I had no idea Missouri was this cool until I explored its big-city attractions and small-town adventures. Over the years, the Show Me State has impressed me. From its outdoor escapes to its fine-dining restaurants, you’ll love experiencing these bucket-list-worthy stops and everything in between.
30 Bucket List Missouri Experiences You Must Try
Take in a Birds-Eye View of the City
St. Louis Arch
You can’t visit The Lou without visiting the Gateway Arch Museum and taking the tram to the top of the Arch, America’s tallest monument, which spans an awe-inspiring 630 feet.
It’s a National Park (the smallest!) with 91 acres completed in 1965, which Thomas Jefferson envisioned as the Gateway to the West.
Dip Your Feet in the Water of a Natural Spring
Hodgson Mill
Hodgson Mill was purchased in 1884 for $500 to produce white flour. It once housed a general store, sawmill, and cotton gin. It is located 20 miles from West Plains, adjacent to Highway 181.
During a self-guided walking tour of the grounds, I suspect you’ll adore the landscape as much as we did.
The barn-red mill towers in the background while a fast-flowing spring maneuvers water over moss-covered rocks. Take your shoes off and feel the cool water rush over them.
Bite Down on Kansas City Barbecue
Q-39
Of course you need to eat barbecue when visiting Kansas City, and if you want the best burnt ends, you must dine at Q39 (multiple locations). Prepared from the pointed end of the brisket, these charred meat morsels will have you closing your eyes in the first bite.
Q39 arrived on the Kansas City barbecue scene in 2014 and changed the game.
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
History Museum on the Square
In Springfield, you’re in the heart of Route 66 culture at its birthplace. The admission cost is worth the experience at the History Museum on the Square (154 Park Central Square), where the state’s Mother Road history comes alive.
Experience what it was like to pull over for a simulated diner experience (play the jukebox), learn from an interactive timeline exhibit, and snap a photo from inside a 1957 Chevrolet.
Admire Phenomenal Street Art
Crossroads Art District
Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District is the mecca for street artists. Located in a neighbor celebrating local shop owners, restaurants, and artisan, the Crossroad Art District is a fun place to walk or drive to view dozens of oversized murals.
Consider registering for a low-cost urban hike to view the murals with a local tour guide.
Take a Sip Before Slipping Down a Slide
J. Rieger Co.
At J. Rieger Co. (2700 Guinotte Avenue) in Kansas City, you can take a guided tour and sip whiskey cocktails, but what makes the distillery unique is its two-story indoor slide built for adults.
The 40-foot slide in the Monogram Lounge is the only one like it in the world located in a distillery.
Add String to the World’s Largest Spool of Thread
Missouri Quilt Museum
Located inside an old school, Missouri Quilt Museum (1230 N. Waco Avenue) showcases thousands of quilts, antique sewing machines, thimbles, needles and more.
Take a self-guided tour of over 30,000 square feet of gallery space with works represented by individual quilters and quilters’ guilds.
Don’t miss your chance to take a photo with the World’s Largest Spool of Thread in front on the museum. Bring thread to add to it.
Watch a Cardinals Game from the Good Seats
Busch Stadium
You can’t come to St. Louis without attending a Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium (700 Clark Ave.). Recognized as 11-time World Champions, fans converge on the ballpark to cheer on the hometown team with chants and roars of applause.
Spring for a private suite for a premium experience. You only live once, right?
Learn About the Life Of Walt Disney
Walt Disney Hometown Museum
Celebrate Mickey Mouse‘s birthday by planning a future trip to the City of Marceline, Missouri, the boyhood home of Walt Disney. Tour the two-story Walt Disney Hometown Museum to view authentic artifacts and view original drawings.
Located on Mo Hwy 36 – Way of American Genius, you should stop for a burger and dessert at Ma Vic’s Corner Cafe before shopping downtown, aka Main Street USA, which Disney referred to as “everyone’s hometown.”
Discover the Kid Who Became a Retail Tycoon
J. C. Penney Museum
It’s not everyday you get to stand next to a man of greatness. At the J.C. Penney Museum (312 N. Davis Street) in Hamilton, you can take your photo with the company’s namesake. T
he town is on the the Highway of American Genius, and his career contributions certainly deserve recognition.
J.C. Penney was born and raised on a nearby farm. After touring the museum’s exhibits, be sure to view his childhood home located downtown.
Walk in the Footsteps of a Literally Icon
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum (120 N. Main Street) in Hannibal, where Twain lived from nine years old until his teenage years when he left in 1853.
