We're getting "Ready to Ride in 2025" with the second installment of our newest series, where we’ll be walking you through what riders can find — food, fun, a little history — just steps from the eight soon-to-debut streetcar stops. Up next: Plaza, Cleaver II + Main.

Travel back in time

Once a small railroad connecting Westport to Waldo, the late 19th century tracks eventually gave way to the Country Club streetcar line — the city's southernmost connection to the edge of the world (aka, modern day 85th Street). The Plaza-adjacent trolley was one of the last to be decommissioned, as the city opted for cheaper buses and their newfangled automatic transmissions in 1957.

Taken in 1955 and 1957 respectively, these shots document the very tail end of the Country Club line's life. | Photos via MVSC + Dorothea Eldridge Slide Collection, Kansas City Public Library

Grab a bite

If you’ve made the long journey south, or you’re looking for a mid-trip pick-me-up, there are more than a few options for hungry travelers nearby.

Winstead's Steakburgers
Grand Street Cafe
Banksia Cafe
Stock Hill
The Mixx
Jack Stack Barbecue
Kura Sushi
The Classic Cup Cafe
McCormick & Schmick's
Brio Italian Grille
True Food Kitchen
Bo Lings
Ice Cream Bae

Flutter on over to the Monarch Bar if you want to feel fancy. | Photo courtesy of Monarch Bar KC

Have a drink (or two)

There’s nothing wrong with a little liquid courage (or caffeinated courage) for your commute into the city.

Rye Plaza
O'Dowd's Gastrobar
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
The Granfalloon Restaurant And Bar
Gram & Dun
Prime Social
The Monarch Bar
Nine Zero One Rooftop Bar
Seasons 52
Made in KC

We're ready for the future of the Brush Creek Corridor. | Photo by @slmarcy

Things to do

While a walk around the neighborhood is always recommended, we know some prefer a full itinerary of can’t-miss experiences.

Shopping, obviously
Attend annual events like the Plaza Art Fair or Mill Creek Park's March of the Dinosaurs
Cruise with a RideKC Bike along Brush Creek
Explore the serene Kauffman Memorial Garden
Kansas City Public Library
The Escape Game
Puttery

Time to take your seats, and tune in next time for the third stop on our trip north: Art Museums, 45th + Main.