Summer is in full swing which means longer, hotter days that beg for adventure. Fill your summer with fun activities, great food, fun destinations, and unique experiences. Let us help you create the perfect summer bucket-list with these 12 things you must do this summer in Missouri.
- Take a stroll in the gardens.
Missouri Botanical Gardens/Facebook The Missouri Botanical Gardens is one of Missouri’s best outdoor attractions. Find beautiful landscaping, flowers, architecture, and art on the garden grounds. Check out any of the amazing events held at the gardens, the most popular being the Japanese Festival held on Labor Day. Click here for directions and more information.
- Test your skill at the ultimate tree top agility course.
Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve/Facebook If you want to add a little adventure to your summer bucket-list, visit Wolfe Creek Preserve for the ultimate tree top tour. Canopy Tour options include the Flying Prospector, the Ozarks Explorer, and the Canopy Adventure Combo, each between 1.5 to 3.5 hours long. For even more thrills try the ziplines. Click here for directions and more information.
- Go on this amazing Missouri vacation.
Big Cedar Lodge/Yelp Visit Big Cedar Lodge in the heart of the Ozarks for the ultimate Missouri vacation. Take in the breathtaking views at the relaxing and luxurious lodge. Enjoy fine dining, out door activities, golfing, spa treatments, and more! Click here for directions and more information.
- Cool off at this hidden water park.
Mark Twain Landing/Facebook Hidden in a rural Missouri campground, Mark Twain Landing’s Splash Landing is the perfect water park for everyone in your family. Relax on a tube in the wave pool or lazy river, catch some speed on the water slides, or swirl around the turtle bowl. Stay overnight in the on-site cabins or set up your own campsite. Click here for directions and more information.
- Tube on a natural lazy river.
Ozark Outdoors/Facebook Head out on the Meramec river with Ozark Outdoors. This river resort has two float routes to choose from whether you’re looking for an all day trip or a shorter family friendly loop. Bring your gear and set up a campsite for the ultimate river weekend vacation. Click here for directions and more information.
- Have dinner and fun on the patio.
Char Bar/Facebook Char Bar is more than just a restaurant in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City. Spend time this summer eating BBQ and having drinks on the large and spacious patio. Join in on a game of croquet or bags while the sun is up, then grab a seat by the fire pit after dark. Click here for directions and more information.
- Make a trip to the world’s best custard stand.
Ted Drewes Inc./Facebook Ted Drewes is a world famous custard stand in St. Louis. They’ve been serving amazing frozen custard since 1930 and have two awesome locations to visit. Their custard is so thick they serve it to you upside-down. The lines can get pretty long on a hot summer day but you’ll be glad you waited. Click here for directions and more information.
- Try glamping for the ultimate outdoor experience.
Glamping St. Louis/Facebook If you love spending time in nature but don’t really enjoy sleeping on the ground in a tent, glamping is the perfect solution. Glamping St. Louis is a private campground tucked away in St. Charles at the River Island Marina. Stay in a luxurious large safari tent furnished with comfortable beds, electric, and air conditioning. Kayak in the private lake or sunbathe at the near by beach. You will love reconnecting with nature without having to sacrifice on comfort. Click here for directions and more information.
- Visit this museum that is really a huge playground!
City Museum, St Louis, MO The 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company is now home to the City Museum. This museum uses recycled materials to create the ultimate playground that even adults love. You can spend hours inside exploring the caves, 5 story slides, and ceiling high tubes to crawl through. Visit the roof top for more climbing attractions and to catch a ride on the Ferris wheel. Open late on weekends for the adult crowd, the City Museum is a can’t miss Missouri destination. Click here for directions and more information.
- Cool off at Missouri’s lesser known shut-ins.
N/Flickr Looking for a swimming hole that isn’t packed with other visitors? Spend your day at Rocky Falls Shut-In near Eminence. Enjoy the cool waters at the natural pool that forms beneath the falls. There is a natural rocky beach to set up some lawn chairs on but be sure to bring your water shoes. Click here for directions and more information.
- Hit the beach at Missouri’s hidden lake.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook Wakonda State Park is a smaller lake located in rural La Grange. Wakonda lake is perfect for fishing or kayacking. If you’re more interested in swimming visit the 20,000 square-foot sand beach. There are on-site restrooms and a changing house so you don’t have to drive home in your wet bathing suits. Click here for directions and more information.