As a former English Literature major and teacher, I felt chill bumps as I listened to the wood floors creak underfoot and admired the home’s contents.
Walk across the creaky wood floors and imagine a teenage Twain looking out the window and daydreaming about his future. It was there that he fell in love with writing.
Climb Into the Saddle Where the Pony Express Began
Pony Express National Museum
The Pony Express National Museum (914 Penn Street) does an exceptional job of preserving history and presenting it interactively in St. Joseph.
A self-guided museum tour reveals the story of the Pony Express and its brave riders through interactive exhibits and curated artifact displays. Take a photo of authentic saddles or peek through photo cutout stations.
Stand in Awe with a Military Giant
General John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site
I pulled over in Laclede, Missouri, (pop. 301) to learn more about its hometown hero General John J. Pershing at a historic site. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He’s one of the most celebrated American soldiers in the early 20th Century as the second highest ranked military officer in U.S. History.
President Woodrow Wilson selected Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces during WWI.
Look for Famous Signatures on Cave Walls
Mark Twain Cave
In Hannibal, touring the Mark Twain Cave (300 Cave Hallow Road) is one of the most sought-after activities, and for good reason.
Open year-round for walk-through guided tours, it gives visitors a sense of wonder as they traverse the 3/8-mile cave, which inspired Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
Look for signatures by the cave’s most famous explorers, and don’t miss the Jesse James Hideout.
Imagine Explorers on the Mighty Missouri River
Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum
Lewis & Clark Boat House & Museum (1050 S. Riverside Dr.) provides a visual timeline of events detailing Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s travels beginning in St. Charles.
Retrace their journey by taking a self-guided tour of dioramas and exhibits that showcase natural artifacts. The most fascinating artifacts on view were the geological samples (Missouri geodes) and replica journal entries.
Stand in Line for the State’s Best Dessert
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream
Why wait in line for ice cream? Because Betty Rae Ice Cream (412 Delaware St.) is “more than ice cream.” It is the best ice cream shop in Kansas City bar none.
We took the downtown shuttle from Union Station and discovered the ice cream shop by chance. The line moved quickly, and before I knew it, I was staring down a menu with flavors like Lavender Honey and Chocolate Brownie.
Take in the View from the Top of the Rock
Big Cedar Lodge
There is perhaps no better view of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake than at Top of the Rock at Big Cedar Lodge (190 Top of the Rock Road). A mecca for golfers, we enjoyed kicking back with a cold drink from the outdoor patio (aka Buffalo Bar) on a sunny afternoon.
If you’re a foodie, enjoy a meal with a breathtaking view, an experience you’ll never forget.
Eat a Sandwich in the Home of Sliced Bread
Boji Stone Café
Chillicothe, Missouri is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and they should know. The first automatic bread slicing machine for commercial application was invented there in 1928 by Otto Rohwedder, on display at New Grand River Historical Society & Museum.
Eat a tasty pimento cheese and bacon sandwich at Boji Stone Café (610 Washington Street) – add bread pudding topped with “faux” yellow butter made from cream cheese for dessert.
Watch a 3D Projected Show Set to Music
Grand Hall Light Show
You’ll be wonderstruck by Union Station Hotel‘s (1820 N. Market Street) detailed finishes, which included mosaic tile, stained glass, archways, and wrought-iron railings. But it’s the lobby’s 3D fire and light show set to music projected on the Grand Hall’s ceiling that is sure to impress you the most.
The show, displayed around the 65-foot ceiling, runs on the hour from 5:00 pm – 10:00pm daily.
Drop Quarters to Earn the Highest Score
Up Down Arcade Bar
You can count on me to find an arcade in most cities, and Up-Down Kansas City (101 Southwest Boulevard) is one that I highly suggest you check out.
The two-story arcade has over 50 games from the 80s and 90s, including all your favorites like Pac-Man, Iron, and Galaga, plus rows of pinball machines and carnival-like games. You’ll feel like a kid with a new Nintendo® again.
Transport Yourself to a Tranquil European Garden
Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden
When you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden (4800 Rockhill Road). is the place. To visit on a spring day is magical. A covered tree-lined pathway leads visitors to an open-air garden.
The sounds of falling water and birds are the only sounds you hear, and the setting’s tranquility envelopes you.
View Art Exhibits that Make a Lasting Impression
Kemper Museum of Art
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (4420 Warwick Boulevard) is another place to admire artists’ work. Free admission, free programs, and free parking make it a must-visit attraction in the area.
