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DAY TRIP TO SMITHVILLE, MO

Found within the rural hills of Clay County is the city of Smithville. Though it is most widely known for Smithville Lake, Smithville is much more than a lake-town. At the heart of the city is its historic downtown, founded in 1822. Smithville was first settled by a man named Humphrey “Yankee” Smith and was originally named “Smith’s Mill” after him.

There are so many awesome getaways to be had in Smithville, you might even be surprised by what all you can do there in a day!

Nestled into the quiet comfort of the largely residential suburb of Gladstone, Linden Square offers a uniquely quaint downtown experience. With its charming collection of restaurants, event spaces, and luxury apartments, Linden Square is not only a great place to live, but the perfect spot for a daytrip getaway!

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Discover Day Trips in Clay County

Visiting Kansas City, MO? Plan a fun weekend getaway with this list of Missouri day trips in Clay County. Explore Smithville Lake in Smithville, the Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs, Gladstone farmers market, Jesse James history in Kearney and Missouri wine at Belvoir Winery in Liberty.

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Spending Time in the Sunshine in Clay County

My husband, Aaron, and I had both been putting in long hours at work lately, and we were starting to feel the exhaustion setting in. I told him I needed an adventure, and—as I expected—he was game. We love the outdoors, but with our crazy work schedules, we felt as though we’d been cooped up for too long. It was time to trade in the fluorescent office lights for some sunshine and fresh air. So, last weekend we strapped our bikes and kayak to the car and headed out to Smithville Lake in Clay County, Missouri.

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National inspire your heart with art day!

Today is National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day! Inspiration can be a hard thing to come by, especially during these winter months when the weather is so often gloomy and cold. Luckily Clay is home to several unique art installations that may be just the picker-upper you need to get through all of winter with that same motivation you began the year with!

Here’s a quick guide to art installations and galleries located around Clay; we hope you take the time to visit them in the coming weeks!

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Celebrate the New Year!

Still looking for the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration? Check out Visit Clay’s list of NYE happenings to see where you can ring in 2020.

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Top 7 Things to do in 2020

The last decade is coming to a close and with the New Year it’s time to start planning your adventures for 2020. Here are some of Visit Clay’s ideas for the top seven things to do in Clay County in 2020.

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Holiday Lights in Clay!

Celebrate the season by touring Clay’s jolliest destinations for festive holiday light sightseeing!

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Relax this Holiday Season

Check out Clay’s list of the top 5 places for adults to visit to relax during or after the stressful holiday season!

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Clay's Top 5 Unique Gift Ideas

The holidays are on their way and with them the annual flurry of gift planning and shopping. We know it can be a challenge to think of unique and memorable gifts each and every year, so to help we’ve put together a list of the 5 Unique Gift Ideas that can be found only in Clay!

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Holiday Shows

The holidays are swiftly approaching, so there’s no time to be a Scrooge! If you need a little boost to help get you into a jolly mood, Clay might have just what you’re looking for! There are several holiday shows coming up in Clay, from the classics you know to some brand new stories you’ve yet to be told. ounty, Missouri.

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Interesting History

Clay County, Missouri is full of unique and fascinating history that makes its communities great places to visit for history buffs. With so much to learn, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start looking into the history of an area. To make things a little easier, we put together a list of 7 interesting history facts from Clay County, Missouri.

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Pumpkin Spice Season

Not many people will argue that pumpkin spice is the flavor of the fall season. Luckily there are plenty of places in Clay where you can taste this coveted flavor in either drink or pastry form. Here’s a list of the top 5 places you can go for some seasonal tastes in Clay; let us know your favorites in the comments!

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Top 4 Things to do on a Rainy Day!

Though typically fall is the perfect time to be outside, so far this October has brought us several rainy days, and most of the rain has fallen over the weekend! If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent more than a few rainy days indoors, wondering what you could go out and do for fun without getting drenched.

That’s why we put together this quick list of the four best things you can do during a rainy day in Clay.

Explore spooky stories and paranormal adventures in Clay County!

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Breakfast in Clay!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s also the most easily skipped! Luckily Clay is full of delicious opportunities to sit down and enjoy a nice big breakfast in the morning.

Here’s a list of Clay’s top 8 favorite places to snag breakfast:

Fall in Clay means many things; pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall foliage, and even a few spooky ghost tours.

