[Sukoshi's Mom]

I'm definitely in! I lived in KCMO for 24 years before moving to CA 2 years ago, and all my family is still there, so it will be a multi-purpose trip for myself as well (my husband and I are actually discussing moving back within a year or two)! I worked in KCKS until I moved, and I do have to agree that KCKS is NOT a great place, depending on where you are, but like someone else said, everywhere has their "bad" parts. I know the committee is trying for Overland Park, KS though, and that's a great area. Most of Kansas City is actually on the MO side (which is weird...why isn't it called Missouri City?). There are 127.8 sq. miles of land and water in Kansas City, KS and 318 sq. miles of land and water in Kansas City, MO, so the odds of you actually crossing state line and staying in KC, are not that great. You're more likely to wander into OP (Overland Park), and that's a nice area!

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

I don't even know how far away Kansas City is from LA...but probably yes!!!
I am so excited! And I only have one baby, so it won't be too much of a hassle to fly...

The flight from LAX to MCI is about 3 hours (depending on if you're going or coming). I take it a couple times a year to visit.

Originally Posted by tinav

I am going to ask a DUMB question but I am going to ask it anyway caaause, well, I think I should. Kansas....what about "tornados" don't they just pop up when ever they feel like it?????

I would be coming from Jersey...I would probably make arrangements to drive out but this tornado thing is um, well...scary???

tina

All these tornado comments are making me crack up (although I have the same fears of earthquakes now that I live in CA)! As others have said, with the technology out there, you will always get a warning if there are any funnel clouds in your area. First, they will issue a tornado "watch", meaning that the weather conditions are such that a funnel cloud COULD form, so keep your eyes out. Then, once a funnel cloud is actually spotted in your area, they change the warning to a tornado "warning", which means that there actually IS a funnel cloud in your area, and you need to be aware of it. When the cloud gets within your near vicinity, they sound a siren (unless you're in the rural area, which sometimes doesn't have sirens...but we WON'T be in the rural area), and you take cover. Nearly everywhere in KS/MO is equipped with a basement or storm cellar for such occasions. Even the airport has a tornado shelter to house everyone, in case one comes near them, as do hotels, restaurants, etc. Really, you do NOT have any reason to worry.

In all the years I lived there, I want to be perfectly honest...I went through at least one tornado scare every year (and often times more than 1). When I was in college in 2003, we had a storm come through with several funnel clouds and it destroyed a lot of our campus; however, we were all safe in the basements of all the buildings on campus, and no one was hurt! The odds of a funnel cloud actually dipping down and touching the exact area you're at just isn't that great. They're too sporadic in their movement. Everyone will be fine! Please don't spend any time worrying about that!

Originally Posted by cmgny42

This sounds like so much fun!! Does anyone know what airport you fly into for Kansas City, KS? Would it be the KC, MO airport? I am trying to estimate how much a flight would be from Buffalo, NY.

Thanks for your help!
Colleen

You would actually fly into MCI for this. It tends to confuse people because the airport is called the Kansas City International Airport, so you'd think the abbreviation would be KCI, but it USED to be called the Mid-Continent International Airport, so the abbreviation is actually MCI.