Kansas City

About 30 miles outside of Kansas City, Powell Gardens is a beautiful and serene escape from the city. The perennial gardens sprawl over 915 acres and include a waterfall trail and peaceful 12-acre lake. Park buildings were designed by architect Fay Jones and can be an equally as beautiful as the gardens. Tour the Heartland Harvest Garden, filled with edible plants from pomegranates to sweet corn. Torch some calories walking the 3.25-mile trail through the woods and by ponds. During hot summer days, visitors flock to the fountain garden (Kansas City is the city of fountains, after all), where kids and adults alike can play in the water.