I had found these two ancient bridges, a throwback to a simpler time, years ago on a historic…read morebridge website. Realizing that they were the same ones I had seen pictures that a friend had posed his Shelby Mustangs on I had to go. The first visit was probably a decade ago and I brought brought my kids. We drive over the fiirst, but walked out onto the second as my truck exceeded the 3 ton weight limit. We threw rocks at the ice below and had a great time. Today was a warmer day and my wife and I finally got to go. Same thing as before walked onto the second as the weight limit is still the same. Being near 70° it was a great day to go for a walk.

When you have an extra hour or so in the Lake of the Ozarks, check out the Swinging Bridges. This…read moreis a completely free activity for all ages. Make sure to take pictures as well as a video. Your friends and family will not believe you traveled over these unusual bridges. The larger of the two bridges is known at the Grand Auglaize Swinging Bridge. It is a metal wire suspension bridge built in 1922 by Joseph A. Dice. The length of the structure is 500 feet. The main length span (wooden plank section) is 414 feet long. One of the scary factors is the Bridge is only 12 feet wide. The second smaller bridge is known at the Mill Creek Bridge. It was built in 1925 and is 135 feet in length. This Bridge is 11.1 feet wide. Take time out and explore these truly "hidden" treasures.

The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City was a really nice surprise and much more impressive…read morethan I expected. The interior is beautiful, and it felt like there were miles and miles of hallways to wander, which made exploring half the fun. I could only look into the galleries through the windows, but even from a distance they looked spectacular and full of detail. The rotunda was a standout for me, especially standing underneath it and looking up at the dome, which is genuinely stunning. It is one of those places that quietly sneaks up on you and makes you glad you took the time to stop and explore.

I've visited three state capitols, and they're all special in their own way. The Missouri one has…read moresome history of its own, as being the fifth overall capitol building in the state of Missouri, and just the 3rd one in Jeff City. You can park in a nearby garage or simply in front or back of the building. Be sure to check out the art and statues on the grounds, including the Statue of Liberty replica and the Thomas Jefferson statue. On the first floor is mostly the Missouri State Museum (not to be confused with the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis) where you can learn a lot about the Show-Me State. I highly recommend checking out the large timeline of Missouri events they have there. I also highly recommend checking out the gift shop, which doesn't seem like they have very much to offer (that's probably a good thing!). If you have a State Capitols Passport Stamp book, they will gladly stamp it. The other floors consist, of course, statewide offices as well as several offices for legislative leaders. As you enter the 2nd floor from the staircase you'll see the Governor's office door right away. (No, he wasn't there at the time of my visit). Down the hall is the Lt. Gov's office as well. The Senate and State House chambers are on the 3rd floor. Be sure to check out the detailed mural of artist Thomas Hart Benton, located on the 3rd floor. And the Hall of Famous Missourians, which consist of a very eclectic group of people: Walt Disney, Scott Joplin, Rush Limbaugh, Walter Cronkite, Stan Musial and many others. If you're a fan of visiting state capitols, this is for you. Got extra time? Check out the Bicentennial Bridge (MO celebrated its 200th birthday in 2021) that leads to a small island across the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, there's not much else to do in Jeff City, but you know.

Always so nice going for a hike and enjoy the outdoors. My kids and dog have always enjoyed it…read morethere also. The natural arch is there if you go the right direction. Haha

This was a fun outing. We spent two or three hours here on this hike with kids 3-6, parents, and…read moregrandparents and we all were able to walk the trail. However, it is steep and narrow in places and you do go down quite a distance to the creek and you have to ascend back to the parking lot. It might be too much if you're not sure-footed. There no bathroom facilities, (at least in April) so stop at the gas station a few miles before. The bridge itself is large and we were able to walk under it to the other side. The creek was very low while we were there. The water was very clear, you could easily see the bottom of the river bed. Since the creek was low, there was a lot of exposed river rock that the kids thoroughly enjoyed picking up and throwing into the water. They had a fantastic time and slept all the way back home in the car.

The people that work here are very nice, patient, and knowledgeable. They have a lot of interesting…read morematerial on the towns in the area that existed before the dam was built, as well as some material on Ha Ha Tonka. If you're interested in niche historical info about the area, stopping here should be on your list.

The flowers were beautiful. The location was perfect being close to train station. One of the…read moreprettier sights seen after tornado.

