Visitors from the eight states surrounding Missouri have spoken: Their favorite tourist destination in the Show-Me State is – Branson. OK, no big surprise there. Here’s the rundown on the next most popular spots: St. Louis, Kansas City, the Lake of the Ozarks area and Springfield.
The Missouri Division of Tourism surveyed visitors from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma to find out where they like to go in Missouri.
Because competition for tourist dollars pushes the Top 5 spots to evolve, even people who have visited them before may find that they’re worth a second trip. One of the easiest ways to figure out each area’s most popular attractions is to look at what the locals do for fun.
Branson bound
As the top Missouri destination chosen by out-of-state travelers, Branson offers several attractions. Its most popular ones are big draws for visitors and locals alike, according to Lynn Berry, director of public relations for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“They love Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, Showboat Branson Belle, Titanic, Ride the Ducks and White Water,” Berry said.
Berry said the busiest travel times for area residents are September, April and May, and around the beginning and the end of the school year.
What’s Berry’s personal favorite attraction? “I’m going to have to go with Silver Dollar City,” Berry said. “I’ve been going there since I was very young.”
Information courtesy of Springfield Business Journal