On the location, I wouldn't fly out to KC to just make the trek up there, but if you're from a neighboring state it feels like a pretty great weekend getaway spot or in KC for something else already, especially when 12K is probably only going to get you a not great Hyatt Regency/nice Hyatt Place during peak.

We were doing a trip through KC and ended up just adding a night up there for the heck of it, which I would do again.