Missouri’s rolling hills and natural beauty are rivaled only by the warmth of its Midwestern welcome. World-class gardens and golf courses top the list of outdoor diversions. Professional theater, culinary offerings and sports add depth and sparkle to any trip. Missouri history spans its wine country founded by German immigrants to Mark Twain’s famous writings about adventures on the Mississippi River to America’s 33rd president, Harry Truman.
Popular Demand
Sight & Sound Theatres
The story of “David” at Branson’s Sight & Sound Theatres brings to life the epic Bible story of the shepherd boy God chose to be king of Israel. More than 50 professional actors in elaborate costuming and imaginative staging help deliver the powerful message of redemption. Original music inspired by the Psalms, state-of-the-art special effects using strobe lights, high-resolution LED screens and fog and rain captivates audiences. Live horses, camels, sheep and llamas add to the production’s realism. Future shows include “The Miracle of Christmas” during November and December, and 2027 brings “Daniel” to the stage.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
A $30 million renovation of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence completely redesigned the museum, incorporating interactive galleries with abundant photography and film. It tells the fascinating story of America’s 33rd president, starting with Truman’s humble beginnings. Exhibits display childhood memorabilia and personal letters to his wife, Bess, before covering the nearly eight tumultuous years he guided America through World War II to the beginning of the Cold War. The renovation added two galleries and retained the exact replica of Truman’s Oval Office. Through 2026, the exhibit “United We Play” celebrates the Trumans and Kansas City sports.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Forest Park reflects the heartbeat of St. Louis with its Missouri Botanical Garden showcasing lush blooms, a tropical rain forest conservatory, Japanese gardens and more. The Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center incorporates loads of glass and zinc wall panels for a stunning entrance. From spring’s tulips to summer’s bounty and the holidays’ “Garden Glow,” featuring 2 million twinkling lights plus a holiday flower and train show, the garden attracts visitors year-round. Groups can opt for a tram tour, a guided walking tour or exploring founder Henry Shaw’s 1849 Italianate mansion. Sassafras Cafe offers indoor and outdoor seating framing spectacular views.
Up and Coming
150th Anniversary of “Tom Sawyer”
Celebrate the sesquicentennial of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the classic novel published in over 70 languages. The river town of Hannibal inspired Mark Twain’s stories, and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum features eight buildings. Tom’s house, reconstructed from historical photos, sits behind the museum displaying original Norman Rockwell paintings and rare personal artifacts. The Becky Thatcher House lies across the street from Samuel Clemens’ (aka Mark Twain’s) boyhood home. Groups can be greeted by Hannibal’s official “Tom and Becky” in period costumes, schedule a 15-minute talk and guided tour, or see Mark Twain “Live” at the Mark Twain Cave complex, featuring reenactor Jim Waddell as the famous author.
St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park
Slated to open in May 2027, the 425-acre St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park will quadruple the zoo’s footprint. Focusing on conservation breeding and research of endangered and threatened animals, such as Grevy’s zebras, giraffes, rhinos and addax, the $230 million project will showcase immersive guided tours and a zoo museum with cutting-edge technology. Drive-through tours in safari vehicles will take guests into habitats of southern white rhinos, giraffes, antelope and more. Walking paths with no barriers will highlight kangaroos and wallabies. An 11-story observation tower will showcase 360-degree views of the park and the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Current Landing
Anchored by Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium, the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional sports team, Current Landing broadens the city’s sports, entertainment and culinary scene. This 2-acre town square surrounded by upscale residential living adjacent to the Missouri River will host events and entertainment. In the works are more than 10 bars, coffee shops and restaurants. They will range from Italian fine dining spearheaded by a Michelin-starred chef to other nationally recognized and locally acclaimed chefs. Also planned along the Riverfront Promenade are Revel, an upscale sports bar, and Clementine’s Ice Cream, a St. Louis-based micro creamery featuring small-batch flavors, including plant-based vegan and nondairy options.
Overnight Sensations
Big Cedar Lodge
Situated on 4,600 acres near Branson, Big Cedar Lodge reflects the ingenuity of owner Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine. Luxury cabins, cottages, lodge rooms and exclusive spaces have hosted numerous celebrities. Two marinas offer Morris’ newest Tracker boats for rent. Self-guided golf cart tours on Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail pass spectacular rock formations, waterfalls and covered bridges. Cedar Creek Spa boasts a grotto mineral pool and fireplaces in treatment rooms. Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, the resort’s 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, hosts A-list entertainment. Recently, Big Cedar’s six award-winning golf courses earned it USA Today’s designation as the No. 1 Golf Resort in the United States.
Old Kinderhook Resort and Golf Club
A stay at Old Kinderhook Resort in Camdenton feels tucked away thanks to the property’s lush 700-acre Ozark oasis. Accommodations span cottages, multi-bedroom villas and patio homes while the lodge’s 84 guest rooms overlook the beautifully manicured Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course. The par-71 zoysia course challenges with meandering streams, tree-lined greens and a tee shot dropping nearly 100 feet onto a valley fairway. The Trophy Room restaurant and patio overlook several holes, and the full-service Driftwood Spa offers a “Golfer’s Day Pass” allowing use of the steam shower after play. In winter, the resort’s sand volleyball courts transform into the area’s only outdoor ice skating rink.
Memorable Meals
Vintage 1847 Restaurant and Stone Hill Winery
In Hermann, Stone Hill Winery’s Vintage 1847 Restaurant features German specialties in a converted horse barn and carriage house. House favorites include the pork schnitzel and chicken spaetzle. Each April, the “Norton Dinner and 10-Year Vertical Tasting” event sells out quickly. Diners start with a sparkling wine hour in the winery and cellars before tasting through the last 10 vintages of their Norton labels. The tasting is followed by a gourmet multicourse dinner paired with award-winning wines. Half-hour tours of Stone Hill’s cellars showcase the largest series of arched underground cellars in the U.S. and more than 175 years of history.
Logboat Brewing Company
Named the 2026 Midsize Brewery of the Year by the Best of Craft Beer Awards, Logboat Brewing Company has become a Columbia destination or the perfect spot after a University of Missouri football or basketball game. This former meatpacking warehouse in the historic Stockyards District turned full-scale brewery sports a covered upstairs patio. The outdoor beer garden regularly hosts local food trucks, live music and yard games. Creative craft beers range from wheat porters and brews inspired by pale German lagers to seasonal low-carb offerings. Tours of the brewery highlight Logboat’s history, the beer-making and packaging process, and conclude with choice of drink.
