KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The secret is out, and I can’t say I’m upset!
We all know COVID-19 changed the way we travel and, of course, they ways we live and work.
For the lucky ones (at least in my opinion) the three combine into a remote work lifestyle. While I’m not a member of that group right now, I may still have the best of all worlds. It’s something that many of my friends and neighbors in Kansas City have also realized.
Now, thanks to a recent study, people around the world will also see it.
IcelandAir released its list of the top 25 cities across the world for people working remotely. .
My adopted home of Kansas City ranks number one on that list!
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It tops international cities such as Copenhagen, Zurich, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Helsinki, and even IcelandAir’s own capital of Reykjavik. Cleveland, San Diego, and Jacksonville are the only other U.S. cities to make the cut.
Before you immediately discount the list, this is what IcelandAir considered when making it.
It specifically looked at cities where remote workers can unwind and relax. Where there is enough entertainment and attractions that visitors won’t get bored, but not so much that travelers will feel overwhelmed and not feel like they are on a vacation, or a working vacation.
Kansas City scored high in health care, an affordable cost of living, and the climate. IcelandAir also looked at internet speeds, air pollution, safety and overall quality of life.
If you haven’t been to KC, it has more fountains than anywhere in the world outside of Rome. It’s Loose Park is nearly twice the size of Central Park in New York, and features a beautiful rose garden. The city is also home to the world-renowned Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
One thing the airline didn’t mention is friendliness. I’m always shocked when visitors to Kansas City talk about how nice people are here, (of course everyone has their moments.)
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The big black eye that I don’t think IcelandAir really considered as part of the list is public transportation. Kansas City as a whole is not a walkable city. We do have a Streetcar, which is free to ride and expanding, but there are huge sections of the city it doesn’t service. Our bus service isn’t easy to use if your plans involve both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line.
But, if you don’t think IcelandAir knows what it’s talking about, representatives from the airline have at least been to KC.
IcelandAir reps visited the city extensively before launching seasonal direct flights from Kansas City International Airport to Reykjavik in 2018. Unfortunately the service ended in Sept. 2019, just before the pandemic began. The airline has not returned to KCI Airport.
If you haven’t visited Kansas City, I invite you to come check us out and dive into some KC-style barbecue and make your own decision.
If you time it right you can catch a concert, a Chiefs game, the 2023 NFL Draft, or a 2026 World Cup match. And if you wait until March 2023 to visit, you’ll be able to experience our brand new KCI Airport Terminal!
Hope to see you around!