One of the biggest ways Clay celebrates the season though is through festivals. Every year, several of Clay’s communities host their own fall festival and the season doesn’t feel quite right until you attend at least one!

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Fall for Clay!

Even though the weather may not agree yet, fall is just around the corner! The first official day of fall is September 23^rd, which means now is the perfect time to start planning what you want to do this season.

Whether you’re looking for fun for the whole family or something spookier for the older kids and adults, Clay’s got you covered.

If you’re looking for something fun to do in Clay that won’t take up a big chunk of your time, then you’ll want to check out this list of the top 10 things to do in Clay in under an hour.

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Family Trip to the Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch

Follow along with a family trip to the Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch in Kearney, MO. Discover fall activities for families in Missouri and things to do in Clay County in the fall. See critters in the petting zoo, and then pick pumpkins at this pumpkin patch in Missouri.

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Clay Bakeries

Get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth with Clay! There are several unique bakeries in Clay that are serving up decadently delicious baked goods that you won’t regret treating yourself with.

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Outdoor Fun

Get out and enjoy some outdoor fun this year! Even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, Clay is the perfect place to enjoy unique outdoor fun in the comfort of a more urban setting. Learn a new sport or play so giant board games; whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

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2019 Best of the Northland!

Take a look at Clay’s 2019 Best of the Northland Winners and make a plan to visit some of these winners if you’ve yet to experience them!

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National Coffee Shake Day!

Today is National Coffee Milkshake Day! With the summer heat, the last few weeks haven’t been the best for coffee, but with all the local coffee shops offering tasty frozen beverages, there’s no reason to dump the caffeine over the summer!

With warm summer days and vacation for the kids, sometimes it’s hard to fill up your schedules with family fun activities, especially when you’re working within a budget. There are several free events and activities in Clay that will help you entertain your family without needing to spend a dime!

Summertime means time spent outdoors under the sun and there’s no better way to enjoy a night out than by listening to live music!

Here’s a quick list of the four best places to catch live outdoor music in Clay! Visit any of these places yourself? If you do, make sure to share the pics on social media with the hashtags #ClayMOments and #VisitClay!

Ready for the Fourth? Don’t worry if you still haven’t finalized your celebratory plans, Clay is here to give you the lowdown on where you can celebrate this week. Every community has an event planned to ensure that everyone can have a safe and festive holiday, and we want to make sure you know where to find them!

Ever feel like you’ve already visited most of Clay’s local attractions or toured the historic sites? If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking this, we’d like to challenge that by sharing three unique crafter destinations that you may not have heard of yet.

It’s always important to look at the whole history of an area, which is why we’ve put together a historical “scavenger hunt” of some of the historic hidden gems in Clay.

If you visit any of these destinations, make sure to snap a photo or a selfie while you’re there and tag them #ClayMOments!

It’s National Wine Day and Memorial Day Weekend in Clay County, which is a good combination even with the rainy weather we’ve been seeing this week. With all our local wineries offering their own brand of delicious Missouri wines, Clay is the place to celebrate National Wine Day and Memorial Day Weekend!

Summer has finally found Clay! The weather is warm, the grass is green, the beaches are open, and exciting events and festivals are just around the corner! We want to make sure everyone has the chance to get out and enjoy all the fun things summer has to offer us in Clay, so here’s a schedule of upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!

The swim beaches at Smithville Lake open up today, which means now is the time to plan a beach outing with your family and friends! Camp Branch Beach and Little Platte Beach are great places to visit for some outdoor summer fun.

If you’re still scrambling to make nearly last-minute plans, don’t worry, Visit Clay has a list of the top 5 unique things you can do with mom in Clay County this year to show her how much you appreciate her!

Did you know that the summer months in Clay are filled to the brim with festivals made just for foodies? If you didn’t, then make sure you check out the list below to see what you and your taste-buds have been missing.

Two of Clay County’s top historic destinations are the Jesse James Birthplace Museum and the Jesse James Bank Museum. Most know at least a little about the infamous outlaw, but here’s a list of 7 James history facts that we think you’ll find interesting.

With spring’s arrival, now is a great time to begin looking at what fun family-friendly events are on the horizon in Clay.

Here’s a list of some of the upcoming family-friendly events that we think anyone looking to get out with the kids this spring should add to their spring and summer itineraries!

A family experiences their first camping trip at Smithville Lake.

