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Missouri travel guide
Destination Guide

Missouri

United States

Barbecue, Beer, Baseball, the Gateway Arch, Route 66, Mark Twain, Live Music, Outdoor Recreation, Caves, Award-Winning Wines

Capital
Jefferson City
Currency
US Dollar

Top Reasons to Visit Missouri

1. Vibrant Cities with Rich Cultural Offerings:

Missouri is home to dynamic cities like St. Louis and Kansas City, each offering a wealth of cultural attractions. In St. Louis, visitors can explore the iconic Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the renowned St. Louis Zoo. Kansas City is famous for its jazz heritage, the National World War I Museum, and the bustling Power and Light District with its vibrant nightlife and dining scene.

2. Distinctive Culinary Scene:

Missouri is known for its unique culinary offerings, including world-famous Kansas City barbecue, featuring slow-smoked meats and tangy sauces. St. Louis offers its own culinary delights, such as toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake. The state's wineries and breweries also provide excellent opportunities for tasting local wines and craft beers.

3. Outdoor Adventures and Natural Beauty:

Missouri's diverse landscapes provide endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. The Ozark Mountains and Lake of the Ozarks are perfect for hiking, boating, fishing, and camping. The state also boasts beautiful caves, such as those found in Meramec State Park and the stunning Onondaga Cave State Park.

4. Family-Friendly Attractions:

Missouri is a great destination for families, offering a wide range of attractions and activities for all ages. The St. Louis Science Center, the Magic House, and the City Museum in St. Louis provide interactive and educational experiences for children. Silver Dollar City, a theme park in Branson, offers thrilling rides, live shows, and traditional crafts, making it a fun destination for the whole family.

5. Mark Twain Heritage:

Missouri is the birthplace of one of America’s most beloved authors, Mark Twain. Visitors can explore Hannibal, Twain’s boyhood home, and visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, where they can learn about the author’s life and works. Hannibal also offers riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River, reminiscent of the adventures of Twain’s famous characters, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

6. Music and Performing Arts:

Missouri has a rich musical heritage, particularly in blues, jazz, and country music. Kansas City is a hub for jazz, with numerous clubs and the American Jazz Museum celebrating the genre's history. Branson, often referred to as the "Live Music Show Capital of the World," offers a variety of live performances ranging from country music and bluegrass to comedy and magic shows.

Explore Regional Missouri

Missouri is a Southern state covered by the Ozark Mountains and grassy plains. Drive down Route 66 for vintage Americana; visit one of more than 50 state parks for outdoor adventure; dance to jazz all night long, and tuck into a plate of slow-cooked barbecue – what more could you want?! With more than 6,300 recorded caves, it's no surprise Missouri is known as the Cave State. Missouri also has some of the largest freshwater springs in the country, with more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails, rock formations, rivers, and lakes. Lake of the Ozarks has more shoreline than California – fab for a peaceful getaway or classic play-cation.

When you drive into the city of St Louis and spot your very first glance of the downtown skyline, you will notice the sweeping lines of the Gateway Arch. A bit of an architectural triumph, the Gateway Arch is 900 tons of stainless steel sections that were assembled and completed in 1965 as a symbol to honour exploration and to commemorate the spirit of pioneers as they blazed trails to the west.

A dazzling highway that symbolised hope, running from Chicago to LA, was the epitome of 'cool.' And it didn’t just pass through Missouri. The highway name ‘Route 66’ was christened in Springfield, Missouri, in 1926 (you can see the sign here!). Driving west on Route 66, travellers experience nostalgic flashes of what once was an original 1935 roadhouse in Eureka that is now home to Route 66 State Park’s visitor centre. You can also discover more about America’s most famous road at the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon and in Springfield at the History Museum on the Square.

The National Blues Museum celebrates the genre as the foundation of all modern American music. Guests are educated in an entertaining environment that includes high impact technology-driven experiences, a state-of-the-art theatre, artefact exhibits and lectures.

If you like beer, you’ve come to the right place. You can find breweries large and small throughout the Show-Me State. Did you know that Missouri is the home to Anheuser-Busch, creator of the first national beer brand: Budweiser? Many of Missouri’s microbreweries provide tours and tastings, and some include great dining too. As of 2017, there were 81 craft brewers in Missouri, double the number that existed just six years earlier.

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