Considered the birthplace of “Route 66”, Springfield is a lively city on the edge of the picturesque Ozarks in south-west Missouri. It’s renowned for its Discovery Center filled with interactive science exhibits and the Fantastic Caverns show cave, which is uniquely explored along a jeep-draw tram.

Things to do

People of all ages are encouraged to get hands-on at the Discovery Center, which occupies an impressive LEED Gold-certified building in the heart of Springfield. You can discover the inner workings of the eyeball and dig for dinosaur remains or test your skills while riding a bicycle across a tightrope!

Kids will also love the Dickerson Park Zoo on the northern edge of Springfield, where they can come face-to-face with more than 500 animals representing 160 different species. In addition to Asian elephants, Malayan tigers and North American black bears, the zoo is also home black howler monkeys, cougars and Chacoan peccaries. If you’re more of a green thumb, visit the Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park to stroll through its colourful botanical garden and butterfly house.

Want to experience the only ride-through cave tour in North America? Head to the Fantastic Caverns to marvel at its stunning flowstones and stalagmites aboard a jeep-drawn tram. The cave was first explored by the Springfield Women’s Athletic Club in 1867 and was used as a speakeasy during the 1920s and 1930s Prohibition years.

Getting around

Springfield-Branson National Airport is a 15-minute drive from the city centre and serves as the main gateway to Springfield, with flights to destinations across the United States. Buses connect to cities throughout the Midwest and travel throughout Springfield, although cars and bikes are the preferred mode of transport for most residents.