We spent the Fall Break week exploring the Ozarks in southern Missouri. After flying to St. Louis Lambert International Airport, we drove along the former path of Route 66 to St. Robert where we walked through the Neon Sign Park and visited the Uranus Fudge Factory.
We met up with grandparents in Springfield where we all toured the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium at the Bass Pro Shops headquarters. We also made our first ever visit to a Buc-ee's Travel Center in Springfield and we all enjoyed a meal at Lambert's Café (where the kids especially enjoyed the throwed rolls).
Several days were spent in Branson visiting many of the tourist attractions in the area. At Silver Dollar City we rode several of the rides and toured Marvel Cave (which felt nice on an unseasonably hot 90 degree day). Unfortunately, Elizabeth got sick and spent most of the day sleeping. The next day we rode the Branson Scenic Railroad north to Galena, then returned to Branson Landing where we watched the Water and Fire Show, did some shopping, had a nice lunch at the Black Oak Grill, and Benjamin and Elizabeth rode Parakeet Pete's Zipline across Lake Taneycomo. We also enjoyed the show (and the dinner) at Dolly Parton's Stampede, took a spin on the Branson Ferris Wheel, and sailed on the Silver Dollar City Showboat on Table Rock Lake. The highlight of our time in the Branson area was visiting the Top of the Rock and driving golf carts along the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail. This incredibly scenic trail was packed full of waterfalls, overlooks, canyons, and caves, and was enjoyed by everyone.
Next, we headed east to the town of West Plains where we spent a day visiting various units of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways: Big Spring, Blue Spring, Rocky Falls, and Alley Mill. Almost 290 million gallons of water flow daily from Big Spring, making it one of the (if not the) largest springs in the country. Blue Spring is 310 feet deep and one of the deepest springs in the country, while the beautiful Alley Spring and Mill are one of the most photographed places in Missouri.
Heading north back to St. Louis, we stopped in the town of Rolla to view the Frisco Steam Engine #1501 display in Schuman Park, then spent an afternoon at the National Museum of Transportation. The museum was having a special Halloween event and the kids especially enjoyed riding the trolley and mini train. Our final meal of the trip was a great BBQ dinner at Sugarfire Smoke House in Valley Park. Before flying home from St. Louis, we made a quick visit to the Puzzle Warehouse to see their impressive selection of puzzles.
On the western side of Missouri, Benjamin and Tiffany visited the Pony Express Stables and Headquarters in St. Joseph. They also saw the house where outlaw Jesse James was shot. In Kansas City, they toured the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The impressive museum has the world’s most comprehensive collection from World War I and includes airplanes, tanks, a glass suspension bridge over a poppy field, life-size trenches, a portion of the Panthéon de la Guerre painting, and a 217-foot observation tower.
Leaving Kansas City, they drove across Missouri to Jefferson City where they explored the grounds of the state capitol. Situated along the Missouri River, the capitol has many statues and memorials, and there were some beautiful fall colors.
Continuing across Missouri, they next visited St. Louis where they toured the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. After touring the home of the 18th President of the United States (called White Haven), they drove downtown to explore the newly re-designated Gateway Arch National Park. They enjoyed spending time on a beautiful fall day seeing the Archway, the Old Courthouse (where the Dred Scott case was handled), the Mississippi River, and the new underground visitor center and museum beneath the Archway.
The final stop in Missouri was the historic river town of Hannibal (the boyhood home of author Mark Twain). Benjamin and Tiffany stopped and walked around town, seeing many of the locations from Twain’s stories including Becky Thatcher’s House, the J.M. Clemens Justice of the Peace Office, Grant’s Drugstore, and more. They also climbed the 245 stairs to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse to get a view of the Mississippi River before heading back into town for some cheesecake at Java Jive and a nice stroll along the riverfront.
Over the Columbus Day weekend we flew to Kansas City International Airport, then drove to Independence where we toured the Truman home at Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. We also visited George Washington Carver National Monument near Joplin and toured Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield. Before leaving Missouri, we took a scenic drive south to Branson, the Ozarks, and Soaring River State Park.
Benjamin traveled to Kansas City with his mother and sister where they visited Worlds of Fun amusement park and toured an exhibition of artifacts from the Titanic which were on display at Kansas City Union Station.
During the Independence Day week, we drove through Missouri to attend a concert in St. Louis. Along the way we stopped at Zona Rosa in Kansas City for some shopping and a nice dinner at Fat Fish Blue. We also made a pit stop in Kingdom City to shop for souvenirs at Nostalgiaville and Ozarkland.
In St. Louis, the concert was canceled due to poor weather, but we were still able to tour the Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Zoo, and what was then called the Jefferson Westward Expansion National Memorial (now called Gateway Arch National Park). We rode the capsules to the top of the arch but because of the weather, there was not much of a view.
Driving back west across Missouri we stopped in Independence and toured the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.