Creating priceless memories as a family, with activities including Gladstone Theater in the Park, Missouri historical sites, PowerPlay North, and more. Discover things to do in Clay County, MO as a family.

Did you know that tomorrow is National Take a Walk in a Park Day? With the weekend just beginning, now is the perfect time to plan a trip to a favorite park or to make a point to visit somewhere brand new! Clay County is home to several parks that we recommend you visit, but here is a list of just six that we think you should check out this spring!

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Spring into Hiking!

Today marks the third official day of spring and, with the warm weather already this morning, it definitely feels like it! With the weekend on its way, now is the perfect time to begin planning some outdoor fun for the rest of spring.

A favorite activity of ours when the weather is nice is hiking, and there are several trails in Clay that you will want to visit while the weather is warming and the flowers are blooming.

Here is a list of the top 5 trails we suggest you visit this spring.

Did you know that Clay County is home to several unique landmarks that make perfect additions to any sightseeing tour of our communities? Here are just a few of our favorites!

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Outdoor Fun!

Spring is just around the corner, and just like everyone else, Visit Clay is looking forward to some warmer weather! We think now is the perfect time to look ahead at Clay’s top five favorite outdoor activities that we think everyone should try their hand at this spring and summer.

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St. Patrick's Day!

Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and we want to make sure everyone in Clay has the best chance to celebrate best they can in 2019!

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National Wine Day

National Wine Day was this week! Did you know that Clay County has several wine-themed activities and events that will make for a perfect addition to any trip to Clay? Here are just a few that we recommend...

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Interactive Destinations

Doers and makers looking for some fun activities in Clay need to look into some of these interactive destinations:

Today is National Pizza Day! Luckily Clay has tons of delicious pizza shops that will be perfect to visit to celebrate that day!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we know a few of you are still trying to come up with the perfect unique date idea. Don't worry, we're happy to help and have a few ideas for some fun dates that we think may make for a truly memorable Valentine's Day!

The start of a New Year means that it's the perfect time to try some new things and explore some unique locations in Clay! Here's a list of some of our favorite hidden gems in the area…let us know in the comments what unique local destinations you'd recommend for someone in the New Year.

We're still in the middle of Kansas City's Restaurant Week, and although several Clay favorites are featured, we thought now was the perfect time to highlight some new Clay restaurants that you should try in 2019!

It’s a new year, which means now is the perfect time to start trying some new tastes around Clay! Here’s a list of some of the top seven restaurants in Clay, as featured in this year’s KC Restaurant Week.

Are you looking for a fun, educational event to begin your new year with? If you are, then 2019’s Eagle Days may be perfect for you!

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New Years in Clay

As crazy as it sounds, we’re about to begin 2019! With the New Year approaching, now is a great time to take a look at some of our local annual event favorites. Let us know what Clay events and festivals you’re looking forward to in the comments!

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Seasonal Coffee & Tea

The cold may not always be much fun, but one good thing about the colder weather is the tasty warm drinks that come with it!

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Holiday Lights in Clay!

Winter is a beautiful time, and one of the most iconic scenes from the season is the holiday décor! Here are our top four suggestions for holiday lighting displays in Clay!

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Uniquely Clay Gifts!

Still looking for something to gift that special tough-to-shop-for someone in your life? Don’t sweat it! Here’s a list of just seven unique gift ideas that can be found only in Clay!

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Seasonal Birdwatching

With winter just around the corner, now is a great time to check out some of the perfect places for seasonal birdwatching in Clay!

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Top 7 Holiday Activities in Clay

Though tried and true holiday traditions are great, it’s always fun to find new and exciting experiences when you’re feeling festive.

Here’s a quick look at some of the top seven holiday activities in Clay that you may want to make your newest seasonal tradition!

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November Festivities

With this year’s early snow, it’s not all that hard to believe that holiday fun is just around the corner! Here’s a quick list of some of the holiday events you can look forward to this month!

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Explore Indoors: Clay’s Must-Visit Museums

It may still technically be fall, but it’s definitely starting to feel like winter out there! With a chill working its way into the air, now’s a great time to explore Clay’s many (mostly indoors) museums and historic sites!

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Family-friendly & Spooky Halloween Events!

Halloween is just around the corner, this weekend is full of fun & spooky events for the whole family! Read more to see what's coming up!

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Local Treats for this Halloween!

