Judi With An "i" for Clay County's Hidden Gems!

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly adventure, a unique date idea, a girl’s night out, outdoor adventures, or some historic destinations, Clay has something for you. Explore Clay’s collection of one-of-a-kind entertaining attractions and decide which is best for your ideal visit to Clay! Family friendly fun is a big part of what makes Clay such a great travel destination. From rock climbing at RoKC to roller coasters at Worlds of Fun, Clay has it all!

If active fun is what your family craves, visit any of the area's adventurous destinations! Check out what else Clay has to offer below and plan your next family vacation today!Get out and enjoy nature by renting a kayak or paddleboard from Northland Outdoor Adventures at Smithville Lake. See larger-than-life animals at Penguin Park and let the kids go wild on the park’s newly refurbished playground! Find a massive arcade and play center at PowerPlay or the area’s largest trampoline park at Above All Trampoline Park!

Hike or bike on any of the numerous trails found around Clay County and enjoy the natural beauty that the area has to offer. If you’re traveling with kids, consider visiting one of our beautiful parks to enjoy nature or to let the kids play at a playground. Experience lake fun and camping at .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
I am very excited because I havebeen talking about Clay County. By the
way, this is Megan Selfel andyou are with the Missouri Tourism specifically Clay
County. Yeah, so I actuallywork for Clay County. We are reviving,
revamping, or juvenating our tourism departmenthere and we have a new tourism
board. So there are so manyexciting things to share about the county and

(00:24):
that is my mission right now.When you just said that, I thought
to myself, well, this iswhat we need as human beings. We
need revamping, refinishing, and Ithink that's what these these day trips,
I like, weekend trips, staycationsto Clay County is all about, especially
when you are have your girlfriend's girlsweekend out, which is my biggest fun

(00:44):
thing that I love doing, orreally any kind of a thing that you
don't have a ton of time andyou can drive it's less than four hours.
There is so much to do andthat's what I want to talk about.
I'm excited about this. I'd loveto think that we're a little bit
of a hidden gym. Casey hasbeen in the limelight and we are so
proud of being a part of Casey. You know, a large section of
Kansas City is in Clay County,so we are trying true to those those

(01:07):
chiefs and our royals and our soccerteams. We've got the k CY Current
Stadium, so we'd love, love, love that. But we are like
our own little hidden gym as acounty, and I think that there's so
many folks that, you know,they lump us in with the city and
we have so much more to offer. One of the things that I absolutely
adore about Clay County are all ofour main streets. You know, we've

(01:30):
got Smithville, the City of Smithville, We've got Liberty, We've got Excelsior
Springs, and they each have theirown fantastic little main street shops and those
local businesses and that friendly hometown Midwestvibe that I just don't I mean,
I'm partially I don't think you canget anywhere else, but I totally agree.
I totally agree with you on that, and I think it's necessary too.

(01:51):
Something else that is just super fun. But just speaking of girls weekends,
right, we're always looking for thegirls we can get away. We
have so many wineries and they're socute and We've got them all over in
the county. There's there's like sevenor eight of them within the county.
And you know, Missouri wine's becominga new thing, and it's it's been
around forever, but it's it's gettinggetting more traction, I think. And

(02:15):
so those girls, because you coulddo just like a wine trail in Clay
County and have all these cute littlespots in some places you can say,
like Bubbar has an amazing hotel withit, but other places you can pop
in and do their wine tastings.We even have a trolley up in Excelsior
Springs and they'll do wine tours,so you and your gal pals can hop

(02:36):
on the trolley and you could evenstay at the Elms, which we know
is fantastic and historic, but thespa is second to none, and then
do a little wine tour on thetrolley. Yeah. And it's perfect timing
too, because this is seasons comingfor weddings, so bachelorette parties, Mother's
Day is coming up. These areall things in and I think as and

(02:57):
guys, just trust me, wewill we'll spend plenty of time talking about
honeyde trips and romance trips and stufflike that. But women have u we
nurture, we're people. We nevertake care of ourselves, and I think
it's really really important, especially whenyou're celebrating a wedding or Mother's day for
sure. Oh absolutely those little youknow, self cares is a trending term

