Engaging in free things can be a lot more fun than spending money, that’s for sure. In Leawood, Kansas, a city that provides great suburban life and perfect places to visit and enjoy luxurious expeditions, there are many free activities for you to enjoy. If you’re looking to check out fun and educational activities with your kids, let our team at Crème de la Crème of Leawood share with you some of our favorite spots. You’ll love these options to take in some fresh air and not spend a dime.

Ironwoods Park

“Park” by Omer Unlu is licensed under CC BY 2.0

14701 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS 66224 

Ironwoods Park covers 115 acres and contains plenty of entertainment options for the family. There are your standard playing fields and biking/hiking trails, as well as picnic areas with barbecue grills for a nice Sunday together.  You can also find the Prairie Oak Nature Center here, which offers environmental education for all ages and hosts a great collection of animals and artifacts. You can find the scheduled programs at the nature center or even request a program for your group. 

You can also try teaching your kids to fish at Ironwoods Park. The 1-acre lake comes with many species of fish such as bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. The water is pretty shallow, so the little ones can splash around safely. The park also contains two public art installations: the Prairie Lessons statue by Dennis Smith and the steel-and-gold installation My Mind by Michael McClanahan.

You can enrich everyone’s minds with everything to do at Ironwoods Park — and that’s just the free stuff. If you’d like to spend some money, you can camp there or even rent their event spaces for a big day.

Museum at Prairiefire

5801 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66223

The Prairiefire district of Overland Park is one of the best places to visit if you are looking to see some top-notch events, shop at the mall, or marvel at artifacts in Museum at Prairiefire. The museum allows free public entry into the museum’s Great Hall. There, you can see the exhibit Paleo Kansas City, which shows off fossils and exhibits that focus on Kansas City’s prehistory when is was once on the paleoequator. In keeping with the dinosaur theme, you can also try their augmented reality experience to play with digital fossils and learn major facts about exciting dinosaurs like T. rex and velociraptors.

You and your young ones can also wander through the Discovery Room, where you can try some hands-on science exhibits that talk about anthropology all the way to zoology. You’ll see their array of specimens, live animals, puzzles, and other scientific challenges you can explore.

If you enjoy outdoor fun, you can explore the Wetlands Park behind the museum that’s home to butterflies, herons, tortoises, and more. 

I-Lan Park

12601 Nall Ave, Leawood, KS 66209

I-Lan Park is the favorite park for many locals in Leawood. Dedicated to Leawood’s sister city, I-Lan in Taiwan, the park has a singular beauty all on its own. It covers 10 acres, offering visitors picnic areas and grills, a playground, an open playing space, and a trail that connects the Leawood and Overland trails. The trails are paved to make it easier for visitors to walk, run, cycle, or use their roller skates.

One of the major highlights of I-Lan Park is the Taiwanese garden and pagoda, bringing an extra bit of serenity to the property. The park is also home to a large, striking public art installation that arches over a pathway: Cloud Gate by artist Jessie Small.

I-Lan Park may seem small, but that gives you and your family a more intimate experience when you visit.

Indian Creek Bike Trail

Image by Cristiana Raluca is Free to use through Pexels

Hampton Park at South Warwick Street (Olathe, Kansas) to Blue River Greenway Trail just south of East Bannister Road (Kansas City, Missouri)

Indian Creek Bike Trail connects two states, four communities, and several parks alongside Indian Creek. The green surroundings in Leawood are all linked with a 26-mile trail that features beautiful terrain. It gives the perfect environment for locals to enjoy hiking and biking on a safe, paved path. It’s especially perfect in the fall when the leaves start to turn and you’re surrounded by red and gold leaves.

The trail is very safe, with signaled crosswalks, bridges, and tunnels to navigate around car traffic in the area. You’ll find plenty of shade and lots of birds, rabbits, ducks, and other animals for those who enjoy nature-watching.

Thompson Park

8045 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS 66204

Thompson Park is the newest park in town, with new and up-to-date social amenities. It’s a 4.8-acre park that was recently renovated, and its features highlight the town’s rich local history with spots like the Strang Carriage House. The park has everything your kids may need to stay engaged and active, including a splash pad, a completely new playground, swings, and shelters with grills for your relaxing weekends. 

The modern shelters in the park offer a perfect workstation area with stable Wi-Fi throughout. And one of the big additions they made to the park is a new performance stage for live music events.

Leawood is a family-friendly suburbs that offers a great respite from the buzzing noise of nearby Kansas City. With many recreation facilities, you will definitely not get bored here in the Leawood area. So what did you think of our list? Do you have any favorite activities in the area that are also free? Get in touch with us and let us know what your ideas are for a free family escape. We’ll be sure to check it out ourselves.