Do Not Do These 7 Touristy Things In Missouri. Here's What To Do Instead.

Sure, Johnson Shut-Ins have some of the most pristine waters in the state. But on a hot day, it starts to feel like a kiddie pool with how packed it gets. Head over to the lesser known Castor River Shut-Ins before that secret gets out, too.

Address:
Fredericktown, MO 63645

The Gateway Arch is a pretty neat architectural feature of St. Louis, but did you really come to one of the greatest cities in the world just to snap a selfie? I sure hope not. I definitely recommend a more interactive activity in the city, such as City Museum, the most unique playground museum in the state.

Address:
750 N 16th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103

Standing at the Liberty Memorial gives visitors probably the best view in the city, but it is often crowded with other professional photographers and selfie aficionados, alike. Not too far from the memorial, is the Kansas City Scout. Every time I've gone there to take city skyline photos, I'm usually the only one around.

If you've ever driven anywhere near Springfield, chances are you've seen signs on the highway for Fantastic Caverns. But as a local and state park fanatic, I suggest you check on Onondaga Cave State Park. Adult admission at Fantastic Caverns is almost $8 more than Onondaga State Park and by paying admission at Onondaga, you'll be making a contribution to Missouri's state park system as a whole.

Address:
7556 Hwy H
Leasburg, MO 65535

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the National World War I Museum. In fact, it's so big, you could easily return another day and learn something new. But to learn a little bit about African-American history and baseball, you should check out the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. As a bonus, it's also in the same building as The American Jazz Museum.

Address:
1616 E 18 St.
Kansas City, MO 64108

I'll admit, when I first moved to Kansas City, Jack's Stack was the first place I went to for BBQ and I loved it. But contrary to popular belief, amazing BBQ exists outside of Kansas City. Take a trip to Branson and dine at Danna's Barbecue which could rival any of Kansas City's BBQ joints.

We can't ignore the fact that the Missouri Botanical Garden is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. That being said, we also can't ignore that Missouri is home to a lot of other stunning gardens as well. Powell Gardens in Kingsville is just 30 miles outside of Kansas City and features 6,000 varieties of plants, with 225,000 plants in seasonal display.

Address:
1609 N.W. US Highway 50
Kingsville, MO 64061