Favorite Restaurant: Stroud's

This KC staple is famous for its mouthwatering pan-fried chicken. Stroud's family-style meals have earned nearly every award in the culinary world — including honors from Bon Appéit, Zagat and the James Beard Foundation. (And now, the coveted Visitors' Choice Award!)

Favorite Steakhouse: Hereford House

Sample the sizzle. The KC Strip may have not been born at this famous Kansas City establishment, but Hereford House has helped perfect this juicy steak native to KC. Try it for yourself at one of Hereford House's four metro locations.

Favorite Barbecue Restaurant:
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue

Barbecue is a way of life in KC, and Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue is the top choice for Kansas City visitors for the second year in a row. Our recommendation? Start with the burnt ends and then work your way down the menu.

Favorite Performing Arts Venue: Starlight Theatre

A warm summer night under the stars is synonymous with Starlight Theatre. Home to Broadway shows and major concerts, Starlight is the second-largest theatre of its kind in the nation and the area's oldest performing arts organization.

Favorite Jazz Venue: The Blue Room

Steaks, barbecue and jazz. It's the Kansas City version of the triple crown. Few nightclubs hold the allure of The Blue Room, set in the classic 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District. It was named one of the top 100 jazz venues in the world by Downbeat magazine.

Favorite Nightlife Spot: Kelly's Westport Inn

The city's oldest building. Once a general store ran by Daniel Boone's grandson. And a favorite haunt of painter Thomas Hart Benton. Kelly's is full of history, and is now home to one of Westport's most popular watering holes.

Favorite Shopping Center or District:
Country Club Plaza

This entertainment district features many Kansas City favorites. Walk along the tree-lined sidewalks, shop at one of the many name-brand shops or dine at one of the Plaza's fantastic restaurants.

Favorite Shop or Store: Halls Kansas City

Long known for exceptional service and an elegant atmosphere, Halls has provided generations of residents and visitors with an unforgettable shopping experience. Created by the founder of Hallmark, the store’s two locations both house an extensive and eclectic selection.

Favorite Hotel or Bed & Breakfast:
Hyatt Regency Crown Center

Top-notch service is a way of life for this hotel. An oasis of quiet luxury, the Hyatt Regency offers 731 generously appointed and newly renovated guest rooms overlooking the downtown skyline and the Crown Center complex.

Favorite Attraction: Worlds of Fun

Providing visitors with chills, thrills and laughs for 35 years, Worlds of Fun boasts more than 175 acres of family entertainment. Your thrill-seeking adventure starts here.

Favorite Museum or Historical Site:
National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial 

Kansas City's fully-restored, 1914 train station was a hit with voters. This landmark is home to an interactive family science center and a railroad museum, as well as shops and restaurants.

Favorite Art Museum or Gallery:
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

One of the nation's top art museums just got better. In June 2007, the Nelson-Atkins unveiled the stunning Bloch Building—equivalent to a 67-story office building lying on its side.

Favorite Professional Sports Team: Chiefs

Whether you're enjoying the world's largest tailgate party or witnessing one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL, for Chiefs fans this is just a normal fall Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Favorite Kids Attraction: Kansas City Zoo

Celebrating its 100th year in 2009, the Kansas City Zoo offers visitors the unique experience of seeing more than 1,000 animals in naturalistic setting. Check out the playful North American river otters, new in 2008.

Favorite Casino or Gaming Venue:
Ameristar Casino & Hotel

Frequently named Missouri's best casino, Ameristar is a premier property characterized by innovative architecture, a state-of-the-art casino floor, and outstanding dining, lodging and entertainment options.

Favorite Festival or Special Event: Irish Fest

Was it the luck o' the Irish or this festival's huge popularity with visitors that secured its place among KC's best bets? Maybe both. More than 70,000 people attend the event every fall, making it one of the largest Irish festivals in the U.S.

Favorite Holiday Experience:
Country Club Plaza Season of Lights

What started as a single strand of lights in 1925 has grown into an impressive display of more than 80 miles of holiday lights outlining rooftops, archways, towers and street corners. Just don't forget your camera.

Favorite Day Trip from Kansas City: Lawrence, KS

Forty-five minutes west is charming Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas. Take a stroll down Massachusetts Street and you'll soon understand why "Mass" has been called one of America's loveliest main streets.

Best Midwestern Hospitality: Gates Bar-B-Q

A family business for more than 60 years, each Gates experience begins with the restaurant’s trademark phrase, “Hi, may I help you?” As for the menu—it's all special, try a little of everything.

Best of Kansas City: Country Club Plaza

What better way to close out this year's winners than with the grandeur of the Country Club Plaza? With its beautiful fountains, murals and statues, the Spanish-inspired Plaza features more than $1 million in outdoor artwork.