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Missouri
St. Louis
Hermann
Missouri bills itself as "a vacation with personality" —
several personalities in fact — offering up plenty of possibilities whether you're a foodie, an outdoors enthusiast, a sports fan or a road tripper.
Missouri or "Mo", as the state is commonly known, is many things to many people. And while you may start your vacation by standing in the shadow of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, clapping along to live music in Branson, or digging into the sweet heat of Kansas City barbecue, we'd advise you to go the extra mile and explore the small towns, historic sites and scenic riverways. In fact, the Show-Me State has a lot to share, no matter
your vacation M-O, so let's get started.
Founded by a French-Canadian fur trader as Les Petites Cotes (“the little hills”) in 1769, this town has been welcoming visitors ever since. Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their Louisiana Purchase expedition up the Missouri River here in 1804. Today the Lewis and Clark Boat House, positioned along the riverfront, is a living museum full of replica boats and re-enactors teaching new generations about the past. If you’re here in October, be sure to check out Legends & Lanterns, an annual ode to the vintage charm of Halloween celebrations in the 1910s-1930s.
Move over, Napa. The first federally approved American Viticultural Area was right here in Augusta, Missouri. The region earned the designation on June 20, 1980, eight months before Napa Valley. Along with its status as a great wine destination, Augusta offers shopping, dining and outdoor recreation on Katy Trail State Park. Head to Augusta Winery and take an ATV tour to see how nearly 800,000 bottles of wine are produced here each year.
St. Charles
Augusta
Nestled in the Missouri River Valley, this picturesque town is full of old world charm. Hermann's clock towers and steeples date back to the 1800s, when Germans first settled here, and more than 150 local buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Numerous wineries in and around Hermann offer tastings and tours, while the downtown area is a historic district with restaurants, shops, galleries and museums. October weekends are filled with authentic German food, live music and activities to celebrate Oktoberfest.
Hermann
Designated in 1964, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. Not only does it include the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, but also hundreds of freshwater springs, caves and trails. The region is perfect for a spring or summer day of exploring, hiking, canoeing, swimming and fishing. Blue Spring is one of the deepest in the U.S. at more than 310 feet; for scale, if you placed the Statue of Liberty in Blue Spring, the entire thing would be submerged and the torch would still be 5 feet below the surface. The park is also home to historic sites such as Alley Mill, a grain mill vital to community life a century ago.
Ozark National
Scenic Riverways
Springfield
While on your road trip, pay homage to the official Birthplace of Route 66. Take a picture with the placard on the east side of Park Central Square commemorating this designation, then head to The History Museum on the Square which has a gallery detailing Springfield’s role in America’s best-known highway. Once you’ve "gotten your kicks" there, explore a number of other attractions. Wonders of Wildlife was named America’s best aquarium by USA Today this year. Located right next door is the original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the granddaddy of the popular national chain. A must-see is Fantastic Caverns, discovered in 1862 and today the only cave in North America to offer a completely ride-through tour (as opposed to walking); the Jeep-drawn trams drive along the path left behind from an ancient underground river.
Branson
You can still get a (literal) taste of history in this pre-Civil War town that was part of the Louisiana Purchase and where “Buffalo Bill” Cody lived for a time. Founded in 1856 by two brothers, Holladay Distillery started with bourbon and evolved over the years to make a variety of spirits. Still known as Holladay Distillery, but today operated by McCormick Distilling Company, it is the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River still operating in its original location and offering distillery tours. Shopping and dining options abound in Weston, and during the fall, visitors enjoy exploring nearby Weston Bend State Park for sweeping views of the Missouri River. Take your time and enjoy hiking, biking and fall foliage along the trails meandering across the park's 1,133 acres.
Weston
Independence
Ditch the car and hop in a mule-drawn covered wagon to travel the same streets as the early pioneer settlers, Civil War generals and President Harry S. Truman when you take a history tour with Pioneer Trails Adventures. Continue learning more at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum, which is the final resting place for the only Missourian ever elected president; the museum also preserves his papers, books and other historic materials.
St. Joseph
Put the phones down and imagine what communication was really like back in the day with a trip to the Pony Express National Museum. Located on the site of the original Pony Express stables, it tells the story of the 2,000-mile mail trail from St. Joseph to Sacramento, highlighting the riders as well. (In addition to American-born carriers, there were riders from Canada, Sweden, England and Ireland too.) The nearby Patee House Museum served as the headquarters for the Pony Express as well as a hotel for the riders. At one point in its hotel history, it hosted Jesse James’ family as his death was investigated.
