When I first moved to Missouri, there were a lot of new things I had to get used to. Each state has its quirks, but that’s what makes it unique from the rest. Here are a few of the things you’ll quickly learn upon moving to Missouri. Enjoy!
- Cow tipping is a pastime among mischievous teens.
CAFNR/flickr I thought it was just a myth, but when I asked my friends who grew up in rural Missouri, many of them admitted to doing this as a teen. If you’re bored in a small town, what else is there to do?
- The summers get HOT.
CAFNR/flickr I think people underestimate how hot the Midwest can get. Compared to Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, Missouri tends to have the more humid summers.
- People don’t swim in the Missouri River.
Heath Cajandig/flickr During my first summer in Missouri, I was living in Kansas City. When I asked my friends to swim in the Missouri River, they looked at me like I had a third eye. I quickly learned that while Missouri has plenty of beautiful rivers to swim in (Current River, Black River, Eleven Point River, etc.), the Missouri River is not one of them.
- There are two different baseball teams. And the rivalry is intense.
Francisco Diez/flickr Though St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals play in two separate divisions, there still seems to be a rivalry among fans. Upon moving here, I learned that you usually have to pick one or the other. But as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I’ll root for the Royals over the Cardinals any day.
- Who needs Arby’s? We’ve got Lion’s Choice
Lion’s Choice/Facebook Lion’s Choice is a Missouri-based fast food chain that makes the most delicious roast beef sandwiches, ever.
- There’s a reason so many things are named after Mark Twain.
Phil Thomas/flickr Hotel Mark Twain, the Mark Twain National Forest and Mark Twain Lake are just a few of the places in Missouri named after this beloved American author. Why? Because he spent much of his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri.
- Burnt ends are not a mistake.
Adam Kuban/flickr They’re actually the pride and joy of Missouri when it comes to our unique BBQ fare.
- The Budweiser Clydesdales live here.
Warm Springs Ranch/Facebook We’ve seen them in many Super Bowl commercials advertising Budweiser beer. And while many people know the original brewery is located in St. Louis, outsiders are unaware that we source our talent locally, too. At Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, visitors can get up close and personal with these majestic horses while taking a tour.
- Speaking of beer, we have another pretty amazing brewery headquartered in Missouri.
Boulevard Brewing Company/Facebook Boulevard Brewing Company distributes their fantastic beers all over the country. Lucky for us, we have the flagship brewery right here in Kansas City.
- The best kind of frozen custard can be flipped upside down.
Lana D./Yelp Ted Drewe’s is iconic in St. Louis and they’re famous for their concrete frozen custard that sticks to the cup, even when you turn it upside down.
- People say, “Ya’ll”
CAFNR/flickr Not everyone, but a good amount of locals say “ya’ll” instead of “you all” or “you guys”.
Are you originally from Missouri? If not, what were some of the things that you learned when you first moved here? Feel free to share with others in the comments below.
CAFNR/flickr
I thought it was just a myth, but when I asked my friends who grew up in rural Missouri, many of them admitted to doing this as a teen. If you’re bored in a small town, what else is there to do?
I think people underestimate how hot the Midwest can get. Compared to Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, Missouri tends to have the more humid summers.
Heath Cajandig/flickr
During my first summer in Missouri, I was living in Kansas City. When I asked my friends to swim in the Missouri River, they looked at me like I had a third eye. I quickly learned that while Missouri has plenty of beautiful rivers to swim in (Current River, Black River, Eleven Point River, etc.), the Missouri River is not one of them.
Francisco Diez/flickr
Though St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals play in two separate divisions, there still seems to be a rivalry among fans. Upon moving here, I learned that you usually have to pick one or the other. But as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I’ll root for the Royals over the Cardinals any day.
Lion’s Choice/Facebook
Lion’s Choice is a Missouri-based fast food chain that makes the most delicious roast beef sandwiches, ever.
Phil Thomas/flickr
Hotel Mark Twain, the Mark Twain National Forest and Mark Twain Lake are just a few of the places in Missouri named after this beloved American author. Why? Because he spent much of his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri.
Adam Kuban/flickr
They’re actually the pride and joy of Missouri when it comes to our unique BBQ fare.
Warm Springs Ranch/Facebook
We’ve seen them in many Super Bowl commercials advertising Budweiser beer. And while many people know the original brewery is located in St. Louis, outsiders are unaware that we source our talent locally, too. At Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, visitors can get up close and personal with these majestic horses while taking a tour.
Boulevard Brewing Company/Facebook
Boulevard Brewing Company distributes their fantastic beers all over the country. Lucky for us, we have the flagship brewery right here in Kansas City.
Lana D./Yelp
Ted Drewe’s is iconic in St. Louis and they’re famous for their concrete frozen custard that sticks to the cup, even when you turn it upside down.
Not everyone, but a good amount of locals say “ya’ll” instead of “you all” or “you guys”.
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