(03:22):
right now. But truly you doneed to take a moment because I think
the mental load that women take onis just astronomical these days. And not
that men don't. Don't get mewrong. I have a very amazing husband
of my own who is the secondhalf of our household, and he does
so many things. But I thinkthe women take on so much, you
know, physically, but really mentally, and so these little getaways are just

(03:46):
critical. And whether it's with yourspouse or a significant other or girlfriend,
or you know, maybe you're justlike I just need a single getaway,
like I just want to. Ijust want this like quiet vibe that I
can do it. I want andhave that freedom. Uh, there's a
ton to do here, and wewelcome you in any way, shape or
form that you want to make itover here. I love the whole idea

(04:10):
of a solo trip, believe itor not, because I was just having
a conversation. Sounds crazy, butI was just really stressed out and I
was telling somebody all I want todo is. It's actually a life coach
friend of mine who I do apodcast with, and I said, I
just want to go somewhere and scream. She goes, So go solo on
a road trip and scream in yourcar on the way there. I thought,

(04:30):
it's brilliant. Love it. Yes, you just go scream and then
go to take a nice spot,go to a few wineries. There's nothing
more amazing than sitting with a bookin a winery. That's you're singing.
It's I'm all about that. Giveme a good book and I and don't
bother me. Yeah, and thenI can go shopping right now. Yes,

(04:56):
but you know, and the otherthings too. You whether you're an
outdoorsy person or not. We havefantastic trails and I'm not talking yes we
do have the rugged trails too,but just like that, connecting to nature,
the fresh air, the clean breeze, you know, Smithville Lake is
something we're very proud of. Weof course, we've got all the outdoor
fishing, in water sports and stufflike that. This time of year when

(05:16):
the weather is starting to get nicer, it's a fantastic time to just pop
out on one of our paved trailsthat walks around the lake and get that
just I feel like it's like anature clint. Just get out there and
breathe in the fresh air and kindof forget your day to day as for
as long as you can, andthen, like you said, pop over

(05:36):
to some of these fantastic wineries orrestaurants. We have so many amazing restaurants.
There's truly too many to choose from. But I have my favorite spot
and I'm looking so forward to patioseason again because that's one of my favorites.
Yes, me too. And Ilove the idea of the trails because
I'm a huge nature person. Ilike touching trees. It's weird, but

(06:00):
it's people realize now. I thinkthe power of nature and when you're around
it, especially I just read anarticle that we are lacking vitamin D believe
it or not. Not just womenare a lot, but men too,
And that's being out in nature andhaving that energy and the sun. And
I love that idea. I wouldI would walk the trails on snow though

(06:21):
too, so you know, well, yeah, but you know this,
this weather has been crazy. SoI'm saying, don't even wait till true
spring, come now because the highto day Judy is eighty degrees and it's
unbelievable. I love that. Ilove it. I love it. So
what is the best way to getstarted? I mean, do they can
they go to your site, ClayCounty. What do you think? What's

(06:44):
your what's your suggestion? So obviouslyI'm gonna point you towards visit clay mode
dot com and on there. Youknow, we've got it broken out by
all the different things you can do. You can eat, you can drink,
we've got breweries, wineries, we'vegot family fun, we've got outdoor
adventure. But we also have itbroken down by season, so you can
click on the button that says Spring, and we're going to list out all

(07:05):
the fantastic things that are happening inspring, a couple of things that are
opening up, and again it justdepends on what you're here for, but
we have one of the most excitingthings is the opening of the rabbit Hole.
So if you have kiddo's nieces,nephews, you know, family friends,
this is going to be the mostamazing thing to hit the county in
a while. It's a walk throughstorybook museum with I think over thirty or

(07:30):
forty They got the rights over thirtyor four books and these you just walk
through this like life size book experiencewith all the different books as you're walking
through. That opens March twelfth.We're excited about that. Man, you
don't have to be a kid.I hope to do. No, I
love I was out. I honestlyall these books are from like our childhood.
They're not new books. I mean, they have some new book peppered

(07:53):
in, but these are like theclassics like the Madeline and the Tote and
Frog and I'm like, ohy,all the old you know, childhood memories
and yes, all are welcome.So that is really exciting for us in
the county. And then if you'reinto the Patrick State, Snake Saturday,
North Kansas City has their biggest festivalthe year, which is the Snake Saturday