- Stay in a yurt at this Missouri State Park.
mostateparks.com Spend your next lake weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park in their unique yurts. Furnished with futon and futon style bunk beds, the accommodations are much nicer than a sleeping bag on the ground. Each yurt, which is basically a mix between a cabin and a tent, has a small dorm fridge, microwave, A/C, and coffee pot. Enjoy the day boating on the lake or hit the sandy beach for swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Click here for directions and more information.
Have you done any of these activities or visited any of the places listed? Let us know about your experience in the comments below and let us know what else should be on our Missouri summer bucket-list.
Missouri Botanical Gardens/Facebook
The Missouri Botanical Gardens is one of Missouri’s best outdoor attractions. Find beautiful landscaping, flowers, architecture, and art on the garden grounds. Check out any of the amazing events held at the gardens, the most popular being the Japanese Festival held on Labor Day. Click here for directions and more information.
Branson Zipline and Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve/Facebook
If you want to add a little adventure to your summer bucket-list, visit Wolfe Creek Preserve for the ultimate tree top tour. Canopy Tour options include the Flying Prospector, the Ozarks Explorer, and the Canopy Adventure Combo, each between 1.5 to 3.5 hours long. For even more thrills try the ziplines. Click here for directions and more information.
Big Cedar Lodge/Yelp
Visit Big Cedar Lodge in the heart of the Ozarks for the ultimate Missouri vacation. Take in the breathtaking views at the relaxing and luxurious lodge. Enjoy fine dining, out door activities, golfing, spa treatments, and more! Click here for directions and more information.
Mark Twain Landing/Facebook
Hidden in a rural Missouri campground, Mark Twain Landing’s Splash Landing is the perfect water park for everyone in your family. Relax on a tube in the wave pool or lazy river, catch some speed on the water slides, or swirl around the turtle bowl. Stay overnight in the on-site cabins or set up your own campsite. Click here for directions and more information.
Ozark Outdoors/Facebook
Head out on the Meramec river with Ozark Outdoors. This river resort has two float routes to choose from whether you’re looking for an all day trip or a shorter family friendly loop. Bring your gear and set up a campsite for the ultimate river weekend vacation. Click here for directions and more information.
Char Bar/Facebook
Char Bar is more than just a restaurant in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City. Spend time this summer eating BBQ and having drinks on the large and spacious patio. Join in on a game of croquet or bags while the sun is up, then grab a seat by the fire pit after dark. Click here for directions and more information.
Ted Drewes Inc./Facebook
Ted Drewes is a world famous custard stand in St. Louis. They’ve been serving amazing frozen custard since 1930 and have two awesome locations to visit. Their custard is so thick they serve it to you upside-down. The lines can get pretty long on a hot summer day but you’ll be glad you waited. Click here for directions and more information.
Glamping St. Louis/Facebook
If you love spending time in nature but don’t really enjoy sleeping on the ground in a tent, glamping is the perfect solution. Glamping St. Louis is a private campground tucked away in St. Charles at the River Island Marina. Stay in a luxurious large safari tent furnished with comfortable beds, electric, and air conditioning. Kayak in the private lake or sunbathe at the near by beach. You will love reconnecting with nature without having to sacrifice on comfort. Click here for directions and more information.
City Museum, St Louis, MO
The 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company is now home to the City Museum. This museum uses recycled materials to create the ultimate playground that even adults love. You can spend hours inside exploring the caves, 5 story slides, and ceiling high tubes to crawl through. Visit the roof top for more climbing attractions and to catch a ride on the Ferris wheel. Open late on weekends for the adult crowd, the City Museum is a can’t miss Missouri destination. Click here for directions and more information.
N/Flickr
Looking for a swimming hole that isn’t packed with other visitors? Spend your day at Rocky Falls Shut-In near Eminence. Enjoy the cool waters at the natural pool that forms beneath the falls. There is a natural rocky beach to set up some lawn chairs on but be sure to bring your water shoes. Click here for directions and more information.
Show Me Missouri/Facebook
Wakonda State Park is a smaller lake located in rural La Grange. Wakonda lake is perfect for fishing or kayacking. If you’re more interested in swimming visit the 20,000 square-foot sand beach. There are on-site restrooms and a changing house so you don’t have to drive home in your wet bathing suits. Click here for directions and more information.
mostateparks.com
Spend your next lake weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park in their unique yurts. Furnished with futon and futon style bunk beds, the accommodations are much nicer than a sleeping bag on the ground. Each yurt, which is basically a mix between a cabin and a tent, has a small dorm fridge, microwave, A/C, and coffee pot. Enjoy the day boating on the lake or hit the sandy beach for swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Click here for directions and more information.
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