Traveler favorites like Favorite Art Museum and Favorite Brewery cap off a historic decade for tourism in Kansas City
December 19, 2019
KANSAS CITY, MO. – Visit KC announced today the winners of its Visitors’ Choice Awards, an annual program that recognizes area businesses, museums, fountains and other local establishments as favorites among travelers, all selected exclusively by voters who reside outside the five-county metro. This year marked the 13th anniversary of the program’s debut.
The Visitors’ Choice Awards is the only awards program that encourages Kansas City visitors and convention attendees to recognize their favorite area businesses and landmarks. With nearly 50 categories, the awards showcase how tourists experience Kansas City, from Favorite Gay Bar and Favorite Music Festival to Favorite Historical Attraction. Developed and promoted by Visit KC, award winners will be showcased on digital platforms during the coming year, including on VisitKC.com.
“Over the past decade, Kansas City has undergone tremendous changes in its arts scene, dining culture, shopping offerings and other key contributors to local and regional culture,” said Visit KC President & CEO Jason Fulvi. “We’re as thriving a destination as we’ve ever been, and these winners help showcase what makes us special. We’re proud that they represent our city and look forward to the next decade of tourism in the City of Fountains.”
The National WWI Museum and Memorial—the country’s only museum dedicated to World War I—earned the top prize this year, marking its first-ever win for Best of Kansas City. The institution joins Union Station as the second such winner in as many years. A full list of the 2019 award recipients follows:
Arts & Entertainment
- Favorite Art Museum – The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Favorite Art Gallery – Blue Gallery
- Favorite Mural – Lewis & Clark Expedition 1804 (River Market)
- Favorite Performing Arts Group – Kansas City Symphony
- Favorite Nightlife Spot – J. Rieger & Co.
- Favorite Concert/Live Music Venue – Starlight Theatre
- Favorite Jazz Venue – The Blue Room
- Favorite Casino – Ameristar Casino Hotel
- Favorite Gay Bar – Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
Attractions
- Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction – Kansas City Zoo
- Favorite Free Thing to Do – The City Market
- Favorite KC Neighborhood – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Historical Attraction – Union Station Kansas City
- Favorite Place to Snap a Photo – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Daytrip – Lawrence, KS
Sports & Recreation
- Favorite Landmark or Monument – Union Station Kansas City
- Favorite Fountain – J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain
- Favorite City Park – Loose Park
- Favorite Golf Course – Swope Memorial Golf Course
- Favorite Professional Sports Team – Kansas City Chiefs
Special Events
- Favorite Family Festival – Kansas City Irish Fest
- Favorite Music Festival – Boulevardia
- Favorite Beer Festival – KC Oktoberfest at Crown Center
- Favorite Art Festival – Plaza Art Fair
Food & Drink
- Favorite Restaurant – Rye
- Favorite Steakhouse – Hereford House
- Favorite Barbecue Restaurant – Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
- Favorite Fine Dining Restaurant – The Capital Grille
- Favorite Brunch – The Corner Restaurant
- Favorite International Cuisine – Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop
- Favorite Mexican Restaurant – Margarita’s
- Favorite Burger Joint – Westport Flea Market
- Favorite Pizza Place – Minsky’s Pizza
- Favorite Food Truck – Betty Rae’s
- Favorite Patio – Gram & Dun
- Favorite Bakery – McLain’s Bakery
- Favorite Coffee Shop – The Roasterie Café
- Favorite Winery – KC Wine Co.
- Favorite Brewery – Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Favorite Distillery – Union Horse Distilling Company
Shopping
- Favorite Shopping Center or District – Country Club Plaza
- Favorite Local Shop or Store – Made in KC
- Favorite Antique/Vintage Store – River Market Antiques
Accommodations
- Favorite Hotel, More than 300 Rooms – The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
- Favorite Hotel, 300 Rooms or Less – The Raphael Hotel
- Favorite Inn/Bed & Breakfast – Southmoreland on the Plaza
Best of Kansas City
National WWI Museum and Memorial
About Visit KC
Visit KC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ignite global passion for Kansas City. Through marketing, sales and service of the convention and tourism industries, Visit KC supports a vital and growing component of the local economy—generating nearly 48,000 jobs and $5.6 billion in economic impact annually. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.
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