Things to do in KC. Check out this list. Feedback?

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GRID
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Post by GRID »

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Some basic facts about the Kansas City area
The Kansas City metro area is a bi-state region of 2.1 million people (2.6 million live within one hour of downtown KC due to Lawrence, St Joseph, Warrensburg, etc), so it’s a large, regional area.

The anchor city is Kansas City, MO with just under a half million residents. KCMO has five suburbs with over 100,000 residents. Overland Park, KS, Kansas City, KS, Olathe, KS, Independence, MO and Lee’s Summit, MO.

Kansas City is a major player in transportation, software design, engineering, architecture, advertising and telecommunications and is home to Hallmark Cards, Sprint Nextel, AMC Theaters, H&R Block, American Century Investments, Garmin, Applebee’s, HNTB, Black and Veatch among many more.

Kansas City has two major auto assembly plants (Ford and GM) as well as a Harley Davidson motorcycle assembly plant.

The KC area is one of the nation’s largest federal government centers with over 30,000 federal government employees including a Federal Reserve.

The KC area is the eleventh largest gambling market in the country with five large casinos including the largest casino floor between Vegas and the east coast. (Ameristar).

KC’s Boulevard Brewing Co is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest and tenth largest in the country.

Kansas City is the first city and currently only city to have Google Fiber

Kansas City is known as the city of Fountains with over 250 fountains across the city

Kansas City Metropolitan Area
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Central Kansas City, Missouri
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Areas of Central Kansas City, MO
If you are visiting KC for a day, a weekend or a week, the best place to stay is in the city. The central urban core of KCMO stretches about five miles from the River Market to south of the Country Club Plaza and includes several independent entertainment/business districts. This area is well served by transit, taxi cabs, bike share and is easily walkable. Even if you are in town for a ballgame or other event outside of the central urban corridor, you will enjoy your time in KC more by staying in the central city.

Here are some aerial photos of the central urban corridor of KCMO going from north to south to show how the different areas of urban Kansas City look:

River Market
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Downtown Loop
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Crossroads
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Crown Center
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Midtown-Westport
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Country Club Plaza
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UMKC-Rockhill
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Brookside
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Getting around Kansas City
Getting around in the core of the city without a car is actually quite easy, efficient and safe. MAX buses serve most key destinations with frequent service between the River Market and the Plaza while other many Metro bus routes cover the area as well. Central KC has hundreds of cabs that can easily be hailed or found at cab stands throughout the city at hotels, union station, entertainment districts etc. B-cycle is KC’s bike share system. The bike rentals are available at stations throughout the city from the River Market to Crown Center and is currently being expanded into Midtown and the Plaza. All transit buses have bike racks. Streetcars are also coming back to KC and the first line will open Downtown in 2015. Transit to the suburbs, airport and stadiums is lackluster at best, so a car will likely be needed if traveling beyond the urban core.
Kansas City B-Cycle
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
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Top things to do in Kansas City

Barbecue! Kansas City has the best BBQ and it's always the number one thing people ask about. Arthur Bryant’s, Gates, Jack Stack, OK Joes, Smokehouse, Danny Edwards, LC’s, Rosedale, Winslow’s is just the beginning. I think Gates is a must if you can only hit one place. Arthur Bryants original location on KCMO’s east side for authentic urban bbq and Smokestack downtown for a fantastic sit down (casual-upscale) bbq restaurant.

Arthur Bryant’s (best location 17th and Brooklyn, KCMO)
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Jack Stack (best location 22nd and Wyandotte, KCMO)
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Gates (best location Cleaver Blvd and The Paseo, KCMO)
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“Mixed Plate” Ollie Gates by KC rapper TechN9ne
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Top Attractions

