Popular Tourist Attractions In Missouri You Must Visit

     In Missouri you will find many wonderful destination and attractions where you can relax, learn, explore and have a great time. Missouri is truly the central heart of America and has beautiful hills, lively cities and a huge outdoor wonderland to explore. With a state so diverse, ranging from the major metropolitan areas of Kansas City and St. Louis to the Ozark Mountains, the clear lakes and streams, the wine country and so much more, it can be fun experience to spend vacation in Missouri.

     Here are the most popular tourist attraction in Missouri

 

1. Gateway Arch, St Louis

     This arch is one of the country's most recognizable icons. Built as a reminder to the times when the Western frontier was still being forged, the arch towers at 192 meters, imitating the shape of the canvas arches typically found on covered wagons. This is a massive, man-made monument inspired by the western expansion of the USA by pioneers.

     This was a daring and expensive project in the Sixties; completed at the end of October in 1965. It looks as new today as it did then. St Louis lies right on the border with Illinois and is a beautiful city. The waterfront of the mighty river dominates and you simply cannot come here without viewing the arch, particularly at night when lit up. Trams take you right up inside and over the top of the arch, giving incredible views for over thirty miles and are accessible to all.

2. Branson

     In the far southeast of the state, Branson has become renowned as a live theatre and music destination. Branson city is a beautiful place to visit in the spring, summer, fall and winter. There are many things to do in Branson, including great live shows. Stars line the 76 Strip like the night sky. There are waxworks, museums, theme parks and so much more. But its not a built up purely urban however. Parks, caverns, lakes, caves and rivers make it a great outdoor destination too. You can enjoy golf and fishing, spas and boating in Branson.

     Branson is also home to the world's largest museum attractions, The Titanic Museum. This attraction opened in April 2006 and is a half scale replica of the original Titanic ship as far as the second smoke stack. Visitors enter through an iceberg and exhibits offer an up close, hands on look at almost every facet of the ship. Visitors can shovel coal for the massive furnaces, touch an iceberg, visit first and second class cabins, walk on the promenade deck, and meet the Captain.

3. Downtown Kansas City

     Kansas City is the biggest city in Missouri. Its downtown has been recognised as amongst the very best in the USA by prestigious travel magazines. It's not hard to see why. Beautiful landscaping, parks and fountains make a great setting for culture, the arts, great restaurants and shopping. Kansas City has reinvented itself, renovated and clean itself up considerably over the last decade.

    You can now enjoy the Power & Light District: centreing around the Art Deco building, headquarters to the Power & Light Company, it's a bespoke entertainment area. You will now find arenas, ballrooms, a centre for the performing arts, high end shopping arcades and boutique hotels. There are some great examples of modern architecture and it is gratifying to see this new city emerge.

4. Jefferson City

     If you history lover you must visit this city. Jefferson City is the state capital of missouri, named after the third U.S. President. Flanking the Missouri River banks, everything is within reach of the river. The State Capitol Building sits proudly on the shores. The fertile floodplains also make for superb wine cultivation. But most of all, this is a place for the history buffs. Lewis and Clark came through this plateau; the Osage's had inhabited it for centuries before; it was a Union stronghold in the Civil War and James Earl Roy was a prisoner in the penitentiary here. There are so many historic walking itineraries here, you can easily lose yourself in history for a few days.

5. Lake of the Ozarks

     The Lake of the Ozarks is an inland beach resort of the finest kind, with everything laid on. The water options are almost endless. You can take a power boat, wake board, windsurf and sail. Or just swim in the clean waters from sandy beaches. There is a huge variety of accommodation - 7,700 beds - and an almost bewildering number of antique shops and malls to browse.

6. Forest Park, St Louis

     This park opened to the public in 1876 and is one of the country's foremost urban parks. With more than 1200 acres, Forest Park is bound by Lindell, Skinker, and Kingshighway Boulevards and Oakland Avenue. Forest Park is home to mulitple attractions including the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Steinberg Memorial Skating Rink which offers both roller and ice skating.

7. Fulton, Missouri

     This central Missouri town is home to Westminister College and is the site of the Winston Churchill Memorial and LIbrary. This is where Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister and hero of World War II, made his "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946. That historic speech predicted the Cold War.

8. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

     Just south of Branson on the Arkansas stateline, is 10,000 acres of what is widely agreed to be the best of the Ozarks countryside, with canyons, rivers, woodlands and mountains. In this lush landscape, you can explore on horseback, by ATV, on foot, by bicycle, on a boat, or with a line in your hand. Take a log cabin or camp to extend your stay. Stroll or segway past waterfalls and through forests.

9. Precious Moments

     In Carthage, Missouri, in the southwest corner of the state, the Precious Moments Inspirational Park is another must-visit location. The complex includes a wedding island where actual weddings are perfomed, a visitors center with extensive gift shop and fine dining, and the Chapel. The Chapel features thirty stained glass windows and many murals, all depicting the Precious Moments figures.

10. Missouri Rhineland

     Missouri Rhineland, a fertile area settled by German immigrants in the 1800's along the Missouri River. Located almost midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, the Missouri Rhineland is a rich area of the state. Vineyards cover many of the rugged hills that rise from the Missouri River Valley. The centerpiece of this crowning jewel of Missouri's diverse culture is the small city of Hermann, Missouri. Hermann is a German town and it is filled with architecture that makes visitors feel as if they are in the Old World The picturesque town is home to many bed and breakfast inns, each unique and comfortable.