The Ultimate Overland Park Bucket List (100+)

Overland Park is the second-largest city in Kansas and one of the best suburbs in the entire Kansas City metro — but if you only know it for the mall and the highway, you are missing out. This list covers over 100 things to do, eat, see, and experience in OP and the surrounding area.

Whether you have lived here for years or just moved in, there is something on this list you have not done yet.

Outdoors & Nature

1. Walk the trails at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens — 300 acres, 13 themed gardens, and miles of paths through woods and prairie
2. Feed the goats at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead — a working farm with over 250 animals, pony rides, and fishing
3. Hike the Indian Creek Trail from end to end
4. Watch the sunset from Roe Park
5. Explore the prairie grasses and wildflowers at the arboretum in late summer
6. Walk the Tomahawk Creek Trail — a paved loop through some of OP's nicest neighborhoods
7. Bike the Gary L. Haller Trail connecting Overland Park to Olathe
8. Picnic at Strang Park in downtown OP
9. Fish at one of the stocked ponds in the Overland Park park system
10. Visit the arboretum at night during the annual Luminary Walk (seasonal)
11. Play a round at Sykes-Lady Overland Park Golf Club
12. Walk through the Overland Park 9/11 Memorial near the police headquarters
13. Explore Heritage Park — trails, disc golf, and open space south of 159th
14. Find the public art sculptures scattered across OP parks and trails
15. Catch a summer concert at one of the outdoor concert series in the parks

Food & Drink

16. Get burnt ends at Jack Stack Barbecue on Metcalf — Kansas City BBQ at its best
17. Try the brunch at The Brass Onion in Prairiefire
18. Eat a hand-rolled bagel from Luca Bagel at the farmers market (get there early — they sell out)
19. Order the pappardelle at North Italia
20. Have a steak night at 801 Chophouse in Leawood or J Gilbert's
21. Get authentic Sichuan food at Sichuan Dynasty
22. Try the seafood at Bristol Seafood Grill
23. Grab a spicy avocado burger at Burg & Barrel
24. Hit up Q39 South for burnt ends appetizers and craft cocktails
25. Eat at J. Alexander's — the salmon dip and carrot cake are both worth it
26. Get tacos from a local truck at the farmers market
27. Try the coffee at Brew Lab in downtown OP
28. Discover Aqua Penny's for Thai-inspired flavors
29. Have dinner and a show at New Theatre & Restaurant
30. Eat your way through downtown OP on a Saturday morning — bakeries, cafes, and coffee shops within walking distance

Shopping & Markets

31. Spend a Saturday morning at the Overland Park Farmers' Market — voted best in the nation in 2022, with over 70 vendors
32. Browse the shops in Downtown Overland Park — antiques, art galleries, boutiques
33. Spend an afternoon at Oak Park Mall — over 180 stores
34. Explore the shops at Prairiefire — local boutiques plus dining and entertainment
35. Pick up loose-leaf tea from Bramble & Rose Tea Co. at the farmers market
36. Buy a plant from Birds Botanicals — a fixture at the market
37. Check out Peterson's Antiques in downtown OP
38. Browse the art at Images Art Gallery or InterUrban ArtHouse
39. Find locally made skincare at Noble Skin Co. at the farmers market
40. Shop the holiday markets in November and December — many OP shops do special events

Arts & Culture

41. Visit the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on the JCCC campus — free admission, world-class rotating exhibits
42. See a show at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center
43. Explore the Museum at Prairiefire — natural history and science exhibits in a building inspired by the Kansas prairie
44. Visit the Johnson County Museum — the "Becoming Johnson County" exhibit traces the region's transformation from farmland to suburb
45. Catch a performance at Theatre in the Park (summer outdoor season)
46. See a play at New Theatre & Restaurant
47. Tour the public art collection across Overland Park — sculptures, murals, and installations
48. Visit the gallery at Art at the Center
49. Attend an InterUrban ArtHouse workshop or class
50. Check out the rotating exhibits at the Nerman — the collection changes regularly and always surprises