National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial (Located near Crown Center in Kansas City, MO)
The Museum is very well done and very entertaining while educating. Check the online reviews and you will see this museum impressed nearly everybody that visits. The view from the top of the observation deck is breathtaking.
National World War I Museum
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The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art (Located east of the Country Club Plaza district in Kansas City, MO)
One of the finest art museums in the country. The new expansion is awesome and don’t miss the sculpture garden
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Kansas City, Missouri
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The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (Located at the southern edge of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
This new 420 million dollar downtown performing arts center has two theatres and is home to the Kansas City Ballet, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Kansas City Symphony. The Center also hosts many traveling shows, plays, concerts etc.
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Kansas City, Missouri
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Kansas City Convention Center
Kansas City’s modern and large convention center hosts many popular events throughout the year such as auto, boat and home shows.
Kansas City Convention Center
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Starlight Theatre, Midland Theater, Music Hall and many more
In addition to the Kauffman Center, Kansas City has Starlight which host many concerts and Broadway plays. It’s one of the country’s largest amphitheaters with 8000 fixed seats (no grass seating). Many other theatres create a comprehensive arts scene including The Midland, The Music Hall, The American Heartland Theatre, The Folly Theater, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Uptown, New Theatre Restaurant, Off Center Theatre and more plus many art house movie theaters.
Kansas City Starlight Theatre
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Union Station and Science City (Located south of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
Union Station is a national architectural treasure. Even if there is nothing going on at the station, it’s well worth a visit just to see the building although most of the time there are popular traveling exhibits there and the model railroad exhibit is amazing. Pierpont’s is one of the best restaurants in KC for steak and seafood. If you have kids, the IMAX and Planetarium are great and Science City is worth a visit. (don’t forget to walk cross the bridge behind the station which goes over the railroad tracks to the freight house where you will find Jack Stack, a great sit down BBQ place, Lidia’s Kansas City among others)
Union Station, Kansas City, MO
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Bridge connecting Union Station to the Crossroads District over the RR tracks
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Video of the model railroad experience
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County Club Plaza (Located 4-5 miles south of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
Charming urban mixed use district with shopping, dining, fountains, horse carriage rides, street performers, live music and fountains all with a Seville Spain influenced architecture, fountains and statues. This district has many chains as well as local eats and retail establishments.
Country Club Plaza | The Country Club Plaza: Kansas City
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Crown Center (Located about a mile south of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
This complex of shops, hotels and attractions south of Downtown is perfect for families with its central location and family friendly atmosphere. The square is home to fountains, concerts, movies, festivals and ice skating. The complex includes a 3 story shopping mall, a movie theater, several live theaters, an aquarium, the Legoland Discovery Center as well as the Hallmark visitors center and Kaleidoscope, both are which are free. Crown Center also has Frit’z Railraod Restaurant where trains bring food to your table and the very upscale American Restaurant.
Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri
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Kansas City Power & Light District (Located in the heart of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
Kansas City’s new downtown “living room”. This entertainment district host many restaurants, theaters and night clubs. The Mainstreet is one of the best movie theaters there is. The historic Midland host concerts, comedians etc, there are popular restaurants like Bristo (Great seafood in KC) as well as some well known chains. KC LIVE! is a two level night club district that is extremely popular on weekend nights and hosts many live concerts and events.
Power & Light District, Downtown KC
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American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Blue Room Jazz Club and Gem Theater (Located in the Jazz District just southeast of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
The Museums at 18th and Vine are incredible and should be a high priority if in KC. The Blue Room and Gem Theaters are two of KC’s premier Jazz and Blues venues and the Negro League Baseball Museum is a must see for anyone interested in baseball or history.
American Jazz Museum
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
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Boulevard Brewing Company (Located on Kansas City, MO’s West Side)
Boulevard is KC’s beer and very popular across the Midwest and beyond. Plant tours are very popular. The Brewery is located in Kansas City’s West Side, a Hispanic community with many authentic Mexican eats.
Boulevard Brewing Company Tour
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Westport and 39th Street West
These historic and eclectic midtown neighborhoods have many nightclubs and restaurants.
Westport District, KCMO
39th Street West, KCMO
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Crossroads Art District (Located south of Downtown Kansas City ,MO)
This district between downtown and crown center boast many art galleries and popular restaurants and currently hosts one of the largest First Friday Art crawls in the country on the first Friday of every month.
Westport District, KCMO
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Steamboat Arabia Museum (Located in the River Market district, Kansas City, MO)
Steamboat Arabia Museum
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Last edited by GRID on Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by GRID »

part two:

