11 Most Hospitable Towns In Missouri
Hospitality is one of the best features any town should prioritize when welcoming newcomers or new residents, and in the state of Missouri, you will be entreated and accommodated by the most hospitable towns in Missouri. Each of these friendly and heartwarming villages not only offers an atmosphere of hospitality for all but also promotes unique cultural, historical, and natural attractions in the state, renowned for having more than 6,000 known caves. On the Missouri River are small towns like Boonville, Hermann, and Arrow Rock that preserve the diverse and compelling historical narratives that have shaped the state of Missouri in unexpected ways.
Meanwhile, on the Mississippi River are towns like Kimmswick and Hannibal that tell their own unique tales of the past. There are other destinations beyond these famous riverways, like Branson with its various amusement parks and museums and Carthage with its promotions of maple. In any case, you will not regret your adventures and experiences in the most hospitable towns in Missouri.
Boonville
It is both a boon and a benefit for all tourists to vacation at the hospitable small town of Boonville that sits beside the Missouri River. In 1810, Daniel Boon’s sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan, were the first to establish a residence in this town so named after their famous pioneering and trailblazing father. During the War of 1812, Boonville was fortified into an important fort and a trading post on the river and the Santa Fe Trail. Only less than 30 minutes from the city of Columbia, Boonville is a charming and friendly getaway that hosts the annual Big Muddy Folk Festival, a two-day celebration featuring traditional, ethnic, bluegrass, and folk music for two days in the month of April.
In September, meanwhile, you can attend Boonville’s longest-running festival, the Steam Engine Festival, which showcases a tractor parade, tractor pulls, field demonstrations, blacksmithing experiences, lumber sawing, and other historical demonstrations. For a more static and convenient approach to the locomotive past, you can tour the Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum, the largest and most impressive collection of antique Mitchell motorcars and wagons in the world. Finally, in fine lodgings like the Hotel Frederick and the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville, you can find all sorts of accommodations afforded to all newcomers to Boonville.
Hermann
About midway between the big cities of Jefferson City and Saint Louis on the Missouri River, the welcoming small town of Hermann entreats newcomers with a plethora of cultural attractions. Since Hermann is dedicated to preserving its cultural heritage from ancestral Germany in Europe, you can experience several yearly events and festivals that celebrate the Deutch heritage thriving in Hermann. Among them is the annual Hermann Wurstfest during the month of March, when professional meat processors offer the best of the worst for those who enjoy the savory and scrumptious taste of German sausages.
Those with more antiquated appetites can attend the Hermann Antique Show in April when dozens of antique dealers sell their wares at the Historic Festhalle at the Inn at Hermannhof. Because Hermann is located within the Missouri Rhineland, which is famous for being a prosperous wine country for wine connoisseurs to enjoy, you can tour a handful of exquisite wineries in Hermann, like the Hermannhof Winery, and during the Stone Hill Winery Cellar Tours. Hermann is certainly a German village full of charm and hospitality, so give yourself this opportunity to cherish this town’s friendly neighborhoods and attractions.
Kimmswick
Founded in 1859 and located in America’s Heartland on the banks of the Mississippi River, Kimmswick is a laidback and lovely small town beside the state border of Illinois. One of its top attractions is the Anheuser Estate Park, also known as Fredmar Farms, the ancestral home of Fred and Mabel Ruth Anheuser, who had connections with the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, the producer of the world-famous Budweiser Beer. Another historic location in Kimmswick is the Mastodon State Historic Site, where one can see an extensive collection of Pleistocene-age fossil deposits and other prehistoric marvels that were unearthed in Kimmswick.
In June, newcomers can attend the annual Strawberry Festival for fresh and delicious strawberry pickings, while in October, you can participate in the equally loveable Apple Butter Festival for a different sort of treat. Only about 24 miles south of Saint Louis, you will not regret your historic and leisurely vacation in the hospitable town of Kimmswick.
