Weekend in Weston

A little town near Kansas City draws 117,000 visitors every year. What's the appeal? (Hint: It's drivable from 417-land).

Mary Oosterhuis, a 417-lander, loves visiting Weston, Missouri. She loves it so much, she went three times this past year: once with her best friend, once with two high-school girlfriends and once with all of her nieces and her daughter. “It’s just so much fun,” Oosterhuis says. “It’s just a great place for girls to go and stay at a delightful bed and breakfast and shop and eat the wonderful gourmet food.” In June, she returned to celebrate her 62nd birthday.

The quaint town of Weston has 1,600 residents and is only about a 40-minute drive north from Kansas City. In the 1800s Weston was a booming town, bigger than Kansas City at the time, but due to several circumstances, such as flooding, its growth petered out. Weston though, has now made a name for itself by becoming a haven for city-dwellers seeking that small-town feel. The town draws about 117,000 visitors a year with its offerings of bed and breakfasts, its Main Street shops, homemade ice cream parlors, tea rooms and wineries. The town was recognized by Ingram’s magazine as the best day trip for Kansas Citians and was voted Best Overnight Location by VisitKC.com. And for 417-landers, it’s just a couple of hours farther away.

The shopping is usually the first thing you’ll hear about Weston, but don’t be fooled by the repeated references to antiquing. Although there are nine great antique shops, there are also gifts shops, home furnishing stores and clothing boutiques. At the apparel store Missouri Bluffs, Oosterhuis and her high-school girlfriends found a pair of shoes they loved so much they bought a pair in each color. “There are shops up and down the streets,” Oosterhuis says. “There are shops to shop for your dog even. It’s nice, though, if you just feel like strolling. I’m not there for the shopping, per se. You can walk around with your girlfriends and your family and look at interesting things, stop for ice cream if you want. Everything is really within walking distance.”

There are seven bed and breakfasts in Weston, and among the several where Oosterhuis has stayed, she recommends the Inn at Weston Landing above the rest (see sidebar). “The rooms are so very, very nice, and it’s right next to O’Malley’s 1842 Pub,” she says. “The breakfast is just phenomenal. I’ve not had the  same thing twice. The innkeepers are friendly. It’s just a very friendly, nice atmosphere.”

STAY Inn at Weston Landing 526 Welt St., Weston, 1-877-272-5788, innatwestonlanding.com $90–$115 per night, includes breakfast The Inn was part of the 1842 Weston Royal Brewing Company, which is the self-proclaimed oldest brewery west of the Hudson River. Enjoy the many breakfast offerings, hot tub, garden and the attached antique shop. EAT The Vineyards 505 Spring St., Weston, 816-640-5588, thevineyardsrestaurant.com Open for lunch Wed. to Sat. 11 a.m.–2 p.m., dinner Wed. to Sat. 6–8:30 p.m., brunch Sun., 4–7 p.m. Entrées range from $21–$32. DO Shop the apparel boutique Missouri Bluffs, 512 Main St, Weston, 816-640-2770, missouribluffs.com The store is a must-peruse for many items from shoes to lingerie to high-end leather jackets. Pirtle Winery 502 Spring St., Weston, 816-640-5728, PirtleWinery.com Open Sun.–Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. On the first floor of the Pirtle Winery, the wine is produced, aged and bottled. On the second floor it is enjoyed. Head up to the top floor of this brick building, peruse the gift shop and sample the wine with a bread, cheese and fruit basket. This winery also has a garden area for outdoor sipping. Riverwood Winery 22200 Hwy 45 North, Platte County, 816-579-9797, riverwoodwinery.com Open Wed. to Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Closed on major holidays. Riverwood features free tasting of its full line of red, white and fruit wines ranging from sweet to dry.

If you’re feeling low-key when it’s time to eat, Oosterhuis recommends O’Malley’s 1842 Pub if for nothing but the atmosphere. Full of Irish fare, the pub is located in the basement of 500 Welt St. in an all-brick, half barrel shaped room. Enjoy an O’Malley brew while taking in the live music on Friday and Saturday nights. “This is a delightful Irish pub,” Oosterhuis says. “I don’t think it would be any different if you were in Ireland.”

If fine dining is what you’re looking for, then The Vineyards (505 Spring St., Weston, Missouri, 816-640-5588, thevineyardsrestaurant.com) is said to please.

The Kansas City Star gave The Vineyards a positive review, saying the fine-dining restaurant “brings cosmopolitan tastes to a small-town setting.” Oosterhuis says it’s among the best food she’s ever eaten. Offering brunch, lunch and dinner, the menu is on the pricey side, but don’t be intimidated by the white table cloths. Oosterhuis says you’ll see diners in more dressy attire as well as diners in jeans, relaxing after a long day of shopping.

For dinner you could start with the daily risotto ($9) or have the baked French brie with roasted garlic or fresh seasonal fruit ($10). Main courses range from sautéed veal medallions with shrimp and shiitake mushrooms in a marsala cream sauce ($29) to sesame-crusted blue marlin with a ginger honey and soy sauce ($32). Smaller (and lower cost) portions of the dinner menu are available for lunch.

For Oosterhuis, Weston seems more of a place for a girls’ trip. The bed and breakfasts often cater to honeymooners, who enjoy the wineries and the dining, but as Oosterhuis says, “You can’t shop when your husband is along.” Frequently she’ll see male companions strolling the streets and looking bored. She recommends leaving them at home and enjoying the girls or dropping the men off in Kansas City. “I guess you could leave them off at the Irish pub,” she laughs.

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More to do in Weston

 

July 4, 2008

Jaycees Fireworks Show

Bring your blanket and sit on the hillside or sit in the bleachers at the West Platte High School athletic field and be dazzled by one of the most fantastic fireworks shows in the area. There will be music, food and lots of Independence Day fun.

July 9, 11 & 12, 2008
Weston Community Theatre: Guys and Dolls

Location: Performance in the old gym of the West Platte High School in Weston.
Admission: Free to the public
As a nonprofit theatre, WCT is always grateful for any additional sponsors, program advertisers or donations to help make this another great year for community theatre in Weston.

For information about the show or volunteer opportunities, please call Julie or Kirk Nelson at 816-640-5811.