Lace up your hiking boots, grab your paddle, pack some snacks … we’re going on some adventures! Here are the best Missouri has to offer.
- Conquer the Big Muddy.
Big Muddy Adventures/Flickr Hook up with Big Muddy Adventures for a truly unforgettable experience. Many excursions are available, but the most unique just might be the Mississippi River trip from Hannibal to Caruthersville, at the very southern tip of the state.
- Get your ATV on.
Sungwon Kim/Flickr Go off road! St. Joe State Park, Finger Lakes State Park and the Chadwick ATV area of Mark Twain National Forest are both popular spots for this adrenaline-fueled sport.
- Go on a Route 66 adventure.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr Take a step back in time along Route 66. Gawk at the kitschy sights along the way, such as the World’s Largest Rocking Chair outside of Cuba.
- Go on a water expedition.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr Did you know that Missouri has more coastline than California? Take advantage of it by kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding on one of our beautiful lakes or rivers. White River Kayaking and Outdoors offers many options on Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake.
- Get spooked.
nycscout/Flickr If thrills and chills are your thing, get yourself to Lemp Mansion, one of the most haunted spots in Missouri. The Victorian mansion has seen a lot of bloodshed, including four suicides by Lemp family members.
- Ride the Katy.
N/Flickr The converted MKT railroad line now offers 240 miles of picturesque trail with tons of quaint small towns to stop in along the way.
- Hike in a nuclear waste site.
nycscout/Flickr Yes, you read that right. The Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project Disposal Cell, located just west of St. Louis, is a unique, strange spot to hike. The site was once the largest explosives factory in Missouri, then was home to a Cold War-era uranium refinery. Two decades after it was abandoned in the 1960s, the EPA discovered it was unsafe. So rather than move the contaminated refuse, the government covered it up inside a man-made mountain.
- Float the day away.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr Round up your best buds, pack a cooler of beer, and throw on your swimsuit. Floating is practically a coming-of-age ritual in Missouri, and there are tons of rivers to choose from in every corner of the state.
- Catch a fish.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr We’ve got some of the best trout fishing in the country. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, there’s a perfect stream out there for you. Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks are three top-notch options!
- Fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
Mark Setchell/Flickr Get a feel for circus arts with TrapezeSTL in St. Louis.
- Explore the canopy.
Go Ape USA/Facebook Go on a zip line canopy tour of Swope Park. The exhilarating course, run by Go Ape!, includes nearly 40 crossings with stunning views.
- Journey to the center(ish) of the earth.
Bonne Terre Mine Scuba dive in Bonne Terre Mine, the largest freshwater scuba diving venue in the world.
- Howl with wolves.
Endangered Wolf Center/Facebook Visit the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka to view multiple wolf species. The center offers guided daytime tours, as well as nighttime Campfire Wolf Howls.
- Hoof it.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr Coldwater Ranch in Eminence offers secluded cabins and a variety of horseback riding excursions. Experienced riders can take a Rough-Out Ride, which offers visitors the opportunity to explore the large property, pitch a tent and get a fully immersive ‘cowboy’ experience.
- Befriend a big cat.
National Tiger Sanctuary/Facebook Visit The National Tiger Sanctuary in Saddlebrooke to feed big cats, learn about animal care and see these majestic creatures up close.
Want more Missouri adventure? (Of course you do!) Check out some of our top beaches and lakes!
Big Muddy Adventures/Flickr
Hook up with Big Muddy Adventures for a truly unforgettable experience. Many excursions are available, but the most unique just might be the Mississippi River trip from Hannibal to Caruthersville, at the very southern tip of the state.
Sungwon Kim/Flickr
Go off road! St. Joe State Park, Finger Lakes State Park and the Chadwick ATV area of Mark Twain National Forest are both popular spots for this adrenaline-fueled sport.
Missouri Division of Tourism/Flickr
Take a step back in time along Route 66. Gawk at the kitschy sights along the way, such as the World’s Largest Rocking Chair outside of Cuba.
Did you know that Missouri has more coastline than California? Take advantage of it by kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding on one of our beautiful lakes or rivers. White River Kayaking and Outdoors offers many options on Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake.
nycscout/Flickr
If thrills and chills are your thing, get yourself to Lemp Mansion, one of the most haunted spots in Missouri. The Victorian mansion has seen a lot of bloodshed, including four suicides by Lemp family members.
N/Flickr
The converted MKT railroad line now offers 240 miles of picturesque trail with tons of quaint small towns to stop in along the way.
Yes, you read that right. The Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project Disposal Cell, located just west of St. Louis, is a unique, strange spot to hike. The site was once the largest explosives factory in Missouri, then was home to a Cold War-era uranium refinery. Two decades after it was abandoned in the 1960s, the EPA discovered it was unsafe. So rather than move the contaminated refuse, the government covered it up inside a man-made mountain.
Round up your best buds, pack a cooler of beer, and throw on your swimsuit. Floating is practically a coming-of-age ritual in Missouri, and there are tons of rivers to choose from in every corner of the state.
We’ve got some of the best trout fishing in the country. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, there’s a perfect stream out there for you. Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks are three top-notch options!
Mark Setchell/Flickr
Get a feel for circus arts with TrapezeSTL in St. Louis.
Go Ape USA/Facebook
Go on a zip line canopy tour of Swope Park. The exhilarating course, run by Go Ape!, includes nearly 40 crossings with stunning views.
Bonne Terre Mine
Scuba dive in Bonne Terre Mine, the largest freshwater scuba diving venue in the world.
Endangered Wolf Center/Facebook
Visit the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka to view multiple wolf species. The center offers guided daytime tours, as well as nighttime Campfire Wolf Howls.
Coldwater Ranch in Eminence offers secluded cabins and a variety of horseback riding excursions. Experienced riders can take a Rough-Out Ride, which offers visitors the opportunity to explore the large property, pitch a tent and get a fully immersive ‘cowboy’ experience.
National Tiger Sanctuary/Facebook
Visit The National Tiger Sanctuary in Saddlebrooke to feed big cats, learn about animal care and see these majestic creatures up close.
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