Springfield, MO Things to Do and Attractions
Over four million people visit Springfield's internationally-renowned Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World flagship store each year, making it Missouri's top tourist attraction. Opened as a fishing gear store in 1972, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is now also
Over four million people visit Springfield's internationally-renowned Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World flagship store each year, making it Missouri's top tourist attraction. Opened as a fishing gear store in 1972, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is now also a wildlife exhibition center set in the rustic atmosphere of a giant log cabin. Guests to the store can explore over 300,000 square feet of outdoor supplies and wildlife exhibits, including a 64,000-gallon glowing tank that's home to 14 species of Missouri fish.
Visitors can see the resident 96-pound snapping turtle at the Ozarks River Exhibit, or touch the aquatic life inhabiting the river turtle pond. Also popular are the attraction's indoor archery range and Hemingway's Blue Water Caf, where patrons dine alongside a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM. On-site parking is available.
Also known as C-Street, the Commercial Street Historic District is a six-block area nestled downtown between Washington Avenue and Lyon Avenue. As Springfield's first historic district, it was once the city's commercial center after the arrival of
Also known as C-Street, the Commercial Street Historic District is a six-block area nestled downtown between Washington Avenue and Lyon Avenue. As Springfield's first historic district, it was once the city's commercial center after the arrival of the Frisco railroad in 1870. Today, the district boasts an impressive inventory of historic buildings as well as a number vibrant arts, entertainment and shopping venues.
Currently undergoing an expansive revitalization plan, C-Street is seeing the arrival of new luxury housing and cultural sites. Thanks to the revitalization plan, residents and visitors alike can flock to the area to pick up items from trendy boutiques, grab a meal at one of many fine dining spots or dance the night away at fantastic live music venues. The C-Street district is also home to the 562-foot-long Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, the country's longest pedestrian footbridge, which allows pedestrians to cross 13 sets of railroad tracks.
Missouri is home to over 5,600 known caves, only 18 of which are open to visitors. One of them, Springfield's Fantastic Caverns, is America's only ride-through cave. Here, guests can take an hour-long, one-mile tour in Jeep-drawn trams to see
Missouri is home to over 5,600 known caves, only 18 of which are open to visitors. One of them, Springfield's Fantastic Caverns, is America's only ride-through cave. Here, guests can take an hour-long, one-mile tour in Jeep-drawn trams to see magnificent stalagmites and stalactites. With a year-round temperature of 60°F and trams moving at just one mile per hour, exploring the caverns is a relaxing and memorable experience.
Fantastic Caverns is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $13.50 for children ages 6-12 and $21.50 for adults. Admission for children under 6 is free.
Located just a short drive from downtown Springfield, the 40,000-square-foot Pythian Castle was built as an orphanage in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias. During World War II, it was used for entertaining and rehabilitating injured U.S. troops, and
Located just a short drive from downtown Springfield, the 40,000-square-foot Pythian Castle was built as an orphanage in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias. During World War II, it was used for entertaining and rehabilitating injured U.S. troops, and later as a reserve center by the military until it was sold at auction in 1993. Currently under restoration, the 55-room castle is constructed of Carthage stone, a variety of limestone commonly quarried in the Ozarks.
Guests can tour this majestic structure, exploring through the original main floor's grand foyer, meeting room, ballroom, dining hall and sitting parlors. The second floor, accessible by a dual staircase, features dormitory-style rooms and bedrooms and a sprawling theatre and ticket booth. The castle is also reputed to be haunted, so it's not uncommon for visitors to hear voices, see floating orbs or experience temperature changes as they wander the halls.
The stunning castle is available for private functions of all kinds. Group tours are also available. Castle tour schedules vary based on season. One-hour tours are $5 for children ages 5-12 and $7.50 for adults. Tours are free for children under 5.
Nestled on the edge of Phelps Grove Park, the Springfield Art Museum is home to nearly 9,000 American paintings, watercolors, sculptures and prints dating from the 19th through 21st centuries. Thanks to several renovations and upgrades in the past
Nestled on the edge of Phelps Grove Park, the Springfield Art Museum is home to nearly 9,000 American paintings, watercolors, sculptures and prints dating from the 19th through 21st centuries. Thanks to several renovations and upgrades in the past two decades, the museum is home to a 392-seat auditorium and Jeannette L. Musgrave Wing housing four exhibition galleries. Opened in 2008, an additional wing houses an entry hall, galleries, gift shop and library.
In addition to its collection, the modern Springfield Art Museum is known for hosting the Watercolor U.S.A. competition. Held annually since 1962, the competition draws more than 1,000 entries every year. Thousands of visitors flock to the museum each year to judge the entries.
Private events can be held throughout the museum, including at its 392-seat auditorium. The Springfield Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours Thursday until 8 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Admission is free.
Located 10 miles southeast of Springfield, the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is the site of the second major battle of the Civil War. Today, the 1,750-acre battlefield remains in near pristine condition and is full of educational experiences.
