Located in southern Missouri's Ozark Mountains, Branson is one of the most visited entertainment meccas in the Midwest. Branson draws approximately 8 million visitors annually. The city includes over 100,000 hotel rooms, and its more than 50 theaters host gospel music shows, stand-up comedy, country music concerts and Broadway musical revues. Downtown shopping is available at Branson Landing mall, which is located on the shores of Lake Taneycomo. For recreation enthusiasts, Branson offers fishing opportunities at Table Rock Lake and canopy tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve.
Kansas City, with 450,000 residents, is the most populous city in Missouri. The city marks the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, facing the Missouri-Kansas border. In southern Kansas City, visitors can shop at one of the state's largest shopping complexes, Crown Center, or check out art exhibits at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City's historic Westport District features 19th century buildings, restaurants and shops. The Kansas City Jazz and American Jazz Museums are located downtown. Take in a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.
One of the first major Civil War battles west of the Mississippi River occurred at the site of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. This national park features a museum with Civil War-era artifacts such as sword belts, cannons and trinkets discovered in the battlefield. Wilson's Creek hosts annual re-enactments of the battle for spectators. Wilson's Creek is in southern Missouri, less than 30 minutes from Springfield.
Known as "America's Hometown," Hannibal is a small town on the Mississippi River in Northeast Missouri. The city is the hometown of famed author Mark Twain and the birthplace of the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown. Tours of the historic homes of both are available. The Mark Twain Riverboat, a re-creation of a 19th century steamroller boat, operates on the river; passengers may ride the boat from May through October.
Resting on the Mississippi River, St. Louis is in eastern Missouri and home to one of America's most famous landmarks, the Gateway Arch. Built in 1965, the Arch stands at 635 feet and is part of the Jefferson Expansion Memorial. The memorial was completed in honor of Thomas Jefferson's completion of the Louisiana Purchase. Approximately 4 million visitors come to the Arch annually. Other St. Louis attractions include the Shaw Botanical Garden at Tower Grove Park, the St. Louis Zoo and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. For tourists who like Italian food, The Hill district features restaurants that serve northern and southern Italian cuisine.
