So, you’re looking for something a little different to discover and explore on your trip to Kansas City. Here’s our list of 3 to Try summer sports adventures.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Walk into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and you’re greeted by a life-size bronze statue of legendary Kansas Citian and Negro Leagues ambassador Buck O’Neil. O’Neil is managing a game between a collection of the greatest Negro Leagues players to ever play the game.

The history of Negro Leagues Baseball and Kansas City started almost a century ago at the old YMCA building in what is now know as the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. The Baseball Museum provides an inside look into the Negro Leagues and its role in American history.

Museum highlights include: 

• Interactive exhibits and videos
• A Negro Leagues documentary film narrated by actor James Earl Jones
• Negro League baseball memorabilia including uniforms, cleats and gloves
• A replica baseball field featuring 10 life-sized bronze sculptures of Negro League greats positioned around the baseball diamond.

Kansas Speedway Driving School

So, you think you can corner like Junior, hug the rails like Gordon or maybe even get a little nasty like Mr. Stewart. Who are you kidding? Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart you are definitely not. But, maybe, just maybe with a little practice – well, who knows what the future holds.

That’s where Kansas Speedway enters into the fray. The speedway hosts several stock car and open-wheel driving schools throughout the year. You’ll have a couple different choices from riding along with a professional driver to even taking the wheel by yourself for your own little personal motorsports spectacular.

So, what are you waiting for, it’s time to get started planning. NASCAR waits for no man or woman. Visit KansasSpeedway.com to learn more.

Here’s a look at the 2008 driving schools at Kansas Speedway.

• Richard Petty Driving Experience
  Phone: 1-800-BE-PETTY
  www.1800bepetty.com 
• The Racing Experience
  Phone: 1-888-RACING-8
  www.racingexperience.com
• Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure
  Phone: 1-888-GO-RACE-1
  www.drivingadventure.com 
• Jeff Gordon Racing School
  Phone: 1-877-4-Jeff-24
  www.jeffgordonracingschool.com 
• Mario Andretti Racing School
  Phone: 1-877-Andretti
  www.andrettiracing.com

College Basketball Experience

The rookie in the KC sports scene is the new College Basketball Experience (CBE) . The CBE is fittingly set in the heart of downtown Kansas City. It is connected to the new Sprint Center and is steps from our new downtown restaurant and nightlife district.

The CBE is truly an interactive fan experience built around hands-on, high-energy exhibits and houses the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Just to give you a taste of what you’ll experience as the museum recreates the intensity of a real game: 

• Foul-line hecklers as you attempt free throws
• A chance to hit the game winning, buzzer-beating shot
• High flying dunks… no one said it had to be regulation height
• And, sit back and do your best Dickie V imitation as you call the game at the ESPNU anchor desk.

So, why is Kansas City the home of the College Basketball Experience? Get out your notebook; this little piece of trivia could come in handy at just the opportune moment. Kansas City has a rich college basketball tradition. KC has hosted more Final Fours than any other city in the nation. The magic number is 10, just in case you were wondering.

Also, just 45-minutes to the west of KC is the University of Kansas. You could say KU knows a thing or two about basketball. The founder of basketball – James Naismith – was the first coach at KU, as you’ll learn on your tour of the CBE.