10 Most Breathtaking Towns In Missouri

In Missouri, a breathtaking town comes in two kinds. The first kind stops you with the land, its river bluffs and float streams and caves under the hills. The second stops you with what people built and kept, streets of homes old enough to sit under federal protection. Weston is the first kind, with its bluff trails above the Missouri River. Ste. Genevieve is the second, its French colonial homes still standing after nearly three centuries. A rare few towns are both at once. These 10 across Missouri earn the word breathtaking, whichever way you read it.

Weston

Weston is one of Western Missouri's oldest river towns, with historic brick architecture and dense river woodland. It lies near the Kansas border, beside the Missouri River and Weston Bend State Park. Inside the park, river trails and overlooks put visitors in position for photographs of the water and the surrounding forest.

The town is a close-knit community with an active wine scene. The Historic Weston Orchard & Vineyard opens in the fall for apple picking, with a wine and cider bar for drinks afterward. Pirtle Winery has been in business in a former church building since 1978. Staff run tours and tastings with that church and the surrounding landscape in the background.

Parkville

Part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Parkville has several parks inside the town limits, true to its name. At English Landing Park just south of town, three miles of walking trails run parallel to the Missouri River, planted with trees the whole way. North of it, the 115-acre Parkville Nature Sanctuary holds three more miles of hiking trails, along with birds and butterflies in their natural habitat.

The annual Parkville Days celebration runs each August. The event is free, with live music, carnival rides, and a beer tent, all set against the backdrop of the Missouri River.

Excelsior Springs

Excelsior Springs was once famous for its springs, which locals said could heal injuries. Today, it is best known as home to one of Missouri's most distinctive buildings. The Hall of Waters Visitor Center was built over one of the town's primary springs, and now houses a museum about the town's quirky history. It went up in the art deco style, an intact piece of the 1920s.

The town has more to it than the Hall of Waters. Tryst Falls Park contains one of the area's few natural waterfalls, with picnic tables set close enough to eat within sight of it. Atlas Saloon is the favorite bar among locals, where the staff pour cocktails and book live bands regularly.

Boonville

One of the earliest land battles of the American Civil War was fought at Boonville in June 1861, and today the town is one of Missouri's most welcoming. Its best-known draw is Warm Springs Ranch, home of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Guides run stable tours by reservation, covering the history of the Clydesdales and the ranch's breeding program. Visitors can also ride through the surrounding countryside in a cart pulled by the horses themselves.

In town, the Rivers, Rails & Trails Museum holds artifacts from Missouri's past. Its displays cover how Boonville grew from its proximity to the Missouri River, ample natural trails, and a railroad line. Lewis Miller's Mitchell Collection includes classic cars, well-maintained and looking as though they are still new.

Arrow Rock

Arrow Rock is one of the most distinctive places in the country, with the entire town under National Historic Landmark protection. Many of the original buildings from the era when Arrow Rock played a pivotal role in westward expansion are still standing, several of them in the same use as ever. The effect is Missouri's past left largely intact along the street.

The Arrow Rock State Historic Site takes in most of those historic buildings. The George Caleb Bingham House is the obvious first stop. Bingham, the painter known for his scenes of Missouri River life, built the brick house in 1837. A meal at the J. Huston Tavern is worth the stop as well. Built in 1834, it is the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River, and the kitchen still turns out American classics with a few modern flourishes.

Carthage

The maple trees are the reason to see Carthage in the fall. Each autumn, crowds fill the town for the annual Maple Leaf Festival, a celebration of the foliage with parades and local vendors. Carthage bills itself as "America's Maple Leaf City," and the festival is where that name gets its due.

Outside of fall, there are still plenty of reasons to stop in Carthage. It was the site of one of the first major battles of the Civil War, and the battlefield is preserved at the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site. Much of the ground looks as it did in 1861, with added plaques for context. Fans of Precious Moments figurines can visit the Precious Moments Chapel, full of artwork inspired by them, along with displays and a gift shop.

Eminence

Kayakers and canoers have every reason to stop at Eminence, one of the best towns in Missouri to get on the water. The town lies on the banks of the Jacks Fork River, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. At Windy's Floats, staff rent kayaks and canoes to anyone arriving without a boat. Anglers fish the same water, while others take it slowly.

The river is not the only draw. At Cold Water Ranch, guides lead horse rides on the trails around town. For food, the Dairy Shack serves burgers and ice cream.

Sullivan

Two of eastern Missouri's finest landscapes sit near Sullivan. The first is Meramec State Park, with more than 13 miles of hiking trails and some of the best scenery in the region. Besides hiking, there is kayaking, fishing, and camping, plus the second landscape: Fisher Cave. Guides lead tours through the cave past towering calcite deposits, and the route also passes preserved bear claw marks and other remnants of its long past.

Back in Sullivan, the Surprise Shop is the place for souvenirs. Its stock is an eclectic collection of old toys and games, including a long list of classic Hot Wheels cars for purchase.

Kimmswick

Much like Arrow Rock, Kimmswick is known for its many historic buildings, well-preserved to this day. The Kimmswick Historical Society Museum covers how the town was founded, the role the Mississippi River played in its history, and the many buildings still standing. Its exhibits also cover the preservation and restoration work that kept the town's rustic look. Nearby, the Windsor Harbor Road Bridge crosses Rock Creek. Built in St. Louis in 1874 and moved here in 1930, it is the oldest known wrought-iron bridge in Missouri, and it still stands just outside town.

The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery is the town's most famous eatery. Forbes and Oprah Winfrey are among those who have praised it over the years, and the reputation is well deserved. Breakfast runs to American-style favorites like pancakes and biscuits and gravy, while lunch covers sandwiches and homemade soups.

Ste. Genevieve

Ste. Genevieve has a distinctive history as a town founded by French Canadians around 1740. That early colonial past sits alongside well-kept parks, and the mix makes for a striking place to visit or live in. The Center for French Colonial Life holds recreations of many early buildings from that history. An interpretive building and four historic homes together give context on the early settlement and on the French and Creole roots of the town. The Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center takes a more child-focused approach, with fossils, ancient artifacts, and dinosaur models.

After a day with the town's past, Hawn State Park is the place for its present. Trails run through a pine and oak forest, good ground for spotting birds and other small mammals.

Ten Towns, Ten Kinds Of Beauty

The list splits three ways. In Weston, Parkville, Eminence, and Sullivan, the pull is the land itself: a river bluff, a float trip, a cave. In Arrow Rock, Kimmswick, and Ste. Genevieve, it is the buildings, old enough to be protected outright. Excelsior Springs, Boonville, and Carthage fall between, each one shaped around a single institution that outlasted the industry behind it. In all ten, the scenery and the architecture predate the economy around them now.