In Diamond, we can set George Washington Carver’s birthplace and see where nature first inspired him as a boy. My son is fascinated by historic sites, so a trip through Missouri wouldn’t be complete without stopping at a few historic homes. The largest of the commercial caves is Meramec Caverns. Some that I think merit a visit: Onondaga Cave (claims to have the largest cave living room in the world) Fantastic Caverns in Springfield (home to the only ride-through cave in the U.S.) Marvel Cave (located inside Silver Dollar City and is said to have been discovered by Osage Indians in the 1500s) and two caves in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Robber’s Cave and the Counterfeiter’s Cave (rumored to have been hideouts for outlaws). Missouri has more than 5,000 caves, with the most “show caves” in the country. Photo courtesy Missouri Division of Tourism Go into a cave (or 5,000)īridal Caverns is the only Missouri cave I’ve visited, and it was definitely a highlight of our visit to Lake of the Ozarks! There’s also a behind-the-scenes tour that I could see my daughter loving. There are different types of tours to help the public learn more about the animals, but the one that sounds like a bucket list item is the chance to feed one of the cats. The National Tiger Sanctuary, just north of Branson, is home to rescued large cats. If I never learn to dive, there’s always an option of a boat tour. National Geographic Adventure named the diving experience one of the top 10 adventures in America. Have a 19th-century meal by candlelightįor this bucket list item, I’m going to have to learn to dive first! The Bonne Terre Mines look like a surreal experience – you’re pretty much scuba diving through an old mine.Have a phosphate at the soda fountain where Truman used to work.

Mo buckets