Activities & Theme Parks

Boat Cruises on Brush Creek, Brush Creek at Wyandotte, (816) 756-1331. 30-minute narrated cruise on the canal along the Country Club Plaza. Seasonal.

Kansas City Trolley Tours, regularly scheduled to Kansas City's top attractions. Narrated. (816) 221-3399 or 1-888-471-6050.

Crown Center Ice Terrace, (816) 274-8412, Crown Center complex. 25th and Grand in the heart of Kansas City. The city's only public outdoor ice skating rink is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., November through March.

Ice Sports-Kansas City, (913) 441-3033, 19900 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kan. Public indoor ice rink with set skating times. Hockey, figure skating and group classes.

Worlds of Fun, (816) 454-4545, I-435 and Parvin Road (exit #54) northeast of downtown Kansas City. Over 170 rides, shows and attractions on 175 acres, open from mid-April through October, in an internationally themed park. Includes the Timber Wolf, one of the world's top-ranked wooden roller coasters, and the Mamba, one of the world's tallest and fastest steel coasters. Newest addition in 2001 was Camp Snoopy. Closing times vary. Season passes and single-day passports available

Oceans of Fun, (816) 454-4545. Next to Worlds of Fun, off I-435 and Parvin Road, the Midwest's largest tropically themed water park featuring surf, sun and sand activities on more than 60 acres. Among more than 35 attractions are the million-gallon Surf City wave pool, adults-only pool with swim-up refreshment cabana, children's water playgrounds and seven giant water slides. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day with varying closing times. Season passports and single-day tickets available

Woodlands Race Track, (913) 299-9797. Located off I-435 at the Leavenworth Road exit in Kansas City, Kan. Nation's first dual racetrack for greyhounds and horses; simulcast greyhound and horse races year-round. Enclosed grandstands. Races five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, and great brunch buffet.

Snow Creek Ski Area, (816) 640-2200, north of Weston, Mo. Snow-skiing facility fully equipped with snow-making capability. Includes nine intermediate and two beginner runs, two triple chair lifts and three rope tows. Average season is 87 days. Rentals available. On the Web and www.skipeaks.com

The Kansas City Zoological Park, (816) 513-5701, in Swope Park, Kansas City, Mo. East entrance off I-435 at Gregory Boulevard; west entrance at Meyer Boulevard and Swope Parkway. Hundreds of animals from around the globe in natural habitats. Open daily year-round except Christmas and New Year's Day. IMAX Theatre, (816) 513-4629.

Powell Gardens, 20 miles east of Lee's Summit on U.S. Highway 50, (816) 697-2600. 915 acres of ever-changing gardens, nature trails, café and gift shop and year-round events and classes.