“I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come….”  The 1959 song (sung by Wilbert Harrison), was the first thing that sprang to mind when I found out that I was  assigned to visit and write about the city for the AAA TourBook and AAA.com Travel Guides. I did a lot of research before my trip; it’s not only a job requirement, but I like to learn as much as I can about a place before I visit. In a nutshell, Kansas City, Missouri is best known for its barbeque and history, jazz and blues music and sports teams.

But the city also has some well-kept secrets. Gorgeous fountains, art, architecture, parks and stylish shops are scattered throughout the city, and you’ll find prime examples of these at Country Club Plaza. This beautiful outdoor shopping village has been a Kansas City fixture since the 1920s, and for good reason. Although it has gone through some changes over the years, the Plaza has kept up with the times; today its 15 blocks are filled with about 150 popular shops and a mix of more than 40 chain and local restaurants.  Parking is easy – you can park on the street, but your best bet is to find one of the many conveniently located (and free!) parking garages and hoof it from there.

I enjoyed the outdoor spaces just as much as the stores; the Plaza’s architecture gives you the feeling that you’re not in Kansas City anymore.

In fact, it was designed to reflect the style of old-world Seville, Spain, with a heavy Moorish influence. Buildings are splashed with colorful tile and murals, lush greenery and flowers spill out of clay pots and hanging planters, roofs are covered in rounded terracotta tile, and whimsical fountains and sculptures in many shapes and sizes imported from Europe are everywhere you look. Very, very pretty.

Some of the stores are very upscale, but there’s also a large selection of more moderately priced shops, including American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Gap, Restoration Hardware and Urban Outfitters. If you have money to burn, the Plaza won’t disappoint. You’ll find Betsey Johnson, Burberry, Tiffany & Co. and Kansas City’s own Halls, a department store that carries lines ranging from Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs and Prada to Free People, Rock & Republic and True Religion.

If your feet are starting to feel a little sore, or you’d just like to take a leisurely ride around the Plaza, I heartily recommend a horse-drawn carriage ride. Take your pick from the more traditional Victorian-style carriage or make like Cinderella (or her prince) and hop into a pumpkin-shaped carriage strung with lights for the full-on fairy tale experience. Your carriage will be waiting for you at Nichols Road and Pennsylvania Avenue or at Nichols Road and Wyandotte Street.  If you’re in Kansas City anytime from April through November and you’re in the mood for a little romance, glide down Brush Creek in a Venetian-style gondola; the creek runs parallel to Ward Parkway on the south side of the Plaza and the ticket booth is near Halls.

To be sure, Kansas City has plenty of other shopping areas where you can spend your hard-earned cash, but if you only have a short amount of time and/or you like to shop in beautiful surroundings, Country Club Plaza is pretty difficult to beat.

Check back for my next blog on my top three Kansas City dining recommendations.