When trying to decide on things to see or do in Missouri, try taking the road less traveled and discover some unique places that you may not see anywhere else. Whether it be historical, exciting, or extremely weird, here are a few attractions that are must-sees to check off your summer bucket list!

1. The City Museum

The City Museum located in St. Louis is an incredible building that is difficult to describe if you haven’t been to experience it yourself. Contradictory to the name, it is not much like a museum at all but more like a 600,000 square foot fun-house attraction. Built in a former International Shoe Company, The City Museum is a giant children’s playground, funhouse, and architectural masterpiece all-in-one. Whether you’re five or thirty-two, I guarantee there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

2. Anheuser-Busch Brewery

This Anheuser-Busch Brewery is the largest and oldest brewery site located in St. Louis alongside the Mississippi River. While taking the complementary tour, you get to observe the seven-step brewery process and visit the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales located in the historical stables. The complementary tour is offered year-round and is a refreshing way to escape the summer heat while also learning about the rich brewing heritage.

3. Crown Center

For those who enjoy a day full of shopping, dining, and entertainment, Crown Center is the place for you. The three-leveled Crown Center shops feature more than 50 shops and restaurants. Theatergoers can enjoy a community oriented show at the Coterie or a musical at the Musical Theater Heritage. Alongside the many shops and restaurants, the center also hosts many children’s exhibits, puppet shows, and multiple other free activities year-round.

4. Silver Dollar City

This 1880’s theme park located in Branson is a thrilling mixture between history and adventure. Home to the world’s most daring wooden roller coaster, this theme park encompasses around 2 acres of family rides for all ages to enjoy. Ride their new roller coaster, Time Traveler and enjoy riding the Mystic River you will get wet on this fun water ride. The World’s Fastest, Steepest & Tallest Spinning Roller Coaster. Alongside the rides and attractions, Silver Dollar City also provides culinary classes, craftsmen demonstrations, dining options, and multiple shows that change throughout the year. With many different entertainment choices, this park is full of fun for the whole family. Get your tickets here.

5. Gateway Arch

One can’t talk about exciting attractions located in Missouri without bringing up the world-famous Gateway Arch. This 630-foot monument in St. Louis is made from stainless steel and is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Near the top of the arch, passengers load onto a tram and ride up to the observation area. The observation area is over 65 feet long and can hold up to around 160 people at a time. The breathtaking view and the enticing ride to the top makes this attraction a definite must do this summer.

6. Lemp Mansion

This historical house in St. Louis was plagued by a series of suicides committed by family members involved in a successful brewing company back in the late 1800’s. The only remaining child of the family, Edwin Lemp, never moved back into the mansion after the series of events which allowed the Lemp Mansion to be made into a restaurant and inn by the Pointer family. The mansion now offers tours, both historical and haunted, murder mystery dinner theatre shows, and yearly Halloween parties.

7. Branson Live Music and Nightlife

Branson, Missouri is commonly known for their huge music scene, but not all of it revolves around Broadway-style stage productions. Once the sun goes down, several of Branson’s nightclubs offer great music and ways to unwind with your favorite drinks or cocktails. Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day in the sun, or dance until dawn, Branson has a wide variety of pubs, nightclubs, and comedy bars to cater to a wide variety of people.

8. Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum

The home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is located on 206-208 Hill Street in Hannibal, Missouri and is the inspiration for many of his stories, including the renowned white picket fence. While wandering through some of his famous novels, children of all ages can ride a raft with Huck and Jim or explore a cave with Tom and Becky. Many of Twain’s memorabilia and personal artifacts are also displayed on site. Enjoy a Mark Twain performance or Music Under the Stars every Thursday night throughout the Summer.

9. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

This breathtaking state park is in the Saint Francois area in the Ozarks and encompasses Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in all of Missouri. This park provides a beautiful, wooded area for hikers and a series of trails that lead through the Ozarks and up the mountain. The park also has a 12-site campground and multiple picnic areas to relax in and enjoy the scenery surrounding the area. While visiting the top of the mountain, make sure to visit the Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri descending Taum Sauk Mountain.

10. Wax Museum of St. Louis

Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum is an oddities sight that you won’t want to miss out on this summer. This wax museum fills three floors, a basement, and a sub-basement of a building that is hundreds of years old. This building involves winding hallways, multiple staircases, and is more like a fun house than an actual museum. The museum’s three floors are devoted to celebrities and historical figures, while the basement and sub-basement is reserved for the Chamber of Horrors. This under-ground collection is gruesome without actors coming in and trying to grab you. If you’re looking for a unique oddity that can’t be found everywhere you go, then definitely check out this roadside collection.

