Unique Things to Do in Missouri

I love how Missouri offers the best mix of big-city attractions, small-town charm, and outdoor adventures. It’s the kind of place where you can explore history, culture, and natural beauty all in one trip.

Missouri felt layered. There was the surface, a hum of small towns, winding roads, and architectural pride, but then there were the deeper moments. I enjoyed echoes in a cave, strings soaring through a performance hall, train tracks humming beneath my seat. It was a state that asked me to look closer. And when I did, I found stories tucked into every hillside and corner.

So if you’re planning a visit, think about what excites you most: music, history, food, or outdoor adventure. For me, Missouri is one of the best and most unique states to explore, an underrated favorite that always delivers memorable experiences.

Best Things to Do in Missouri

Riding through the earth at Fantastic Caverns

Fantastic Caverns was unlike anything I’d done before. Instead of hiking or squeezing through narrow passages with a flashlight, I climbed aboard a red tram that rolled gently into the dark. The cave opened around us, cool, cathedral-like, with formations older than memory. As we moved through chambers lit softly from below, I thought, “This feels like time is standing still, just long enough for me to catch up.”

The guide pointed out stalactites and soda straws, explained how water and time sculpted the stone. But what moved me most was the silence, the kind that made you listen harder. In one cavern, the guide dimmed the lights. Total darkness. Absolute stillness. It was eerie and comforting all at once.

Where to Stay: Check into Hotel Vandivort ($213) in downtown Springfield, a chic boutique hotel set in a former Masonic Temple. Enjoy city views from big windows, and a rooftop bar.

Soaking up elegance at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City looked like something out of a dream, gleaming metal curves rising into the sky like a series of sails. Inside, it was even more stunning. I arrived early for the symphony, found my seat beneath a sea of warm wood and soft lighting, and thought, “Some places are built to elevate us.”

The music started, and everything else fell away. The acoustics were flawless, every note landing like it was meant just for me. I let my eyes wander during the slower pieces, up to the soaring ceilings, out through the glass façade to the city below. Art met architecture here in the best possible way.

After the performance, you can go to Corvino Supper Club for a late dinner.

Rolling through the Ozarks on the Branson Scenic Railway

The Branson Scenic Railway ($69.14 Adult and Child) was pure Americana, from the vintage train cars to the slow rhythm of steel on steel. I boarded in the heart of Branson and sank into a plush booth seat, sunlight catching on the polished brass. As we pulled away, I leaned back and thought, “Sometimes the best way to see a place is to let it come to you.”

The ride curved through tunnels and over trestles, into the folds of the Ozark Mountains. A guide pointed out landmarks and told stories of the region’s mining days and Civil War skirmishes. I wandered between cars, some with domed glass ceilings, and felt like I’d stepped into another time. It was slow travel in the best sense: time to notice, time to breathe.

When we returned, I found a seat at Farmhouse Restaurant just off the main strip and ordered the chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and cream gravy. Simple, hearty, and exactly what my train-riding soul needed.

Making unexpected moves at the World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame (free) in St. Louis caught me off guard, in the best way. I walked in expecting strategy and trophies, but what I found was a space full of art, intellect, and playfulness. There were oversized chess sets and historic boards, but also contemporary exhibits exploring identity, competition, and culture through the lens of the game. Standing in front of a painting of Bobby Fischer, I thought, “This isn’t just about chess, it’s about how we think.”

The vibe was quiet and curious. Upstairs, I admired sets carved from bone, wood, and glass, each one telling a different story. And outside, I couldn’t miss the world’s largest chess piece standing tall in the courtyard, as if guarding the mind palace inside.

I walked just around the corner to Kaldi’s Coffee afterward for a light lunch. A turkey and cranberry sandwich with arugula, paired with an oat milk latte, gave me the brain food I didn’t know I needed.

Where to Stay: I stayed at The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta is just a short drive away. It's elegant, classic, and walking distance to Forest Park.

The Old Courthouse, St. Louis

I walked beneath the high dome of the Old Courthouse and thought, “These walls once decided who counted as human.” The echo of my footsteps on the marble floor felt small compared to the weight of history here.

In the 1840s and 1850s, this was where Dred and Harriet Scott fought for their freedom. The ruling against them (declaring African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue) propelled the nation toward Civil War. Standing there, I felt the gravity of a courtroom that shaped both suffering and change.

I looked up at the murals painted across the dome. The artwork was bright and expansive, but underneath it I could still feel the tension of those trials. It reminded me that beauty and injustice often coexist in the same spaces.

My highlights? I sat in the old courtroom pews, the wood polished smooth by time. The air carried a faint mustiness of paper and plaster, and I tried to imagine the Scotts waiting here, hoping the law might finally see their humanity. Later, I walked outside into the Missouri sun, the Arch rising nearby like a promise that the story of freedom was still being written.

A downside? I found myself wishing for more time in the restored rooms in the Old Courthouse. I wanted to sit longer with the history instead of just moving past it.

Defiance Ridge Vineyards in Missouri

We drove west from St. Louis, less than an hour along rolling roads lined with fields and patches of forest. As we neared Defiance, the hills rose gently, and the vineyards spread out like green ribbons across the landscape.

My plan for the day was easy: relax among the vines, enjoy a meal with a view, and take in the calm rhythm of Missouri’s wine country.

Defiance Ridge felt unhurried and open, terraces overlooking the hills, rows of vines catching the afternoon light, a sense that time stretched differently here. The breeze carried the earthy scent of grapes and soil, mingled with herbs from the kitchen garden nearby.

I stood on the patio, looking out over the valley, and thought, “This is how a day slows down.”

I enjoyed walking the paths near the vineyard before sitting down for lunch. The air was warm, the leaves shifting softly, and the scene felt both rustic and elegant.

A downside? Weekends drew big crowds, and finding a quiet spot on the patio took patience. The atmosphere was still friendly, but if you’re looking for solitude, a weekday is better.

Closing Thoughts About Unique Things to Do in Missouri

Missouri met me with contrast, underground mystery, high art, slow trains, and silent trails. It gave me a rhythm that moved between reflection and revelation, where caves told ancient stories and modern museums asked new questions. What stayed with me most, though, were the moments in between: quiet meals after bold adventures, sunrise light on limestone, and the whisper of wind through tall prairie grass. Missouri doesn’t demand to be discovered, but if you listen, it reveals itself with grace.

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