You know why Missouri is called the Show Me State instead of the Show Off State? That’s because Missouri is so breathtaking, it doesn’t need to brag. No matter where you look, the state speaks for itself in grandiose ways. An instantly recognizable arch towering over St. Louis, a record-number 5,500 caves to explore underground, thousands of lakes to wind you through the unmatched Ozarks, hometown of literary genius Mark Twain, two championship-worthy baseball teams, mouthwatering barbecue, and a city that feels like you stepped back in time to Athens in Columbia… The list goes on, but that would be bragging. And we’ve already established that Missouri doesn’t need to do that.
Most states would give their right-fielder to have a winning baseball team. But, as chance would have it, Missouri has two. The Show Me State is home to both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals. To any baseball fan, the Cardinals need no introduction. With 11 World Series championships, 19 National League pennants, and 12 division titles, they’re one of the most successful franchises in baseball history. The Royals have made it to the World Series three times, going all the way once. And even though they didn’t win in the 2014 championship, they solidified the loyalty of their fans by showing that signature Missouri heart. Having two great teams is an awesome thing but when you live here, you must pick one. You’re either for STL or KC. Never both.
Burnt ends, pulled pork, ribs, brisket… It doesn’t matter what your favorite barbeque dish is, Kansas City style barbeque will always win your heart. The world famous style of bbq is slow-smoked over a variety of different woods to give it that signature smoky flavor but it’s the sauces here that really set it apart from the other states that pretend to have the best. You don’t have to be in Kansas City to get the best, either, though if you are, head straight to Arthur Bryant’s. But there’s also Jack Stack in Lee’s Summit and Pappy’s Smokehouse among many more that will blow your mind and your taste buds.
No matter where you are in Missouri, you’ll be able to find a great bar or restaurant to hang out with friends over a few cocktails or beers well into the late hours of the night. But if the bright lights of the nightlife is more your scene, you have plenty of options. St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City all have an active nightlife including popular nightclubs, music venues, comedy clubs, and more to keep the party going well into the wee hours of the morning.
Missouri is a four-for-four state when it comes to seasons. Hot and muggy summers, cool and rainy springs filled with flowers, crisp autumns with falling foliage, and snowy winters are what you get here. The humidity is really the worst part of the summers, though, which sees July highs hover around the high-80s and low-90s, but the thickness and moisture in the air can often make it feel like you’re living on Mars. And snow totals can vary depending on what part of the state you live in, though. Springfield averages 17 inches annually while Poplar Bluff only gets about five inches of the fluffy white stuff every winter. Luckily, there’s somewhere to go to enjoy the best of all four seasons including water sports in the warmer months, farms and pumpkin patches in the fall, and ice skating and awesome sledding in the winter.
Missouri’s overall crime rate hovers just above the national average by just a few percentage points. But the major cities across the state are what pull the numbers higher. There are plenty of great towns in Missouri that boast low crime rates and safe neighborhoods.
Missouri is a highly car-dependent state. Even the major cities like St. Louis and Kansas City aren’t very walkable unless you live in the immediate downtown areas. Even then, getting out and around the state will be a challenge. The good news, though, is that Missouri’s daily commute won’t be as hard on you as it will elsewhere. Well, at least around most of Missouri. The national commute average is 25 minutes each way, according to USA Today. But data shows that the daily commute in Missouri shaves off two minutes each way, averaging 23 minutes. That might not sound like very much, but when you add it all up, you’re looking at a savings of over 1,000 minutes you don’t have to spend sitting in your car.
Okay, that’s a stretch. But only by a little. With the 11th lowest cost of living in the country, Missouri might not pay for itself, but it definitely saves you big bucks. Missouri’s cost of living is nine percent cheaper than the national average and housing is one of expenses where you’ll find the biggest savings. The national value of the average home in the country is $181,400, but Missouri’s is just $132,000. With a $50,000 difference, that really is like paying for itself.
If you want to learn about the blues, a good place to start would be the National Blues Museum in St. Louis. An even better place to start would be by visiting the many festivals around the state including the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival and the Roots N’ Blues Barbeque Festival. But the absolute best way to learn about the blues, Missouri style, is to catch some live jazz and blues bands around the many clubs around the state. Some of the best include BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soup along with Beale on Broadway in St. Louis or travel into Kansas City for a night at The Blue Room or The Phoenix and you’ll be singing the blues because you want to, not because you have to.
Sure, Missouri might not have a coast to call its own. But who needs an ocean when you have the beautiful beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks. As the largest lake in the state, it comes with over 1,150 miles of shoreline. It’s the go-to vacationing destination in the state and most popular spot for whatever your recreational hobbies may be including boating, shopping, fishing, hiking, golfing, and more. Then climb the mountains to reach the Ozark Highlands area which cover almost 47,000 square miles, making it the biggest mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rockies and stealing the hearts of everyone across Missouri. Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