11. Big Surf Waterpark

The Biggest, Fastest, Funnest, Safest, Cleanest, Number One-en-est Family Fun at the Lake of the Ozarks, MO! Voted Missouri’s Best waterpark four years in a row. Catch a wave in their wave pool, go down several fun slides or take a plunge in the Space Bowl. The Space Bowl drops you from a swift slide into a 30-ft wide bowl that spins you ‘round and ‘round until you drop into an 8 foot deep catch pool. It’s a whirling, twirling, thrilling ride. Big Surf Waterpark is fun place to enjoy the water, sun and make memories with your family. Get your season passes or tickets. here.

12. Ozarks Amphitheater

Ozarks Amphitheater, named the “Best Live Music Venue in Missouri”, is located  in the heart of the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.  The amphitheater has recently hosted such well-known headline acts as Alabama, Dwight Yoakam and Jamey Johnson, Lee Brice with more great coming attractions. A concert under the stars at Ozarks Amphitheater is  a great addition to a long summer weekend at the lake. They have the BEST Summer concerts lined up this year. For more information and tickets visit their website here.

13. Aquarium at the Boardwalk

Aquarium at the Boardwalk is one of the newest things to do in Branson, Missouri, and is unlike any other aquarium you’ve visited. First hint – the massive octopus sculpture that greets guests at the front door. It’s modeled after Aquarius, a Giant Pacific Octopus and one of the Aquarium’s exclusive characters. Inside, stroll down the boardwalk and explore ten zones of fish & fun. Get your tickets here.

14. Branson’s Promised Land ZOO

Branson’s Top Rated Animal Attraction is home to some of the coolest animals around! Family owned and operated park. Branson’s Promised Land Zoo gets you CLOSER than ever before with over 75 acres to see sloths, lemurs, and other creatures! For more information and to get tickets visit their website here.

15. Showboat Branson Belle

Showboat Branson Belle is a showboat dinner cruise—on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. Cruise the pristine waters of Table Rock Lake, dine on a scrumptious 3-course meal and be entertained by a lively show! For more information and to grab your tickets visit their website here.

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As we shake off the winter chill, it’s the perfect time to explore the natural beauty Missouri has to offer. We’ve rounded up a few our favorite state parks that are a must-visit this season. Whether you’re a hiker, a photographer, or just someone who loves to picnic under the canopy of fresh blooms, there’s a spot on this list just for you.

From scenic views to exciting outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone. Discover hidden gems and make lasting memories with your loved ones. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Bennett Spring State Park – Dallas, Laclede

The valley that cradles Bennett Spring has created a place of peace and recreation that has welcomed generations of enthusiastic anglers. Bennett Spring State Park is one of Missouri’s earliest state parks and continues today to attract fishermen and nature lovers seeking to make new memories.

More than 100 million gallons of clear, cool water gush from Bennett Spring each day and form a spring branch stocked daily with rainbow trout waiting for lucky fishermen. Fishing may be the main draw, but the park also offers many other amenities such as a dining lodge, campgrounds, cabins and hiking trails. Whether you are a traditional fishing enthusiast or someone seeking a place to relax and refresh, Bennett Spring State Park has what you need to make every trip one to remember.

More Information: Bennett Spring State Park

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park – MIssouri Ozarks, Reynolds

Looking for a unique destination? Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers ancient beauty!

The wilderness qualities and geology of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the surrounding St. Francois Mountains make this park a special place to visit. Its rugged character provides the perfect backdrop for camping, hiking, picnicking, splashing in the shut-ins, exploring nature or just relaxing.

More Information: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

Roaring River State Park – Barry

Roaring River State Park is unique on so many levels!

With a deep, narrow valley surrounded by a striking and rugged landscape, Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. Located in the southwest Ozark hills, Roaring River State Park is one of three state parks stocked with rainbow trout. Eager anglers flock to the park year-round to try and catch their lunker trout.

Hike one their many trails through rugged terrain and find yourself in view of colossal hills above a deep blue spring. More Information: Roaring River State Park

Looking for a place to get a watersports fix? Long Branch State Park’s three boat ramps provide access to sprawling and picturesque Long Branch Lake. For more fun on the water, fishing is popular, and the marina store, swimming beach and day-use area next to the beach are a favorite for families. In addition, the park’s modern campground is a perfect place for overnight stays. The park preserves some of the last savanna and prairie remnants in the Chariton River Hills. Trails through Chariton River Hills Natural Area provide a good way for hikers to see colorful prairie wildflowers and a variety of birds, including red-headed woodpeckers, brown thrashers and indigo buntings.

