These 9 Towns Are Missouri's Best-Kept Secret
Missouri is an exciting state that hides some of its best in small towns often overshadowed by big cities such as Springfield and St. Louis. On the outside, these towns look unassuming, but a closer look reveals some of the state’s natural treasures, like the Missouri River, the country’s longest river. In addition, some of these lesser-known towns in Missouri exude historical appeal and host important landmarks that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. For instance, Ste. Genevieve may be small, but it is surprisingly home to the largest collection of French vernacular vertical log structures in the US. This is a type of architecture achieved by combining French architecture with influences from various parts of the world, including Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean. This alone makes the town worth visiting as it offers a unique perspective of American history, but there’s even more to enjoy. True best-kept secrets, visit these small towns today and discover more amazing features of Missouri without the crowds.
Van Buren
Van Buren is one of Missouri’s smallest towns, populated by around 700 people. However, this town is exciting, with its location on the Current River, one of the country’s most scenic waterways for kayaking and floating. The Landing provides access to the turquoise waters of this river, plus it offers riverfront lodging, and the Blue Heron Restaurant is on-site to delight with a unique dining experience. Big Spring, the largest natural spring in Missouri, is also just four miles from Van Buren, offering more adventures and scenery. The area around the spring has a campground, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a boat ramp for access to the waters. Additionally, Mark Twain National Forest, the only national forest in the state, is near Van Buren and is a must-visit when in the area. From Van Buren, adventurers can easily access 700 miles of trails, including the Ozark Trail, which meanders along creeks, rivers, and lush forests for 30 miles. Besides the trails, this 1.49-million-acre forest features primitive and developed campsites, opportunities for watersports, and scenic drives.
Ste. Genevieve
Revered as the "Mother City of the West," Ste. Genevieve is a treasure trove of history, being the first organized European settlement West of the Mississippi River. Today, visitors to this town will be met with Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park, the exact site of the first European permanent settlement in Missouri, established in 1750. This park is home to some of the country’s largest and rarest collections of French vernacular vertical log architecture, and just walking through is a memorable experience, as buildings dating to the 18th century, like the 1792 Bauvais-Amoreux House, still stand on the site. Meanwhile, the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center is just nearby, offering a broader historical adventure with exhibits covering everything from dinosaurs to Native American and the French Canadian settlers who were drawn to the area in the 1700s.
The Ste. Genevieve area is also full of natural attractions, and Pickle Springs Natural Area is just one of them. Encompassing a 250-acre area, this park is characterized by waterfalls, rare plants and animals, and box canyons, and a two-mile trail is available to see all those wonders. Near this natural area is Hawn State Park, which is far bigger and has more impressive scenery and adventures to offer, including camping and fishing. This park is nearly 5,000 acres and is made up of pine and oak trees, canyons, sandstone bluffs, and streams brimming with fish. Visitors can explore the park by hiking some of its trails, like the Whispering Pine Trail, which meanders through the mixed forest and along creeks for over nine miles.
Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock is a town near the Missouri River that may be tiny but is surprisingly full of things to see and do, making it deserving of more attention. A true hidden gem, this town is home to the Arrow Rock State Historic Site, an open-air museum with campsites and structures dating to the 1800s. The J. Houston Tavern is one such structure in the historic site, built in 1834, and regarded as the oldest operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River. Dining at this tavern can be the highlight of a visit to Arrow Rock, but there’s more. Arrow Rock is where to find the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, one of Missouri’s top performing arts venues, founded in 1960 and featuring musicals, dramas, and comedies year-round. Around four miles from town, the Boone’s Lick State Historic Site is a cool place to hike through wooded areas to salt springs, where salt was extracted by the sons of Daniel Boone, one of Missouri’s famous frontiersmen.
Rocheport
Rocheport is a charming town that punches more than its weight when it comes to tourism. Though populated by only 200 people, this town is on the famous Katy Trail, a 240-mile trail winding through forest areas and along the Missouri River, between Clinton and Machens. The town is around the trail’s midpoint, on the 178.3-mile marker, where the trail’s only tunnel can be seen. Visitors to this town are invited to rent bikes and eat at the Meriwether Cafe & Bike Shop before hitting the trail for a memorable adventure. Just outside town, on the Katy Trail, is the Manitou Bluffs, a series of bluffs along the Missouri River, that’s sacred to Native Americans and beautiful to behold. Furthermore, Rocheport is a few miles from Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, an amazing place to get away from it all and connect with nature. This wildlife refuge is home to everything from migratory birds and mammals to hundreds of miles of the Missouri River, and activities offered include boating, fishing, picnicking, and hiking. Meanwhile, Rocheport hosts Blufftop at Rocheport, a world-class vineyard offering award-winning wines alongside live music and views of the Missouri River.