Located 10 miles southeast of Springfield, the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is the site of the second major battle of the Civil War. Today, the 1,750-acre battlefield remains in near pristine condition and is full of educational experiences. The on-site Civil War Museum features Civil War exhibits and artifacts, while the visitor's center is home to a fiber optics battle map. Built in 1852 as a field hospital, the battlefield's Ray House is open for guided tours in the spring and summer months.
Guests to the battlefield can also watch historic weapon firing demonstrations or take guided walking tours of the grounds. The 4.9-mile automobile tour visits all major points of interest, each with maps, artwork and historical information.
The Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Visitor's Center is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. The Civil War Museum is open daily from 9 AM to noon and from 1 to 4 PM. Admission to the park is $5 per adult with a limit of $10 per vehicle.
With rich, dark wood accents, low lighting and sumptuous butter-colored walls, the Argentina Steakhouse is an ideal spot for romantic dinners, business meetings and more. Regarded as Springfield's premiere steakhouse, Argentina Steakhouse's extensive
With rich, dark wood accents, low lighting and sumptuous butter-colored walls, the Argentina Steakhouse is an ideal spot for romantic dinners, business meetings and more. Regarded as Springfield's premiere steakhouse, Argentina Steakhouse's extensive wine list complements a seasonal menu full of traditional Argentine fare, crafted by Buenos Aires natives on staff. Menu selections include cognac-marinated, sesame-encrusted ahi tuna, pork chops with fresh thyme pork jus, and 12-ounce prime Kansas City Strip seasoned with imported Argentine salt.
Mezzanine-level private dining is available at the restaurant for up to 50 guests. The Argentina Steakhouse serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM and dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Entrees average $20.
The award-winning Bijan's Sea & Grille's sleek space full of bold colors and vibrant artwork serves as the perfect backdrop for enjoying the restaurant's inventive contemporary American cuisine. Menu favorites include slow-roasted Long Island duck
The award-winning Bijan's Sea & Grille's sleek space full of bold colors and vibrant artwork serves as the perfect backdrop for enjoying the restaurant's inventive contemporary American cuisine. Menu favorites include slow-roasted Long Island duck with orange hoisin sauce, tempura lobster with mango papaya salsa, and cedar-enhanced Chilean seabass. After dinner, guests can retreat to Bijan's upstairs cigar and martini bar complete with a walk-in humidor.
Bijan's Sea & Grille serves dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. Entrees range from $13 to $28.
Springfield's Gallery Bistro serves a fusion of Asian, French, British and Spanish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Guests dine in an eclectic atmosphere created by vibrant artwork and large windows overlooking Springfield's thriving arts district. Menu
Springfield's Gallery Bistro serves a fusion of Asian, French, British and Spanish cuisine in a relaxed setting. Guests dine in an eclectic atmosphere created by vibrant artwork and large windows overlooking Springfield's thriving arts district. Menu favorites include bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with roasted spaghetti squash; Pacific halibut with saffron rice pilaf; and honey-roasted duck breast with seared apple and walnut couscous.
Gallery Bistro serves dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. Entrees range from $12 to $27.
A favorite among Springfield residents and visitors alike, Mille's Turn of the Century Caf is a cozy eatery located in a century-old building in historic downtown Springfield. Guests to Mille's dine on contemporary American fare amid exposed brick
A favorite among Springfield residents and visitors alike, Mille's Turn of the Century Caf is a cozy eatery located in a century-old building in historic downtown Springfield. Guests to Mille's dine on contemporary American fare amid exposed brick walls, dark woods, pendant lighting and bold artwork. With a menu of more than 100 selections, favorites include grilled pork tenderloin with sweet apple walnut butter; pan-seared mahi mahi with honey citrus glaze; and goat cheese-encrusted petite beef tenderloin with a cherry port reduction.
Mille's Turn of the Century Caf offers private dining in various spaces. Its Pavilion Room can accommodate 200 guests; its Conference Room, 25 guests; and its Banquet Room, 75 guests. The caf is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11 to 1 AM. Entrees range from $8 to $22.
Founded in 1997, Springfield Brewing Company is one of the few breweries in the world to be built, operated and owned by a brewery equipment fabrication company. One of the city's favorite restaurants, Springfield Brewery Company pairs its
Founded in 1997, Springfield Brewing Company is one of the few breweries in the world to be built, operated and owned by a brewery equipment fabrication company. One of the city's favorite restaurants, Springfield Brewery Company pairs its award-winning, hand-crafted ales and lagers with an expansive American pub menu. Signature selections include strip steak with black peppercorn crust and bleu cheese butter; blackened chicken over penne pasta with spicy chipotle cream sauce; and tilapia with basil cream sauce. After dinner, guests can enjoy a game of pool or relax in the cigar lounge. Live music performances take place Wednesday through Sunday.
Springfield Brewing Company's unique interior of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the computer-automated, state-of-the-art brewing system is great for private functions of up to 250 guests. Springfield Brewing Company is open Monday through Saturday from 11 to 1:30 AM and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Entrees range from $8 to $20.
Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo is home to more than 500 animals representing 170 species. Guests can visit animals in themed, naturalistic environments representing habitats in South America, Australia, Africa and Missouri. Internationally renowned
Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo is home to more than 500 animals representing 170 species. Guests can visit animals in themed, naturalistic environments representing habitats in South America, Australia, Africa and Missouri. Internationally renowned for its successful Asian elephant breeding, the zoo's resident elephants in the newly-opened Tropical Asia Exhibit are always popular. The Outback Corral petting zoo and giraffe feeding area are also favorite spots for both children and adults.
The zoo's pavilion can be rented for up to 145 guests. Dickerson Park Zoo is open daily, April to September, from 9 AM to 5 PM and daily, October to March, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $5 for children ages 3-12 and $7 for adults. Admission for children under 3 is free.
After a major expansion in 2006, the Discovery Center's new west wing became the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in southwest Missouri. From building a meteorite to making an aircraft and testing it on a
After a major expansion in 2006, the Discovery Center's new west wing became the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in southwest Missouri. From building a meteorite to making an aircraft and testing it on a vertical launch pad, the expansive center entices guests of all ages with innovative learning experiences. Children can experience African American, Chinese, Japanese and Mexican cultures in the multicultural World Tour Exhibit, or dare to pedal across a 20-foot-high-wire on a bike at the High Wire Bike Exhibit.
The Discovery Center offers private event rentals in numerous spaces. Its 2,700-square-foot Auditorium and Foyer has space for up to 200 guests; Gallery A, with 1,400 square feet and a full kitchen, can seat up to 150 people; and the Immersion Cinema Theater can seat up to 50 people in a tiered lecture hall. Smaller classrooms and entire museum rentals are also available.
The center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. General admission is $5 for children ages 3-12 and $7 for adults. Admission for children under 3 is free. Each high-wire bike ride is an additional $3 per person. Immersion Cinema tickets are an additional $3 per person.
A work in progress, Springfield's Jordan Valley Park is a 12-acre public park situated in a former industrial area in downtown Springfield. A blend of both indoor facilities and outdoor spaces, the park is designed to combine open space, buildings,
A work in progress, Springfield's Jordan Valley Park is a 12-acre public park situated in a former industrial area in downtown Springfield. A blend of both indoor facilities and outdoor spaces, the park is designed to combine open space, buildings, water features, meadows, playgrounds and plazas. The park is home to such city landmarks as the Springfield Expo Center and the 7,896-seat Hammons Field, home to the Springfield Cardinals and the Missouri State University Bears. The Jordan Valley Ice Park features two regulation-size ice rinks, open for free skating and hockey and skate lessons.
Another centerpiece of the park is the popular Ozark Stream and Fountain. With waterfalls and ripples along rose and black granite, the fountain is designed to emulate an Ozarks region stream. Though the easily accessible park has a walking trail connecting to central Springfield, it also has a 977-space parking garage.
Rentals of park facilities, including its amphitheater, Hammons Field and Jordon Valley Ice Park, are available. Jordan Valley Park is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Founded in 1992, the 22,000-square-foot Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is home to an impressive collection of sports history and memorabilia honoring Missouri athletes, coaches and journalists. Walking through the entry's Legends Walk of bronze busts,
Founded in 1992, the 22,000-square-foot Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is home to an impressive collection of sports history and memorabilia honoring Missouri athletes, coaches and journalists. Walking through the entry's Legends Walk of bronze busts, visitors are immediately immersed in such interactive exhibits as a NASCAR simulator, play-by-play press box and simulated video batting cage. Guests can also peruse signed memorabilia, jerseys and various other related artifacts, including the 46-pound trout caught by state fishing champion Harold Ensley.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. Admission is $3 for children ages 6-15 and $5 for adults. Admission for children under 6 is free. On-site parking is available.
Springfield's 113-acre Nathanael Greene Park is a lush botanical center that ranks among the most family-friendly locales in the city. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike or walk on one of several trails, or simply pack a lunch to enjoy at the numerous
Springfield's 113-acre Nathanael Greene Park is a lush botanical center that ranks among the most family-friendly locales in the city. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike or walk on one of several trails, or simply pack a lunch to enjoy at the numerous picnic and grill areas. The park also features sprawling rose gardens, English-style gardens, butterfly gardens and a huge vegetable garden that yields more than 600 pounds of food for charity every year.
The largest public garden in Springfield, Nathanael Greene Park is also home to the 7.5-acre Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. Here, visitors enjoy serene Japanese landscaping, a small koi lake, tea house, moon bridge, moon deck and pagoda.
Nathanael Greene Park offers two pavilions available for private rentals of up to 80 people. The park is open daily year-round from dawn to dusk. The Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is open Thursday through Monday, April to October, from 9 AM to 7:30 PM. Admission to Nathanael Greene Park is free. Admission to the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is free for children ages 12 and under and $3 for adults.