Halloween is just around the corner, which means now is the perfect time to think about one of the things that makes this season great—candy! Luckily Clay has some delicious options for locally made chocolates, candies, and desserts that you’ll want to fall for this spooky season.

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The Top 5 Fall Foliage Hikes in Clay

Fall has arrived and with it the trees in Clay have started to change colors. From reds and browns, yellows and pale greens, and even a splash of purple here and there—a seasonal must in Clay is taking the time to step into nature and enjoy the forests of autumn.

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Discover Clay County History & Haunted Places

Learn about Clay County history by taking tours of haunted places in Missouri. Experience paranormal activity at the Elms Hotel, the Hall of Waters and Shoal Creek Living History Museum. After a haunted history tour, spend the night in a haunted hotel at the Belvoir Winery & Inn in Liberty, MO.

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Summer With Clay

Exciting summer events and activities are right around the corner in Clay! Here are just a few of the of the summer events you can look forward to in the upcoming months!

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National Bike Month

Did you know May is National Bike Month?

With it finally starting to feel like spring outside, there’s no better time to get out and enjoy the trails around Clay County!

Scanning the slightly musty third-floor workshop, I sense a lingering energy from a business that had thrived in an earlier century. I imagine hushed conversation among diligent factory workers crouched over whirring machines.

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History and Noteriety

A couple steps back in time with a Clay County, MO getaway and enjoys a visit to the many destinations related to Jesse James history in the area.

"Race you to the top!" Ryan, my middle son, shouted as he and his two brothers began scrambling up the 40-foot-high rock climbing wall. As a mom of three boys ages 10, 12 and 13 my days are filled with sports, roughhousing, and the inevitable bumps and bruises that come along with boys.

I was grateful for the rain. I knew we needed it. But after a recent week of gray skies, my family was getting a pretty severe case of cabin fever. So, when our local friendly forecaster promised sunshine for the weekend, my husband, Eric, and I jumped into action.

I guess you could say that I hate predictability. The road less traveled is always the road I take, which makes for a life of unexpected experiences.

As the owner of a small home decor shop, I'm always on the hunt for inventory and inspiration. My 15-year-old daughter, Oakley, often joins me on my weekend trips, which makes for excellent bonding time.

A couple toasts their anniversary with a romantic getaway to Excelsior Springs, MO.

Stories

DAY TRIP TO SMITHVILLE, MO

A Day trip to Gladstone, MO

Discover Day Trips in Clay County

Spending Time in the Sunshine in Clay County

National inspire your heart with art day!

Celebrate the New Year!

Top 7 Things to do in 2020

Holiday Lights in Clay!

Relax this Holiday Season

Clay's Top 5 Unique Gift Ideas

Holiday Shows

Interesting History

Pumpkin Spice Season

Top 4 Things to do on a Rainy Day!

Haunted History

Breakfast in Clay!

Fall Festivals in Clay

Fall for Clay!

10 THINGS TO DO IN UNDER AN HOUR IN CLAY

Family Trip to the Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch

Clay Bakeries

Outdoor Fun

2019 Best of the Northland!

National Coffee Shake Day!

Free Summer Activities

Live Summer Music

Happy 4th of July!

Crafter Destinations

Historical Hidden Gems!

Missouri Wines

Summer Fun in Clay!

Top Five Beach Activities!

Top 5 things to do for Mother's Day!

Foodie Events!

Infamous History

Family-Friendly Fun!

First family camping trip in Clay County, Missouri

Years of Summers

National Take a Walk in a Park Day

Spring into Hiking!

Unique Landmarks in Clay!

Outdoor Fun!

St. Patrick's Day!

National Wine Day

Interactive Destinations

National Pizza Day!

Valentine's Day with Clay

New Adventures for 2019!

New Year, New Restaurants

KC Restaurant Week

Eagle Days

New Years in Clay

Seasonal Coffee & Tea

Holiday Lights in Clay!

Uniquely Clay Gifts!

Seasonal Birdwatching

Top 7 Holiday Activities in Clay

November Festivities

Explore Indoors: Clay’s Must-Visit Museums

Family-friendly & Spooky Halloween Events!

Local Treats for this Halloween!

The Top 5 Fall Foliage Hikes in Clay

Discover Clay County History & Haunted Places

Summer With Clay

National Bike Month

Focusing on History

History and Noteriety

Enough Energy for an Entire Family

Born to be Wild

North Kansas City: A True Original

Liberty Finds

Celebrating the Years