The city of Branson may be best known for country music, but there are plenty of other ways to pass the time here. If you are coming to Branson for the first time, you may be surprised at just how cosmopolitan and exciting the region can be. If you are already a Branson fan, you already know that the area boasts far more than the best in live theater and country music.

 

Located at the western side of St. Louis, Missouri, Chesterfield is the 14th biggest city in Missouri, but one of the most popular for road trippers and weekend vacationers. Outdoorsy travelers and city slickers combine in Chesterfield, where guests can step into the inner city for a booming local arts scene, or head over to a local park with nature paths and beautiful, natural sights.

There are some adventures to be had and fun things to do in Chesterfield. There are forests and farmlands to the outskirts, and nightlife to the city’s interior.

Foodies are in for a big thrill with the numerous restaurants in the area. American, European, and Italian cuisine are in abundance, but travelers can also expect Asian, Mexican, Indian, Sushi, and Thai fare with the occasional dalliance into fast food chains.

Cape Girardeau has a rich and significant American history as one of the posts for Ulysses S. Grant—a commanding general for Union soldiers towards the end of the Civil War. The legendary man visited this city for a mere 5 days, but it was long enough for him to get his bearings and become a greater leader for Union armies.

There are several statues and monuments dedicated to Grant throughout Cape Girardeau, as well as museum exhibits and antique information libraries that detail his accomplishments and life.

Riddled with suburban communities and rife with historic must-sees, Bridgeton is the kind of Missouri town that brings back memories of black-and-white television and feel-good family sitcoms. To the east of St. Charles and west of Florissant, Bridgeton is mere miles from the Missouri River, so many travelers head north to the waters during the days, then rest in Bridgeton hotels in the evenings.

Famed for the expeditions of Lewis and Clark, the area features several memorials to the adventurers in the form of statues, museums, and dedicated parks. While peaceful and generally quiet, Bridgeton offers an abundance in family-friendly, fun, informative things to do and see.

Seated in Saint Louis County, Clayton is a diverse and dynamic Missouri city, separated into sections of urban arts and university lifestyles, downtown nightlife, and close-knit suburban communities. Each area of Clayton offers a distinctive, positive cultural experience, from the campus goings-on of Washington University, to the arts scene of Downtown Clayton, and the neighborhood family fun near the Central West End.

Attraction and entertainment-wise, the city offers a plethora of fun and informative adventures, from science centers and history museums, to several well-kept parks, and loads of great places to eat . . . both grab-and-go and sit-down options.

With a seat in Jasper County, Carthage is a small Missouri town of less than 15,000 residents. Positioned on historic Route 66 and dubbed the Maple Leaf City, the town boasts temperate weather that follows the classic pattern of the four seasons. Most days are quite breezy in Carthage, as the winds roll down the hills and ruffle the trees of the inner city.

Most of the things to do and sights to see in Carthage are either natural or historic. And there are over a dozen restaurants and eateries, each serving up something delicious, homemade, and classic. Rumor Has It, for instance, is an all-American restaurant that strays into Italian cuisine on specific nights of the week. Their menu includes a mash-up of homemade favorites, like spaghetti and meatballs, chocolate peanut butter pie, super-cheesy mac and cheese, and chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, and loads of garlic-spiked butter.