The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, founded by Johnny Morris, bills itself as the world's largest immersive wildlife attraction. To its credit, Springfield's museum and aquarium complex include the Midwest's only sea turtle rehabilitation center, a full replica of President Theodore Roosevelt's North Dakota cabin, and the opportunity to dive into the shark and grouper tank while the fish are fed. The complex divides its collections into three categories: aquarium, wildlife, and special exhibits. The complex is named after Johnny Morris, the founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops and an American billionaire.

Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is open daily beginning at 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day (closes at 7 p.m. Sunday). General admission tickets range in price from $40 to $25 for adults and $25 to $25 for children, with discounts for locals. Additional passes that combine family attractions or other nearby attractions for a reduced price are also available. Recent visitors to the museum and aquarium were impressed by the quality of the exhibits and recommended spending several hours there.

Address: 500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield, MO 65807

The Springfield Cardinals are the city's Minor League Baseball team, and visitors can catch a game at Hammons Field from April to October. The 8,000-seat stadium opened in 2004 as the home of the Springfield Cardinals, a Minor League Baseball team, as well as the collegiate Missouri State Bears.

As a member of the Texas League, the Cardinals play 70 home games per season. Fans should purchase tickets online ahead of time to ensure they get good seats. Any child aged 12 and under is eligible for the Cardinals Kids Club, which includes a certificate for their first Cardinals game as well as two general admission tickets to three pre-selected games. This upper area offers an All You Can Eat with box seating. There is plenty of space to stand and talk behind the seats if you want to visit. Ticket prices are reasonable. The food prices are reasonable. They have great giveaways if you are willing to show up early enough to get one.

Address: 955 E. Trafficway St., Springfield, MO 65802

Route 66, also known as US Highway 66, has been immortalized in song and has a place in the American psyche as the wide, open road. Approximately 317 miles of Route 66 pass through Missouri, with Springfield being known as the "birthplace of Route 66". Route 66 was designated a National Scenic Byway after it was decommissioned as a highway. The Route 66 Car Museum honors automobile culture with classic models and rare finds dating from 1907 to 2005. The fact that it is entirely private is perhaps the most impressive aspect.

Children may enjoy seeing cars in classic films such as "Ghostbusters" and "Transformers". The museum, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., takes about an hour to tour. General admission begins at $15, with children 10 and under admitted for $5 and seniors and veterans admitted for $13. On-site parking is complimentary.

Address: 1634 W. College St., Springfield, MO 65806

Springfield appears to be an unlikely location for a castle, let alone knights, but Pythian Castle defies most visitors' expectations. The Knights of Pythias, a Freemason-like organization, built the castle in 1913 as an orphanage and retirement home. After the United States entered WWII, the castle was used to house prisoners of war and to rehabilitate US troops. It's no surprise, then, that the castle attracts a wide range of visitors today, despite its more than 100-year history.

Pythian Castle is popular with history buffs who want to learn more, amateur ghost hunters who want to go on a ghost tour or overnight paranormal investigation, and thrill-seekers who want to be entertained by one of the castle's escape rooms or murder mystery dinners. Prices vary depending on the tour you choose, as well as optional extras such as a quick escape room or other games.

Address: 1451 E. Pythian St., Springfield MO 65802

Fantastic Caverns, located in Springfield, Missouri, is a show cave. Fantastic Caverns is North America's only cave with a completely ride-through tour that lasts 55 minutes and is conducted in a Jeep-drawn tram. The trams follow the path left by an ancient underground river.

The Fantastic Caverns, also known as America's ride-through cave, were discovered in 1862 by an Ozarks farmer named John Knox, who kept the caves a secret throughout the Civil War. A dozen all-female volunteers, whose names can still be seen carved on the cavern walls, explored the caverns for the first time about five years later. Ride-through tours have been available since 1962, and are conducted on Jeep-drawn trams that preserve the caves' integrity. A one-hour tour takes visitors through stalactites and other formations formed over thousands of years. Fantastic Caverns is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, and admission is $30 for adults and $17 for children (children under 5 are free with a parent).

