The Northland is a unique lot of towns interspersed with Northern parts of Kansas City. It holds all of the Northern parts of Kansas City but not all of it is Kansas City. That’s North Kansas City . Which is it’s own town, separate from KC. Clear as mud right? Just know the weather can be different up north. Some areas of The Northland have enough class to justify the pretension, but for the most part, The Northland is the most grounded part of the city. They are the most reasonable.
Some enticing aspects are that just within a stones throw from the MCI Airport. You can easily create an escape.
Weston
Weston is a classic Midwestern town just northwest of Kansas City Airport. It’s home to several wineries, including Pirtle, Jowler’s Creek, and Weston Wine Company and Riverwood. You can also shop along Main Street and sample an assortment of Missouri wines, including varieties other than Norton. The Norton grape from Missouri has a stereotype of being too sweet but many wineries offer just enough variety.
TKC’s Weston Pick:
Riverwood Winery 22200 MO-45, Rushville, Mo 64484
Riverwood’s on-site farms of a variety of crops surround the sweet summer outdoor and indoor patio of what used to be an elementary school. This charming yet spacious winery has a full stage and dining hall commonly filled with live music and the smell of their flatbread pizzas. All these details are still the sideshow to the excellent service and wines from the bright wood-lined tasting room and our most enjoyed attribute, the whiskey wall. Riverwood offers very educated wine tastings alongside an exquisite Whiskey Tasting Bar that glows across the Wine Bar.
Weston Wine Co. 540 Main St, Weston, MO 64098
Weston Wine Company is a charming little winery on the Main Street strip of Weston. Weston Wine Co. is a place for both wine lover’s and Harry Potter lovers as it tends to be their year-around theme.
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Zona Rosa at I-29 and Barry Road
Zona Rosa is a dash of your typical contemporary outdoor mall. At Zona, you’ll find all your Victoria Secrets and Marshalls stores; Journey’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods along with many of your other corporate chains are found here surrounded by pairing restaurants like 54th Street, Buffalo Wild Wings, and with the Barry AMC movie theater across the I-29 Highway, you can have a true late 90’s and early 2000’s experience.
Parkville & Riverside
Parkville was rumored to truly be the first port on the Old Muddy Missouri River. It also has its fair share of shops and antiques on its own classic Main Street. Parkville’s excellent and romantic restaurants give it a perfect staycation getaway. With wine gardens and delicious french food from Cafe De’ Amis, popcorn and ice cream at Pop Culture, all the way to English Landing Park and the adjacent dog park. English Landing, and the Parkville Nature Sanctuary is a well-known Northland escape for scenic walks, jogs or adventurous hike without over-committing.
Riverside is Parkville’s uneventful little cousin. Though Corner Cafe has a delicious grandma experience with amazing country food and pies. If you’re craving Navy bean soup, rolls, some country fried chicken or meatloaf. The comfort food it’s worth the drive. (There are a few Corner Cafe’s across the Northland)
Barry Road, Gladstone, Antioch and Parvin Area
The make-up of the majority’s Northland are these small towns peppered throughout KC’s northern territories. Barry Road has its own strip of commercial areas of shops, grocery markets, and restaurants across the top strip of the northland and alongside highway 152 to Liberty.
Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse 7 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64155
Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse has the same feel of A Christmas Story when the whole dinner had been burned down so you go out for an entertaining meal. The service at Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse isn’t the most gracious however, they do bring a show when it comes the flare of cooking your meal right in front of your family.
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Gladstone and the Parvin area are the middle children in the large suburban crawl that came from KC’s migration north and recent growth. These neighborhoods are still peppered with a quite few family and local, delicious dining.
TKC Highly Recommends: Little Vietnam/Saigon
Just behind the Advance Auto on North Oak Trafficway is a repurposed strip mall that now is filled with absolutely scrumptious Asian Foods and now a Mercado Fresco, chain of local Spanish grocer. Places like Lotus Hot Pot and the collection of neighboring Pho joints took this little run down strip and large parking lot that had been pretty unused and turned it into this explosion of flavor and culture.
