See This, Skip That: Kansas City

— -- My family’s cross-country drive was a chance to visit some of America’s great cities for the first time, and, as we made overnight stops along Interstate-70, we fell in love with Kansas City. This is a fun, exciting town, with a burgeoning culinary scene, cultural diversity and a bevy of family-friendly activities, many of them free to visitors. Here are a just a few neat things to do in the City of Fountains.

Skip the Cab, Ride the StreetcarKansas City is rolling out streetcars in 2015. The latest addition to the city’s transit system, they’ll run a two-mile, north-south commuter line along Main Street and connect the River Market to Crown Center and Union Station. About 18 stops, every two blocks, and a totally free ride, linking passengers to downtown’s many galleries, restaurants and businesses. When construction is completed by summer, riders will also be able to access other ride services like Amtrak and bike share kiosks.

Skip the Coins, Park with the AppIf you’re driving around downtown KC and need to park, no need for change. Download the city’s new Parkmobile app, which allows you to pay for your spot directly from your phone. Parking should be easy to find: there are 40,000 spaces throughout downtown.

Skip the Park, Head IndoorsMother Nature’s unpredictability is its own Kansas City attraction. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun with the kids. There are two indoor waterparks here that are open year-round: Coco Key and Great Wolf Lodge. You can spend the night at these resorts, but they can also be a thrilling way to kill a few hours on any afternoon.

Skip the City, Visit the FarmTeeming with back-in-the-day experiences, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead can be both fun and educational. This 12-acre learning environment is designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century farm and includes a dairy barn, blacksmith shop and ice cream parlor. You can go mining and fishing, ride wagons and ponies and even bottle feed baby goats. Many activities carry a nominal price tag but admission is free on weekdays, and just $2 on weekends and holidays. The Farmstead is open April through October and is located in the KC suburb of Overland Park, Kansas.

After the Museums, Live the PastKC’s museums are top notch, including the National World War I Museum, home to the Liberty Memorial, which pays homage to the men and women who served during the Great War. But to experience a genuine Missouri throwback, visit the Shoal Creek Living History Museum, in Hodge Park, which spans a bucolic 80 acres and features more than a dozen authentic 19th century buildings. This quiet village setting, which aims to honor the state’s past, is made up of relocated log homes and is free to visit. Open daily, you can enjoy a picnic here, take a self-guided tour and learn from re-enactors that bring the past to life.

After You Shop, Learn Shoppers will quickly find their way to Legends Outlets, a destination shopping center whose tenant lineup includes Saks, J Crew and Ann Taylor, as well as theaters and restaurants. But you’ll also find tributes to dozens of famous Kansans here – sculptures, murals, posters honoring men and women of science, sports, politics and more. The mall loans out free headsets for self-guided informational tours, which can be timed to fit your schedule. Twenty-eight possible stops in all. Call ahead to reserve yours.

Skip Starbucks, Go Straight to the RoasterThe coffee culture thrives in this city, which draws some of the best roasters and baristas in the country. Artisan coffee shops are genuine locals’ hangouts and a great place to learn about the process, from bean to cup. Check out hot spots like PT Coffee, Thou Mayest and Oddly Correct. At The Roasterie’s Factory Café, take a free tour to learn how they cup, air-roast and blend their coffees.

Skip Dessert, Go For CandyThere are a handful of candy makers throughout KC that have become draws all their own. Perfect for a sweet tooth hankering any time of day. Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates are the handiwork of a KC native who runs two retail stores and is well-known for hand-designed cocoa creations made from single-bean Venezuelan chocolate. The European feel at both locales for Andre’s Confiserie Suisse will make you want to stay awhile; good thing their tea rooms serve Swiss-inspired lunches, which end best with homemade chocolates. And make extra time to visit Chip’s Chocolate Factory, where daily tours of their demonstration kitchen offer unique insight into their chocolate, sugar-free treats and cotton candy.

Skip the Diet, Savor the ‘CueIt would be a travesty to visit Kansas City and not indulge in the slow-smoked barbecue that’s made this place a foodie mecca. There are more than 100 restaurants that specialize in Kansas City BBQ, offering finger-licking grub for not only lunch and dinner, but also breakfast and all those late-night cravings. Why make just one stop? KC Barbecue Tours travels the city by bus to sample dishes from many of the city’s best BBQ spots; the four-hour culinary jaunts cost $65 and include all gratuities. And don’t stop at the ‘cue; the gourmet experience in KC includes world-class steaks, a bevy of ethnic and vegetarian restaurants and awesome spots for brunch. Stroll down 39th Street for great food finds.

Gabe Saglie is Senior Editor for Travelzoo, which features Kansas City deals here: http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Kansas-City/deals.