More Information: Long Branch State Park

Big Oak Tree State Park

A visit to Big Oak Tree State Park is a visit to Missouri as the first explorers saw it. Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height and the soaring trees and marshy terrain transports visitors back to when southeast Missouri was dubbed “Swampeast Missouri.” The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife. Visitors can enjoy the picnic sites and shelters that are shaded by trees that have seen centuries of history. A self-guided boardwalk trail tells the story of this rich landscape.

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Magic, Music and Tributes Galore will Thrill New and Returning Visitors
to America’s Top Live Music Show Destination

BRANSON, Mo. – Like flowers bursting into bloom, new shows blossom each spring on several Branson stages. This season, theaters will be popping with musical extravaganzas, dazzling acrobats and masterful feats of magic, created by some of the most exciting stars of the entertainment world.

First-time visitors and returning fans alike will love this spring’s attractions, which offer entertainment for all ages. March brings the debuts of Jay Osmond Live, of the famed family band, the Osmonds, and his son, Eric; Aaron Wayne’s Sweet Dreams comedy hypnosis show; and Dustin Tavella, Now I See, featuring the America’s Got Talent-winning magician, musician and storyteller. All three can be seen at the Reza Live Theatre, 645 Missouri Highway 165.

In April, audiences will thrill(er) to Michael Knight’s MJ the Illusion: Re-living the King of Pop, billed not as a tribute show, but as “a Michael Jackson concert experience.” It also takes place at the Reza Live Theatre. Southern Gospel Sundays, featuring Michael and Jen Frost and their daughter, Jael, with pianist Clayton Watson, will begin at the end of April at the Americana Theatre, 2905 W. 76 Country Blvd.

May brings gravity-defying, electrifying feats of body-bending acrobatics by the cast of CIRQUE-Electric Dreams, from Cirque Dreams, a Cirque du Soleil subsidiary, debuting at King’s Castle Theatre, 2701 W. 76 Country Blvd., while the Pepsi Legends Theater, formerly the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater (at 1600 W. 76 Country Blvd.), debuts The Man in Black, A Tribute to Johnny Cash, with Shawn Parker as the iconic country star.

Another event sure to excite audiences is the return of El Mago Pop, the onstage persona created by world-renowned illusionist Antonio Díaz. Díaz took Branson by storm last year when he acquired the former Mel Tillis Theater, now the Branson Magic Theater (at 2527 East State Highway 248), and debuted his amazing feats of illusion, wrapped in an immersive experience of special effects, comedy and music. Netflix subscribers may be familiar with Díaz’s two popular shows, Magic for Humans and La Gran Ilusión.

Of course, fabulous longtime favorites will be back for more music, more laughs and more ways to rock audiences’ worlds. For a full rundown of Branson’s live entertainment offerings, go to explorebranson.com.

For more information about Jay Osmond Live, playing through Sept. 30, or to purchase tickets, click here. For more about Aaron Wayne’s family-friendly Sweet Dreams production, playing through Dec. 31, click here. For more about Dustin Tavella, Now I See, playing through Dec. 30, click here.

Information about MJ the Illusion: Re-living the King of Pop, airing through Dec. 18, can be found here. Find info about and tickets for Southern Gospel Sundays, playing through Dec. 8, here. Information/tickets for CIRQUE-Electric Dreams, soaring through Sept. 1, is available here. For more about El Mago Pop, onstage through June 29, click here. For information and tickets to The Man in Black, A Tribute to Johnny Cash, playing select dates through Aug. 29, click here.

About Branson

Branson is a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination — and an incredible value — nestled amid three pristine lakes in Missouri’s beautiful Ozark Mountains. Attractions include a historic downtown, an entertainment district lined with theaters featuring over 100 live performances, an internationally recognized theme park, fascinating museums, several shopping areas and a full range of dining options. Lodging offerings include hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks and campgrounds, with easy access to meeting, sports and conference facilities. Branson’s convenient location is less than one day’s drive for one-third of America’s population; low-cost flights to Branson Airport (BKG flybranson.com) and nearby Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF flyspringfield.com ) are also available. Call 1-877-BRANSON for help planning your next vacation, sporting event, convention or reunion. Learn more at explorebranson.com.

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