving farm-to-table cooking.

Overland Park carries plenty on the food front. Farm-to-table restaurants, wineries or something more unusual, it is all here. Get ready to eat, drink and be merry in Overland Park.

Overland Park reads as a Kansas City suburb and it is bigger than that. Downtown Overland Park holds the boutiques, the Farmers’ Market and the specialty shops. The museums are spread through the city rather than clustered downtown. The Arboretum is south, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is west, and the Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail runs across the middle of all of it. Oak Park Mall is north.

Retail Therapy

Feeling down, the retail therapy in Overland Park will fix it. With a mix of boutiques and larger shopping centers, something here will improve the mood.

Downtown Overland Park

For an unusual shopping trip, head to Downtown Overland Park. The area holds a range of locally-owned boutiques and specialty shops. Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets and stop into places like The Tasteful Olive, where you sample and buy gourmet olive oils and vinegars. Or check out The General Store & Co., which mixes vintage and modern home decor.

Oak Park Mall

For a more traditional shopping trip, Oak Park Mall. The indoor center runs over 180 stores, popular retailers like Nordstrom, Sephora and Macy’s among them. A new outfit or a browse through the latest, Oak Park Mall covers both.

For a break from shopping, there are plenty of dining options. Grab a quick bite at the food court or sit down at one of the mall’s restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory or P.F. Chang’s among them.

The character of Downtown Overland Park or the convenience of Oak Park Mall, both work. Happy shopping.

Unique Experiences

For something different to do in Overland Park, check out these experiences. They cover flying through the air, floating in a hot air balloon and the history of the American West.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving

For the thrill of skydiving without leaving the ground, iFLY Indoor Skydiving is the place. You suit up in a jumpsuit and helmet, then step into a vertical wind tunnel that simulates freefall. With an instructor beside you, you learn to control your body and perform tricks. It is safe and it is genuinely exhilarating.

Old World Balloonery

For a slower way to take in Overland Park, consider a hot air balloon ride with Old World Balloonery. You float above the treetops with the city and the countryside underneath. The pilots point out landmarks and answer questions. It works for a morning or an evening.

American Royal Museum

Anyone interested in the history of the American West should find the American Royal Museum. Set in nearby Kansas City, the museum covers the heritage of the region through exhibits on cowboys, cattle drives and rodeos. You learn about the people and animals that shaped the West, and see artifacts like saddles, spurs and branding irons.

Thrills, relaxation or education, these experiences in Overland Park cover all three.

Historical Overland Park

History readers have a couple of strong stops in Overland Park. These are the ones to find:

Johnson County Museum

Set in Shawnee, Kansas, the Johnson County Museum covers the history of Johnson County. The exhibits run from Native American history to the history of the county’s cities and towns.

The museum holds a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia, antique cars, old farm equipment and vintage clothing among them. Guided tours run through the exhibits, which are built to be interactive.

1950s All-Electric House

Take a trip back to the 1950s at the All-Electric House in Overland Park. The fully restored house was built in 1953 by the Kansas City Power and Light Company as a demonstration of the benefits of all-electric living.

Walking through the house you see retro appliances and furnishings, a pink kitchen and a rotary phone among them. It is a strong example of mid-century modern architecture and a quirky place to spend an hour.

Local history or an unusual afternoon, the Johnson County Museum and the All-Electric House cover both during a visit to Overland Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some free things to do in Overland Park that won’t break the bank?

You do not have to spend much to enjoy Overland Park. Take a stroll through the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, or check out the Indian Creek Greenway for outdoor time. History readers get the Johnson County Museum, which costs nothing to visit and covers the area’s past.

What are some indoor activities in Overland Park for when the weather isn’t cooperating?

When the weather turns, there is still plenty to do in Overland Park. Check out Craft Putt, an indoor mini-golf course with a bar, or head to Game Show Battle Rooms for the team activities. For something more adventurous, axe-throwing at Bury the Hatchet.

What are some must-see outdoor attractions in Overland Park?

Overland Park is home to some strong outdoor attractions. The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is the first, with over 300 acres of gardens, trails and wildlife. The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is the other, with a petting zoo, fishing pond and butterfly garden.

What are some unique and fun things to do near Overland Park that are worth checking out?

Venturing outside Overland Park, there is plenty more. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in nearby Kansas City is the stop for toy enthusiasts, and the Boulevard Brewing Company runs tours and tastings of their locally-brewed beer. For something genuinely unusual, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in nearby Cawker City.

Frequently asked questions about Overland Park, Kansas

Is the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art free to enter?

Yes. The collection runs established and upcoming artists, paper drawings and ceramics through to sculpture and photography exhibits, and it still costs nothing to walk in. That is unusual for a museum carrying a collection of that size.

What exactly is the All-Electric House in Overland Park?

A house built in 1953 by the Kansas City Power and Light Company as a demonstration of the benefits of all-electric living. It has been fully restored, retro appliances and all, down to the pink kitchen and the rotary phone by the door. Mid-century modern, preserved almost by accident.

How big is the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden?

300 acres. The themed gardens inside it include the Monet Garden, the Erickson Water Garden and the Train Garden, and you can walk between them. Allow a morning for it, and go when something is in bloom.

Keep exploring Overland Park, Kansas