A number of the permanent collection pieces include sculptures, paintings, and photography ranging in styles from minimalism to avante-garde. Although smaller than the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the artwork is equally awe-inspiring.
Admire the Sunset from a Riverboat on the Missouri River
Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise
For 25 years, Captain Steve and his wife Sandy have welcomed visitors aboard to show them the beauty of the Mississippi River in Hannibal via the Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise.
As the sun sets, the musician took requests to play cover songs, and diners indulged in brownie desserts. For me, the best part of the river cruise was enjoying the natural scenery and taking photos of the sunset from the boat’s bow.
Watch Tropical Fish Swim Overhead
St. Louis Aquarium
Saltwater fish. Sharks. Turtles. Stingrays. The St. Louis Aquarium (201 S. 18th Street), within walking distance of the Union Station Hotel, is home to over 13,000 sea creatures. Hands-on activity areas teach visitors of all ages about the native habitats of the animals.
I recommend experiencing the interactive train raid that departs every 15 minutes. The virtual experience is like taking a Union Station train under the sea.
Feed Giraffes From Your Hand
Dickerson Park Zoo
When in Springfield, visit the Dickerson Park Zoo (3043 N. Fort) for a wild time observing animals, feeding giraffes, or taking photos with interactive art exhibits.
Purchase feed at the Ozark Fence Giraffe Outpost ($4 for 4 tokens) daily March through October from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Join a Sing-A-Long Between Burger Bites
Mel’s Hard Luck Diner
You won’t be able to resist singing along with the waitstaff at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner (2800 76 Country Boulevard) in Branson. Most of the servers are professional singers who also perform in theater productions.
The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but we didn’t wait at all for a table. The diner has entertained guests for nearly three decades.
Treat Yourself at the Best Cookie Shop in America
Grandma’s Cookies
Located in downtown St. Charles, Grandma’s Cookies (401 S. Main Street) was voted #1 Cookie Shop by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2024. It’s bucket list experience indeed.
I’ve never tasted a better homemade cookie. In fact, I saved one of my chocolate chip cookies for the drive home eventually eating it bite-by-bite over the next several days to savor it.
Stand in the Original Bass Pro Shop Retail Counter
Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters
Did you know Bass Pro Shops started in Springfield in eight square feet of retail space in Johnny Morris’ dad’s store in 1972?
The company has 171 retail stores, but the granddaddy of them all, Bass Pro Shops Springfield (1 Bass Pro Drive), includes museums, restaurants, and Wonders of Wildlife.
To walk inside the Springfield Bass Pro Shop is to be enveloped by nature. Taxidermy, aquariums, retail shelves, boats, hunting and fishing equipment, ATVs, and more surround you.
Listen to the Water Fall in Quiet Reflection
City of Fountains
You can’t go far in Kansas City without seeing a decorative fountain. Referred to as the City of Fountains, 48 eye-catching water displays are throughout the city. The first fountains were designed in the late 1800s.
In early April, residents celebrate Greater Kansas City Fountain Day. Events, artists, and vendors host events at various fountains in the city.
Watch Super Bowl Champions Win
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
I’m assuming you’re a Chiefs fan if you’re reading about bucket list Missouri experiences, so if you haven’t attended a Kansas City Chiefs home game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (1 Arrowhead Drive) and shouted louder than you’d though possible for the team, you haven’t lived.
Add it to your must-have experiences. Tailgate before the game for the ultimate experience.
BONUS IDEA! Ponder History-Making Decisions at a Center for Trade
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site
When you experience a guided one-hour tour of the First Missouri State Capital State Historic Site (200 S. Main Street) in St. Charles, you’re standing in the very place where the state’s first legislators met and made history-making decisions.
St. Charles was a center for trade, so the town’s center wanted it to become a capital city. Governor McNair signed a bill confirming its status in 1820, and legislators met there the following year to debate states’ and enslaved people’s rights.
If you can’t get enough of Missouri adventures, I recommend you Make the Most of a Weekend Visit to Weston.
It wasn’t easy narrowing down a list to only 100 things to do. I thought to myself, “Who would need this book?” I wrote it as a resource for visitors to Wichita, long-time residents, and newcomers. Actually, the book features more than 100 things to do, as I’ve also bonus lists and insider tips.
People love the book! It earned 1st place in the Kansas Professional Communicators’ 2023 Communications Contest in the Adult, Nonfiction category. The judge wrote, “What a delightful book. the one-page descriptions really work, and your voice sings as your love of the venues shines through.”
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