Visual Traveler: Chateau Avalon Hotel & Spa, Kansas City, Kansas

Have you ever dreamed of dwelling amid knights and stone archways? Staying in a luxurious Italian villa full of columns and statuary? How about falling asleep in the huge four-post mahogany bed of a Presidential suite - with a hidden door in a library bookcase? What about experiencing a Tahitian Treehouse? Perhaps you would prefer an urban New York Penthouse vibe, or a Colorado Frontier room with wood plank-clad walls.

These are just a few uniquely themed suites - among 56 available - inside the 20+ year old, French-inspired Chateau Avalon Hotel & Spa. My Serengeti room paired African 'wildness' with modern comforts. As I walked in for the first time, a floor-to-ceiling mural full of indigenous wildlife greeted me, including a massive rhino whose face and body appeared almost real. Nestled amid authentic-looking treetops, my queen bed and a flat-screen television awaited at the top of  a rock staircase.

As we entered the hotel, our group admired the massive, iconic Beaumont Fountain, which echoed the hotel's French-influenced exterior. An ornate chandelier and stairway railing in the two-story lobby continued this theme.

Behind the hotel a secluded stone patio with wrought iron furniture flanked cozy landscaping and dense trees, where our group enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. We also checked out the quirky, adjacent d'Nile Lounge, where eight-foot-tall gold Egyptian statues flanked a "quicksand" floor, and a blue-hued cocktail glowed beneath ambient light. The small plate menu perfectly complements customer beverage choices too. 

On my next visit I hope to enjoy more time at d'Nile; plus a hot stone massage and aromatherapy at the hotel's onsite spa - a great way to completely unwind from daily stress. And the best part? It takes less than 25 minutes to reach Chateau Avalon from our home! 

​Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complimentary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, I make every effort to report my experiences fairly and honestly.

​Please note these photos are several years old. While they reflected the character of Chateau Avalon during my visit, specific details may have changed.