Clay County boasts an enormous range of recreational features, from the famous Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun amusement parks to gaming casinos and 12 private golf courses, including several with national quality. Youth sports for everything baseball to soccer include both competitive and recreational programs. Horseback riding is very popular and walking/cycling trails are becoming our most popular locations.

The 7,200-acre Smithville Lake leads the list of places. Smithville Lake offers boating with more than 175 miles of shoreline, two full-service marinas, a special sailboating area, golfing, trapshooting, hunting and swimming. Three beautiful parks include handicap accessible features, riding and hiking trails.

For additional information on Smithville Lake, call the Clay County Department of Parks and Recreation at (816) 532-0803. The Clay County government Web site is an excellent source for maps and contacts relating to the lake and other county recreation opportunities. The county's park and historic sites page is especially relevant.

If you like history, you'll love Clay County. From the county-operated Jesse James home to antebellum homes in several communities, the region is rich in heritage. Hodge Park in Kansas City not only includes two golf courses, ball fields and an amphitheater, it also features the unique Shoal Creek Village historic area. The EDC is among the important supporters of the Northland Trails and Greenways initiative, an exciting development that will combine history, recreation and more.

Another highlight is the area's established and growing artistic amenities. William Jewell College's world-famous Harriman Fine Arts Program is renowned for bringing international performances to the area. The Northland is also rich in regional programs such as the Excelsior Springs Paradise Theatre and the city's Community Theatre, the Liberty Corbin Theatre, the Northland Symphony Orchestra, the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and the Gladstone Theatre in the Park.