Top Things to do in Missouri
Top Hotels in Missouri
- 1. Lodge of the Ozarks
- 2. Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch
- 3. Savannah House Hotel
- 4. Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
- 5. Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
- 6. The Last Hotel
- 7. Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Brentwood
- 8. Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Convention Center
- 9. Branson Towers Hotel
- 10. Seven Gables Inn
Things to do in Missouri, United States: The Best Nature & Parks
From the riverboat casinos, breweries and historical neighborhoods in St. Louis and fabulous fountains and barbeque in Kansas City to the “Live Music Show Capital of the World, Branson, to the awesome outdoor lifestyle in the Lake of the Ozarks region, the state offers visitors a seemingly endless line-up of unique vacation experiences. You’re never far from a state park or historic site as there are 85 of them throughout the state. There are 840 miles of trail for hikers, backpackers, bicycle riders, off-road vehicle users and horseback riders. Some of the state’s top attractions include the Gateway Arch and St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Cameron Cave in Hannibal, and the American Jazz Museum and Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City. Wine lovers will be pleased to know there are 96 wineries in the state where you can sample wines and take tours. For golfers, the picturesque Lake Ozark region offers play on gems like the Tan-Tar-A Resort Oaks Course and Old Kinderhook. Why not introduce your children to the real world of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn? Visit Hannibal, where your kids can immerse themselves in the world of Mark Twain with a tour of the author’s home, a cruise on the Mississippi River, an exploration excursion of the caves in his books and visits to various historic homes. Other great family-oriented activities throughout the state include hiking the Ozark Trail, splashing at a water park in Branson and visiting the Harry S. Truman home and presidential library in Independence.
Restaurants in Missouri
1. Missouri Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,356 reviews
The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw. Today, the Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display - widely considered one of the top three botanical gardens in the world. It features 79 acres of horticultural displays, including indoor conservatories and demonstration, formal and international gardens.
Reviewed By Buckeye-in-Jtown - Perryville, United States
The Missouri Botanical Garden (formerly Shaw's Botanical Garden) was founded in 1859 and is the country's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. It is a National Historic Landmark with nearly 80 acres of gardens and historic structures. Outdoor and indoor displays include the Climatron tropical rain forest housed under a geodesic dome; the Kemper Center for Home Gardening; a Japanese Garden; the George Washington Carver Garden; historic Tower Grove House; the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum; and the seasonal Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden. This landmark is a horticulturist's dream!
2. Table Rock Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,309 reviews
Nationally known for its bass fishing, this beautiful clear water lake with gorgeous vistas is also an ideal setting for swimming, boating and water sports, and rivals some Caribbean islands with its excellent scuba diving.
Reviewed By dtw1969 - Fairview Heights, United States
Beautiful , large lake that has a lot of boats running around - but still is nice. Hiking around, walking near, swimming and more here! Bring the family, picnic and just relax. A great place to watch sunset is the boat ramp near Moonshine Beach!
3. Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 807 reviews
Imposing architecture and breathtaking scenery combine to make Ha Ha Tonka State Park one of Missouri’s most treasured spots. Located on the Lake of the Ozarks, the park features the stone ruins of a turn-of-the-20th-century castle built by a prominent Kansas City businessman high atop a bluff. More than 15 miles of trails traverse the park, leading visitors to sinkholes, natural bridges, caves and down to the lake.
Reviewed By ozbound08 - Texas, United States
What a fantastic find! Many different trails, some lead into each other. We went to the castle; slightly uphill, but on a paved path and many people of varied ages and abilities were visiting. You cannot get all the way up to the castle (looks as though it used to be paved along the perimeter) We also hiked the Colosseum trail, the Spring trail and to the water tower (Many steps up). The natural bridge was a beautiful sight but it was a little strenuous on the full loop, rocky and uneven in places. Beautiful views from various points. Kayaks available for rental & people were fishing. NO entrance fee!! Small visitor area upon arrival. Picnic areas throughout the park. Wonderful stop!!
4. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 444 reviews
Nestled within Faust Park and a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Butterfly House was the first stand-alone insectarium to be accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Open year-round, the 8,000 sq foot Tropical Conservatory is the heart of the Butterfly House. Its carefully controlled environment houses nearly 2,000 tropical butterflies in free flight. As many as 80 butterfly species and 150 tropical plant species are exhibited. The Exhibit Hall is where you'll find Small Wonders, a living exhibit focusing on various other invertebrates. The outdoor Native Butterfly Garden is a pollinator-friendly demonstration garden. Plants were carefully selected to provide a habitat for the pollinators and other animals in Faust Park as well as to serve as host plants for caterpillars and nectar sources for butterflies. The Native Butterfly Garden provides a favorite setting for education programs, wedding ceremonies, and other private event celebrations.
Reviewed By 644stuk - Chesterfield, United States
Our grandkids aged 4 and 7 loved the place. The variety and quantity of the butterflies are amazing and held the kids attention and they were thrilled to have one land on their head. The plant life is great, and overall it is a wonderful place to take the kids so they can enjoy themselves.
