When my husband and I planned our trip to the Ozarks to see our son graduate Army boot camp at Fort Lenord Wood, we stayed in Springfield, Missouri. Our thought was that we would visit Branson, Missouri, an hour away from Springfield, if we had some downtime. We never made it to Branson because of all the things we found to do in Springfield, and we were glad we stayed there. Here are 10 Exciting Places To See In Springfield, Missouri.
Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Johnny Morris, the mastermind behind Bass Pro Shop, opened Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in 2017. My husband wanted to visit it, and I am so glad we did. We were astonished at how wondrous it was. We have not stopped talking about it since we got home. We have been to some great Aquariums, and this one blew them all away by far. The aquarium and museum are three levels that you walk through. The first half of the tour is the aquarium that has saltwater and freshwater fish. It also tells the history of fishing for sport. The second half of the museum is a wildlife museum that focuses on conservation. You can see every kind of animal in the museum.
While taking a break and eating lunch at the counter service restaurant, Fish Tales, we saw a penguin diving in a large cylinder in the middle of the room. As we continued our tour, we saw more penguins along with the one we saw in the cafe.
We spent over 6 hours in the museum, and towards the end, we felt rushed because they were closing. So I suggest you go early to have enough time to see everything. We could have easily spent three or more hours there.
Bass Pro Shop
The Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is attached to the largest Bass Pro Shop Store, and inside the store are free small museums. The Motor Sports Museum, The History Of Bass Pro Shops, Archery History, National Rifle Association History, and more. The free museums close at 5 PM. We had to go back another day to visit the store and the free museums, which I recommend touring. The store is impressive and has small displays of fish and aquatic life throughout the store.
Every inch of the store is themed well. On our way out of the store, we realized that ceiling above the cash registers made it look like you were standing on the bottom of a lake looking up. There were fishing lines, duck feet, fish hiding, a man noodling, and more. It was amazing. My husband and I are not outdoor people, but we enjoyed it so much.
Hemingway’s Restaurant at Bass Pro Shop
In the main part of the store was a sit-down restaurant called Hemingway’s named after the author Ernest Hemingway who loved to fish. I mention Hemingway’s as one of the ten places to visit because I think it is well worth the dining experience. There was a lot of memorabilia of Hemingway throughout the museum, aquarium, and store. The restaurant had an aquarium behind the bar that was calming to watch while enjoying a delicious dinner. You could plan a whole trip around visiting the Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.
History Museum On The Square
In the downtown area of Springfield, there is the History Museum On The Square. This museum is well laid out and tells the history of Springfield from the time of the Native Americans through modern history. Among some of the stories told at the museum was the recount about the first gunfight in the west where Wild Bill Hickok shot Dave Tutt in the market square of Springfield, Missouri. The location is marked just outside the museum.
Springfield is very proud that the idea for Route 66 was born there. The museum displays the history of Route 66 and how it changed America. I am fascinated by Route 66 and its history, so I enjoyed reading all about it on the timeline wall running through an area of the museum.
Springfield became the crossroads for the east to the west and north to the south, and so much history has flowed through there. It is well worth the visit. To plan your visit go to History Museum On The Square.
Route 66 Car Museum
My daddy loves old cars and car history, so I was around old cars and learned to appreciate them growing up. With a little convincing, I talked my husband into visiting the Route 66 Car Museum. To me, old cars and the historic Route 66 go hand in hand. The museum had some astonishing vehicles on display, and each car had a sign telling its story. My husband, who is not a car enthusiast, enjoyed the museum more than he thought he would.
Get Your Kicks On Route 66
So this is not in Springfield, Missouri, but you can’t visit Springfield and not take a drive down Route 66. This next attraction is the perfect road trip down memory lane.