I will admit, I've never been IN the mansion. But the garden is one of my favorite places in…read moreJefferson City. On warm days, it's nice to take a walk around the Capitol, watch the trains, look at the fountains and picnic at the Governor's garden. The caretakers plant seasonal items and my personal favorite is the lily pond. There is a stone walk way that is lined with benches. Quite a romanitc scene.

(and then some!)…read more Bridal Cave is absolutely breathtaking and truly lives up to its name as one of the most amazing caves we've ever visited. One of the highlights was seeing the Guardian Angel stalagmite--it was awe-inspiring and felt incredibly special. Our tour guide, Tripsy, was phenomenal. Her knowledge, passion, and storytelling brought the cave to life in a way that made the experience unforgettable. The magical moment when she used her black light to create the fairy dust illusion on the cave walls was pure enchantment--it felt like stepping into a hidden, magical world. It was also wonderfully romantic to see all the wedding photos from the couples who have been married inside the cave. Knowing so many love stories began in such a sacred, beautiful place made the experience even more meaningful and special. And the Mystery Lake... wow. The water was absolutely pristine, glowing with stunning shades of teal, green, and blue--so clear and beautiful it almost didn't seem real. We give Tripsy 50 stars for making this tour so exceptional. Bridal Cave is a must-see, romantic, and magical experience we will never forget. Thanks Anina and James

Great tour guide; just right amount of narrative and interaction with the group…read more Cave system was neat. This isn't my first cave visit - in fact have quite a few, but this may of been the best. Tour guide looked about 15 but did a great presentation of the bridal cave regarding all the marriages that have taken place there. Very interesting to see how many couples come back for a redo of vows. I definitely recommend this cave visit!

Located on the Historic Route 66, there Devil's Elbow Bridge brings in tourist and road trips…read morelooking for history and scenic sights. It is located practically in the middle of nowhere, over the big Piney River, and offers a great photo opportunity. Heads up: lots of winding, hilly roads to get there so not for those easily car sick. It's a steel truss beside that was built in 1923 and the bluff views surrounding it are one of Missouri's 7 Scenic Wonders.

This is so cool! A working Stonehenge, plus other features of tracking sun and eclipses. Truly an…read moreamazing engineering feat. Would love to come back at the equinoxes.

RollaMO-USA continues to be an amazing/growing/thriving community which I've known most of my…read morelife--I was born here almost seven decades ago! It is the seat of Phelps County, and is located halfway between St. Louis and Springfield on old 66/current I-44. I recently returned for the 50th reunion of my class of 1974, Rolla High School. Besides being an important train stop in the 19th century, it was also where a premier mining school--Missouri School of Mines (MSM), which later became University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR), and is now Missouri Science & Technology (MS&T)--continues as one of the most cutting edge schools in the nation if not the World. In fact, there is a substantial international student body in attendance coming from all corners of the globe. One aspect of the internationalism is another replication of the still beguiling/scientific Stonehenge; the original, of course, is in England and rather dwarfs this imitation. However, that original is literally unapproachable without paying the required entrance fee, and one can still NOT make actual contact with those bewildering stones due to artificial barricades! Here in Rolla, on the Northwest edge of campus on Business I-44/Bishop Avenue/old 66 (adjacent parking lot on St. Patrick Lane) is a historical mini-monolith that is FREE and super-accessible! When I attending the reunion in mid-October 2024, my "FrankenBike" was my mode of transport, classes were not in session on Saturday and I had it all to myself, very up close & personal. It was great, definitely is on my coveted "¡Wheel of Approval!" list.

What an amazing way to spend my sisters birthday weekend! We had rented a house on the Lake of the…read moreOzarks and it was an amazing decision! We had the most amazing time with the most amazing views! The lake was beautiful and refreshing. The views were just breathtaking. We rented a boat for the day and had just an amazing time. I highly recommend coming out here for a nice long weekend with friends and to just enjoy the lake!

Not as expected. Trail was very over grown at times. Needs…read moresome maintenance to have a good family hike. Not in good condition for kids under 10.

An architectural relic and scenic walkway over the Osage River; the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge is a…read morecool little pit-stop when visiting the Truman Lake area. Originally a vehicle toll bridge, it has been converted into a pedestrian walkway connecting downtown Warsaw to a park on the opposite side. Adjacent to 7 hi-way, it is easy to find.

Big nest is a bonus! Nice bridge and walkways/paths. Warsaw MO - go hit the dam as well.read more