7 Of The Most Charming Towns In Missouri

Missouri is a marvelous midwestern state with many monumental municipalities. Big cities like Kansas City and St. Louis may suck in tourists, but it's the small towns that charm them. Missouri's rural retreats have everything from German-style wineries to a Precious Moments park, a literary national forest, an 18th-century French Canadian village, and a 19th-century brewery. Let these seven communities be the waypoints of a Missouri charm hunt.

Hermann

You can look down at other communities in Hermann, a breathtaking city built atop the Missouri River bluffs. Along with being on top of the central MO pantheon, Hermann is the center of the Hermann American Viticultural Area, a region of German-inspired vineyards that produce much of the state's wine. After sampling spectacular libations at the Hermannhof Winery and Adam Puchta Winery, both of which are on the iconic Hermann Wine Trail, you can check out Hermann's other Germanic attractions.

The Historic Hermann Museum, Hermann Farm, Vintage 1847 Restaurant, and Hermann Wurst Haus all pay homage to Hermann's founding by the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia. Hermann is Missouri's rich and ravishing Rhineland.

Carthage

Another community inspired by an overseas oasis, Carthage is a 15,000ish-person city filled with European-style landmarks. Jacobethan, Italianate, and Romanesque architecture can be seen in the Phelps Country Estate, Clinton Spencer House, and Jasper County Courthouse, respectively. But those are not the only charming structures in Carthage. As "America's Maple Leaf City," it is known for its towering, picturesque maple trees, which are honored each October with the Maple Leaf Festival.

Carthage also charms with the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens. Precious Moments are the porcelain figurines you may have seen at Grandma's house. Carthage, as the headquarters of the company, contains a scenic complex with gardens, fountains, life-sized figurines, and a PM-painted chapel. A walk through this park—and Carthage as a whole—can certainly provide precious moments.

Alton

You can describe the Ozark Mountains in many ways. "Charming" is not typically one of them. Yet Alton is a certifiably charming enclave of the craggy and cryptic Ozarks. This 700ish-person "city" (most Missouri communities with at least 500 residents are classified as cities) has a classic small-town downtown with mom-and-pop shops and eateries. Chief among them are Jason's Mexican Restaurant, The Feed Sack, and the Court Square Cafe, the last of which boasts a perfect 5/5 rating on Google.

However, the cafe is not Alton's top attraction. That title goes to the craggy and cryptic Ozarks, which contain the lush and lovely Mark Twain National Forest. Twain's woods surround the town and offer hiking, climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-roading, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, rafting, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and general sightseeing. Specific sights to see include the Eleven Point River and the Falling Spring Mill.

Ste. Geneviève

As elegant in appearance as it is in name, Ste, Geneviève is a treasure trove of scenic landmarks. It was founded circa 1740 by French Canadians and retains several of their early poteaux-sur-sol structures. Reportedly, the oldest of these, which would make it the oldest building in Missouri, is the Louis Bolduc House from circa 1788. The second oldest, but oldest according to dendrochronology, is the Green Tree Tavern from 1790.

Ste. Geneviève is the state's oldest continuously inhabited settlement. Along with historic sites, this small city hosts modern marvels like Pat’s Pastries and the Belle Ever After Boutique and abuts natural wonders like Hawn State Park and the Mississippi River. You can combine history, commerce, and nature at Ste. Geneviève's bevy of wineries.

Rolla

Rock and climb rock in Rolla, a lively city in the Missouri Ozarks. It is home to the Missouri University of Science and Technology, which attracts thousands of scholars and partiers, and the headquarters of the Mark Twain National Forest, which attracts thousands of hikers and climbers. Despite its popular attractions, Rolla maintains a moderate population of about 20,000. Quainter sites to visit in Rolla include Mel’s Candles, Pryor's Fresh Pizza, the Phelps County Historical Society, the Rolla Antique Mall, and the Ozark Actors Theatre. Rolla also has a surplus of wineries as part of the Ozark Highlands American Viticultural Area. Who knew Missouri was so winey?

Arrow Rock

Another rocking Missouri community, Arrow Rock, is an entire town designated a National Historic Landmark. As such, it is more like an open-air museum, although some 60 people live year-round among the ghosts of Missouri's past. Residents and tourists (roughly 100,000 per year) explore heritage homes and historic businesses that comprise the Arrow Rock State Historic Site and Arrow Rock Historic District. Although many of the buildings are just for show and tell, some are for eating, drinking, and spectating.

Ice cream from The Badger's Hideaway, cocktails from Catalpa, and plays at the Lyceum Theatre can add fresh flavor to the time-halted tour. We wish we could say that you can complete your Arrow Rock retreat at the J. Huston Tavern, which dates to 1834 and was considered Missouri's oldest operating restaurant, but it closed at the end of 2023. Applications are open for new management.

Weston

Appropriately, Weston is located in extreme western Missouri just north of Kansas City. The Missouri River separates Kansas from Missouri and provides Weston with stunning sights and fun activities. After admiring the river or hiking along its banks, particularly at Weston Bend State Park, visitors can venture downtown to the Green Dirt Farm Creamery, which has an unappetizing name but some of the most delicious cheeses, sandwiches, and ice cream in the region. Then, they can wash down that goodness at Weston Brewing Company, a brewery established in 1842 that has grown into a multi-acre complex of succulence. If you become another such visitor, you only have to share the park, creamery, brewery, and other treasures with about 1,800 residents. Weston is a true hidden Missouri gem.

Gems and charms are all over Missouri, especially in and around small communities. By using Hermann, Carthage, Alton, Ste. Geneviève, Rolla, Arrow Rock, and Weston as bases, you can find exquisite wineries, pristine parks, glistening rivers, precious monuments, shiny shops, delectable eateries, and colorful historic structures. Forget about big city attractions that have been stomped into submission and instead stroll around rural Missouri while kicking up jewels.