COURTESY OF JOHN BROWN
The Felix Valle State Historic Site
SAINTE GENEVIEVE
1 hour
The state’s oldest town lures you in with its history and French colonial architecture, then keeps you there with its cultural amenities, from the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center (featuring the Missouri dinosaur) to the rolling hills of nearby wine country. (Click here to read more about Ste. Genevieve.)
- Must-Visit: Tour the Bolduc and LeMeilleur houses, part of the National Park site, dating from the late 1700s and representing two distinct generations of French settler architecture.
- Hidden Gem: Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary offers guided tours of the rescue facility for big cats, along with a sample of Fizzy Izzy root beer, named for its most famous feline resident.
NEW HAVEN
1 hour
Nestled in Missouri wine country, New Haven sits along an active train route next to the Missouri River. It’s a perfect hub for exploring the town or the nearby wineries and breweries. Right in town, Pinckney Bend Distillery and Paddle Stop Brewery can set you up with a beverage and a view.
- Must-Visit: Stop into Astral Glass Studio to watch master glassblowers at work and to find handcrafted home and kitchen wares with personality.
- Hidden Gem: Book a Missouri River canoe adventure with Paddle Stop, an outfitter and guide service that offers intro classes and full-moon outings.
IRONTON
1.5 hours
In the heart of the Arcadia Valley, the Iron County seat is a great headquarters for setting out on adventures in the surrounding Ozark countryside or checking out Missouri's Civil War history at Fort Davidson. Don’t miss a stop at Arcadia Valley Soap Company for gifts or a home-cooked meal at Thee Abbey Kitchen at Arcadia Academy.
- Must-Visit: Hike Elephant Rocks State Park, 10 minutes north of town. It's a perfect combination of unique topography (including the 1.5 billion-year-old boulders that give the park its name) and cultivated trails, making it a great destination for the whole family.
- Hidden Gem: Shepherd Mountain Bike Park trails snake their way down the mountain for some of the most exciting, challenging technical biking (and hiking) in the Midwest.
FULTON
2 hours
Most notable for the National Churchill Museum, Fulton gained fame as the site of Winston Churchill’s famous “Iron Curtain” speech. In honor of his efforts toward peace, a large section of the Berlin Wall forms a sculpture on the campus of Westminster College.
- Must-Visit: Experience the newly restored National Churchill Museum, with immersive exhibits on the London Blitz, life during wartime, and World War II spycraft.
- Hidden Gem: In the downtown Brick District, stroll, dine, and shop at an array of local businesses including GoPo Gourmet Popcorn, which serve up the noteworthy black truffle lemon peel popcorn.
ARROW ROCK
2.5 hours
At one time a landmark stop on the Santa Fe Trail, the whole town (with a total of 56 permanent residents) is today a listed National Historic Landmark.
- Must-Visit: Attend a show at The Lyceum Theatre, known for professional-caliber productions and musicals like A Christmas Carol and Jersey Boys.
- Hidden Gem: On December 10 from 6–8 p.m., Arrow Rock State Historic Site hosts Old Fashioned Christmas in the Village, a chance to peek inside the historic site’s buildings and see life as it would’ve happened in the mid-1800s, with westward-bound travelers at the tavern, schoolchildren in the schoolhouse, and a family preparing for a Christmas feast.
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS
4 hours
Situated just northeast of Kansas City, Excelsior Springs gained fame in the latter part of the 19th century as a source of healing waters. Today, it maintains its identity as a spa town, with its mineral springs.
- Must-Visit: The Hall of Waters is an Art Deco icon dating from the 1930s and the most significant Federal Public Works Administration project in the state. Today, it houses a small museum, a visitors center, and a mineral water bar.
- Hidden Gem: Enjoy lunch at Willow Spring Mercantile, where a small café is backed by a boutique selling the state’s largest selection of Missouri wines, craft beers, and spirits.
CLINTON
4 hours
Centered around the largest town square in the state, Clinton is home to the western trailhead of the Katy Trail, great shopping and dining, and the Henry County Courthouse.
- Must-Visit: Check out the Henry County Museum and Cultural Arts Center, a complex of restored historic buildings overseen by period-costumed docents.
- Hidden Gem: The annual Wine Stroll happens each fall and showcases tastes from more than a dozen Missouri wineries, plus related classes, parties, and swag.
CARTHAGE
4 hours
Rebuilt during the Victorian era (after being burned to the ground during Civil War skirmishes), Carthage now spans more than 600 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including one of the largest such residential districts in the state. The Maple Leaf Festival includes a giant marching band competition, as well as car and tractor shows.
- Must-Visit: Take a selfie in front of the Romanesque Revival Jasper County Courthouse.
- Hidden Gem: Historic village? Art installation? At Red Oak II, the answer is “yes.” An artist-curated “ghost town” made up of vintage buildings, like a gas station and church, has been rebuilt about 20 miles from its original location.
