“I just can’t wait to get out of Missouri,” one of my friends said as we talked about our futures. I frowned: What is wrong with Missouri?  The ironic thing about this statement was that we were at the Chief’s Super Bowl parade Downtown. Kansas City was the place to be.

I have always loved the Midwest. Don’t get me wrong, the mountains and beaches are always nice to vacation to, but home is where the heart is.

My Midwestern pride may have sprung from my mom taking me and my brother all around the Kansas City area. To kill time, we would go on long drives from Longview Lake to Strawberry Hill and I learned that there are many beautiful parts of the greater-Kansas City region, if you just look.

Another possible origin of my love for our city is my uncle’s enthusiasm for great shows and restaurants in the area. Christmas gifts were always gift cards to the hottest food places or tickets to see a new play or orchestra.

I remember when he took me to Beautiful: the Carole King Musical and Eddie V’s on The Plaza. I was only 12 at the time, but even then I understood Kansas City’s magic.

Now that I’m older and starting to go on adventures by myself or with friends, I have found a whole new appreciation for Kansas City and the Midwest.

One of the most marvelous things about Kansas City is the amount of coffee shops we have. I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about the coffee/bakery scene here, such as the Roasterie, Mildred’s, and Messenger, but this story is about our city and region as a whole.

If you are more of a food person, Kansas City has great food places as well, like Earl’s Premiere, Billie’s Grocery, and Slaps BBQ. It is impossible to praise the Kansas City food scene without mentioning barbecue!

I love the museums and art scene in Kansas City as well. The Kansas City Museum, the World War I museum and certain exhibits at Union Station are extremely educational and fun. The Nelson Atkins has great pieces also, like the Evelyn Hofer Exhibit (check out my gallery on the DNO!).

Sports are a massive part of Kansas City’s identity. Between the Chiefs’ eight-year AFC west winning streak, Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift, three Super Bowl wins and another appearance by the team in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII, football has put us on the map. In addition, the KC Current’s new stadium, the rumors of the Kauffman Stadium moving downtown and a professional volleyball team set to come in 2025 contribute to our athletic prominence.

The KC Streetcar extension seals the deal on Kansas City’s growth. Imagine walking to stop by UMKC after school and maybe going to the River Market for a snack. That is the ultimate dream to me.

Being in the middle of America, Kansas City is often overlooked, even by its own citizens. However, our region has a lot to offer that we should all take advantage of!