Outdoor

Thomas Hart Benton is best known for the murals in our state capitol in Jefferson City. The home and studio that Benton and his wife Rita shared in Kansas City have been left perfectly preserved. The paints, furniture, sketches, and even his pipe sit right where he left them on the day he died.

Do you enjoy being a two-wheeled tourist? Whether you’re a peddling pro, a cycling sensation, or a little wobbly on wheels, if you’re any kind of a biking enthusiast—at any skill level!—you'll want to check out a marvelous moonlight bike ride.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park has an interesting history. Learn how the lake itself came to be. More than just a lake for boating and fishing, the park is filled with trails, caves, miles of shoreline, great fishing, camps, an airport, and so much more.

Casting about for a way to enjoy some fresh air and fun with your family? Here's a reel-y fun – and free! – event you’re sure to fall hook, line, and sinker for: a Kids Free Fishing Day on Saturday, August 19. Don’t let this one get away!

The largest spring in the state, rainbow trout, a nature center, and a lodge with a restaurant are just a few of the fabulous things you will find at Bennett Spring State Park. Pack up the car and spend a weekend exploring this park.

Make your way to the “cave park.” Take in the immense beauty as you float the river, stop by the visitor center and museum, check out the aquariums, and marvel at the geological wonders. Take a guided tour of one of the caves in the summer.

The Missouri and Kansas border was a contentious place during the Civil War. Make your way along the trail at this historic site to view the landscape where African Americans fighting in the Civil War earned their place in Missouri—and national—history.

Late July is the prime time to go see beautiful, sunny, sunflowers. They are glorious to look at and they make bees, other pollinators, and deer happy. Take a day trip to see thousands of these bright, colorful flowers and hear the buzzing of the bees.

You probably know bees are pollinators, and very beneficial to the environment. But how much do you know about bees that live in an Ozark fen— a wetland fed by groundwater, not rain or surface streams? Here’s a chance to bee-come more informed.

By foot is the best way to see Pickle Creek, sandstone landscapes, shut-ins, and distinctive flora. Rose azaleas accent fern-covered ledges and Whispering Pine Wild Area beckons you to discover the wonders this State Park has to offer.