Kansas City Zoo (Located in Swope Park in southeast KCMO)
The KC Zoo is a large Zoo that has been going through many expansions and renovations over the years. The wide open African Exhibit is like nothing else and new exhibits like the new Polar Bear and Penguin Exhibits will continue to bring in the crowds.
The Kansas City Zoo
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Worlds of Fun and Oceans / Fun and Schlitterbahn
Kansas City has a major amusement park and two major water parks. Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are two of the largest of their kind in the Midwest and now one ticket gets you into both parks while Schlitterbahn Kansas City is another large water park.
Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, Kansas City, MO
Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark - Kansas City, KS
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City Market (Located in the River Market District north of Downtown Kansas City, MO)
The City Market is one of the largest urban farmers markets in the nation. Saturday mornings more than 30,000 people flock to the market so that’s when it’s busiest, but it’s open every day.
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The Kemper Museum Of Contemporary Art
This museum is Missouri’s largest contemporary art museum
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
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Kauffman Stadium (MLB Kansas City Royals), Kansas City, MO
40,000 seat Kauffman Stadium is one of the most unique and nicest ballparks in Major League Baseball. Take in a game or just take a tour of the stadium and Royals Hall of Fame.
Kauffman Stadium Tours | royals.com: ballpark
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Arrowhead Stadium (NFL Kansas City Chiefs), Kansas City, MO
79,000 seat Arrowhead Stadium is one of the largest and loudest NFL stadiums in the league. The tailgating has to be experienced to be appreciated, but if you can’t make it to a game, you can tour the stadium and Chiefs Hall of Fame.
Kansas City Chiefs - Stadium Tours
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Sporting Park (MLS Sporting Kansas City), Kansas City, KS
20,000 seat Sporting Kansas City regularly plays in front of sell-out crowds at this new state of the art Major League Soccer stadium
Sporting Kansas City
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Sprint Center (Concerts, NCAA events etc), Kansas City, MO
The 19,000 seat Sprint Center Arena is one of the world’s busiest concert venues and hosts many NCAA basketball tournaments.
Sprint Center Arena
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Kansas Speedway (major NASCAR and INDY car races), Kansas City, KS
This 85,000 seat speedway host two major NASCAR races annually as well as other races, concerts and special events
Kansas Speedway
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Independence Events Center (Concerts, hockey, soccer), Independence, MO
This 6000 seat arena is home to the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League and the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League and also host many other events and concerts. It also has a public ice skating rink.
Independence Events Center
Community America Ballpark (Kansas City T-Bones minor league baseball), Kansas City, KS
This 6600 seat baseball stadium is home to the popular minor league Kansas City T-Bones
KC T-Bones Baseball
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Kemper Arena and Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO
Kansas City’s other two arenas are used for concerts, minor league sports such as arena football and roller derby and other events. Kemper is home to the American Royal (Rodeo and other agricultural events) and seats 19,500 and historic Municipal seats 10,000
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College Basketball Experience, Downtown Kansas City, MO
This place is a LOT of fun and you don’t have to like college basketball to enjoy it, but if you do, it’s even better. The is a very interactive venue and fun for all ages.
College Basketball Experience
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Truman Library and Truman Home, Independence, MO
The Truman Library/museum is a well done and recently updated with modern exhibits that nicely showcase life of one of America’s more famous presidents.
Truman Library
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Celebration at the Station
The KC Symphony performs in front of a huge crowd and KC sets off one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest over the Liberty memorial on Memorial Day weekend.
Celebration at the Station: Celebrate KC, Celebrate America
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Fireworks over the Liberty Memorial
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Brush Creek River Walk
A great urban riverwalk for biking or walking. It connects to the popular trolley track trail near Main Street which takes you to Brookside/Waldo
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American Royal BBQ Contest
American Royal BBQ
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Kansas City Museum
Museum showcasing the area’s history
The Kansas City Museum
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National Airline History Museum located at Downtown Airport
Museum showcasing the area’s history
National Airline History Museum
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Kansas City Central Library
This library in a historic bank building is worth a visit. Make sure to visit the vault and the rooftop park
Kansas City Public Library (Downtown Location)
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The Money Museum
This free modern museum at the Kansas City Federal Reserve very much worth a visit.
The Money Museum
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Kansas City Star Printing Press Tour
The Kansas City Star Tours
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Powell Botanical Gardens and Kauffman Memorial Gardens
Powell Gardens : Kansas City Botanical Gardens
Kauffman Memorial Gardens
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Independence Temple and Auditorium
Visit Community of Christ International Headquarters
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Jessie James Farm and Bank
James Farm
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Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City and Sea Life Aquarium
Sea Life Aquarium Kansas City
Legoland Kansa City
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Harley Davidson Factory Tour
Kansas City Facility Factory Tours | Harley-Davidson USA
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Observation Decks
The Liberty Memorial and KCMO City Hall tower both offer open air observation decks with spectacular views of the city.
Kansas City Missouri City Hall Tower
Liberty Memorial Tower
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Snow Creek Ski Resort (Weston, MO)
Snow Creek Ski
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Casinos
Kansas City has some of the largest Casinos in the Midwest and one of the largest in the country (Ameristar Kansas City shown in the large pic below). This is how I would personally rank the casinos: 1. Ameristar 2. Harrah's 3. Argosy 4. Hollywood 5. Isle of Capri (Ameristar has a movie complex and concert arena and much more, Ameristar, Harrah's and Argosy have large hotels)
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Haunted Houses
Kansas City has some of the best urban haunted houses in the country. The many commercial houses are located in the West Bottoms Industrial District of KCMO.
Edge of Hell
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Go on a self guided fountain tour of the city of fountains!
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Last edited by GRID on Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:19 am, edited 3 times in total.
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double post
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Post by Pork Chop »