Arrow Rock
Approximately 20 miles away from Boonville on the Missouri River, the historic small town of Arrow Rock is part of the National Historic Landmark Arrow Rock Historic District. The bluffs that characterize the town and area were a significant landmark for the Native Americans, explorers, and early westward travelers since the bluffs themselves contained flint and limestone, which the Native Americans once used to craft arrowheads and other tools. Arrow Rock first appeared on a 1732 French map as “pierre a fleche,” literally translated as “rock of arrows,” and during the War of 1812, many immigrants from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia poured into “Boone’s Lick Country” in what is now the Boone's Lick State Historic Site, so named for the salt spring or “lick” across the Missouri River.
One can learn more about the history of Arrow Rock at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site Visitor Center. Most importantly, you can cherish delicious meals and warm hospitality at the J. Huston Tavern, a traditional American restaurant that thrusts you back into the homely and simplistic past of early pioneers. Arrows often point you toward the right destination, and Arrow Rock is certainly one of the finest and most hospitable destinations worth visiting in Missouri.
Hannibal
The hospitable town of Hannibal, about 25 minutes from Monroe City, is famous for being the boyhood home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, more popularly known as Mark Twain. At the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, you can see the childhood home he grew up in, as well as his typewriter and writing desk, where he produced many of his transcendental stories. Other locations, like the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse and Mark Twain Riverboat, pay homage to the celebrated author in various forms, the latter specifically offering scenic riverfront trips and tours across the Mississippi River.
The most promising landmark of all is the Mark Twain Cave, a site that not only served as an inspiration for a few of his novels but also a reputed hideout for the Wild West outlaws like Jesse James and a former station on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves. Amazingly enough, you can participate in the annual Tom Sawyer Days in the month of July, when the townsfolk encourage everyone in thematic activities like a national fence-painting contest. Regardless of whether you are a fan of Mark Twain or not, you will be fond of Hannibal’s amicable atmosphere and small-town charm on this side of the Mississippi River.
Carthage
Approximately an hour from Springfield on the Spring River, the amazing and historic small town of Carthage was so named after the ancient city of Carthage that once rivaled the imperial power of Rome. Though this small town has no relations whatsoever to the history in the Mediterranean, it nonetheless endured its own affairs of warfare during the American Civil War, when Confederate guerrillas destroyed the town in 1861 (Carthage was then rebuilt in 1866) and which you can learn more about at the Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum.
The town’s lead and zinc mines helped to boast more millionaires per capita by the end of the 19th century than any other location in the US. Most importantly, Carthage’s status as the “Maple Leaf City” of America is attributed to the annual Maple Leaf Festival, which occurs on the third week of October, for everyone who adores maple to try out.
Undoubtedly the most photogenic and spiritually remarkable landmark in Carthage is the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, a massive religious statue that serves a focal point for the Marian Days, a festival and a pilgrimage for Vietnamese-American Roman Catholics on the month of August.
Van Buren
The town of Van Buren, so named after former Vice President of the US, Martin Van Buren, when Andrew Jackson was in his presidential term, is a quaint and quiet getaway from the big city hassle. It is also a gateway community to a number of outdoor attractions and regions in the state of Missouri. When following the Current River that bisects the town of Van Buren, you might end up at the Big Spring - Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a resplendent and soothing location with river rushes and turbulent waters to behold.
At the Missouri Down Under Adventure Zoo, you can admire a menagerie of creatures—exotic or native to Missouri’s wilderness—within safe and acceptable confines. Beyond, you can go traipsing through more wilderness sceneries at both the Current River Conservation Area and the Rocky Creek Conservation Area. Further north of Van Buren lies the Mark Twain National Forest, a picturesque woodland suitable for camping and hiking. There are many more surprises in store in this little town near the Ozark Mountains.
Branson
Less than an hour south of Springfield, travelers will be smitten by the hospitable charm and ambiance of Branson, a small town close to the state border of Arkansas. Famous for its theaters and venues suitable for all ages, flanking 76 Country Boulevard, Branson has played host to country music performers, theatrical groups, and artists from all over. Branson is also home to a number of wacky and quirky museums and galleries, among them the TITANIC Museum Attraction that features artifacts from the tragic Titanic, a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum with shrunken heads and rare animal skeletons, among other unusual assortments, and the Branson Auto and Farm Museum showcases many vintage vehicles for your perusal.
