Liberty, MO Outdoor Activities

As speeding wakeboarders bail from their runs, plunging into the water as the tow cables snap away from their grasp, no boats will ever circle back to pick them up. They're not stranded, however, because at KC Watersports, overhead cables pull riders along the water instead, ushering them toward the rails and ramps peppering the 7.5-acre lake. Families cheer on water-skiers from the beach, grab bites at the snack shack, or fasten water-skis on hot dogs and get them to race. Beginner sessions feature slower cable speeds to acclimate newcomers to the wakes, and the camp's sets of sliders and kickers challenge veterans to pull off new, more impressive stunts than merely back-flipping over a human pyramid. Back on shore, spectators can cheer on athletes from shaded beach or grab bites at the snack shack, and an onsite pro shop stocks rental or retail gear from brands such as Liquid Force, Body Glove, Go Pro, and Master Craft.

Scuba enthusiast Jennifer Feller's unconditional love for underwater sightseeing and pruney fingers constantly prompts her to explore the depths of aqueous avenues far and wide. As an IDC-trained PADI instructor and volunteer search-and-rescue diver, she teaches first responders the indispensable skills needed for effective public-safety diving. At The Playground Dive Shop, Feller's very own scuba emporium, her knowledgeable staff, which includes a retired Navy submariner, unveils a collection of the latest diving gear and repairs broken or faulty equipment. They also empower visitors to take their own watery plunges during a variety of scuba-diving courses, which teach participants the basics of underwater breathing, the techniques needed to earn an open-water certification, and underwater photography tips––such as making sure you snap multiple pictures, just in case a fish blinks.

The certified trainers and divers at Big Joe Scuba wade students through all watery courses, from beginner to PADI-certified instructor. They accomplish this through classroom instruction and dips into their heated pool, where students become accustomed to breathing and maneuvering underwater. After they advance to open-water courses, the classroom extends to Beaver Lake, Arkansas, for diving practice in natural surroundings. A full-service dive center, Big Joe Scuba also rents and sells a complete line of gear and organizes diving jaunts to exotic locales such as Cozumel, Mexico.

Wild Rose Equine Center hosts horseback-riding lessons and trail rides on the bucolic expanse upon which it resides. Riders of all skill levels can learn from the expert staff during regular lessons. These sessions are tailored to each student’s goals, whether they would like to compete in shows or take a horse to the prom.

Reef KC’s certified and highly trained staff guides aspiring scuba divers with classes designed by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. PADI Master Scuba Diver trainer Braden Beller, PADI Dive Master James Lowery, and PADI IDC staff instructors Steve Volkmer and Joshua Williamson help students perfect amphibian impersonations with a variety of courses. The courses accommodate divers of all skill levels, beginning with Discover Scuba classes, which introduce swimmers to underwater breathing during local pool dives. In addition, Reef KC students can work toward open-water certification so they can effortlessly shower for hours, retrieve all the coins from the bottom of every fountain, and defuse nuclear bombs perched perilously above an abyssal alien city.

Fort Leavenworth FMWR, an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of soldiers and their families, welcomes military members and civilians alike to swing their way through the Trails West Golf Course. According to Trails West, when President Eisenhower was attending nearby Command & General Staff College, he used to drop by the 18-hole, par 71 course, where he developed his lifelong passion for caddying for Mamie. For more than 90 years, the 190-acre facility has inspired many other players to waltz across the fairways of zoysia grass and onto the bent-grass putting greens. Holes 2, 3, 10, and 13 present challenging par 5s, and hole 6 claims the title of signature hole by virtue of an elevated tee from which players must send their dimpled orbs flying over a creek and onto an elevated green with subtle breaks and a shape-shifting hole.

Trails West Golf Course invites golfers to warm up at its lighted, covered driving range and two putting greens. Players can purchase gloves, clubs, and trees that grow golf balls at the pro shop or hone their game with instruction from PGA professionals. After a morning on the greens, players can drop by the Fairway Grille to munch a chicken-club sandwich or old-fashioned cheeseburger out on the patio.

Course at a Glance

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Length of 6,188 from the farthest set of tees
• Course rating of 69.9
• Slope rating of 120
• Four sets of tee boxes
• See helpful course notes