What to See & Do in Springfield, Missouri

Prior to visiting Springfield, MO earlier this summer, the only cities in Missouri that I had been to were St. Louis and Branson. St. Louis wasn’t my cup of tea— granted it’s been almost 15 years since I visited— and Branson was fun, in small doses… think of clean version of Las Vegas for families.

Going back to Missouri wasn’t my agenda until the Springfield Missouri CVB reached out and invited me to spend a long weekend in the city. They presented me was a jam-packed schedule full of food and activities, and it all looked so fun… so I couldn’t say no!

As a bonus, the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) has a nice selection of non-stop flights, including one from where I’m based in Tampa-St. Petersburg (PIE), making the destination even more accessible. Door to door the flying time is only 2 hours!

So what exactly is there to do in Springfield, MO? A lot more than I could have ever imagined! I’m breaking my experience down into 3 posts which focus on what to see & do (this post!), where to eat and where to stay in Springfield.

What to See & Do in Springfield, Missouri

Creative Escape Glass LLC

I don’t consider myself a super crafty person, but I had a ton of fun at Creative Escape Glass LLC on historic C-Street where I made my very own suncatcher… pretty much from scratch. I personally cut each piece of glass used in my mosaic (crazy, right!?) and then arranged it to my liking before sending it off to the kiln for an overnight firing. I never thought this was a craft that I could do on my own, but I did— and you can too! The glass fusion suncatcher project is a steal at only $12.

Fantastic Caverns

Another first for me in Springfield was going underground to see an incredible cavern system known as Fantastic Caverns—America’s Only Ride-Through Cave. The caverns were discovered in 1862 by an Ozarks farmer’s dog. It wasn’t until 5 years later that the caverns were explored, revealing the natural wonder that can be seen today. I completely enjoyed the 55-minute guided tour that took us through the massive cavern dripping with fantastic rock formations.

photo credit: www.fantasticcaverns.com

The Trolley Bike

I had seen different styles of “trolley bikes” in other cities around the U.S., but didn’t have the opportunity to try one out until arriving in Springfield. If you’re unfamiliar, The Trolley Bike is an open air “party bus” 14-passenger quadricycle. It’s designed to bring you around downtown Springfield while hopping from bar to bar— and you can totally drink while riding it (BYOB!). For safety, a conductor controls and steers the bike, so if you don’t feel like pedaling that’s totally OK. It’s a SUPER FUN way to see the city without having to walk or take a cab, and perfect for friends or groups. The Trolley Bike can even drop you off at your local hotel when your’re finished!

Farmer’s Market of the Ozarks

I’m always down for a good farmer’s market and Springfield has a great one on Saturdays (Year-round) from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm and Wednesdays (May-September) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Farmers Park Pavilion. The Farmer’s Market of the Ozarks is packed with a wonderful selection of farm fresh produce, flowers, and hand-crafted products.

When you’re done shopping for local goodies, be sure to check out some of the shopping at Farmer’s Park, including 5 Pound Apparel, where everything in the store gives back to someone, somewhere. For every shirt sold, 5 Pound Apparel donates 5 pounds of food to Ozarks Food Harvest to fight hunger in southwest Missouri.

Zen 3 Spa & Bodyworks

Springfield, MO has so much to see & do that you may need a bit of R&R during your stay. For an hour or two of pure bliss, be sure to visit Zen 3 Spa & Bodyworks for a relaxing massage or therapeutic treatment. I was treated to a lovely lemongrass foot treatment during my visit and it was simply divine— it’s a luxurious way to begin or end your time in Springfield.

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Something INCREDIBLE is coming to Springfield and I was honored to get a sneak peek during my visit. Set to open later in 2016, the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is going to be one of the largest, most immersive conservation attractions in the world. I’ve been to my share of aquariums, and this one is, by far, the most spectacular. I really can’t give too much away because Wonders of Wildlife isn’t officially open, but you can expect more than 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds in the 315,000-square-foot experience… some that I have never seen anywhere else!

The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is located on the campus of Bass Pro Shops’ iconic flagship store— the Grandaddy of all Outdoor Stores! I was almost embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t stepped foot into a Bass Pro Shop prior to this visit, but when I did, my mouth dropped. It was incredible! Even if you’re not an outdoor enthusiast, you’d still find something that would interest you at this Bass Pro Shop. It’s truly a sight to see!

For more fun activities in Springfield, MO visit www.springfieldmo.org/things-to-do.

Have you been to Springfield, MO? What’s your favorite thing to see/do?

Special thanks to the Springfield, MO CVB for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own.