Looks great
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Bravo sir, bravo! =D> Excellent work. How could someone not be pumped to visit Kansas City after reading that. Beautiful.
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Post by maison rustique »

Great job--thanks so much!!
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Post by kboish »

Very nice, you always make KC look great. =D>

Only things I could think of you could possibly add is something about all of our great parks- Loose, Swope, Riverfront, Minor/Blue Prkwy, Kessler, etc and associated biking and hiking trails.--also JoCo trail network.

Maybe West Bottoms on the 1st weekend of the month?
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GRID
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Post by GRID »

kboish wrote:Very nice, you always make KC look great. =D>

Only things I could think of you could possibly add is something about all of our great parks- Loose, Swope, Riverfront, Minor/Blue Prkwy, Kessler, etc and associated biking and hiking trails.--also JoCo trail network.

Maybe West Bottoms on the 1st weekend of the month?
Thanks guys. I wish I had more pics of some of KC’s parks, but adding some maps of area trails etc is a good idea.
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Post by kucer »

This is really great.

The pic of the masses trying to get into the Sprint Center is hilarious.
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Post by KCMax »

This is excellent work. Are you planning on putting this on a site somewhere? The KC Wiki? Seems too impressive to be confined to just our eyes.
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GRID
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Harbinger911. I agree. It's a bit wordy. Thanks. KCMax. I don't know what to do with it. It will be a page on my kcphotos.com website. I'm re-doing it because I have ignored it for years and it does not even work right. I figured something like this woud drive traffic to the site. I would post it where ever I think people might use it though. I'm not on kc redit, but somebody could post it there I guess.
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Post by KCPowercat »

Awesome work sir.

Now can you make the walking and running maps I've been trying to come up with but keep failing?
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Post by Highlander »

Fantastic. I'd like to show that to many of my acquintances here in TX. Just awesome. KC has so much going for it and you captured that very well.
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Post by mean »

This is, I would argue, better than what we get from the actual CVB. Seems like taking this, perhaps even expanding on it (maybe tie it into Google's Maps API for transit and traffic info?) in a wiki-like format might be useful. If you're really ambitious, you could stick a blog on the front of it and post about all the cool new stuff to check out as it comes up... new restaurants, cool businesses, etc. I dunno, just a thought. I'd be happy to host / participate in such a thing.
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Post by KCMax »

I'm going to sticky this as its a nice reference for anyone new to KC and even those of us that have lived here awhile.
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Post by chaglang »

GRID wrote:Harbinger911. I agree. It's a bit wordy. Thanks. KCMax. I don't know what to do with it. It will be a page on my kcphotos.com website. I'm re-doing it because I have ignored it for years and it does not even work right. I figured something like this woud drive traffic to the site. I would post it where ever I think people might use it though. I'm not on kc redit, but somebody could post it there I guess.
+1 for adding these to the KC Wikipedia page.
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Post by mean »

If you mean the text, it's kind of a bunch of original research. Not exactly appropriate for Wikipedia. The pictures would be good, though.
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Post by chaglang »

mean wrote:If you mean the text, it's kind of a bunch of original research. Not exactly appropriate for Wikipedia. The pictures would be good, though.
Sorry, wasn't clear, meant pictures.
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Post by smh »

Slightly tangential thought: If you're ever looking to update Skyline Scenes, I'd love to be able to see a grid of photos (like say 20 or more at a time) in an effort to find one that was "just right" as opposed to looking one by one. That is all.
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smh wrote:Slightly tangential thought: If you're ever looking to update Skyline Scenes, I'd love to be able to see a grid of photos (like say 20 or more at a time) in an effort to find one that was "just right" as opposed to looking one by one. That is all.
I'm not sure what you mean. You can see many photos at once by selecting a city or doing a search of whatever you are looking for. You can also add photos to the lightbox and then choose them from there.

For example

http://www.skylinescenes.com/kansas-cit ... 119p1.html

Can you elaborate more? I'm good with this type of feedback, trust me :).
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