City: Kansas City, MO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (816) 524-3550

Address: 1901 Northwest Blue Pkwy.

Description: Unity Village’s beautiful, 165-foot-tall bell tower can be seen for miles throughout the southwest part of the city; its teachings touch lives around the world. Unity has been offering nondenominational ministry, prayer, and education since 1889, and its monthly spiritual publication, Daily Word (www.dailyword.com), is translated into nine languages with an annual circulation of 1.3 million. Its Silent Prayer ministry receives more than two million requests for prayer assistance annually. Unity Village’s Mediterranean-style buildings, two of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, are situated among 1,400 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, with meditation chapels, fountains, and reflecting pools. The showplace rose garden, with more than 800 rose bushes and 50 varieties, is at its prettiest June through Oct. Free tours start at the visitor center and are available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon through Thurs, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fri through Sun. The guided walking tour, which includes a 12-minute video presentation about Unity’s history, takes about an hour and is equal to 2 city blocks; there are two flights of stairs. The tour can be modified to be wheelchair-accessible with advance notice. Guided tours must be booked in advance; call (816) 251-3578.