Stroll Through the Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park

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