How to Fill Your Free Time in Kansas City
We pack a lot into our annual conference in order to minimize the time you are away from home and your many responsibilities, but if you find yourself with some free time while in Kansas City, here are a few ways you might fill it!
Getting Around Kansas City
Ride the Free KC Streetcar
The streetcar in Kansas City has been operating for years, but the extension to the Plaza was just completed in the fall of 2025. It picks up and drops off across the street from our conference hotel, providing you with access to more of the city. You'll be able to explore the Crossroads District, Power & Light, and the River Market. The name of the stop by our hotel is Art Museums.
This guide shows every stop on the streetcar route and includes popular destinations and restaurants at various stops.
Get the KC Streetcar Restaurant Guide
Take the Free Hotel Shuttle
The Marriott on the Plaza provides guests with a free shuttle to destinations in and around the Plaza. Contact the shuttle driver by calling or texting 816-612-9174.
Hotel shuttle hours:
- Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight
- Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dining and Shopping on the Plaza
The Kansas City Marriott, our conference hotel, is located in the Country Club Plaza, referred to by locals as simply The Plaza. This shopping and dining district is constructed with a Spanish theme. With nearly 50 restaurants and over 100 shops, you will have no trouble filling your free evenings in Kansas City. While everything on The Plaza is walkable from the hotel, late February will be cold. We highly recommend you take advantage of the Marriott's complimentary hotel shuttle.
See a full map of the Country Club Plaza shops and restaurants.
Need help narrowing your options? This guide provides some local favorites that are either within the hotel shuttle's range or accessible by the KC Streetcar.
Get the Guide with Suggestions from Locals
Visit a Nearby Museum
- The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is just a 3-minute walk from the conference hotel, and admission is free. They're open on Sunday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and admission is free. They're open on Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
