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Fun Places to Go on a Vacation in Missouri
by J. Clark
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Overview
Vacationers looking for fun in Missouri should consider what kind of excitement they are looking for. If it involves the state's rich history, then St. Louis, Hannibal and St. Joseph are good places to be. If fun times involve getting outdoors, then the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and the Lake of the Ozarks are top picks. If Vegas-like entertainment with a Midwest flavor is high on the list, then Branson shouldn't be missed.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
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Historic Missouri
Like a little adrenaline rush with your history lesson? Then consider a trip to St. Louis (www.explorestlouis.com), the so-called Gateway to the West where explorers like Lewis and Clark stopped to stock up before heading off to expand America's horizons. The city has an excellent Museum of Westward Expansion to document that history, but the truly heart-pumping attraction is right above it: the 630-foot Gateway Arch. Visitors can ride a tramway to the top for sky-high views out over the city and the Mississippi River. And if the wind is blowing, they'll feel the arch swaying.
Americana buffs looking to have a blast should head to Hannibal (www.visithannibal.com), hometown of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Take a tour of the author's boyhood home or ride the Mark Twain Mississippi Riverboat along the river that so inspired Twain's work. And remember the cave in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?" It's there in Hannibal, ready to be explored.
If the idea of delivering express mail thousands of miles by horseback seems like fun, then get over to St. Joseph (www.stjomo.com), from where the first Pony Express riders set out in 1860. The city is home to the Pony Express National Museum, and, on April 3, 2010, it will commemorate the 150th anniversary of that first ride with a parade and reenactment.
Fans of Mark Twain should head to Hannibal.
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Outdoors
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways (www.nps.gov/ozar/) is a great place for those who like canoeing, camping or caving. The area is made up of what the National Park Service calls "Two of America's clearest and most beautiful spring-fed rivers," plus there are more than 300 caves in the park. Some can be explored by permit only, while the National Park Service gives summer-season tours at Round Spring Cavern.
Vacationers in search of outdoor fun in a more developed environment should check out the Lake of the Ozarks (www.lakeareachamber.com), which boasts of being the Midwest's largest man-made lake. There are abundant recreational activities at this resort area, including boating, fishing, camping and golf, not to mention shopping and dining.
Those who seek sophistication in their countryside vacations might head to Hermann (www.hermannmissouri.com), the heart of Missouri's wine country. Located in an idyllic area along the Missouri River, Hermann is home to at least 10 vineyards and wineries that offer tours.
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Show-Me Showtime
Fans of glitzy stage entertainment won't want to miss Branson (www.branson.com), the town that claims to have more theater seats than Broadway. There are magic shows, variety shows, gospel shows, dinner shows, kids shows and variety shows. The fun doesn't end when the curtain drops, either. Branson is home to all kinds of non-show attractions, like a Titanic museum shaped like the ship itself, or Silver Dollar City, an 1880s Old West theme town with roller coasters.
In Branson, shows are the big draw.
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