Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Country Club Plaza is an open-air shopping and dining district in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1923 by developer J. C. Nichols. It is known for its Spanish-inspired architecture, its fountains and its public art, and it is often described as one of the first shopping centers planned around the car. Today it is a place to wander on foot as much as to shop.

The story behind it

J. C. Nichols opened the Plaza in 1923 as part of his wider plan for the neighborhoods south of downtown Kansas City. Instead of a plain row of storefronts, he gave the district a Spanish look, with colorful tile, wrought iron and towers inspired by Seville. His company ran the Plaza for decades.

The buildings have outlasted their original owners. The J. C. Nichols Company merged with Highwoods Properties in 1998, and the district has changed hands more than once since. Owners, tenants and fashions have come and gone, yet the painted walls and Spanish-style towers still shape the streets much as Nichols laid them out.

What to look for

• Look for the painted walls and murals tucked along streets such as West 46th Terrace, where the art is part of the architecture.
• Notice the towers and rooflines, which draw on Spanish design and give the skyline its character.
• Keep an eye out for fountains, statues and tile mosaics set into corners and small plazas along the way.
• Look closely at the tilework, ironwork and decorative details on the older facades, which reward a slower pace.

Tips for your visit

• Walking the streets costs nothing, and you can see the main sights in an hour or two. Allow longer if you plan to eat or shop.
• Late afternoon and early evening are pleasant for the light on the facades and for a meal afterward.
• The district is made up of streets and many separate businesses, so check current opening hours for any shop or restaurant you want to visit.
• Wear comfortable shoes, since the best details are found by wandering side streets rather than staying on the main avenues.

See it on a quest

Ghost Hunt in Kansas City brings the Plaza into a longer route on foot, with a spooky theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Kansas City is a good pick if you like a puzzle with your sightseeing. You reach the Plaza as one stop among several, hear about it on the spot and solve a clue using what you can see around you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Dorothy’s Quest: The Trials of Oz in Kansas City suits families and anyone who likes a lighter, storybook theme. It leads you on foot past the Plaza and nearby streets, with the app telling you about each place and setting a puzzle there. One ticket covers the whole group.