March 20 was the official beginning of the spring season, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy spring in Kansas City. Leaving the dreary winter and entering sunny days is the perfect opportunity to get outside and explore. Spring can be a stressful time for college students with final exams looming, so taking time to enjoy yourself can be a great way to de-stress. Here are some ways to enjoy the season:

1. Farmer’s Markets

The farmer’s market in City Market, located in downtown Kansas City, is an excellent way to enjoy the warm weather and support local businesses. There are a variety of vendors that sell fresh and local produce, plants and handcrafted items on Saturday mornings. The atmosphere is fun and lively with great food, making it an enjoyable weekend outing. After walking around the stalls to shop, you can also grab a coffee or lunch at the surrounding restaurants. There are plenty of authentic restaurants and food markets that offer a variety of cultural cuisines. 

1. Plan a picnic

Setting up a picnic outside is a fun way to take in the sunshine and relax. Planning a picnic with your friends is easy and a great photo op too. You can make or buy some food, set up a blanket and chill. There are endless locations for a great picnic including the Nelson-Atkins Museum Sculpture Park, Loose Park and William Jewell College’s campus. You can catch up with friends, read or just take a moment to breathe.

1. Visit a botanical garden

Spending time around nature and beautiful flowers is sure to lift your mood and help you appreciate the earth. Spring is the perfect time to see flowers bloom before it gets hot outside. There are a variety of gardens in the Kansas City area. Some of the most popular are The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, Powell Gardens and Overland Park Botanical Gardens. 

1. Cheer on the Kansas City Royals

Springtime means baseball is in season. Cheer on the Kansas City’s Royals at the Kauffman Stadium as they begin their season April 7. Enjoying a baseball game with friends is the perfect way to have fun and enjoy the day. Even if you’re not a big sports fan, baseball games have a great atmosphere and food. 

1. Volunteer in the local community

This spring is the perfect opportunity to get outside and help out the local community through volunteer work. Earth Day is in April and is a reminder to take care of the environment. You can volunteer through KC Parks to assist with litter cleanups, gardening and landscaping and park beautification. It only takes a couple of hours to make a difference in your community. You can see other volunteer opportunities here. 

1. Pickleball

Pickleball is a fun sport for players of all abilities. It’s super easy to pick up and fun to play with 2-4 players. The nice weather is ideal for trying pickleball or perfecting your game. Chicken N Pickle, in North Kansas City, has many outdoor courts available for rental. You can also enjoy food and drink after your game in the lively outdoor spaces. 

While picnics are arguably lovely at any given time, there is something particularly compelling about a picnic in the springtime.

If you are debating on whether you should take the time to go on a picnic, here are some pictures from my last picnic to give you some inspiration.

When it comes to a spring picnic, the more colors the better.

A nice charcuterie board is always a crowd pleaser on picnics.

On this particular picnic, I did try to make spring rolls. Don’t look too closely, my technique is terrible. They were, however, delicious with the Thai peanut sauce which is pictured on the right.

If you have a small and furry friend to invite, I would highly recommend it. He may try to eat your food, but it is a risk that you should be willing to take. Extra points if this picnic guest’s name is Walter.

Okay, this is your final reminder to go on a spring picnic. Also, invite me to come.

It’s springtime. What can be better than holding a book while laying under the sun? I vote nothing. If you’re ready to get some sunshine and some knowledge at the same time, follow me to these spots on campus. 

1. Behind Jewell Hall
You can catch some sun before noon and a little after noon at this place. The view from this spot is spectacular if you like the countryside and trees. The coolest time of the year is definitely fall because all the leaves on the trees change colors. You can also see the sports teams practice from this spot, though by this time the sun is blocked by Jewell Hall. 

2. The Phone Booth
You can find a variety of books inside the phone booth. Sitting next to it gives me a London vibe. The smell of earth and trees together is super relaxing. This spot, however, is not super ideal because people walk by it a lot. You can still sit here during class periods to avoid people if you want some privacy. 

3. The Quad
If you have a hammock, you can hang it up between the trees on the quad. Depending on the time of the day, you might get some shade under the trees. Once their leaves are back, the trees will provide better shade and a better view. If you don’t have a hammock, you can just bring a blanket to lay on the grass. 

There will be a lot of people, but it’s the Quad so I don’t think anyone will care. The Quad is also big so they cannot really see you from that far away. You can certainly sit on the other side (no picture provided), but there are more people on that side. I also prefer the view of trees and Jewell Hall to the view of the chapel. 

4. Between Pillsbury and Brown Hall
I think this is a famous spot because I rarely see it unoccupied. I love the trees above the chair. This spot is pretty tucked away so you can get some privacy from people. In my opinion, this spot is the second most romantic spot on campus. I will list the most romantic spot below. 

5. Between Jewell Hall and Marston
I believe this is the most romantic spot on campus. I used to sit here in the fall to read novels. The trees are really ugly right now because they are still naked. However, in the summer and fall, they have green and white flowers. This spot gives me the vibe of a villa in Italy or England’s countryside. The only thing I don’t like about this place is sitting here the day after it rains. The ground is wet for two days after it rains because the trees block most of the sun. 

6. In front of Jewell Hall
This is my number one go-to spot on campus. Some people prefer to sit on the red chair. I think it’s super uncomfortable. I’m short so my legs get super tired because I can’t reach the ground. I like putting down a blanket and lying right under the sun. Usually, the wind helps a lot during the summer heat. However, sometimes it can get too windy. Besides the wind, I have nothing to complain about. If you like some privacy, this is a good one because not a lot of people choose to walk on the front side of Jewell. You also have a good view of KC before the trees get their leaves back in the summer.