From world-class jazz, smoky barbecue and more than 200 fountains, consider this your quick primer to everything that is unique to this Heartland metropolis.

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1. It’s no secret that Kansas City’s rich jazz legacy came to life in the roaring 1920s. What you may not know is that KC is still swinging more than eight decades later. Check out the genre’s storied history at the American Jazz Museum. Then stay for a listen at the museum’s working jazz club, The Blue Room, which is repeatedly named one of the 100 top jazz clubs in the world by Downbeat Magazine.

2. Where there’s smoke … there’s barbecue! Kansas City’s twist involves slow cooking the meat for up to 18 hours, usually over hickory. Belly-up to the counter at world-famous Arthur Bryant’s, Gates Bar-B-Q and Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue or any one of the 100 local establishments devoted to the heavenly ‘cue.

3. From small and whimsical to large and majestic, Kansas City is home to more fountains than any other city in the world, except maybe Rome. Some are even on year-round, including at Crown Center, where each jet is synchronized to seasonal music.
    

 
4. A visit to Kansas City just isn’t complete without experiencing the iconic Country Club Plaza. Designed in 1922, this 14-square-block outdoor shopping and entertainment district is filled with romantic Spanish-style architecture, European art and dazzling fountains. And don’t forget the shopping—the Plaza is lined with trendy boutiques, fine stores and local favorites.

 Even more ideas:

• Union Station
• The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Sprint Center
• National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial