Unique Things to Do in Missouri
Missouri is that unassuming state tucked away in America's Midwest.
Missouri felt layered. There was the surface, a hum of small towns, winding roads, and architectural pride, but then there were the deeper moments: 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.
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.
After the tour, I stopped at Early Bird Breakfast Pub in Springfield for something hearty. I ordered a chorizo and avocado scramble with crispy hash browns and a Bloody Mary. The contrast, from underground hush to brunch buzz, felt almost cinematic.
Where I Stayed: I stayed at Hotel Vandivort in downtown Springfield, a chic boutique hotel set in a former Masonic Temple. Warm wood, big windows, and a rooftop bar that gave me a new perspective on the city.
Fantastic Caverns At a Glance
- Location: 4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield, MO 65803
- Vibe: Mystical, quiet, awe-inspiring
- Highlights: Ride-through cave tour, stalactites, ancient formations
- Best Time to Visit: Year-round, it's always a cool 60°F inside
- Cost: Around $30 per adult
- Hours: Daily, 8am–5pm
- Tip: Sit on the outside seat of the tram for the best view and photo angles
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, I walked a few blocks to Corvino Supper Club for a late dinner. I ordered the miso sea bass and a glass of Grüner Veltliner while a jazz trio played in the background. The evening felt composed, from stage to supper, as if Kansas City had orchestrated it all for me.
Kauffman Center At a Glance
- Location: 1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
- Vibe: Sophisticated, architectural, immersive
- Highlights: Kansas City Symphony, Ballet, Opera, stunning design
- Best Time to Visit: Evening performances, especially weekends
- Cost: Varies by event; symphony tickets start around $30
- Hours: Box office open daily; performance times vary
- Tip: Arrive early to enjoy a pre-show cocktail and admire the panoramic views
Rolling through the Ozarks on the Branson Scenic Railway
The Branson Scenic Railway 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.
Branson Scenic Railway At a Glance
- Location: 206 E Main St, Branson, MO 65616
- Vibe: Nostalgic, unhurried, panoramic
- Highlights: Ozark views, dome cars, historical narration
- Best Time to Visit: Fall for foliage or during the special Christmas train rides
- Cost: Around $30 for adults
- Hours: Departure times vary by season; check ahead
- Tip: Request a dome car seat when booking, it’s worth it
Making unexpected moves at the World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame 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 I Stayed: I stayed at The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta, just a short drive away, elegant, classic, and walking distance to Forest Park. It grounded the cerebral energy with a touch of glamour.
World Chess Hall of Fame At a Glance
- Location: 4652 Maryland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
- Vibe: Intellectual, surprising, artistic
- Highlights: Rotating exhibits, historic chess sets, giant outdoor chess piece
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays for fewer crowds
- Cost: Free admission; donations encouraged
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, noon–5pm
- Tip: Check the current exhibit calendar, it’s often more art-forward than you’d expect
Touching the edge at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) St. Louis felt like a blank canvas, raw, open, and pulsing with possibility. Inside the industrial space, exhibits changed with the seasons, and during my visit, they were bold: neon sculptures, immersive video, paintings that made me lean in. I stood in front of one installation, a mirrored hallway lit in pulses, and thought, “This is how it feels to step inside someone else’s imagination.”
CAM doesn’t hold your hand, it invites you to make meaning. There are no permanent collections, just a rotating cast of provocative voices. It was the kind of space that made me feel energized and slightly off balance in the best way.
After exploring, I walked a block to Turn Restaurant for brunch-style comfort food. Their cheddar grits and sweet potato pancakes were warm, slightly rebellious, and exactly on theme.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis At a Glance
- Location: 3750 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
- Vibe: Edgy, fluid, thought-provoking
- Highlights: Rotating exhibits, experimental media, minimalist space
- Best Time to Visit: Opening weekends or quiet weekday afternoons
- Cost: Free admission
- Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm
- Tip: Stop by the gift shop, it’s one of the most thoughtfully curated I’ve seen
Walking with wisdom at George Washington Carver National Monument
The George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri, felt more like a pilgrimage than a sightseeing stop. Tucked into the rolling Ozark landscape, it was the birthplace of a man whose curiosity shaped the world. As I walked the nature trail through tall grasses and wildflowers, I thought, “He must have wandered these same paths with a mind wide open.”
Inside the visitor center, exhibits told Carver’s story, not just as a scientist, but as an artist, teacher, and deeply spiritual thinker. His sketches of plants and poetic quotes lined the walls. I lingered by a preserved one-room schoolhouse and tried to imagine what it was like for a young Black boy in 19th-century Missouri to dream so boldly. The place was quiet, respectful, and deeply moving.
After the walk, I stopped for a simple lunch at Club 1201 in nearby Joplin. A grilled vegetable wrap with sweet potato fries and an iced tea felt just right, nourishing and grounding after such a thoughtful morning.
Where I Stayed: I spent the night at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Joplin, a clean and quiet spot where I could reflect, journal, and look out at the stars Carver once studied by candlelight.
George Washington Carver National Monument At a Glance
- Location: 5646 Carver Rd, Diamond, MO 64840
- Vibe: Reflective, historic, serene
- Highlights: Nature trail, visitor center, historical exhibits, statue
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for wildflowers and mild weather
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Daily, 9am–5pm
- Tip: Don’t rush, Carver’s legacy is best absorbed slowly, like his process
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. I wanted to sit longer with the history instead of just moving past it.
Plan your Old Courthouse visit:
- Location: Downtown St. Louis, Missouri (part of Gateway Arch National Park)
- Vibe: Historic, solemn, weighty
- Highlights: Dred Scott trial courtroom, exhibits on Civil Rights and women’s suffrage, restored dome murals
- Best Time to Visit: Year-round; weekdays quieter
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Daily, typically 8am–4:30pm
Closing Thoughts
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.
