2026 Independence Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in September)

Celebrating our 2nd anniversary in Kansas City, we learned that "Kansas City" and "St. Louis" are the two largest cities in Missouri after moving here. We've visited St. Louis multiple times before, enjoying its Gateway Arch, City Museum, Zoo, Chinatown, and major department stores—definitely a big city vibe. Naturally, we assumed Kansas City would offer a similar experience, but upon arrival, we were "surprised and delighted." To our amazement, Kansas City is quite small. For a moment, it felt like we were back in Des Moines. My overall impression is that it's compact, charming, clean, and convenient. Although we didn't get a chance to ride the Street Car, just knowing that public transportation is an option made me happy (after living in the Midwest for a while, where driving everywhere is the norm, having public transit feels like a luxury 😂). Places we visited in Kansas City: · **National WWI Museum and Memorial** Definitely worth a visit. The exhibits are rich and engaging; plan to spend at least 3 hours there. · **River Market Antiques** Filled with unique trinkets and treasures. The store is quite large, perfect for leisurely browsing and treasure hunting. · **Chinatown Food Market** Slightly disappointing as there weren't many Chinese products. I was hoping to find some familiar snacks. · **Habashi House** Delicious and affordable Middle Eastern cuisine. They even offer free tea in the restaurant. · **Food Truck: Tacos El Viejon - Independence** The flavors were amazing, authentic Mexican style, and they provided plenty of side dishes! · **Kansas City Outlets** The outlet mall is huge, and I bought quite a few summer clothes. This might be the cheapest outlet I've ever visited. Lastly, our accommodation was truly enjoyable. We stayed at **Stoney Creek Hotel Kansas City - Independence**. The hotel was clean, quiet, and the rooms were spacious. The best part was the pool and hot tub, which are open to adults until 11 PM. We went around 10 PM and had the place to ourselves, swimming and relaxing in the hot tub—it was pure bliss 😊. If any friends plan to visit Kansas City, I highly recommend staying there for a night!

Last year, I embarked on a Midwest road trip (Pittsburgh to Memphis), but honestly, it was a bit disappointing. The whole journey felt "meh," except for the lively Nashville downtown. ❤️ However, my longing for Chicago and Kansas City led me to plan another trip this year. And guess what? It turned out to be quite delightful! Truly, lowering expectations for a trip can double the joy. The route map is in the image, and the journey lasted 10.5 days: 🚗 San Francisco ✈️ Kansas City (rented a car), drove to Chicago (returned the car) ✈️ Here are my treasure trove of insights 👇 1️⃣ Kansas City: Seeing the Water-Moon Guanyin and Guangsheng Temple murals made my visit complete 🙏. I was amazed that such an incredible museum is free! Not many people mention the Truman Presidential Library near Kansas City. Visiting it gave me a glimpse into his life, and I truly understood what it means to be "destined for greatness." While many strive to become president, some are simply handed the throne. When fortune strikes, there's no stopping it. 2️⃣ Lincoln: The whole city feels like a college town—small but cozy. The Haymarket District's red-brick buildings exude a retro industrial vibe. Find a café or restaurant to sit in, and you'll feel utterly relaxed. 3️⃣ Des Moines: Its State Capitol building left me in awe ✨. While the city itself isn't particularly distinctive, the Capitol's interior is stunning, blending architectural styles from France, Italy, and New York across different eras. It's also home to one of the largest gilded domes in the U.S. If you have time, join the free guided tour. 4️⃣ Dubuque: A hidden gem along the Mississippi River 💛. This tiny town, almost invisible on the map, boasts streets lined with European-style old buildings and rows of red-brick factories. The city tells stories of its 19th-century industrial prosperity. It's one of those places that, despite its decline, retains a charming allure. A 2-3 hour city walk is just perfect 🚶‍♀️. 5️⃣ Madison: Studying here must be a dream 🥹. The campus is right by a stunning lake. We visited during the start of the school year, and the city was brimming with youthful energy and vibrancy! The State Capitol building, illuminated at night, is truly elegant. As night falls, it resembles a small castle 🏰. 6️⃣ Lastly, the Midwest countryside: Windows desktop wallpaper brought to life 🌽. Endless cornfields stretch out under skies adorned with fluffy cotton candy clouds. Gazing at them, I couldn't help but think of the Windows desktop background 😂🚗💨. That's the beauty of travel—you never know what surprises await. So, let go of expectations and embrace the unknown 🥳.

staff were friendly and accommodating. no issues with the room and price was reasonable.

📍 Itinerary Overview 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions 🚇 Transportation 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine 🏠 Accommodation 1.Days Inn by Wyndham Independence 💡 Tips

overall good located in KC Mo. Kansas City Missouri

We have made some amazing core memories here!! The staff is so kind and take good care of us when we visit!