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Kansas City, Missouri
The root: The City of Fountains — jazz clubs, burnt ends, and more fountains than Rome — the heartland finale of our journey.
Eat: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que — burnt ends in a gas station, worth the trip. Arthur Bryant's — the cradle of KC barbecue since 1930. Gates Bar-B-Q — "Hi, may I help you!" and perfect brisket.
Skip — don't: The downtown "KC BBQ experience" chains with gift-shop sauce lines — the legends are the ones with lines out the door.
Specialty: Burnt ends and Kansas City jazz — smoke and saxophone, the city's twin signatures.
Shops & crafts: Country Club Plaza — Spanish-style shopping district, KC's crown jewel. City Market — local produce and crafts since 1857. 18th & Vine — jazz memorabilia and Black history books.
See: 18th & Vine jazz district — the cradle of Kansas City jazz. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — a sacred stop for the American game. The fountains — 200 of them, and the Plaza at dusk.
Main Street: 12th Street downtown — from the jazz district to the Power & Light, the city's working heart.
After dark: A jazz set at a club on 18th & Vine — the music that made KC famous, still live nightly.
When — events
American Royal World Series of Barbecue — the world's biggest BBQ contest, late September–early October.
Event dates are the typical annual timing; confirm with the town before traveling.