Route 66 has had a booming history that declined a few years back, but the nostalgia of the “Mother Road” has brought a new interest to people. Like me, the younger generations are seeking adventure on Route 66. That’s why I was so excited when my husband discovered this classic roadside motel that was still up and running like it was when Route 66 was in its heyday. The Munger Moss Motel is run by the most precious lady Mrs. Ramona. She and her husband have owned the motel for over 50 years. While we enjoyed visiting the motel and taking great pictures, meeting Mrs. Ramona was the highlight of this visit. She welcomed us into the motel lobby, and it was like meeting with an old friend. She made us feel like we were home.
When we stopped, we had our son, who had just graduated boot camp from Ft. Leonard Wood, with us, and Mrs. Ramona was so thrilled he stopped by. She loved on him and welcomed him to stop by for a visit anytime he missed home and just needed to get away for a day or two.
Today it is a popular trip to visit the highlights along the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles and stop at some of the still-standing attractions. It is something I would love to do one day. I’d love to hear from you if you have made this trip.
Red’s Giant Hamburg Worlds First Drive Thru Window
With the height of the Route 66 and “road trip” era came along many new inventions. One of those is the world’s first Drive-Thru restaurant, Red’s Giant Hamburg. Inside, the restaurant is themed to its original decade. We ate at a Formica and chrome tables with vinal-covered chairs. A large television played old commercials on the wall, and the sound came through a drive-in speaker at each table.
The order counter had two areas: an old-fashioned ice cream shop where you picked up your ice cream order, and the other was for your drive-through style food, like burgers and hotdogs. The food was delicious and served in large metal square baskets.
The location that we ate at was not the original location, but down the road, we found the original site marked with the original sign. Although the original building was no longer there, it was still a highlight along Route 66, marking the world’s first drive-thru restaurant.
Askinosie Chocolate
Askinosie Chocolate is a quick stop that lets you see how they make chocolate bars and package them in the factory. When you stop by, you can try a free sample of the different chocolate bars they make. This chocolate is unique because it is made in small batches from beans harvested from small farms worldwide. The famous Askinosie chocolate bars have been featured in Food And Wine and several other publications. It doesn’t take long to stop by, but it is well worth it.
Lambert’s Restaurant Home Of Throwed Rolls
When I was too little to remember, my parents took me on a trip to Sikeston, Missouri, where we ate at Lambert’s Restaurant. My parents always talked about it being “home of the throwed rolls.” When I was much older, I went on vacation to South Alabama, where I ate at the Lamberts in Foley, Alabama, and witnessed the “home of the throwed rolls.” So when my husband suggested Lambert’s for dinner, I replied with “home of the throwed rolls,” which shocked him. He didn’t know I had experienced it before and heard about it all my life.
Lambert’s is such a unique experience. You order your meal, and while you wait, they serve you sides like fried okra, fried potatoes, and throwed rolls. Don’t worry if you don’t want them to throw a roll at you; they will be glad to bring it to you. It’s just fun to hold your hand up when they roll out a tray of fresh hot rolls, and they land one right in your hand. They serve you such large portions you will be waddling out the door. Lambert’s is a classic place that some pretty famous people have visited.
I walked (waddled) away full and feeling accomplished that I have eaten at all three Lambert’s Restaurants, and yes, I’m counting the one I ate at when I was 2.
Van Gogh’s Eeterie
Van Gogh’s Eeterie is a Dutch-inspired restaurant located in the Historic C-Street District. It has a unique menu that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Van Gogh’s Eeterie is such a unique place that you need to try it. We opted for breakfast, where we got waffles with toppings and eggs and sausage. There were so many delicious-sounding options that it was hard to choose from.
Springfield, Missouri, is such a fantastic place. I was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do in Springfield. I can’t wait to go back and visit again.
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What an occasion you’ve chosen to stay in Springfield, Missouri. Attending a graduation program of a child is always a pride moment for parents. And with so many things to see in the city, the joy is double.
Wow! It’s good to learn that Springfield, Missouri has everything for wildlife enthusiast, history lovers, car lovers, as well as for adventure seekers. It will be great to visit this fascinating place.