Top 4 Things to do on a Rainy Day

History can be found around every corner in Clay, which makes it a great place to be when the weather is too rainy to be outside. See which museums Clay has to offer that offer a cozy indoor experience that will leave you well versed in the local history. Soar into airline history at the TWA Museum in Kansas City. Explore the unique history of Historic Downtown Liberty at the Jesse James Bank Museum, the Historic Liberty Jail, and the Clay County Museum. Visit the Kearney Historic Museum to learn more about the town that was the birthplace of the infamous outlaw, Jesse James. For more local history, stop by Excelsior Springs, where the town’s past has been flavored by its mineral water fame. The Hall of Waters is a beautiful art deco building that once served as Excelsior Springs’ top health spa; nowadays it is a museum and welcome center. Just a short walk away from the Hall of Waters, the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives is the perfect place to dive in to more local history. Swing into Gladstone to visit the Atkins Johnson Farm and Museum, a historic home that dates back to the early 1800s.

Want to watch a movie in style? If you do, we recommend you head down to the B&B Liberty Cinema 12 for a movie experience unlike any other in the area. This theater offers numerous viewing options; B&B Grand Screen provides a wall-to-wall large format screen that features a new dimension of sound immersion; Screen Play is a theater built for kids that includes 30 minutes of playtime on their indoor playground before the movie starts; the MX4D Experience is a motion EFX movie experience that includes seat rumblers and poppers, leg ticklers, water blasters, scents, snow, and so many more immersive film elements.

Exploring the local shopping centers is one of the best ways to get to know a community, and luckily Clay County is home to a whole slew of unique downtowns perfect for a day of shopping. Even if the weather is a bit sour, we recommend you grab your rain coat and an umbrella and plan and afternoon popping in and out of some of these area shops, you won’t find a shopping experience like them anywhere else! Historic Downtown Liberty is a great place to visit for a variety of shopping opportunities. From clothing boutiques to home décor markets, handmade candy shops to handcrafted soaps, Liberty has a little bit of everything. Not to mention, the downtown square is full of a variety of delicious eateries. Downtown Excelsior Springs is another fantastic stop for shopping, with their stores specializing in home goods and décor, boutiques, artisan markets, and more! Excelsior Springs is also home to several delicious restaurants that make any shopping experience all the more enjoyable.

If your idea of an ideal rainy day is more relaxed, don’t worry, there are plenty of perfect opportunities for that in Clay too. One of the best ways to enjoy a day when they weather isn’t cooperating is to sit back and sip on a nice cup of your favorite beverage at a local coffee shop. Whether you’re a coffee person or a tea aficionado, there are plenty of charming shops you can stop in to listen to the rain while you read, work, or hang out. Headrush Roasters is a delicious local shop that offers artisanal coffee drinks alongside delicious, health-centered tea; they have two locations you can visit too, one in Gladstone and one in Kansas City. If you’re in the Kearney area, a trip to Mojo’s Coffeehouse where several tasty drinks are offered, including numerous Frappuccino flavors. A Liberty coffee favorite is Hammerhand Coffee , a local staple that offers pour over and drip coffee in addition to numerous blended and mixed drinks. The Mug in Excelsior Springs roasts their own coffee in house and offers a large drink menu in addition to delicious pastries. For a more unique coffee shop experience, Colony KC in North Kansas City is a craft social center that offers coffee, beer, craft cocktails, and food right in the center of NKC.