ALI: On The Move! Crown Center & Union Station

It is our hope that when students enroll at the University of Missouri-Kansas City they will easily adapt to life in the United States and life as a UMKC Roo. It is our goal to make things as easy as possible. In an effort to do that, we are demonstrating to students local resources, showcasing shopping areas, things to do, and things they may need to know about life in Kansas City. We’ll be exploring the metro area and UMKC’s Volker campus through a series of reels on our Instagram account, titled A Little Birdie Told Me, which you can find here. 

The first errand we’ve decided to demonstrate to students is how they can send international mail. Many students may find themselves homesick when they are in school thousands of miles from home. Despite the ease of the digital age we presently live in, we can agree that nothing feels more special than receiving a physical letter or package in the mail, right?  

So, we thought it would be valuable to show our students how easy it is to send mail right off-campus. On a sunny spring morning in Kansas City, our Graduate Professional Assistant and Business Support Specialist ventured out to do just that. They hopped on the streetcar right from campus (read our post about the streetcar extension here) towards downtown. 

Before they could address and stamp any mail, they needed to buy a card to send. So, the first stop was Crown Center, a shopping center. We often mention Crown Center in our media, as we take a group of students ice skating at the ice rink there every semester. However, Crown Center is more than just an ice terrace, it offers unique dining experiences, rotating events and activities, and local goods and gifts in downtown Kansas City.  

Crown Center is a short walk from the streetcar stop at Union Station. You can follow the walking directions here. You’ll know you are at the right spot if you find yourself standing in front of these fountains (pictured below), often dyed different colors in support of Kansas City’s sports teams. Did you know Kansas City is known as the “City of Fountains?” The metro boasts over 200 registered fountains. 

Inside Crown Center you’ll find store fronts like Shop Local KC, that sells handmade and locally made items from small businesses—making for great gifts to send or take back home to family! The shopping center also features a vast array of dining options, from treats like Topsy’s gourmet popcorn, a candy shop, and all kinds of cuisine from BBQ to Indian food. A very popular option is Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant (traditional American diner fare), where you place your order by phone and your meal is dropped off by an electric toy train on a track above the tables. It is a timeless experience for those of any age. 

Among the local goods, you’ll find a Hallmark on the second floor. Yes, that Hallmark. Often known as a cheesy movie channel, Hallmark is also a retail store selling primarily greeting cards, ornaments, and keepsakes. Did you know Hallmark is headquartered in Kansas City? This is where we decided to stop in and pick up a card to mail.  

After our shopping concluded in Crown Center, we headed back towards Union Station via an indoor, elevated pedestrian walkway called “The Link” that connects Crown Center to Union Station through The Westin hotel. Union Station serves as Kansas City’s railway station. From here, you can board trains via Amtrak that travel around the United States. More than that, Union Station now serves as a cultural, dining, and entertainment destination as it features a planetarium, interactive science museum, movie theater, coffee shop, traveling exhibitions, a United States Post Office, and more! 

While you can walk just 15 minutes from campus to the nearest Post Office, you won’t experience the same grandeur as visiting Union Station. Not only can you drop off your mail at the Post Office (located on the left side of the large atrium), you can also pick up a pastry and catch a movie after class! 

Watch our reel on this off-campus adventure here, and be sure to catch the next one, where we will show students what they can find at the Asian supermarket.