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
Countries
The 10 Best Outdoor Activities in Missouri, United States
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. Ozark Trail
2. Al Foster Memorial Trail
3. Big Joel's Safari
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 78 reviews
Walk through petting zoo and educational park where guests can get up close and personal with over 60 species of animals. Guests can feed and touch a majority of the animals at the park. Big Joel's Safari also has a gift shop with snacks, novelties, and handmade gifts. Big Joel's Safari also offers a playground area, camel/ Pony rides (weekends), parakeet feeding experiences, and more. Birthday parties also available with private room. Guided tours and fieldtrips available for schools, scouts, camps, etc. See website for more information. Our 2019 season ends November 3rd. Normal days of operation are Thursday-Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 5pm. We will be open Mondays 9 am to 5pm Memorial Day thru Labor Day!
Reviewed By shelly_t0
I’ve got to repeat my title here, because it truly was such an amazing and fun time! I didn’t know what to expect but WOW. My boyfriend and I were passing through and decided to stop by because we love animals, learning about them and being able to really interact with them. For COVID precautions, there were plenty of hand washing stations around and social distancing; we went around noon and there weren’t too many people so social distancing was easy. The place was a lot bigger than expected with way more animals that I didn’t expect to be there - like the gorgeous white peacock, among many other peacocks! The large feed cup truly was large (not like when places advertise large and it isn’t actually a large or it’s filled halfway) and you can feed almost every animal there, from camels to deer to alpacas. We had a blast and it was definitely worth visiting!
4. Bluff View Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By I4864MVlaurap - Eureka, United States
easy walk to the scenic overlook, wish there were signs though talking about the history of the place. There are ruins from something so it would be interesting to know what used to be there.
5. Wildwood Community Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By rogersjcfamily - Wildwood, United States
Great friendly playground for kids. New pavilions are nice, as well as the large one with restrooms. Excellent, new long walking paths.
6. RoKC
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
RoKC is a locally established, world class, community focused climbing gym just North of the river in North Kansas City. RoKC’s mission is to bring a state of the art climbing facility to the Kansas City community, and provide a fun, adventurous environment, capable of teaching and challenging individuals of all ages and abilities.
Reviewed By 886bennettp
ROKC is a great addition to Kansas City. Just 5 minutes north of downtown, this rock climbing gym is the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon. Whether you have experience or not, this gym is fashioned for every level: children love it, the unfit/fit alike love it, the climbing expert, etc. Don't miss an opportunity to go to ROKC if you are in KC, MO.
7. Trail of Tears
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By madrecj - Grand Marais, United States
What a beautiful campground right by the Mississippi River. We loved the trains going by (not too many) and watching the barges on the river. We took a fantastic hike in the park too. And be sure to visit the memorial site.
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. Kansas City Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,518 reviews
Explore the Kansas City Zoo, with more than 1,700 animals on 202 acres, it's the most affordable family fun for kids of all ages. For weekend activities and events, visit the Zoo website.
Reviewed By VickiK2739 - Kansas City, United States
The Zoo has recently upgraded their exhibits. They have tremendous animal displays and a new Penguin house with Penguins
10. Katy Trail State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Welcome to Katy Trail State Park, the longest developed rail-trail in the country. Whether you are a bicyclist, walker, equestrian, nature lover or history buff, the trail offers opportunities for recreation, a place to enjoy nature and an avenue to discover the past. The park, built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), is 240 miles long and runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way.
Reviewed By showmemo61 - Jefferson City, United States
We visited the Katy Trail State Park near Jefferson City. The trail is used for biking and hiking. From the trail-head at north Jefferson City there is a trail to Missouri's capitol city across the Missouri River Pedestrian - Bike Bridge. We walked the trail for an hour enjoying the birds, forest, and wild flowers. Next time we will walk the other direction for different views.
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