Local residents won’t have to travel far to enjoy a world-class experience next year. Lonely Planet, an international travel guide, rated it the 1oth-best city in the world to visit in 2024.
“Kansas City, in the heart of the American Midwest, is increasingly traveler-friendly thanks to revitalized urban spaces, a brand-new, state-of-the-art airport terminal and expanded (free!) streetcar service,” It said. “In 2024, the city is set to unveil its first National Women’s Soccer League stadium — a prelude to hosting World Cup games in 2026. For the ultimate KC sports experience, visit in September, when the NFL season kicks off and you can experience the roar of a Chiefs home game.”
This year’s list celebrates its 50th anniversary by showcasing 50 outstanding places across the globe, divided into five categories: Best Cities, Best Country, Best Sustainable, Best Value and Best Region. The guidebook showcases the city’s barbecue restaurants, 200-plus fountains and jazz music scene. Lonely Planet also touches on the elite culinary scene and the construction of the planned entertainment zone on the Rock Island Bridge that spans the Missouri River. Lonely Planet also features world-class museums and quirky art-filled neighborhoods, along with:
- National WWI Museum
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
- Union Station
- Kaw Point Park
“The Midwest tops the list as the region with the best value to visit,” Lonely Planet says. The guide said cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit have witnessed a creative renaissance over the past decade with “food so good it rivals any you’ll try on either coast” but they didn’t make the list. But Kansas City is special, ranking among the top cities to travel to in 2024.
Kansas City is one of just two cities in the United States to make the list. The other cities on the list are:
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Paris
- Montreal
- Mostar, Bosnia
- Manaus, Brazil
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Prague
- İzmir, Turkey
- Philadelphia
More information about Kansas City attractions is available at www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/great-plains/kansas-city.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
