Shopping in a Winter Wonderland
Spending Christmas in Kansas City is unthinkable without bundling up to explore the brilliant Country Club Plaza. The 15-block shopping district sparkles with miles and miles of white and colored bulbs that trace the buildings' Mediterranean curves.

"There's nothing like it anywhere," says Kansas City native Linda Cone. "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the plaza and the lights." The annual tradition begins Thanksgiving night, when a crowd of thousands gathers to see the power turned on.

Built in 1922 as the nation's first suburban shopping district, the plaza was modeled after Seville, Spain. The 100 shops range from Armani to Z Gallerie, and a Segway store offers guided tours before and after dark. Restaurants and cafes provide opportunities to pop in for a warm drink and a bite to eat.

The only thing that can top an evening stroll through the plaza is a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, while bundled in blankets and sipping a thermos of steaming cocoa. Several companies tour the streets, but a certain lit stagecoach steals the show, glowing like Cinderella's enchanted pumpkin. "You feel so special when you're in that one," says Andrea Mantel, who brings her two young children for a holiday treat. "The kids think it's awesome."

left: Shop, dine, and enjoy the glittering view at Country Club Plaza.