Trenton
Not much is heard of Trenton in Grundy County despite the town being the County Seat. Yet, this hidden gem is historic and was once the largest producer of Vienna Sausages. Visitors here will have a few historical landmarks to explore, starting with the Plaza Hotel. Built between 1929 and 1930, this five-story Art Deco-style concrete structure is a reminder of the glory of old-timey architecture. Next is the Grundy County Museum, which houses three buildings, each over 100 years old, and containing artifacts and exhibits highlighting the area’s history. The Annex Building, one of the museum’s buildings, even has extensive collections commemorating the military, police, and fire service members. For movie lovers, the Trenton Cinema is in town, offering a fun movie experience at great prices.
Away from the history and entertainment, Trenton is around three miles from Crowder State Park, one of the coolest spots for recreation in Missouri. This park alone is worth the visit to Trenton, as it has an 18-acre lake ideal for fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Around the lake, opportunities abound for camping, picnicking, wildlife watching, plus over 17 miles of trails are available for hiking and biking.
Parkville
Parkville is one of Missouri’s adorable towns that combines natural allure with college vibes. Home to Park University and located on the Missouri River, this town accommodates English Landing Park, a great place to enjoy the pleasures of America’s longest river. In addition to three miles of trails along the river, this park has a boat ramp and picnic areas with beautiful views of the water. The park also has sports facilities and playgrounds. Adjacent to the English Landing Park is Platte Landing Park, another great place from which to explore the river. The park includes two miles of trails and a boat ramp into the main channel of the Missouri River. Also, nature lovers to this town will be drawn to the Parkville Natural Sanctuary, a 115-acre site featuring scenic waterfalls, wildlife such as wild turkeys and songbirds, and three miles of hiking trails. In addition, Parkville has the Parkville Mini Golf to delight golf lovers with gorgeous scenery and an 18-hole miniature course.
Hermann
Hermann is a picturesque town in the Rhineland Region of Missouri, an area remarkable for its rich German culture. So, while the town may be small with just 2,000 people, it is home to one of the largest Oktoberfests in the country. Meanwhile, visitors are always welcome to learn about the area’s German heritage at the Deutschheim State Historic Site, which preserves several structures dating to the 1800s, including the Pommer-Gentner House, one of the oldest structures in town, dating back to 1840. Away from history, Hermann is a paradise for wine lovers, as it hosts many wineries and vineyards, one of which is the Stone Hill Winery. Located on the Missouri River, it is the largest winery in the state and offers tours of its wine production, wine tastings, and a large gift shop with lots of treats. Elsewhere, the Hermann Farm Museum is open year-round to please visitors with scenery, events, and tours of historic homes such as the Teubner-Husmann house, a Greek Revival house built in 1847.
Osage Beach
The Lake of the Ozarks is the second-largest in Missouri, and Osage Beach is one of the charming little towns where tourists can experience the lake’s pleasures. While the town has several marinas offering access to the waters, Lake of the Ozarks State Park is around five miles away. Covering a 17,000-acre area, this park is the largest in Missouri and offers a myriad of water sports from swimming and fishing to boating and kayaking. On the shores, there are campsites and picnic sites, alongside trails for hiking, biking, and horse riding. The 0.8-mile Coakley Hollow Trail, one of the park’s top trails, is particularly exciting as it winds through some of the park’s most diverse areas, featuring woodlands, spring-fed streams, and rare species. Nearby, the Ozark Distillery & Brewery is a great place to relax with a variety of drinks, including Vodka and Missouri Bourbon Whiskey, alongside delicious pizza. For golf enthusiasts, Osage is surrounded by some of Missouri’s most scenic golf courses, one of which is Bear Creek Valley Golf Club. This 18-hole Par 72 course is truly gorgeous, as it encompasses Ozark forests, meadows, valleys, and a creek.
Camdenton
Camdenton is one of the small towns on the Lake of the Ozarks that boasts some of the region's most exciting tourist destinations. Typically, the lake is one of the major draws here, and with marinas like Montego Bay Marina, tourists can easily enjoy thrilling experiences such as cruising and boating on the water. Entertainment-wise, the town hosts the Ozarks Amphitheatre, one of the largest outdoor venues in the Midwest, which bubbles with live entertainment from May to October every year. Moreover, Camdenton is the closest town to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, a place that blends history with geological wonders, natural scenery, and adventures. This park encompasses 3,751 acres on the Lake of the Ozarks and is characterized by caves, sinkholes, a large natural bridge, and the ruins of a 20th-century stone mansion whose name sounds like the title of an ancient Native American chief. Over 15 miles of hiking trails offer access to all of the aforementioned natural and man-made wonders, plus the park has picnic areas for relaxation.
In the Show Me State, not every town is in the spotlight, no thanks to the overshadowing glow of big cities and neighboring popular towns. Perhaps their hidden nature is intentional to keep them preserved and pristine, making them some of the best-kept secrets in Missouri. From the quirky town of Hermann and its interesting German heritage to Parkville and its college town vibes mixed with natural allure, these towns in Missouri have so many pleasures to offer those who can just veer off the well-worn path.
