Spring in Missouri brings some unpredictable weather which often includes rain. This means your plan for the zoo, the park, or to ride bikes are shot, and you need some other activity. Here are some options from all over the state, for when Mother Nature is not cooperating with your outdoor plans.
1. Activity and Recreation Center, Columbia
The A.R.C. in Columbia is a 73,000-square-foot indoor recreation facility. They have an indoor leisure pool, gymnasium, game room, indoor track, and cardio/strength-training zones. Features of the pool include a a zero-depth entry, interactive water play feature, a triple-loop water slide, a lazy river, a vortex, three lap lanes, and a heated hydrotherapy pool. You can purchase yearly, weekly, or daily passes.
Location: 1701 W Ash Street
Website: gocolumbiamo.com
2. Auto World Museum, Fulton
In this museum, cars are displayed in era-specific settings to create the atmosphere of the year the car was made using huge prints of historic scenes and building facades. The oldest automobile in the museum’s collection is a 1903 Humbrette, and the newest is a 1997 UMC solar race car. The displays rotate, with the museum displaying nearly 80 vehicles at a time from the larger collection. Visitors get audio-visual information about the cars and their place in history with interactive kiosks. A perfect activity for the car enthusiast!
Location: 200 Peacock Drive
Website: autoworldmuseum.com
3. Missouri State Capitol Building, Jefferson City
Completed in 1918, the capitol covers three acres in downtown Jefferson City. Rising 238 feet above ground level, the dome is topped by a bronze statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of vegetation. The structure is notable for its architectural features including its columns, grand stairway, and bronze doors. In addition to its role in government, the building also houses the historic exhibits of the Missouri State Museum.
They provide free guided 45-minute tours on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Saturday, and at four different times on Sundays. In addition, self-guided maps are available for wandering around on your own.
Location: 201 W Capitol Avenue
Website: mostateparks.com
4. National Blues Museum, St. Louis
With their grand opening on April 2nd, the brand new National Blues Museum will feature high impact technology driven blues experiences, a theater, artifact driven exhibits and public programming. It explores the history of the blues and celebrates its importance as the root of other types of American modern music.
Location: 615 Washington Avenue
Website: nationalbluesmuseum.org
5. Mark Twain Cave and Cameron Cave, Hannibal
The Mark Twain Cave Complex features both the Mark Twain Cave and Cameron Cave. Mark Twain Cave is the one the author described in his books. It is a registered National Natural Landmark, and was first shown to the public in 1886. The one-hour tour lasts an hour and takes you through the labyrinth style passages.
Cameron Cave offers a slightly different type of underground experience. A guided, 90-minute tour takes you through the cave by lantern light, allowing you to see the cave as it looked when it was first discovered in 1925. No modifications have been made to the cave other than those needed to meet the basic comfort and safety regulations for show caves. Visit their website for more information.
Location: 300 Cave Hollow Road
Website: marktwaincave.com
6. Adrenaline Zone, St. Charles
Adrenaline Zone in St. Charles boasts three awesome game options. Demolition Ball is a unique game that combines hockey, football, polo, and basketball. It’s played in bumper cars! (Note: must be 12 years or older and at least 54 inches tall.)
Adrenaline Zone’s laser tag arena is one of the largest multi-level arenas in Missouri. Challenge your family or friends to a battle. (Not suggested for children under 7.)
The third option at Adrenaline Zone is Heist, a state-of-the-art, timed laser maze. In addition to all of this, the facility has video games, pool tables, and foosball tables, as well as a full bar and catering.
Address: 1875 S Old Hwy 94
Website: db-az.com
7. Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium, Kansas City
Spend the day at Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium and find yourself in a marvelous underwater world. With more than 5,000 sea creatures in 30 amazing displays, you are afforded incredibly close views of creatures like starfish, seahorses, rays, and even sharks. There is a 180-degree tunnel, an interactive touch-pool, and informative and fun presentations and feed shows throughout the day.
Add to the fun with combo tickets with Legoland Discovery Center.
Address: Crown Center complex at 2475 Grand Blvd.