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St. Charles
Augusta
DAY TRIPS FROM
DAY TRIPS FROM
DAY TRIPS FROM
Head to the top of the 630-foot-high Gateway Arch — the tallest monument in the United States — for incredible vistas of downtown St. Louis and the surrounding area. Founded in 1764 by French fur traders who named it after King Louis IX, this city grew into an important center of commerce and trade in the United States. In fact, St. Louis hosted the 1904 World’s Fair, which drew nearly 20 million people. The fair was held in Forest Park, and while most of the structures were demolished shortly after, people can still trek up Government Hill for dramatic views from the open-air World’s Fair Pavilion. (At 1,300 acres, Forest Park is larger than New York City's Central Park.) Soak up even more state knowledge at the Missouri History Museum, one of the free attractions located in the park.
In 1857, Iron County was formed and named after its principal mineral; naturally, its first town was also given a similar name. Today, Ironton’s population is approximately 1,475 people, but its claim to fame is that it is home to the highest point in the state. Head to the 7,500-acre Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and hike the 2.9-mile Mina Sauk Falls Trail to get to the top of the mountain—1,772 feet above sea level. Visit in the spring to see the highest waterfall in Missouri, 132 feet to be exact, gush after a heavy rain.
Ironton
Bonne Terre
At one time, Bonne Terre was the world’s largest producer of lead ore; the town created one of history’s earliest deep-earth lead mines in 1860 and it was in operation until 1962. Today, Bonne Terre Mine invites people to explore its five levels. The two upper levels have one-hour guided walking tours along the old mule trails where miners dug with picks and shovels. The lower three levels are full of water, forming a one-billion gallon, 17-mile long lake. Boat tours are available, allowing visitors to glide along the illuminated water and see the abandoned shafts and equipment below. You might also see some scuba divers in the water (diving reservations are required). No matter the time of year, it is 65 degrees in the mine, so bring a sweater. If you prefer deep space, head to the nearby Space Museum and Grissom Center to see artifacts like spacesuits and rocket engines dating from the dawn of space travel to today.
Go way back in time with a visit to Elephant Rocks State Park. The park is named after a string of large pink granite boulders that resemble a train of circus elephants; the rocks were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite. In the spring and summer, go hiking and climbing around the park, or simply enjoy a picnic lunch under a shady tree near an “elephant.”
Belleview
Branson has a lot going for it year-round. Situated between two major lakes, with a third lake running through town, there are plenty of opportunities for boating, paddleboarding, biking and hiking to keep you busy during the warmer months. Well-known for its live entertainment, Branson offers a plethora of daily shows, from intimate sets to Broadway-style productions. Founded in 1960, Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-style theme park with more than 40 rides and attractions. The Branson Scenic Railway is a collection of vintage passenger trains that travel from its historic 1905 depot through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. While the daytime excursion trains run from March through November, “The Polar Express” travels after dark in November and December. Santa Claus visits the train and all children receive a silver sleigh bell as well as cookies and hot chocolate. The holiday season is magical in Branson, which celebrates "Ozark Mountain Christmas" with light displays, special performances, community events and a parade.
A great Midwest destination any time of the year, Kansas City exudes allure no matter where you look, from its more than 200 bubbling fountains to its jazz clubs and thriving arts scene. The city is a definite foodie favorite, drawing people with its 100 barbecue joints as well as multiple James Beard Award finalists over the years. Pay homage to fallen heroes by visiting the National WWI Museum and Memorial, the only American museum solely dedicated to preserving the objects, history and personal experiences from the Great War. From there, it's a short drive to one of the country's top art museums, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which includes ancient and modern works from Europe, Africa, Asia and the U.S.
Send yourself a postcard from the Kingsville post office, which has been in operation since 1857, just one year after General William King settled the town. Visit Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s Botanical Garden to see what is blooming in spring. Each year, you'll find a seasonal featured exhibition, smaller exhibits and art installations on display.
Kingsville
Ironton
Bonne Terre
Belleview
Ozark National
Scenic Riverways
Springfield
Independence
St. Joseph
Weston
Kingsville
Found in streams in the Ozarks, shut-ins are rock formations that carve through a mountain range, causing a complex of rivulets, rapids and plunge pools. Head to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, where the shut-ins were formed by cooling magma billions of years ago. The pools are great for a summertime splash. The geology of the park also makes it a fantastic place for hiking and camping from spring through fall.
Middle Brook
Middle Brook
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Mansfield
Whether you read the “Little House on the Prairie” books or watched the television series based on them, one must-see in Mansfield is the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum. Open from March-November, this historic farmhouse still has the study and writing desk where Wilder wrote the books by hand. Continue your trek back in time with a visit to the pioneer village at the nearby Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, which also has a farm, gardens, greenhouses and a seed store.
Mansfield
M
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