Beat the Midwestern Heat at This Magical, Storybook-Themed Museum in Missouri

Have you ever wanted to play with Curious George, stroll around the pond where Frog and Toad live, or see where the sidewalk ends? If the idea of storybooks coming to life sounds enchanting to you, The Rabbit hOle interactive art museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is the best place to spend a sticky summer day. Beat the Midwestern heat while your kids explore tunnels, slides, and other playful elements in this magical museum. It’s as if someone took the whimsy of Meow Wolf and the charm of a children's bookshelf and swirled them together. 

The Rabbit hOle is the first museum in the United States dedicated to children’s literature. But, instead of honoring this heritage with standard exhibits catering to adults, The Rabbit hOle brings the creativity and magic to life with interactive playscapes depicting scenes from classic works. You might think this is only enjoyable for the preschool set, but quite the opposite is true. Seeing scenes from your favorite books or those you read to your children will warm your heart as well.

The magic starts outside with rabbit footprints on the sidewalk leading you to the entrance. Like Alice in Wonderland, you’ll have to go down into the rabbit hole to find Wonderland. As you follow the blue lights through the dark, rocky grotto, you’ll truly feel like you are traveling underground before you finally emerge to find 45 exhibits depicting different childhood classics spread across a massive open playspace.

Before your visit, you can check out the list of depicted books online, so you can be familiar with all of them—or you’ll also find copies available in the museum. As a former elementary librarian, I am impressed with the representation of both new and old books, as well as those loved by both younger and older children. Let the kids burn off some energy, and then curl up with a book in the reading rest spots. Older kids absolutely will want to hunt down the Captain Underpants section, which has an interesting surprise.

While kids of all ages will appreciate the cozy connections to the books exhibited, the interactive elements are primarily aimed at younger children. While little ones climb, jump, and play, parents will especially appreciate all the photo opportunities. This museum is instantly Instagrammable due to its vibrant colors and visually striking displays. Of course, you have to take a pic in the great green room from Goodnight Moon, where you can shush the kids, just like Mother Rabbit.

Make time to grab a snack at the cafe, where all of the treats are book-themed. You can enjoy blueberry panna cotta inspired by Blueberries for Sal, a grilled cheese sandwich inspired by The Stinky Cheese Man, or even a bowl full of mush from Goodnight Moon (which I’m sure is tastier than its name implies). 

Of course, there’s also a bookstore onsite. What could be better than leaving this monument to children’s literature with a special new book? The Lucky Rabbit Bookstore also offers weekly story hours, author visits, and other special events. Don't have kids? No worries! You can join one of the 21-and-older nights for a chance to explore the museum without the preschool traffic.

If you’re considering a trip to Kansas City from out of town, this energetic city offers plenty of unique things to do, many of which are family-friendly. Since it’s known as “The Barbecue Capital of the World,” you have to try some while in town so you can see what the fuss is about.

When my kids were small, summers sometimes seemed endless once it became too hot to play outside. (You can only hit the pool so many times.) If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a hot day with kids in the Kansas City area, put The Rabbit hOle at the top of your list. Not only will the kids get a chance to play, but you can also make memories you will relive each time you read a book from the exhibit and turn the page to a fantastic summer day.