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Longboards Wraps & Bowls 6269 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64118
Longboards is a North Oak favorite with its wraps and bowls laced with a fusion of cultures from China, Japan, Hawaii, California, and Mexico confidently delighting both burrito and bowl lovers with those enjoying a lighter side.
Lotus Hot Pot & Grill 6591a N Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO 64118
Lotus Hot Pot & Grill joins a repurposed strip mall in a collection of Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian Pho restaurants. Lotus Hot Pot has the fun and enticing environment of DIY with a true Hot Pot that you get to fill with an assortment of meats and veggies, sauces and spices to create a one of a kind meal and experience.
Senior Tequila 6502 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64118
Senior Tequila is the go-to for Taco Tuesday and any other day inspired for Mexican Cuisine. The service may have a language barrier and hit or miss, but their chips, salsa, and queso dip are distracting and addictive. Highly recommended dishes at Senior Tequila are the Shrimp and or Fajita dishes.
Danny’s Burgers 8002 N Oak Trafficway #107, Kansas City, MO 64118
The “OLD SCHOOL” Burger. Danny’s has a patty, mustard, red onions and pickles- straight off the menu board and a classic as a burger could be. If they can make this well- the rest must be a smash! Oh my the fries!!!!!
Danny’s and their fries reminds us of what McDonalds tasted like back in the 80’s before the tyranny of the first world and corruption of other planets, these fries were a perfect Bon Jovi afternoon. They had THE PERFECT amount of salt, crisp, long and square cute.. just mmmm… when you may be craving a burger but subconsciously you’ll want the FRIES!!!
The burger was simple, so so simple, well cooked and juicy patty, basic seasoning- nothing excitingly wow- just more of a comforting delicious feel. No frills. This would be good after a hot summer day at a frisbee golf game. With the simplest bun ever; similar to the good school bread we had at lunches as a kid. -and the good cheese, melty and pure make this a Classic Burger joint.
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Going East: Liberty, Kearney & Holt
Both Liberty and Excelsior Springs have their faire share of interesting histories like the Hall of Waters, and Belvoir’s Haunted Winery. Liberty has the larger growth with many residential communities and major family stores, however Excelsior has maintained its homely charm with most of the attention to The Elms Hotel and Spa.
Belvoir Winery 1325 Odd Fellows Rd, Liberty, MO 64068
Belvoir Winery has many reason to be on the iconic KC list. The venue itself is a distinguished old Odd Fellows building that shows off for amazing weddings and celebrations. If you pair the party with their sweet and tasty wines, its bound to be a memorable time. Almost as memorable as the still vivid memories with the past. The Belvoir Winery is on America’s list of most Haunted places in America. Visiting Belvoir especially around the autumnal season is going to bring paranormal investigations and haunted dinners. Belvoir does have their charming suites available for an overnight stay; Just be sure to only leave with the spirits in a glass.
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The Elms Hotel and Spa 401 Regent St, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
The Elms Hotel and Spa is in Excelsior Springs rivaling the Hall of Waters with its vintage history. The Elms is popular for not only its exquisite rooms but for its luxurious day spa underneath. The Elms is the ultimate pretension and luxury for a full-scale romantic experience. The Elms is owned and operated now by the Hyatt.
Fence Stiles Winery 31010 W 124th St, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
The winery in the caves! Fence Stiles, is a family owned and operated winery that shares many tours of its wine caves below the surface of the pleasant and quiet grapes growing above ground. Fence is known for having a calm, relaxing environment, with contemporary music often providing a simple and stunning wine-down experience
Shamrock Vineyard and Winery 12300 Shoemaker Rd, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
Shamrock Winery is a true escape into a vineyard wonderland. The incredibly large acreage of this property makes it a high pick for wedding weekends and coupling escapes. Shamrock has also recently been releasing its brewery side to add to its tasting room.
Walnut Creek Winery 90 Main St, Holt, MO 64048
Walnut Creek is located in the tiny town of Holt but packs a huge punch! Walnut Creek Winery is the life of the town come evenings and weekends with live music, brick-oven pizzas and their in-house made wine. You might as well book a room in town as you will most likely be cheers-ing with them most of the night!