Springfield, Missouri

Most motorists think of Springfield as a drive-by on Route 66 or a go-through place to get somewhere else on Highway 65. Those who take time to explore, however, find the city offers a wide array of attractions. Antiques fanciers can browse the shops in the Commercial Street Historical District or stop at Ozark Treasures, an antiques mall where 100 dealers sell everything from cut glass pickle casters and costume jewelry to butter churns and branding irons. Plant lovers will enjoy the 80-acre Springfield Conservation Nature Center, while anglers won't want to miss Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World with its large game fish and saltwater ...

Most motorists think of Springfield as a drive-by on Route 66 or a go-through place to get somewhere else on Highway 65. Those who take time to explore, however, find the city offers a wide array of attractions. Antiques fanciers can browse the shops in the Commercial Street Historical District or stop at Ozark Treasures, an antiques mall where 100 dealers sell everything from cut glass pickle casters and costume jewelry to butter churns and branding irons. Plant lovers will enjoy the 80-acre Springfield Conservation Nature Center, while anglers won't want to miss Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World with its large game fish and saltwater aquariums. History buffs head for the Springfield National Cemetery, the final resting place for both Union and Confederate soldiers, and take the self-guided historical tour (brochures available at the Visitors Bureau). Animals - 150 species of them - live at the Dickerson Park Zoo, and at Exotic Animal Paradise, 12 miles east of town, about 3,000 wild animals roam and rare birds fly. A children's favorite, the Children's Discovery Center, offers interactive displays and a pint-sized town where visitors can anchor news broadcasts, write articles for the newspaper, and withdraw play money at the bank. A Xeriscape demonstration garden, history and art museums and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame offer additional diversions.

About the Expert

Connie Emerson is the author of more than a dozen books, including The Cheapskate's Guide to Branson, Missouri and Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guide – Las Vegas.