Missouri

Travelers interested in 19^th-century history and architecture, museums, theme parks, and pleasant scenery will have a great time in Missouri.   Springfield is in a good location to visit the Ozarks and to start your journey to other southwestern Missouri cities.  While in Springfield, make sure to visit the Springfield National Cemetery, which has graves of Civil War casualties from both sides.  Located at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield you will find the site of an important Civil War battle known as Bloody Hill.  Fantastic Caverns offer the only ride-through cave tour.   

Many country-western singers call Branson home.  It has become known as "The Music Show Capital of the U.S.".  The number of visitors to this town annually adds up to be about six million.  Nearly every night you can hear the music of stars such as Mel Tillis, Kenny Rogers, Charley Pride, Andy Williams, and the Osmond Family.  The street, known as 76 Country, is a long, neon-lit strip of hotels, souvenir shops, buffet-style diners, go-cart tracks, and theaters.  The theaters have a unique personality.  The largest theater is the Grand Palace, which boasts over 4,000 seats and resembles a Southern mansion with traditional columns and veranda.  With a stack of gigantic boulders and a waterfall out front, Andy Williams theater is named Moon River.  Box Car Willie’s theater is attached to a railroad museum.  It contains his personal collection of railroad and airplane memorabilia.  The shows themselves often resemble Las Vegas-style variety acts.  At the Lawrence Welk Champagne Theater seniors and children alike can enjoy the lasers, dancing, and all of the bubbles that accompany each performance.     

Kansas City is a great place for families with kids.  The Kansas City Zoo has been expanded over the past few years to accommodate the Australian Walkabout.  This exhibit is a  naturalistic recreation of the Australian wilds, complete with kangaroos and emus.  Also check out the International Domesticated Animal Exhibit, the African Elephant Exhibit, and the new IMAX theater.  If you are visiting during April and October, check into the Nocturnal Safari, which is actually an overnight campout at the zoo.  For adults, Kansas City has several spots of interest.  Independence is the home of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.  Northeast of the city (near Kearney) you will find the farmhouse where Frank and Jesse James grew up.  If you are looking for theatre, we suggest the Quality Hill Playhouse, the Unicorn Theater, and the Starlight Theatre. Westport Square is one of the city’s most popular venues for nightlife, shopping, and restaurants.  Crown Center, developed by the Hallmark Cards company, offers 80 shops that are linked by elevated pedestrian walkways. 

Jefferson City,  modeled its capitol building  after the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.  If you take a tour of the building, be sure to notice all the paintings done by Thomas Hart Benton.  Also check out the governor’s residence, where guides in period costumes will direct you through the first floor of the mansion, the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, and the Cole County Historical Museum.         

Because of the great flood in 1993 there is an immense amount of sand/debris deposited in fields around the state.

Walt Disney grew up in Marceline, which is located in north central Missouri.  He modeled "Main Street USA" (found in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World) after his hometown.

Taxis are on a deregulated meter system. Each company is free to set its own rates.

 

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