CPKC Stadium, Rabbit hOle named to TIME magazine’s list of ‘World’s Greatest Places’

Two recently opened Kansas City attractions were announced today among 100 extraordinary destinations to visit; named to TIME’s list of the World’s Greatest Places.

Angie and Chris Long, co-owners of the Kansas City Current, CPKC Stadium and Palmer Square Capital Management, are presented with UMKC’s 2023 Kansas City Entrepreneur of the Year Award; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

TIME’s annual feature includes CPKC Stadium, home to the KC Current and the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional team, and The Rabbit hOle, a North Kansas City children’s literary museum that debuted this spring after years of anticipation.

Click here to check out the full list. TIME’s World’s Greatest Places feature is set to be published in the Aug. 5 issue of the magazine, which hits newsstands Friday, July 26.

To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations of places — including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more — from its international network of correspondents and contributors, as well as via an application process, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.

The Kansas City selections reflected those timely elements, editors said, with Visit KC providing additional context for the World’s Greatest Places feature.

Monkeys scold the cap peddler from the trees of the “Caps for Sale” exhibit, based on the book by Esphyr Slobodkina; photo by Julie Denesha, KCUR

“Like Alice in Wonderland, visitors go down the rabbit hole (quite literally into a “hole” of winding tunnels and caves), tumbling into classic and contemporary storybooks and meeting life-size characters,” TIME wrote in its description of the newly opened Rabbit hOle.

Spanning three floors, visitors can catch a ride with Nana and CJ on the bus to “The Last Stop on Market Street”; whisper “Goodnight Moon” in the quiet dark of the great green room; outshine Mr. Sun with “Sam and the Tigers”; feed jum-jills to “The Funny Thing”; or find themselves scaling the cliffs of “My Father’s Dragon” when visiting the magical museum.

ICYMI: Book lovers can finally go down The Rabbit Hole at a new North KC children’s literature museum

Co-founders and spouses Pete Cowdin and Deb Pettid, pictured here in 2019, first began working on The Rabbit Hole in 2018. Their new museum will open to the public March 12; photo by Julie Denesha, KCUR

“The Rabbit hOle is a living thing, and it becomes something new for every visitor who enters it,” said Deb Pettid, co-director at The Rabbit hOle. “It’s impossible to define, but that’s what makes it a true place of discovery. And where else can you read a book inside a book?”

“Since opening this March, we’ve had more than 60,000 visitors from nearly every state and all over the world,” added Pete Cowdin, co-director. “The Rabbit hOle is unlike anything, anywhere.”

The Rabbit hOle also features a bookstore, print shop and story lab, makerspace, resource library, gallery for original book art and a cafe, making it an ideal space for innovative programming and private events.

Kansas City is a world-class city @cpkcstadium, home of the @thekccurrent, was named one of @TIME’s greatest places in the world in 2024. https://t.co/r1Dfs8y30i

— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) July 25, 2024

Raven Jemison, KC Current, speaks during a panel conversation at the KC Rising Horizon 2024 event at CPKC Stadium; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

CPKC Stadium also deserves its spot on the list, said Raven Jemison, president of the KC Current.

“Ownership’s vision has changed women’s professional sports for generations to come,” Jemison said. “CPKC Stadium is proof that an investment in women is a smart one as we continue to sell out KC Current matches. Fans from all over the globe have made the trip to Kansas City to witness history. Now the world knows what the excitement is about; we’re just getting started.”

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CPKC Stadium has been on a worldwide stage since formally opening in March.

On July 3, CPKC Stadium was announced as the venue for the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Championship, which is set for Nov. 23. The stadium is also the host venue for the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup semifinals Aug. 6 and was selected as the site for the 2024 Big 12 Soccer Championship.

The stadium is also home to a variety of national conferences, like the United States Conference of Mayors, as well as private and local events like the city’s AANHPI Heritage Festival.