Missouri has a lot to show to its visitors (and locals). Impressive nature, some awesome cities, interesting museums and much more.
From the beautiful Ozark Mountains to interesting caverns to the glorious Missouri rivers, Missouri is a Midwestern paradise. It was where the investigation of the Wild West began, and many dreams were satisfied or wrecked. Missouri is pure American beauty.
You can find everything from incredible wilderness, wide-open spaces and waterways to large and lively cities and quiet country towns.
Here are top 10 the most beautiful Places To Visit In Missouri:
City Museum
At first glance, City Museum might seem like any other plain, square-bricked building in St. Louis. When you look a little higher, however, you’ll see the strange shapes jutting off the roof, and you’ll realize that it’s actually one of the craziest vacation spots in Missouri. Planes and school buses jut over the edge of the building. A Ferris wheel slowly turns over a pond filled with stepping stones and gigantic statues of bugs. A glass dome, salvaged from the renovations of a local science center, sits in the middle of twisted metal sculptures that are both viewable and climbable.
Exhibits include everything from taxidermy animals to mineral collections. Interactive rooms will let you paint, build, ride a train, skateboard in an indoor park or attend lessons at circus school. It’s a crazy cross between a playground, fun house and kooky art installation, and it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Missouri.
Silver Dollar City
As one of the biggest amusement parks in Missouri, Silver Dollar City definitely lives up to its name. It’s so big that it’s actually divided into “districts” as a play on its theme. Rivertown has rides and restaurants along the water. Wilson’s Farm has fun, family-friendly activities with an agricultural motif. Midtown has more carnival games that you can shake a stick at, and Homestead Ridge offers vintage-style shops for all of your souvenir needs.
You can choose your own adventure at this amusement park. If you want to watch a demonstration at a pottery store or make your stomach drop with death-defying roller coasters, there’s a little something for everyone here. Silver Dollar City is another one of those Missouri attractions that everyone knows.
National World War I Museum
Located in Kansas City, Missouri, it’s been designated by the government as the country’s official WWI museum. You’ll start by following the 265-foot tower to the main building. From there, you’ll walk across a glass bridge that covers 9,000 red poppies symbolizing the 9,000,000 lives lost during the war. Features of the museum include photos, videos, maps, flags, letters and artifacts ranging from rusted guns to old propaganda posters. There’s a sound booth for audio recordings; there are two theaters that run educational films and reels. There’s also a preserved Renault FT tank and a 1918 Ford Model T ambulance.
Waterfall Park
Waterfall Park is one of the most fun things to do in Missouri. Its namesake is a beautiful, ten-foot waterfall that crashes over rocks and into the pool below, and it’s surrounded by boulders and mossy lichens that make it look like something out of a fairy tale.
The best thing about Waterfall Park is that it’s a man-made feature located in the middle of a metropolis. The city is called Independence, Missouri, and it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. You’ll find plenty of entertainment options in the form of bars, shops, restaurants and movie theaters.
St. Joseph
St. Joseph was one of the last frontier towns of the Wild West. Not only is it rich with history, but it’s also home to a number of world-famous tourist attractions. While some parts of the city have been modernized, others are still dedicated to days gone by. You can see this historical preservation in everything from the architecture to the large number of museums, mansions and courthouses dotting the downtown area. Modern features at St. Joseph include shopping malls and high-class restaurants. If you enjoy learning about the Wild West, you won’t want to miss St. Joseph. It’s one of the coolest vacation spots in Missouri, especially for those with an interest in old-school American.
Meramec State Park
Located in Sullivan, Missouri, Meramec State Park is home to a diverse range of landscapes. These include forests and glades as well as canyons and caves. One of the most famous places to visit is Fisher Cave. Filled with stalagmites and stalactites, it offers a dark, dimly-lit adventure into passageways filled with hard rock. If you’re science-minded, you might recognize them as limestone and dolomite. If you’re a layman, you can still appreciate the cool-looking rock formations.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri is renowned for its scenery, but you don’t have to trek into remote mountains to enjoy it. You can find a slice of paradise in the heart of downtown St. Louis when you visit the Missouri Botanical Garden. Covering almost 80 acres, this “garden” is actually a collection of landscapes that showcases everything from flowers and trees to sculptures and cultural artifacts.
Many of the gardens are themed, so you can travel the world with the Seiwa-en Japanese Garden and the Strassenfest German Garden, or you can learn more about specific species with rose gardens, woodland gardens and even “Biblical gardens.” Other features of the garden include fountains, bridges, reflection pools, hedge mazes and historic houses. The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the best things to do in Missouri. It’s a resplendent place, and you won’t believe that so much greenery can be located right in the middle of a bustling city.
Hollywood Wax Museum
Snap a selfie with a celebrity when you visit the Hollywood Wax Museum. While the celebrity won’t be able to sign any autographs, they also won’t be able to deny your requests for silly or ridiculous poses. That’s because they’re all made of wax. The star-studded lineup includes everyone from Bruce Lee to Michael Jackson, so you’ll have your pick of photo ops. Some of the statues are so lifelike that you’ll do a double take; others are so funky-looking that you’ll split your sides at the thought of the artist who created them. From mirror mazes to interactive adventures, you’ll find plenty of kitschy, touristy ways to pass the time. The Hollywood Wax Museum isn’t a particularly dignified place. That’s exactly why it’s so much fun.
Elephant Rocks State Park
The gigantic boulders of Elephant Rocks State Park are some of the most impressive sights in Missouri. In addition to their size, they’re also a rosy pink color, which is where they get their nickname. They can look a lot like circus elephants when you squint.
Natural trails will let you explore all of the rocks at length. In an impressive first, the trails are accessible to all travelers, including those with disabilities. One is actually named the “Braille Trail” for its use of braille on signposts.
Other places to visit include “The Maze,” a series of scattershot rocks that will require a strong sense of direction to navigate, and “Fat Man’s Squeeze,” a gap between two boulders that’s narrow enough to be quite the crunch. All things considered, Elephant Rocks State Park is one of the most fun things to do in Missouri.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Located near the small town of Camdenton, Missouri, Ha Ha Tonka State Park is named for the natural springs located on the grounds of its ruined castle. “Ha ha tonka” translates to “smiling waters.”
You might not expect Missouri to have ruined castles, but that’s exactly why the park is so popular. It’s one of the most unique places to visit in the state. The landscape is filled with fun and unusual features, including caves, sinkholes, bluffs and overgrown woods.
Another nice thing about the park is that it’s located near the Lakes of the Ozark, so if you’re interested in normal summertime activities like swimming and camping, those are an option as well. Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a must see destination when you’re in Missouri. Between its caves and its castles, it has so many cool things to do that you won’t want to miss it.
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