Address: 4872 N. Farm Road, Springfield, MO 65803

If you have enough time in Springfield, a day trip to Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri's largest state park, about 90 miles northeast of downtown Springfield, is worthwhile. Locals enjoy getting outside, and you can join them by swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, cycling, or camping on one of the state's largest lakes with 89 miles of shoreline. Cabins and yurts are available on-site all year. The park is free to enter, but renting a canoe, kayak, or even a horse can make the day even more memorable. Pets on leashes are welcome. It wouldn't be Missouri if there wasn't at least one cave — Ozark Caverns offers guided tours on a regular basis.

Enjoy the peace and quiet of an undeveloped cove hidden along the shores of one of Missouri's largest lakes. Swim, fish, boat, or simply enjoy the scenery from a shady campsite or picnic area overlooking Lake of the Ozarks. The park provides opportunities to participate in a variety of recreational activities on the lake or on the shore.

Address: 403 Highway 134, Kaiser, MO 65047

In collaboration with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, the Springfield Art Museum is pleased to announce an expansive outdoor sculpture installation by Kansas City artist Shawn Bitters.

The permanent collection of the Springfield Art Museum began in 1928, making it the city's oldest cultural institution. Since then, the museum has grown to include nearly 10,000 objects in its permanent collection, as well as four rotating exhibitions at any given time. Large sculptures can also be found on the museum's outdoor grounds, which are open to the public during the summer. Visitors are welcome (donations accepted) and can expect to see a variety of globally sourced collections, ranging from pottery to printmaking. A Family Art Lab provides hands-on interaction, whereas a Book Nook invites you to relax. The museum is open daily except for Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Address: 1111 E. Brookside Drive, Springfield, MO 65807

The original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location not only has more gear than you can imagine, but it also has The National Archery Hall of Fame, and Ernest Hemingway-themed cafe, and a conservation education center called the Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility School. It's a 500,000-square-foot space that draws approximately 4 million visitors per year with its hunter- and angler-centric interpretations of conservationism.

Previous visitors claim that this Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location is a sight to behold, claiming that there is truly something for everyone in the massive store. Outdoor World is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing an hour earlier on Sunday. On-site is the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum, as well as the previously mentioned Wonders of Wildlife complex.

Address: 1 Bass Pro Drive, Springfield, MO 65807

The 113-acre Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park should be near the top of any Springfield visitor's list of things to do. The Springfield Botanical Gardens, a native butterfly house open seasonally from April to October, Lake Drummond, and the aforementioned Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden are all located in the park. The area was originally divided into two parks, one of which was named Nathanael Greene Park after a prominent Civil War general. Following a donation from the C.M. Close family, the park was expanded and renamed.

Visitors can explore dozens of themed gardens, as well as the 1860s-era Grey/Campbell farmstead and the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, on a self-guided tour of the park. The park's events calendar includes regularly scheduled activities such as an orchid show, a master gardener-led garden walk, and seasonal festivals. There are also nearly three miles of trails that wind around a lake, and a butterfly house where you can view the insects in all of their life stages.

Address: 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807

While in Springfield, bring the family to meet over 450 different animals from all over the world. The Dickerson Park Zoo, founded in 1923, has been in operation for nearly a century. The zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1986 and is involved in a number of conservation efforts. A one-mile trail leads visitors past the majority of the animal enclosures, which include lions, tigers, and bears. Take advantage of the opportunity to feed a giraffe for an extra $4.

There is a playground and a miniature train on-site; weather permitting, the train runs from March to October for $2 per passenger aged 2 and up (younger children ride free). The zoo admission fee is $16 for adults and $11 for children aged 3 to 12. The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March to October, and until 4 p.m. the rest of the year (closed if there is snow or ice).

Address: 1401 W. Norton Road, Springfield, MO 65803