Ha Ha Tonka State Park, located on the Lake of the Ozarks, is one of America's best places to visit in Missouri. This can be attributed to the castle ruins located nearby. The location is approximately 5 miles from Camdenton, Missouri, and has been completely recreated into a 3,700-acre public park that houses the ruins of a 16th century stone castle that sits high atop a bluff. This park is breathtakingly beautiful, with numerous geographical features.

In 1905, Kansas City businessman Robert McClure Snyder purchased and developed the park at the mouth of the Niangua River for private use. The ruins of his stone mansion, which was destroyed by fire in the 1940s, are now the park's focal point. Beautiful brick arches and sturdy stone walls, reminiscent of 16th-century European castles, overlook the sparkling lake below, which is now used for swimming and boating.

There is a natural bridge that is 60 feet long, 100 feet high, and 70 feet wide. Apart from that, there is the colosseum sinkhole and the whispering dell sink basin, which is 150 feet deep and has two caves. Every day, the Ha Ha Tonka spring flows through a 250-foot-high gorge and discharges approximately 50 million gallons of water. The park has over 15 miles of well-kept trails that pass by natural sinkholes, caves, and bridges that connect to a beautiful, blue, clear lake.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 3,751.74 acres
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Free
  
• Address: 1491 Missouri D, Camdenton, MO 65020

The Gateway Arch is St. Louis' visually defining structure and the metaphorical "Gateway to the West." Despite its location within Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park, the arch can be seen from a wide swath of the city and from a considerable distance while driving along the highways.

Visitors can get to an observation deck at the top of the building, standing at 630 feet, by the elevator. You can take a tram ride, which lasts between 45 and 60 minutes. On a day with clear visibility, it is possible to see up to 30 miles. Don't forget to appreciate the view.

To get the most out of the arch, take helicopter tours, riverboat cruises, and visit the Old Courthouse to learn about the area's history. The museum's exhibits span the years 1764 to 1965 and tell the stories of Native Americans, explorers, and pioneers who helped the United States grow.

The Gateway Arch, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, towered over St. Louis at 63 stories when it was completed. It's difficult to believe that this is a steel-and-concrete structure that is so beautiful. You can also enjoy stunning views of downtown St. Louis and the arch from the Becky Thatcher or the Tom Sawyer, both of which date back to the nineteenth century and are still in operation today.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5.0
• Area: 25 ha
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Admission: 15 and under- $5, Adults- $10
• Address: Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO 63102

When you enter the depths of Onondaga Cave State Park, you will discover a land of wonders that includes magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, flowstone, soda straws, and so on. This natural wonder exemplifies why Missouri is known as the Cave State. Tourists must take guided tours to explore the cave's underground areas. Above the cave is a park called the Vilander Bluff Natural Area, which provides scenic views of the Meramec River.

People can participate in water activities such as canoeing and fishing. Because the camping area is next to the main access road, it is mostly quiet. There are the basic requirements of a camp-fire pits, playgrounds, lantern posts, and much more. This location has an amphitheater for educational purposes, where programs are held throughout the summer season.

The Meramec River has swimming areas. It is best to check the weather forecast before visiting this location because it is frequently flooded. There are well-kept, shaded picnic areas along the river. Restrooms, barbecue pits, and trash cans are all available.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 1,317.7 acres
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admission: Adult - $15, Teenager (ages 13-17) - $15, Child (ages 6-12) - $9, Child (under age 6) - Free
  
• Address: 7556 Hwy H, Leasburg, MO 65535

Elephant Rocks State Park, located in the Saint Francois Mountains, is a beautiful tourist destination best known for its elephant-shaped granite boulders, public recreation, and natural resource preservation.

This park displays gigantic granite boulders that are shaped like an elephant. These huge elephant rocks were formed about 1.5 billion years ago from granites, that stand like a queue of circus elephants, end to end. People enjoy climbing upon them. The structures created by these granite boulders have intrigued geologists into studying further about them. The one-mile loop Braille trail in this area is the first of its kind in Missouri, and is ideal for visually and physically challenged visitors.

