Entertainment and Culture

When you think about the kinds of cultural attractions that serve a diverse population of more than 6 million people, it’s easy to think first of what the big cities have to offer. But set aside, for a moment, the elements that define culture and entertainment in the St. Louis and Kansas City regions. After all, those two metro areas account for more than half the state’s population.

Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the kinds of attractions that serve Missourians living in other parts of the state.

Take the Springfield-Branson corridor along U.S. 65, the asphalt spine that runs north to south in Missouri. Branson has the reputation as America’s combined capital for country music and vacationland. (Nashville has claim to part of that, but does anyone really go there for more than the concerts?) And it’s just miles from Table Rock Lake, a vacation resource that is less crowded, but just as alluring, as the Lake of the Ozarks.

Silver Dollar City is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride and Ozarks cultural immersion experience (you’ll hear banjo music in your head for days after a visit), and there are all sorts of fishing targets between Table Rock, Taneycomo (colder and better for trout), and Bull Shoals reservoirs. Country music and novelty acts abound along Country Music Boulevard in Branson.

Up the road in Springfield is a 1-2 punch of family entertainment, both brought to you by Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. Of course, there’s the signature Bass Pro facility in that company’s headquarters city, but his Wonders of Wildlife exhibits, one featuring land animals and the other focused on aquatics, were rated among the nation’s top vacation destination almost from the minute it opened its doors in 2017.

And don’t forget the caves when you’re in that part of Missouri. There’s a reason its other nickname is “The Cave State.”

Of course, the entertainment venues become more sophisticated as you venture toward St. Louis and Kansas City. Among the stars in that space:

St. Louis Botanical Garden. The nation’s oldest public garden actually predates the Civil War—it was founded in 1859. A true civic jewel—it ranges across nearly 80 acres in the heart of the city—it has gardens featuring different floral species and designs associated with diverse cultures. The Climatron, a tropical conservatory, sits inside the garden’s iconic dome and is home to more than 2,800 plants.

Sheldon Concert Hall. Dubbed “The Carnegie Hall of St. Louis, the Sheldon is one of the city’s most popular music venues. It offers 7,000 square feet of space for traveling exhibits of architecture, photography, and jazz history and arch-itecture, along with a more intimate 712-seat concert venue, with the original wood seating. Performing artists of every genre—including many of the biggest names in music—line up to be part of the nearly nightly list of performances, thanks in part to the exceptional acoustics.

The Fox Theatre. Ornate and intricate, this century-old theater in St. Louis has been restored to its original elegance and offers touring Broadway shows, seasonal draws like the Moscow Ballet, its holiday performance of The Nutcracker, and more. Don’t forget to check out the massive, 2,000-pound crystal chandelier in the auditorium.

St. Louis Art Museum. Forest Park, another tribute to the vision of a city’s early designers, is also home to this spectacular venue, with more than 33,000 paintings, sculptures, and other works. Like the Nelson in Kansas City, admission is free every day. Note: The St. Louis Zoo is also in the park, so plan on spending a lot of time in that area. 

Skip over to the western side of the state and some of the amenities and attractions that define life in Kansas City.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The doors of this twin-stage venue opened in 2011 at the cost of $414 million (that was real money back in those days!), and the K-PAC immediately placed Kansas City on the world map of top-tier music halls. Uniquely designed for stage and symphony, the Muriel Kauffman Theatre and adjacent Helzberg Hall are named for two of the biggest supporters of the arts in Kansas City.

Power & Light District. Since its opening in the fall of 2007, this Cordish Cos. development has transformed dining, entertainment, and nightlife in Downtown Kansas City. With more than 50 bars, restaurants and retailers, this eight-block entertainment magnet has also attracted thousands of new Downtown residents to luxury apartments sprouting like mushrooms. Don’t miss KC Live! in the heart of the district; it’s a covered outdoor courtyard that hosts more than 150 free events each year.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Ano-ther point of pride for Kansas City, this museum has the added distinction of not only being nationally known but free. That’s right: No admission charge. If you would, do make a donation to keep it going with the kinds of standing and traveling exhibits that define big-city visual arts.