Website: visitsealife.com
8. Hallmark Visitors Center, Kansas City
Editor's Note: Hallmark Visitors Center is closed through December 31, 2020
Hallmark was founded in 1910 by Mr. J.C. Hall and its headquarters have been in Kansas City for more than 100 years! Come and learn about its inception and history. They feature many interactive displays, original artwork, Keepsake Ornament collections, Hallmark television commercials, and special exhibits. They can also provide activities for groups.
Location: 2450 Grand Blvd.
Website: hallmarkvisitorscenter.com
9. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City
One of the top art museums in the U.S., The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art features one of the best collections of Asian art, as well as American, American Indian, Egyptian, and European art.
The Bloch Building, designed by Steven Holl, contains galleries of contemporary and African art, photography, and special exhibits. Outdoors you’ll find the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, a collection of amazing sculptures by many of the 20th century’s finest artists.
Location: 4525 Oak Street
Website: nelson-atkins.org
10. Bonne Terre Mine, Bonne Terre
Bonne Terre Mine was founded in 1860 as one of the earliest deep-earth lead mines. It is one of the world’s largest man-made caverns, and was dubbed "One of America's Top 10 Greatest Adventures" by National Geographic. It was the largest producer of lead in the world until 1962!
The two upper levels of the mine are used for one-hour guided walking tours along the old mule trails. The tours are lighted and the mine is a constant 65-degrees year-round. The lower three levels are home to a one-billion-gallon, seventeen-mile long lake, illuminated by stadium lighting above the surface of the water. Here, boat tours and scuba diving are available. See the web site for more information.
Location: 185 Park Avenue, one-hour south of St. Louis on Route 67.
Website: 2dive.com
11. Discovery Playhouse—A Children’s Museum, Cape Girardeau
This children’s museum, located in downtown Cape Girardeau, features interactive exhibits allowing visitors of all ages to shop a grocery store, become a dentist, drive a fire truck and go to the bank and learn about money.
"Pollywog Pond" allows young children to make discoveries in their fishing boat. "Kim's Secret Water Garden" has guests interacting with boats, dams, spinners and pipes.
In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers the "Downtown Toy Store," featuring a wide selection of educational and fun toys including great brands like "Melissa and Doug."
Location: 502 Broadway Street
Website: discoveryplayhouse.org
12. Rock On Indoor Climbing Gym (and Cinema), West Plains
Besides being a family movie theater, Rock On is an Indoor rock-climbing gym with 30 foot walls of varying slopes including both challenging overhangs and easy slopes. All climbers must sign a waiver, and climbers under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign the waiver. See the website for movie information and times, and more information about the climbing walls.
Location: 1221 Independence Drive
Website: familycinema.info
13. Askinosie Chocolate Factory Tour, Springfield
Askinosie Chocolate is a small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker, specializing in single origin chocolate using 100% cocoa beans sourced from small farmers. They provide public tours every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., on select Saturdays during each holiday season, and private tours by appointment. Each tour is around 45 minutes long, and provides you with a 10% discount in the shop.
Location: 514 E Commercial Street
Website: askinosie.com
14. Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors at Hollywood Entertainment Center, Branson
The Hollywood Entertainment Center is an attraction at the center of the Highway 76 strip in Branson. An All Access Pass will get you into the the wax museum, the mini golf game, the 5D shooting haunted attraction, and Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors.
Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors has you wandering through mirrored corridors in an attempt to rescue Princess Hannah of Savannah. There are 288 potential turns among hundreds of mirrored walls and archways, including several sections where you'll see infinite reflections in every direction. A fun problem-solving adventure for all ages!
Location: 3030 West 76 Country Blvd
Website: hollywoodentertainmentcenter.com
15. Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Springfield
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame presents more than 4,000 sports archives displayed in a two-story, 32,000 square-foot museum. It includes interactive displays including facing a major league pitch and joining a NASCAR race in a simulator, an announcer’s booth, and a hands-on basketball exhibit. You don’t have to be a sports fanatic to enjoy the museum, where the greatest memories in Missouri sports history come alive.
Location: 3861 East Stan Musial Drive
Website: mosportshalloffame.com
What are some of your favorite things to do when it's raining?
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