A second spur leads visitors to a vantage point overlooking an old quarry. This red granite, which was commercially quarried for the first time in the late 1800s, has been used as a building material as well as paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets. Today, "Missouri Red" granite is primarily cut and polished for use as monuments. Thirty picnic areas allow visitors to rest and refresh themselves among the stone pachyderms. Come see for yourself why Elephant Rocks State Park is a destination you won't forget!

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 133.75 acres
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Admission: Free
• Address: 7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623

The Lake of the Ozarks, which was formed in 1931, is undeniably one of the Midwest's most well-known lake resort destinations. The Lake of the Ozarks is notable for being the largest man-made lake in the United States that is not used for flood control. As a result, the surface elevation of the lake rarely varies more than five feet, providing ideal conditions for private development within a few feet of the shoreline. The Lake has something for everyone, whether you're planning a family vacation or a weekend getaway with your best friends.

Visitor favorites include a wide variety of water activities such as boating, fishing, swimming at sandy beaches, and professionally designed golf courses and campgrounds. The Lake is home to beautiful scenery and various outdoor activities. The massive reservoir and its three tributaries, collectively known as "Puff the Magic Dragon," were created by damming the Osage River.

This extensive shoreline is one of the most distinctive features of the Lake, and is a major draw for tourists and visitors to the area. The lake has a snakey, curved shape, more like a traditional river than lake, which is why it is able to have such a long stretch of shore. There are over 1,800 kilometers of scenic shoreline in total, which is more than the entire state of California. Osage Beach is tucked away along its coves, creeks, and channels, with numerous waterfront lodgings and restaurants. There are numerous water parks, golf courses, and state parks.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 218,5 km²
  
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Free
• Address: Missouri
  

The National World War I Museum is a popular tourist attraction that has welcomed millions of visitors since its inception. It houses one of the world's largest collections of World War I artifacts. It first opened its doors in 2006. There are interactive exhibits, documented eyewitness accounts, and over 75,000 historical artifacts.

The National World War I Museum is for more than just history buffs. The museum has something for everyone, with artifacts ranging from rusted weapons to propaganda posters. Both sound booths have theaters with educational films and reels. A Renault FT tank and a 1918 Ford Model T ambulance are on display.

The adjacent Liberty Memorial had stood watch over Kansas City's streets for more than 90 years before the museum was built. It was completed in 1926, dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge, and is still a reminder of the Great War today.

While World War I is not as well-known as World War II, this museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about a significant period in American history. The government has designated the museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the official WWI museum of the United States. To get to the main building, you need to follow the 265-foot tower. Walking across the red poppies on the other side of the bridge represents the 9,000,000 people who perished in World War II.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 80,000-square-foot
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Admission: Adults - $18, Seniors (Ages 65+) - $14, Military (Veterans & Active Duty) - $14, Youth (Ages 6-18) - $10, Children (Under 6) - Free
  
• Address: 2 Memorial Dr, Kansas City, MO 64108

Strolling through the 79-acre grounds of the Missouri Botanical Gardens is an exceptional experience. The Missouri Botanical Garden has the distinction of being one of the state's first tourist attractions. The gardens aren't content to rest on their historical achievements, so they've added the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center to their offerings. A tram runs the length of the park every half hour.

The Missouri Botanical Garden focuses its work on areas that are rich in biodiversity yet threatened by habitat destruction, and operates the world’s most active research and training programs in tropical botany. Garden scientists collaborate with local institutions, schools and indigenous peoples to understand plants, create awareness, offer alternatives and craft conservation strategies. The Missouri Botanical Garden is striving for a world that can sustain humans without sacrificing prosperity for future generations, a world where people share a commitment to managing biological diversity for the common benefit.

The Climatron is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the gardens. It is the world's first geodesic greenhouse, and it allows visitors to get a close-up look at its innovative design and climate control systems. This 24,000-square-foot geodesic dome contains 2,800 plants from 1,400 different species. It is also possible to visit the Japanese Garden and the Linnean Plants House. You can explore the tranquil landscape of the Japanese Garden, which includes waterfalls and meticulously tended plants.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Area: 79-acre
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Admission: Free
  
• Address: 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110

Talking Rocks Cavern, located about 15 minutes from Branson, is a network of caves discovered by accident in the late 1800s. At Talking Rocks Cavern, you can learn about geology while having a good time with your family. The tour begins at the top of the cave and descends 265 steps to the floor. The crystalline formations known as "curtain" and "bacon," for example, can be seen in the well-lit caves.

