10 Most Hospitable Towns In Missouri
Missouri’s most welcoming small towns share a habit of opening their streets to anyone willing to make the drive. Take Arrow Rock. The entire village is a National Historic Landmark, drawing audiences from across the country to performances at the Lyceum Theatre and filling its streets for events like the Heritage Festival. As Walt Disney’s boyhood home, Marceline brings the same spirit to its annual Spring Festival. Hermann celebrates its German heritage every year for Oktoberfest. Each of these towns has its own way of saying ‘come in and stay a while.’
Hermann
Hermann is proud of its German heritage and is Missouri’s wine capital, producing about one-third of the state’s total supply. The town combines these two loves every year for its annual month-long Oktoberfest. Residents welcome people from nearby towns for the festivities each October, with beer, wine, and traditional German celebrations of the harvest season.
Beyond wine, Hermann’s Attic Antique Mall stocks the kind of items that give a home that rustic feel antiques bring. The town also takes its history seriously at the Historic Hermann Museum. And for live music and performances, there is steady programming at the Clara Eitmann Messmer Amphitheater.
Branson
Referenced on The Simpsons as Las Vegas for the family-vacation set, Branson is a friendly resort town for travelers looking to step away from the everyday. People come from all over the country for the range of entertainment Branson offers, with welcoming locals who tend to make the trip memorable.
The most famous attraction is Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a dinner show with horse stunts and a four-course meal. For more live entertainment, the Sight & Sound Theatres stage Broadway-scale productions based on stories from the Bible. The Silver Dollar City amusement park is one of the finest in the state, with rides like the Time Traveler roller coaster and the Royal Tea Party.
Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Genevieve has a unique history that separates it from much of the rest of the state. It is the oldest European settlement in Missouri, dating to a French-Canadian founding in 1735. Many historic buildings from that early settlement still stand, most notably at the Centre for French Colonial Life and the Bolduc House Museum.
Outside of learning history, Ste. Genevieve has plenty to offer. For a family trip, the River Rapids Waterpark provides a variety of slides and pools for all ages. The town also runs festivals throughout the year. The French Heritage Festival sees locals dress up in authentic outfits from the late 18th century to celebrate the town’s past, and the annual Jour de Fête every August lines the streets with over 150 vendors selling handcrafted goods.
Excelsior Springs
Only a 30-mile drive from central Kansas City, Excelsior Springs is a town built around water. The original settlement grew up around natural mineral springs in the area that were believed to have healing properties. Today, the town embraces that heritage with spas and the museum at the Hall of Waters Visitor Center, which goes into depth on the town’s history and its mineral water.
The friendliness extends to many of the town’s businesses, including the Elms Hotel & Spa, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel where you can enjoy the pool and grounds even passing through. The hotel also makes a strong base for Waterfest in June, the town’s annual water-themed festival for families.
Rocheport
For the quieter end of small-town Missouri, Rocheport is hard to beat. With just over 200 people, it is a welcoming community of some of the nicest people the Show Me State has on offer. Rocheport has a vintage feel to it, thanks in part to that small but friendly population and the Rocheport Historic District, where you will find buildings from the early 1800s.
Rocheport has a few wineries worth touring for local samples, most notably the A-Frame Winegarden on the Blufftop. For art lovers, the Shirahaze Gallery displays Japanese pottery and Art & Antiques and Blacksmith Shop highlights local creations from the town blacksmith. The town also hosts Second Saturdays in Rocheport throughout the year, where visitors can meet locals, sample local products, and hear live music.
Parkville
For the great outdoors, Parkville delivers. Home to Park University, the town offers residents and visitors plenty of opportunities to get outside. English Landing Park has something for everyone, with pathways for an easy walk, playgrounds for children, and a sand volleyball court for a workout. The Parkville Nature Sanctuary covers 115 acres of trails through woodland.
Every August, Parkville residents gather at English Landing Park for Parkville Days. The free-admission event has everything you expect from a local festival, including live music, carnival games, a parade, and plenty of food. The festival even offers helicopter rides for a bird’s-eye view of the town and surroundings.
Kimmswick
Kimmswick is a strong choice for travelers who want a sense of Missouri history before and after its founding. Settled in 1859 on the banks of the Mississippi River, the town has buildings still standing from that early period, including the long-running Historic Post Office. The town also hosts the Burgess-How House, a historic log building decorated by the historical society to reflect an 1840s farmhouse.
The past matters in Kimmswick, but the present matters too. Every October, the friendly population of just over 100 puts on the Apple Butter Festival, with boutiques, food, and small-town hospitality on full display.
Arrow Rock
Instead of visiting a town with one historic landmark, try visiting an entire town that is a National Historic Landmark. Arrow Rock was a key part of frontier history and westward expansion, and town officials have worked steadily to preserve its 19th-century feel. Preservation work began in 1923, and Arrow Rock is now a popular destination for those seeking a taste of frontier life.
The main attraction in town is the Lyceum Theatre. It features regular live performances for audiences of all ages and draws actors from across the country to perform on its historic stage. Before the evening show, the Brown Lodge interprets the history of emancipation in Missouri and Arrow Rock, while the Shelby Log Cabin, which dates back to the 1830s, looks much as it did then.
Marceline
Any Disney fan owes it to themselves to see Marceline. The town is the boyhood home of Walt Disney and the inspiration for Main Street, USA at Disneyland and Disney World. Marceline embraces its most famous resident at several Walt Disney-themed attractions, most notably the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, where exhibits explore his early life and the way it shaped his career.
There is more to the town than Disney. For antiques, Magnolia Antiques on Main Street USA has a wide selection. And every May, the town hosts the Marceline Spring Festival, with family entertainment including a train show, car show, and tractor show.
Boonville
Boonville takes its name from two sons of frontiersman Daniel Boone, who settled in the area to start a salt business. The town also sits near the original starting point of the Santa Fe Trail, adding to its pioneer history.
When you visit, do not miss the River, Rails & Trails Museum, which has exhibits on the history of transportation in the area and is designed to keep kids engaged. Boonville also sits on the Katy Trail, the longest rail trail in the country, and is a good place to start an afternoon walk. Be sure to stop in during April for the Big Muddy Folk Festival, a nationally recognized concert series featuring bluegrass, folk, and traditional music.
In Missouri, there is no shortage of small towns to explore. Whether you want to learn about the state’s history, get outdoors, or catch a live performance, there is plenty to see. And no matter where you go, you are likely to land in a festival worth the drive.
