Ideas + Advice

Getting Social

11 Things to Do in Lenexa, KS

Published January 31, 2024

Looking for fun things to do this weekend? Live in or near the all-American city of Lenexa in Johnson County? We got you. Here are our editors’ top recs for the best family-friendly activities here in the “Spinach Capital.”  

hit the greens

1. Hit the Greens

Lenexa boasts beautiful golf courses that cater to players of all skill levels. Spend a day at the driving range, take a golf lesson, or play a full 18 holes under the Kansas sky. It's a hole-in-one for golf enthusiasts!
parks and recreation

2. Parks and Recreation

Outdoor lovers will enjoy the variety of parks in Lenexa. At Overland Park, you can dive into nature trails, while Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park enchants with its scenic beauty and playgrounds. Perfect for a family outing, an invigorating jog, or a leisurely walk, these green spaces are a breath of fresh air.
kansas

3. Experience Kansas City Nightlife

Just a short drive away, the vibrant nightlife of Kansas City awaits. Savor the world-class cuisine, soak up live music, or explore the buzzing bar and club scene. It's a slice of cosmopolitan life right next to Lenexa.
spinach festival

4. Spinach Festival

Celebrate Lenexa's farming heritage at the annual Spinach Festival. In the "Spinach Capital of the World," this fun event pays homage to the leafy green with food, music, crafts, and even a spinach recipe contest! (For a certain pipe-smoking sailor man looking for pumped-up muscles, we say: skip the canned spinach and come straight here!)
discover monticello

5. Discover Monticello

For those who love antiquing and sifting through treasures of yesteryear, Monticello offers a quaint shopping experience. Find unique gifts, vintage items, and collectibles in this charming part of town. Or, get in touch with farmhouse roots and let the big, wide open rural sky swallow you up whole. (In a place where the sky and land is nothing short of gorgeous, that's a good thing!)
barbeque

6. Great Lenexa BBQ Battle

Join in the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, a legendary Kansas competition, and taste some of the best barbecue around. The cooking, lathering and smoking talents are on fire here, pun very much intended! Our only bit of advice? Be careful not to eat too much, as portion control is always best practice. (That was a dry joke from us: this event is about indulgence if it's about anything. Heck, take our joke, slather it with BBQ sauce and chow down on it!)
lenexa public market

7. Lenexa Public Market: A Foodie's Delight

The Lenexa Public Market is a vibrant hub for food lovers, offering a farmers market and an array of artisanal eats. From farm-fresh produce to gourmet bites, there's something to satisfy every palate. Grab a meal, find a table to eat it, and enjoy the scene: if observation runs in your personality type, you'll find the opportunity for people-watching to be top-tier here!
local museums

8. Step Back in Time at Local Museums

If you speak "art", i.e., portrayals of emotion via visual mediums, the gallery in City Hall should be the first thing you do this weekend. Seriously, step on the gas petal (or, if you're biking, crank up those gears) and get here pronto. The beautiful works on display make this a favorite for artists and art fans. History more your beat? You can also see local history at the Legler Barn Museum or the historic Thompson Barn.
lake lenexa

9. Relax by Lake Lenexa

Escape to Lake Lenexa for a peaceful day of fishing, kayaking, or simply enjoying the waterfront views. It's a little oasis amidst the city bustle. Bring a friend or a book (we're of the opinion that the latter can be sometimes just as good, if not better, than the former!) and sneak in some quiet time in one of the state's prettiest destinations.
cheers limitless brewing

10. Cheers at a Brewery

Cap off your tour of Lenexa with a visit to one of Lenexa's breweries, such as Limitless Brewing. Here, you can sample locally crafted beers in a cozy taproom setting. See what fun it is, and you'll find yourself wanting to tap Dorothy on the shoulder to tell her: Girl, get yourself BACK to Kansas!"
design studio

11. Design Center

The Design Center inside Living Spaces takes the pressure off redecorating. You can come in with ZERO prior knowledge about design, and watch as experts bring a vision from scratch to life. It's free, costing nothing. (Yeah, we know that's what free means — we just can't believe it ourselves and needed further emphasis!)

What Is Lenexa Known For?

Lenexa is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, with lots of nature-filled parks, small town charm and places to get good fare. It's also convenient to get to Kansas' best nightlife in Kansas City, while holding its own when it comes to rural beauty. Visit Lenexa for a day or week to rest, shop, dine and take in the vast horizon.

What Is the Spinach Festival in Lenexa?

The Spinach Festival is a local favorite! Lenexa is dubbed the Spinach Capitol due to its farming roots and all the mass, mass quanitities of spinach it produces every year. See all the ways to prepare this leafy green at the Fest, from fried to steamed and everything in between.

Is Lenexa, Kansas a Good Place to Live?

Lenexa, Kansas is a great place to live, especially for families. The safe feel and multitude of options for things to do, including dining and shopping, offers a comfortable way of life. Plus, there's the Kansas sunsets: gorgeous, big and something you won't get anywhere else.

Where Is Lake Lenexa?

Located in Black Hoof Park in Lenexa, KS, Lake Lenexa offers a breathtaking and relaxing time in nature every day of the week. The park spans hundreds of acres and allows for fishing, boating and other water activities. As for the lake itself? Imagine a 10-acre lake and tripe it: Lake Lenexa is just about that size, give or take!

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