Truman Powell was the first to explore the cave, which he named the Fairy Cave, but the name was later changed to Talking Rocks Cavern, inspired by a quote from Powell's son. His exploration focused on mineral deposits and rocks in the cave. He later concluded that these geological features would tell him the story of how the cave came to be.

Guided tours of the cavern now include educational and entertaining elements, with visitors learning about the cave's discovery, history, mineral deposits, and geologic structure throughout an hour-long tour. In addition to the underground tour, there are a variety of activities above ground, including a nature trail that leads to a lookout tower, a mini golf course, a shaded picnic area, family games and a SpeleoBox, which simulates what it's like to crawl through narrow cave passages.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: N/A
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Admission: Adult (13+): $24.95, Child (4-12): $14.95, Young Child (0-3): Free
  
• Address: 423 Fairy Cave Ln, Branson West, MO 65737

A trip to the St. Louis Zoo is a great way to spend the day in Missouri without spending any money, so you can keep your wallet tucked away. The Saint Louis Zoo is a go-to destination for animal-loving families in Missouri, featuring more than 12,000 animals from 500 different species.

The zoo is well-known for the high standard of its animal care and management, as well as its contributions to wildlife conservation and scientific research. The Saint Louis Zoo is dedicated to bringing people and animals together. Take a journey from the forest floor, through a see-through tunnel, and up into the treetops on an elevated boardwalk to see monkeys and lemurs in their enriching and engaging state-of-the-art outdoor homes and play areas at Michael and Quirsis Riney Primate Canopy Trails.

Judy and Jerry Kent Family Sea Lion Sound is a 1.5-acre exhibit right in the heart of the Zoo. Visitors can walk through an underwater tunnel into the seal and sea lions’ habitat to see the animals swimming all around them. The Sea Lion Show showcases sea lion behavior, animal fun facts and the need for conserving the sea lions’ ocean habitat.

Grizzly bear siblings Huckleberry and Finley, and polar bear Kali, can all be found at the zoo. At Penguin and Puffin Coast, giggle along with these adorable oceanic birds. To learn more about the species you’re seeing, head to the Living World education and discovery center, with documentaries about wildlife, evolution and conservation efforts.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Area: 36 ha
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Admission: Free; however, there are fees for some attractions
  
• Address: 1 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110

Meramec State Park is a 6,896-acre state park owned and managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and is located in Franklin County, Missouri approximately 60 miles southwest of St. Louis near Interstate 44 and the City of Sullivan. The Meramec River flows within the park's boundaries, a beautiful, stream-fed waterway that meanders through some of the most scenic outdoor environments found in the Ozarks.

The landscape is characterized by steep forested hills densely forested with pine and various hardwoods, as well as limestone outcroppings rising high above the cool waters of the Meramec. Meramec is named after an Indian tribe that once lived in the area, and the word is thought to mean either "good fish" or "catfish."

Meramec State Park has a lot to offer, from floating and fishing to dining, camping and caving. Many first-time visitors to the park are astounded by the variety of outdoor and indoor activities available. Classic Ozarks-style cabins, modern motel rooms, canoe/raft rentals, casual dining atop the valley, and a fully-stocked store are just a few of the amenities that will ensure the success of your visit.

It's enjoyable to explore the park's trails or waters by kayak or fishing, but the park's real draw is its more than 40 fascinating caves. Fraser Cave, with its stunning stalactites and stalagmites that line its ceiling, is difficult to beat for sheer beauty. At the park's exciting and educational visitor center, guests can learn all about the park's incredible formations as well as the park ecology and environment. To wake up to the park's stunning scenery, many visitors prefer to camp or spend the night in one of the park's lodges.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
• Area: 6,896-acre
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Free
• Address: 115 Meramec Park Drive, Sullivan, MO 63080