5. Alley Spring Grist Mill Historic Site
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 269 reviews
Scenic spring and picturesque mill dating to 1894.
Reviewed By Toucan22
There is so much to do in this area, and lots of springs to visit. Alley Spring is the crown jewel, with lots of parking, and in normal times the store, school, and mill are open to visit in addition to the spring. The spring is a gorgeous blue, and there is a short .3 mile walk around the back of the spring and along the creek/outflow. If you add the Overlook Trail to the loop, it’s 1.5 miles with a great view from above.
6. Forest Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,450 reviews
The site of the 1904 World's Fair, America's second largest urban park is a prime St. Louis recreation spot.
Reviewed By LC95 - Saint Louis, United States
Forest Park is one of the most beautiful and attractive parks around! First of all it is very large, so there is room for everyone. You don't have to be surrounded by other people if you don't want to. It is easy to find a nice quiet spot for reading, meditating, or resting! Or you can hang out with the crowd on Art Hill! Second, there is a lot to do! Picnicking, zoo, art museum, science center, history museum, golf, handball, tennis, picture taking, hiking, walking trails, special events, bird watching, duck watching, fishing, weddings, school outings, boating, baseball, soccer, restaurants, etc. Third, it is easy to get to. Either via street or highway and there is plenty of free on-street parking. You can drive, bike or take the train. However you get there, get there when you can!!
7. Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 419 reviews
The 112-acre Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park contains a number of garden attractions including the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden and Dr. Roston Native Butterfly House; the historic Gray-Campbell Farmstead; picnic pavilions; access to the South Creek Greenway. The park is open sunrise to sunset. The Botanical Center/ welcome center is open Monday-Saturday 8 am - 8 pm and Sunday 11 am - 6pm April - October. The building closes at 5 pm November - March. The majority of the park is free.
Reviewed By jodif773 - Springfield, United States
This is one of the best parks in Springfield!! Beautiful flowers in the spring, great fall colors, and lots of fun areas for kids to play. We also love to ride our bikes along the paved paths.
8. St. Louis Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,479 reviews
Visitors are wowed by this zoo that has 6,600 animals and 15 major exhibit areas.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
As native Chicagoans, we are proud of our two zoos, Lincoln Park and Brookfield, that have earned national and international reputations over the years. My wife and I live a short walk from the Lincoln Park Zoo and regularly take weekend walks through the facility. So it is with admiration and respect that we take notice of the fact that the St. Louis Zoo was named "best zoo in the United States" in 2017 and 2018 by USA Today. I visited the zoo when I worked at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in 1966-1868 and my wife and I have visited twice. There is always something to see, new attractions. The zoo covers 90 acres of St. Louis' massive Forest Park and annually attracts about three million people to see 18,700 animals. It is the most visited feature in Forest Park, which also includes the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center and Missouri History Museum. Admission is free. Founded in 1910, the city purchased its first exhibit, The Flight Cage or primate house, from the Smithsonian Institution following the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Before you begin strolling through the zoo and its five animal zones, be advised to take a spin on the park's two-foot narrow gauge Emerson Zooline Railroad than encircles the zoo, stopping at the most popular attractions. They include Lakeside Crossing or Caribbean Cove, which is open during warmer months and is a shallow touch-pool that features cownose rays, southern stingrays, bonnethead sharks and bamboo sharks; River's Edge, which displays rhinos, hippos, cheetahs, hyenas wild dogs, Asian elephants and giant anteaters; Discovery Corner, which displays birds, snakes, frogs, spiders and scorpions; The Wild, home to penguins, polar bears, grizzly bears, gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans; Historic Hill, the oldest facility in the zoo which features bald eagles, king vultures, sea lions, seals, alligators, iguanas, turtles, frogs, king cobras, Gila monsters, giant tortoise, river otters, monkeys, great egrets and wood ducks; and Red Rocks, home to several species of big cats such as African lions, Amur leopards, Amur tigers, jaguars, cougars and snow leopards. Also see a Bactrian camel, Grevy's zebra, giraffe, gazelle, wallaby and red kangaroo. Interestingly, one of the former directors of the St. Louis was Marlin Perkins, who also was a director of the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and gained fame as host of the TV show Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.
9. Marvel Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 731 reviews
A highlight of the Silver Dollar City theme park, this constantly evolving wet limestone cave under the Ozark Mountains, dating back to the 1500s, provides a one-hour tour of fascinating rooms and passageways. The cave's entryway is the largest in the U.S.
Reviewed By daxxday
This was a nice cave to tour! It does have a lot of steps and some places you need to duck down but the tour guides are very upfront about this when explaining the tour! Our 10 yr old had no problems with it and neither did we. We enjoyed seeing all the formations and our guide Michael was fun and informative.
10. Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Protected area consisting of 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri, which offers excellent opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing.
Reviewed By kellyrK8851HY
If you love clean, cool, clear water coming from the ground, you'll love this area. The rivers are amazing, among the best in the country. There are many first magnitude springs, which means of 65 million gallons per day.
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