Leawood is nestled between Overland Park, Kansas, less than 4 miles away, and Kansas City, Missouri, which is only 7 miles away. This location makes Leawood a town with a suburban feel but with all the advantages of living near a major city. Living in Leawood means you don’t have to sacrifice living in a quieter family-oriented community to enjoy all the arts, culture, and cuisine in Kansas City. The local scene in Leawood also has many advantages, including places to go, things to see, and activities to do. Our Créme de la Créme team invites you to check out these reasons to move to Leawood.

The Blue Valley School District

School supplies on a wooden background, top view by Marco Verch Professional Photographer is licensed with CC BY 2.0

The Blue Valley School District is a distinct advantage if you have school-aged children and teens. It’s not only one of the top schools in the Kansas City area, but it also ranks highly as one of the best school districts in the entire country. The schools in the Blue Valley district offer high-quality education, as evidenced by very high test scores and a 97% graduation rate. Living in Leawood means ensuring your children receive the best education possible.

The schools in the Blue Valley district have designed several programs to help maximize students’ success from kindergarten until high school graduation. This offers your children a solid foundation to pursue higher education at the college and university levels. Some of the programs they offer include: 

• K-12 enrichment programs
• Mentoring programs
• Intervention programs for help with reading and math
• Advanced placement courses for college credit

Leawood City Park

If you’re searching for outdoor fun, head to Leawood City Park. The park spans a massive 66 acres. Park amenities for sports lovers include:

• A whopping 11 soccer fields
• Three basketball goals
• Six tennis courts
• Two sand volleyball courts
• Two baseball fields
• A jogging trail

You can also bring your furry friend to frolic in the dog park. It’s a great place to enjoy public events as well. During the summer, you can take advantage of their aquatic center and enjoy some time with your friends and family while you beat the heat. Get out in nature at 10601 Lee Blvd. in Leawood.

The White Theatre

If you enjoy attending live theater performances, attend a production at The White Theatre at 5801 W. 115th St., Suite 101, Overland Park, Kansas. This state-of-the-art community theater accommodates an audience of up to 500 attendees. The White Theatre is a non-profit organization that offers theater productions, Broadway shows, once-in-a-lifetime events, and educational programs. They specialize in providing the highest quality entertainment with shows, concerts, and other live performances. While the theater is operated by the Jewish Community Center of greater Kansas City, you don’t have to be a center member or Jewish to enjoy the entertaining programming at The White Theatre.

Town Center Plaza and Town Center Crossing 

If you’re looking for a place to shop, dine, and play, head to Town Center Plaza and Town Center Crossing. This open-air upscale shopping center is in Leawood, at 5000 W. 119th St. It’s home to over 90 fine stores and restaurants, such as Sephora, Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Crate & Barrel, Gap, Williams-Sonoma, Anthropologie, Sundance, Lululemon, Warby Parker, Madewell, and Athleta.

After you shop till you drop, relax and enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the many dining options. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you can find a spot to satisfy your cravings. Some options include Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Sushi House, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, North Italia, and Bristol Seafood Grill. After dinner, you can enjoy some wine and art-making at Pinot’s Palette, where you can sip on some wine and create your own painted canvas with the assistance of helpful instructors. Or, for an activity that’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping, head over to Blade and Timber, an ax-throwing experience.

Park Place

For a smaller, unique shopping experience just across the street from Town Center Plaza, check out Park Place, which specializes in one-of-a-kind boutiques and local eateries. Park Place always has fun things to do. There are spas where you can relax from your busy routine and live music in the square. In the wintertime, there’s an ice skating rink in the green square to enjoy, sure to be an extra special outing for kids. You can also grab some friends or loved ones for some time on the ice.

As for shopping, there are seven bridal shops, numerous women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing boutiques, specialty jewelers, a floral shop, and more. For dining that caters to your taste buds, you have your choice of many different cuisines, sweet treats, and a spot to get your coffee buzz on. Your next delicious meal or snack could be served by 801 Chophouse, BurgerFi, Bamboo Penny’s, Plate, Ice Cream Bae, Panache Chocolatier, Outta the Blue, or RA Sushi.

Museum at PrairieFire 

The Museum at PrairieFire is the result of collaborations with the American Museum of Natural History and educational and cultural institutions in and around Kansas City. The museum is devoted to natural history and culture, both locally and around the globe. Museum visitors and local area students can view engaging world-class exhibitions, participate in special programming, and take advantage of educational offerings.

The exterior of the museum’s building itself is a work of art, as it’s the only one of its kind in the United States. It features Dichroic Glass developed by NASA. Take some time to walk around the perimeter of the building, which also features limestone primarily sourced from quarries in Kansas. You’ll be able to spot fossils in the limestone as well. The Dichroic Glass changes colors throughout the day and night, with daytime displaying purples, oranges, fiery reds, and the nighttime revealing sea-like blue hues. Explore the many unique experiences at 5801 W. 135th St. in Overland Park.

Our Créme de la Créme of Leawood team thinks our little town is special, and once you move here, we know you’ll feel the same way. From excellent schools and green spaces to theater and the arts to shopping and culinary experiences, Leawood has something for everyone.