Crown Center Area Attractions Combine for Special ‘StayKCation’

A group of neighboring downtown attractions calling themselves the Crown Center District are working together to become an easy vacation destination for families and anyone else stuck at home this summer by the pandemic.

What’s being called the “StayKCation” is offering a special package where people can stay at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and receive eight “Golden Tickets” that allow admission to any of the attractions in the area:

SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium; LEGOLAND Discovery Center; Dinosaur Road Trip Adventure at Union Station; Science City, or the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Rates for a room at the Westin, either a king-size bed or two queens, range from $199- to $229 before taxes depending on availability and the specific night. Parking is free.

For each additional night’s stay, another eight Golden Tickets are part of the deal. The tickets are good for full admission at any time during the attraction hours of operation.

Mike Vietti of the World War I Museum said the attractions have worked loosely together in the past on joint marketing efforts, but this is the first time they’ve come up with a joint ticketing arrangement.

“You can come to Crown Center, park once, and stay all day or weekend without getting back in the car because there’s so much to do in less than a one-square mile radius,” he said.

“All of us have wanted to do something like this before, but the devil was in the details when it came to shared tickets.”

His museum just opened an exhibit called “Votes & Voices” to honor the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote. It also tells the story of the women’s suffrage movement.

The World War I Monument and National Museum are included in the StayKCation package.

The estimated value of the StayKCation package if hotel room and attraction tickets were purchased separately was estimated at more than $400.

“It’s not only a tremendous value, but it also comes with the confidence in knowing that all of us in the Crown Center District are focused on providing a clean, confident, totally unique and memorable experience from the moment you arrive,” said George Guastello, Union Station president and CEO.

Anne Deuschle, integrated marketing manager at Crown Center, said the StayKCation idea was suggested by the Westin general manager as a way to increase visitor traffic at a time when the hospitality industry is being hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our goal is to attract regional visitors or local folks,” she said.

“The good news is we know more people are visiting on weekends. We are seeing people looking to go out in a controlled environment.”

In addition to the attractions, the Westin outdoor pool will be open to families as will the shops at Crown Center.

“With access to nearly everything via enclosed walkways this is a great shop, dine and play getaway that any family could use during this anything-but-typical summer,” Deuschle said.

The StayKCation event is running now through the end of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 7.

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