9 Offbeat Towns to Visit in Missouri

Missouri is a push and pull of influences. How else can one explain its inability to decide on a nickname? Depending on who is consulted, Missouri is either the Show Me State, the Cave State, or the Mother of the West. Emerging from the middle of this tug-of-war are blends of cultures that birthed towns that simply cannot exist elsewhere. Discover the bizarre, the curious, and the downright extraordinary towns of the 24^th state.

Waynesville

Pull off Route 66 in Waynesville, Missouri, where the Roubidoux Creek flows through living history. The Pulaski Fine Arts Association ensures that theatrical magic is never too far around the corner. The troupe performs Neil Simon’s Rumors this 2024 season. Grab a pint of Old Tom Porter at the local Piney River Taproom, a malty brew from Piney River Brewing Company that is named after a famous turkey that roams the Ozarks. Do not leave town without stopping into Lost in the Woods Antiques. There is no telling what will turn up at Lost in the Woods. Where else can one find fresh supplies of functioning toy cannons made by the Conestoga Cannon Company?

Hannibal

Float into the hometown of the eccentric American icon Mark Twain. Hannibal is located 100 miles north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River and just a stone’s throw from Illinois on the other side of the river. Visit the Sodalis Nature Preserve, named after the Indiana bats that hibernate in its nurturing cave system. There are 200 acres of park space available to the public in the preserve. Book a tour with the Mark Twain Cave Complex and slip into another world. Admission is $15 for children, $27 for adults. Sleep in America’s past at the 1898-built Rockcliffe Mansion, which operates as a bed and breakfast.

Excelsior Springs

Saunter along the historic area of town that is licked by the east fork of Fishing River. Excelsior Springs hosts the Hall of Waters Museum, a one of a kind art deco monument that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The Museum is built upon the sight of the discovery of the area’s first mineral spring, the Siloam Spring, in 1880. Explore the largest selection of Missouri wines at Willow Spring Mercantile which hosts live music on the weekends. Snap a pic for Instagram at the Superior Well stone pagoda, a stone spring pagoda which replaced the original wooden one in 1912.

Lebanon

Welcome to the land of magnetic water. In 1889, workers excavating a Lebanon water well found that the water had magnetized their tools, empowering them to pick up nails with ease. Hotels and quirky tourist traps quickly spring up proclaiming the waters to have healing powers. Check out the 1950s era gas station, classic diner, and antique cars at the Route 66 Museum located in the Lebanon-Laclede County Library. Bask in the pink and blue glow of B&B Ritz 8 Cinema’s classic-style neon sign. Find the unfindable and generally obscure at the Heartland Antique Mall and Fleamarket.

Carthage

Enjoy the outdoors in what happens to be the site of the earliest full-scale battle of the US Civil War. The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is open during daylight hours. Catch a flick at 66 Drive-in Theater. The 66 has been screening cinematic gems since 1949. Take home what cannot be found elsewhere with the help of Cherry’s Art Emporium on the Square. Carthage is home to one of the most interesting museums in the nation. Be prepared to be stunned by the Precious Moments Chapel. The chapel is an art museum dedicated to the work of Samuel J. Butcher, the artist behind the iconic Precious Moments figurines.

Branson

Branson is a family vacation destination with a flavor that stays with people for the rest of their lives. No one tours the Ozark town without making plans to visit again. The 61-acre theme park Silver Dollar City is a mini-town unto itself. Travel back into the 1800’s with a host of rides, a dinner cruise, or wake up in wonder at their campground. Check ahead for live music or theater shows before trekking for Branson. The town has an entire strip dedicated to theater spaces. Branson’s Titanic Museum has been a constant draw since it opened in 2006. If time is an issue, explore the magical wooded surroundings at breakneck speeds with Runaway Mountain Coaster.

Osage Beach

Just north of Lake of the Ozarks State Park is Osage Beach. Get salty with Harmy’s Cheese Store and More. Harmy’s has cheese that is worth planning an entire trip around. Delay cleansing the palette and indulge the sweet tooth instead at Blair and Company Confectionary, home of the Ozark Maid candies. Do not leave town without trying as many varieties of their homemade fudge as possible. Burn off the calories at Miner Mike’s Indoor Family Fun Center. Float over to Buster’s within Miner Mikes and let the eyes be dazzled by the plethora of arcade games. Scoot into Buster’s Garage to test those go-kart skills.

West Plains

Fall in love with the bluegrass sound thanks to the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association (HOBA). Bluegrass Park has hosted HOBA events in West Plains since 1980. First-time visitors to the Ozarks can learn the region’s history through art at the Harlin Museum. Walk off a meal from Sapz Thai Kitchen at the Georgia White Walking Park. The park has decorative poles with LED lights ensuring all excursions stay safe and pretty. Plan a trip around a show at the Avenue Theatre. The art deco style theater was rescued in the 1990s and converted into a love-powered live art space that started out modestly with tin-can footlights and has since grown into a regional sensation.

Sedalia

Just west of the Lamine River Conservation Area and 30 miles south of the Missouri River is the town of Sedalia, where the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art allows more than 12,000 visitors to expand their minds every year. Swing into the Daum before the end of May to take in an exhibition of Cleveland artist John F. Malta. Recreate the outlandish fashions of classic family photos with the aid of Nostalgia Vintage Apparel and Marketplace. Embrace the magic in the permanent, two-person escape room Becoming Houdini at RAKS Escape Room.

While the state of Missouri lifted its name from the river of the same name, the river was named for the Missouria nation, who once thrived at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi. After the arrival of Europeans to the North American continent, the numbers of Missouria people have steadily dwindled. Today they are federally recognized as the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians and are based in Redrock, Oklahoma. It is the imperative of every living generation to correct the sins of the past to the best of their ability. Please consider supporting Native American owned businesses as much as possible and efforts for nations to win their land back with donations of legal fees.