Family Activities

51. Spend a full day at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead — arrive when it opens, bring sunscreen
52. Take the kids to Wonderscope Children's Museum in nearby Shawnee
53. Try indoor skydiving at iFLY
54. Hit Urban Air Trampoline Park on a rainy day
55. Bowl and eat at Pinstripes — bowling, bocce, and a fire pit patio
56. Go to TopGolf — order the injectable donut holes (seriously)
57. Let the kids run at KidScape inside the Johnson County Museum — a miniature town where they can pretend to run businesses
58. Ride a pony at Deanna Rose
59. Fly a kite at one of OP's many open parks
60. Visit the Great Plains Nature Center in nearby Wichita on a day trip
61. Have a family movie night at a local theater
62. Sign up for a kids' cooking class at The Culinary Center of Kansas City
63. Do an escape room at Game Show Battle Rooms or BRKTHROUGH
64. Try axe throwing at Bury the Hatchet

Date Night & Couples

65. Dinner at Plate in Prairiefire — house-made pasta and an intimate atmosphere
66. Wine tasting at Aubrey Vineyards — a local winery just outside downtown OP
67. Couples massage at Revive Asian Massage — two therapists, same room, choose your own style
68. Walk downtown OP at dusk, then grab dessert at a local bakery
69. See a live show at New Theatre & Restaurant
70. Take a cocktail-making class
71. Visit the Nerman Museum followed by dinner in Prairiefire
72. Spend a lazy Saturday at the farmers market — coffee, produce, live music
73. Book a tee time together at St. Andrews Golf Club
74. Try an "eat-ertainment" venue — OP has embraced the trend with places combining food, drinks, and games

Fitness & Wellness

75. Take a class at one of OP's two community centers — Matt Ross or Tomahawk Ridge
76. Run or walk the Indian Creek Trail early morning
77. Book a foot reflexology session at Revive Asian Massage — 30 minutes that reset your entire day
78. Join a yoga class at one of OP's many studios
79. Hit the driving range at TopGolf or one of the local courses
80. Swim laps at the community center pools
81. Try a spin or cycling class
82. Walk the arboretum trails for a low-impact workout with scenery
83. Book a 90-minute full body massage after a hard training week
84. Join a running club — several operate along the Indian Creek and Tomahawk trails

Seasonal & Events

85. Attend the Overland Park Fall Festival in downtown OP
86. Visit the arboretum Luminary Walk during the holidays
87. Go to the Farmers' Market opening day in April — the energy is electric
88. Catch a Fourth of July fireworks show at one of the local parks
89. Attend a summer Concert in the Park series
90. Shop the holiday markets in downtown OP — November through December
91. See the holiday lights displays across Johnson County
92. Attend the Overland Park Chocolate Festival (if it returns — always check local event calendars)
93. Visit Deanna Rose during pumpkin patch season in October
94. Go ice skating in the KC metro during winter

Day Trips from Overland Park

95. Drive 20 minutes to the Kansas City Plaza — shopping, dining, architecture
96. Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — free admission, one of the best art museums in the Midwest
97. Spend a day at Crown Center — especially great with kids
98. Tour the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO
99. Visit Tom's Town Distilling Co. in the Crossroads
100. Explore the Crossroads Arts District in KC — galleries, street art, First Fridays
101. Take the kids to the Kansas City Zoo in Swope Park
102. Eat BBQ in KC proper — Joe's Kansas City, Gates, or Arthur Bryant's
103. Visit the National World War I Museum — one of the most significant war museums in the country
104. Drive out to a Kansas sunflower field in late summer — worth the trip

Treat Yourself

105. Book a Revive Relaxation Combo — 90 minutes of full body and foot massage
106. Get a foot detox add-on after a long week on your feet
107. Try a deep tissue upgrade if you carry tension in your shoulders and back
108. Bring a friend or partner for a couples massage — no special occasion needed
109. Make massage a monthly habit — your body adapts and each session builds on the last

Overland Park has more depth than most people realize. Whether you have been here for decades or just arrived, this list is your excuse to explore something new this weekend.

And when your body needs a reset after all that exploring — we are here for you.

Book a massage at Revive Asian Massage or call us at (913) 318-9145.