Olathe

Olathe is a suburban dream. This town of roughly 140,000 sits on the outer edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area and offers an array of parks, shops, and restaurants. 

Olathe, like much of Kansas and the Midwest, has Native American roots. The name Olathe is a Shawnee word meaning “beautiful” or “lovely.” 

As the county seat of Johnson County, Kans., Olathe is also a draw for many in surrounding areas given the quality of its schools: The town’s five high schools all have graduation rates above 90% and rank among the top 50 in the state.

The quiet suburban community has a charming downtown that hosts Fourth Fridays, monthly celebrations chock-full of activities for kids, including “mad science” experiments, face painting, and balloon artists, as well as car shows and adult beverages for parents.

Olathe touts some 30 parks, large and small, that offer hiking trails, playgrounds, and swimming pools. And from spring through fall, vendors set up shop at farmers’ markets in Stagecoach and Black Bob Parks. There are several museums, including the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, as well as public art installments around the city.

You can also enjoy the vibrant sports world Kansas City and surrounding suburbs have cultivated by checking out the NFL Chiefs, MLB Royals, MLS Sporting KC, and newly launched women’s soccer team, the Kansas City Current. —Trey Williams