Mill Creek Park - Kansas City, MO

Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri is a popular but busy location. Full of trendy stores and restaurants, there is always a crowd shopping, eating, or just taking a stroll down the street and taking in some beautiful sites. But just a stone's throw away from the Plaza is a beautiful, natural respite from the bustling city - Mill Creek Park.

The sprawling, grassy landscape is a beautiful open green space. As someone who has lived in a large city for several years, I can tell you that the smell of grass, the beauty of trees, and the site of wide, open greenery offers a comfort to the soul that can be hard to come by in the urban cityscape.

The open space of the park appeals to groups for games, outdoor gatherings, fundraising events, and weddings. The main body of the park is circled by an trail, a little over a mile long, that has become popular with joggers. It has especially become popular with joggers training for the 5k, apparently a double lap will really help you prepare for the long run. For those with children, there is some playground equipment. But honestly, you don't need a jungle gym for Mill Creek Park. You really just need a picnic basket, a frisbee, a few friends, and maybe a dog (although the dog will have to stay on a leash according to park rules). One a nice day in the Plaza, Mill Creek Park is great place to take in a breath of nature and escape from the bustle of the city.

Mill Creek Park is also home to the JC Nichols Memorial Fountain, the most photographed and most famous fountain in Kansas City, the City of Fountains. But, I've already told you about that!

Total Time Traveled: 2 hours

Total Distance Traveled: 86 miles

Soundtrack: "Jukebox" Cat Power