Missouri

Ride a tram to the top of this 192-meter-high monument on the bank of the Mississippi River. Tour the park’s history museum with exhibits providing insights into westward expansion, Native Americans and early explorers. Take a riverboat cruise at sunset for impressive views of the gleaming archway and the St. Louis skyline.

This 1880s-inspired theme park in the Ozark Mountains near Branson boasts thrill rides, including Time Traveler – billed as the world’s fastest, steepest and tallest spinning roller coaster. Watch craftsmen demonstrate fading art forms like blacksmithing, glassblowing, pottery and wood carving. In summer, enjoy the slides, wave pool and lazy river at White Water, Silver Dollar City’s water park. Top it off with a dinner cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle, featuring live performances and views of Table Rock Lake.

Explore an often-overlooked chapter of professional sports history, Negro Leagues Baseball, and the rich history of Black Americans in baseball. Located in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the museum highlights some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, including Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige. Exhibits examine the USA’s segregated past and how baseball helped break down racial barriers.

Learn about animals from around the world at this immersive museum in Springfield. See detailed dioramas depicting some of the globe’s most extreme habitats, and marvel at marine life in the expansive aquarium. For an additional cost, reserve a spot on the Out to Sea Feeding Frenzy dive experience to share the water with sharks, barracudas and goliath grouper.

Stretching across the northern part of Missouri, Highway 36 is known as The Way of American Genius. The route connects individuals and inventions that embody creativity, innovation and ingenuity. Visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, the Pony Express National Museum in St. Joseph and more.

Bike or hike along the Missouri River through historic wine country and past trailside towns on the longest developed rail-trail in the USA. Twenty-six trailheads and four restored depots provide easy access to the 386-kilometer route. Enjoy bed-and-breakfast accommodations, restaurants, wineries and breweries along the way.

Immerse yourself in nature at Big Cedar Lodge, a wilderness resort deep in the Ozark Mountains. Choose from various accommodation options like lodge rooms, log cabins, cottages, camping cabins and glamping tents. Explore the property’s incredible amenities and attractions including multiple restaurants, a spa, four heated saltwater pools, the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail, the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, and five golf courses – including one designed by Tiger Woods.

This legendary Kansas City barbecue spot built by Arthur Bryant, nicknamed the “King of Ribs,” dates to 1930. Whether you’re craving sliced pork, beef brisket, burnt ends or ribs, the meat served here is smoked to perfection over hickory and oak. Be sure to top it off with some of Arthur Bryant’s famous sauce. Bonus: You can buy a bottle (or several) to take home.

Trace the story of the blues, a distinctly American music genre with deep roots in St. Louis. See interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind blues artifacts, and time your visit to enjoy live music, films, lectures and other special programs.

The iconic St. Louis brewery, founded in the 1850s, is a piece of living U.S. history. Take a beermaster tour, visit the famous Clydesdale horses and sample its signature beers straight from the finishing cellars.