Beside Branson is Table Rock Lake, a serpentine body of water complete with many spectacular destinations like the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Lost Canyon Cave, and Nature Trail. If you are looking for more amusement and adventures, you can head over to the Silver Dollar City, an amusement park filled with fun rides and escapades for everyone. Better yet, you can watch exciting horse stunts, musical productions, and other Americana extravaganzas at Dolly Parton's Stampede. There are many strange, wild, and unforgettable attractions to see in the small town of Branson, so give yourself this chance to experience a spectrum of wonders in this hospitable destination in the Ozarks.
Osage Beach
Osage Beach is a fun and lovable vacation retreat for those eager for the splendid outdoors. Visitors will feel both relaxed and excited when kayaking, swimming, and fishing on the winding waters of the Lake of the Ozarks. One can also go camping and hiking at the neighboring Lake of the Ozarks State Park, which is complete with an underground network, which you can learn more about at the Ozark Caverns Visitor Center. You can also pursue the flowing Osage River out of the Lake of the Ozarks and go gallivanting through idyllic areas like the Saline Valley State Wildlife Area.
Best of all, you can spend your days and nights in some of Osage Beach’s hospitable resorts, inns, and lodgings, among them the Osage Village Inn and the Inn at Grand Glaize. Only about 40 miles southwest of Jefferson City, travelers all over will have a fun and memorable experience in the amazing small town of Osage Beach.
Marceline
Being the boyhood home of Walt Disney, the small town of Marceline offers guided tours and experiences into the inner life, career, and ethos of the man who created Mickey Mouse. The Walt Disney Hometown Museum was formerly a Santa Fe Depot, which Walt Disney enjoyed since it evoked memories of his childhood in Marceline. Hence, this complex houses a unique gallery of Disney’s family memorabilia that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Marceline’s Main Street, also known as Kansas Avenue, further inspired Walt Disney to create Main Street USA in Disneyland.
There is also the Walt Disney Dreaming Tree and Barn that Disney himself erected to immortalize his family’s old farmhouses. If you want more Disney-themed experiences in Marceline, you can head over and have some fun at Walt Disney Park. Finally, you can rest up and recharge for a new day of adventure at the Hotel Marceline.
Ste Geneviève
When French Canadian settlers arrived in Missouri in 1735, they built the small town of Ste Geneviève on the banks of the Mississippi River and about midway between Saint Louis and Cape Girardeau. Since then, Ste Geneviève has been Missouri’s oldest permanent European settlement, with several historic edifices and residences, which you can tour at the Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. Other historic landmarks like the Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site and the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site narrate the transitional history of Sainte Geneviève as it endured the French and Indian War and progressed well after the Louisiana Purchase.
In honor of the town’s enduring heritage and cultural ties to France, Ste Geneviève hosts the annual French Heritage Festival in June, complete with La Veillee folk dancing, which you can try out at the Felix Valle State Historic Site. You might also fancy the Jour de Fête, southeast Missouri’s largest outdoor crafts fair, which is held in August. Whatever you intend to accomplish and experience in Ste Geneviève, you will have a saintly and splendid adventure in this endearing French village on the Mississippi River.
Missouri is a Sioux word meaning the "wooden canoe people" or "he of the big canoe,” mostly likely due to the fact that both the Mississippi River and Missouri River (and many other rivers and popular bodies of water in the state) have been sites of kayaking and canoeing since the time of the Sioux. In any case, you can also be one of those canoers, fishers, or general enjoyers of Missouri’s natural landscapes when vacationing in the most hospitable small towns in the state.
Where you can learn all about Mark Twain or Walt Disney from their childhood homes or admire other historic attractions in destinations like Sainte Geneviève, Branson, and Kimmswick, these hospitable small towns in Missouri will provide impeccable services and memorable moments worth cherishing on your journey. This year, allow yourself to be accommodated and well-treated by the most hospitable small towns in Missouri.