(08:15):
Parade that's Mark sixteenth. Of course, we have tulip festivals, which people
don't even think of Kansas City ClayCounty for tulips, but we have place
up at Foam Farm that has gosh, I mean, how many bulls do
that? I think it's like overone and a half million tulip bulbs and
like twenty plus acres. So talkabout your photo ops, get your galpu

(08:37):
pop over there, lots of selfietor even some you know, if you
want engagement pictures around tulips, thatwould be so cool. Absolutely, there's
really so much to do, andI would say your best bet is just
go to that visitclay mo dot comand get started. And then from there,

(08:58):
you know, you can branch offinto so many directions based on what
your preferences are. If it's familyor girlfriends, or eating, or maybe
you just want to do like apub crawl, brewery tour. We have
that too, or a progressive dinner, get some other couples together, families
together, and go for progressive food. You remember, I don't know if
you ever did that with your parentsas a kid, but my parents did.

(09:20):
It was so much fun. Ohwell, you had me at any
of the food, right. Ilove this And what we're going to do
is this is just the first ofmany. What this is kind of an
overall talking about Clay County and allthe and it is so many gems to
see and then I'm gonna take alittle visit there and we're gonna break it

(09:45):
out into like maybe certain winery areas, we'll look at some of the trails.
I mean, this could there's somuch to do. This could be
going on for a very long time. So don't get sick about it.
And as long as you'd like,I'm very excited about this. And for
anybody and you're you just nailed it, your first opening statement, nailed it.

(10:07):
We need this. We need toalso give support and love to all
those local businesses. This is whatAmerica is about. I am so in
love with our businesses and our peoplethat we have here. And you walk
in and they just make you feelpart of the family. You know,
you get that customized shopping experience.You know, hey, how you doing,
what are you looking for? Ohmaybe let's look at these you know,

(10:30):
you don't get that in the bigboxes. And these little main street
shops are just my favorite for thatreason. They just want you to walk
out happy, and they do.They succeed. I walk out with many
many things that make me happy.I love that. I love that these
and a lot of these local businessowners they are taking leaps of faith opening
these businesses, so we need todefinitely support them and give them love.

(10:52):
And you're absolutely right. There isnothing better than shopping in a small,
locally owned business and getting that oneon one, you know, customer service.
You don't get that on big boxstores. Oh no, no.
And they have such unique items too, you know, it's stuff that you
really don't find too many places.They just have the most unique things.

(11:13):
I was so excited to do Christmasshopping. I mean I popped down to
all these little main streets and Iwas like, oh, I found this,
I found this, And of courseI'm finding things for me along the
way, of course, but itwas Yeah, it's it's really fun,
very nice people, lots of options. You know, whatever you're into,
there's a shop for you. Andthen when you get tired of shopping,

(11:37):
right down the road is a cutelittle restaurant or bar that you can pop
into as well and get that samelocal feel. And lots of places to
stay, Airbnb's hotels, all kindsof places, I'm assuming, Oh absolutely.
And the beauty about where we're locatedis you can get anywhere within the
county in like twenty minutes. Oh, that's so you might stay. Maybe
you stay in North Kansas City becauseyou love, you know, one of

(12:01):
the two things that they've got downthere. Maybe you stay, and maybe
you want to be by chicken andpickles, So you stay in North Kansas
City because pickleballs all the age thesedays. Oh yeah, you stay there.
But honestly, you can get anywherein the county and about twenty minutes.
So maybe you stay there and you'vegot just the itch to go see
some Hicks historic sites. Well thenyou can pop up to Carney and the

(12:22):
Jesse James Museum is a really uniquefarm and museum that we have here with
an insane amount of historical items.It truly is insane. It's very cool,
and you can you can be upthere from North Kansas City and twenty
to twenty five minutes. Wow,these are gems. I've never heard of
any of these. This is amazing. I mean, you could be busy
for a lot of weekends or weekdaysplay hooky. Yeah, absolutely, it

(12:46):
comes. I I was gonna saymore than a weekend. I would say,
there's so much to do, youcould make it as long as you
want. And it's only again,less than four hours. To drive.
Absolutely, I love it. Well, I'm really excited. I cannot wait
to share more of Clay County andall those wonderful gems. Megan, you
are fantastic. Oh well, thankyou so much for having me and you're

(13:07):
always welcome. Judy, you popon over and we'll have a girl's day.
I love it. I'm in