The enchanting state of Missouri, known affectionately as the “Show Me State,” is home to a wide variety of attractions, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the National WWI Museum in Kansas City. Yet Missouri has a plethora of other towns and cities, scattered across 114 different counties, that are ranked as favorites to visit in the United States this year. From the town of Branson, home of the Butterfly Palace, to Hannibal and the Mark Twain Cave, to the town of Ste. Genevieve, located near Hawn State Park, here are eleven of the best towns in all of Missouri.

Branson

Branson, ranked a state favorite due to a variety of natural attractions, is an oasis of delight for every member of the family. From Table Rock Lake State Park, with scenic hikes through the White River Valley and around Table Rock Lake, to the Branson Scenic Railway, providing picturesque journeys through the majestic Ozark Mountains, the town of Branson draws in people from all over the country. Some great cultural attractions, like the Promised Land Zoo, the Titanic Museum, and the Aquarium at the Boardwalk, the last of which features sharks, jellyfish, and even seahorses, are available in and around Branson as well. The Titanic Museum, featuring artifacts from the ill-fated ship of 1912, is an excellent venue to share with friends, family, or pretty much anyone.

Hermann

The quaint town of Hermann, located on the southern bank of the Missouri River, is home to the Deutschheim State Historic Site, which works to preserve a variety of historic buildings from the mid to late 19th century, the Historic Hermann Museum, and the Caboose Museum. Each of these venues features a diverse German heritage in its own unique way. Several cultural aspects also provide that German influence to the town of Hermann, including its own version of Oktoberfest, which is held in October and honors the multitude of different wineries and breweries in and around town. Hermann has some great attractions as well, like being close to the Missouri River, which offers kayaking, boating, and even fishing opportunities.

Cape Girardeau

On the western bank of the Mississippi River and only a few miles northwest of the city of Jackson, Cape Girardeau is home to a variety of natural and historic venues that encourage people to return again and again. From the Missouri Wall of Fame, which honors nearly 50 different celebrities from the state of Missouri, to the Crisp Museum and the Discovery Playhouse, history is alive for every age in Cape Girardeau. There are also several natural attributes in and around town, including Cape Rock Park and the Lazy L Safari Park, the last offering guests and visitors the opportunity to enjoy interacting with over 50 different species of exotic animals from Australia to Africa.

Fulton

Approximately 25 miles east of Columbia, the quaint town of Fulton has a wealth of historic attractions. America’s National Churchill Museum, located on the site of Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, and the Auto World Car Museum, home of a variety of antique cars, including a 1903 Humberette and a 1931 Marmon, provide a taste of the past. Several natural and cultural attributes can also be enjoyed in and around the town of Fulton. Visitors can explore the rustic Mark Twain National Forest, which offers over 750 miles of hiking trails, or they can take part in “Morels and Microbrews,” a festival celebrating music, microbrews, and mushrooms in the Brick District in May, or the Fulton Street Fair taking place at the end of June.

Weston

The quaint town of Weston has several natural attractions that encourage visitors to return year after year, including Weston Bend State Park, which is best known for great hiking trails like Bear Creek and North Ridge, a peaceful campground, and fabulous vistas of the Missouri River. There are also some great historical and cultural aspects in the town of Weston. From the National Silk Art Museum, featuring over 500 different pieces of silk art from France and England, to a variety of fall festivities, like Applefest and the Whiskey Festival, both of which take place in October, Weston is the perfect blend of small-town cultural comfort and hometown sensibilities.

Hannibal

With a population of around 17,000 residents, the town of Hannibal, Missouri, is perfect for that romantic weekend getaway or even a week-long vacation with the family. From checking out the view at Lover’s Leap and having a romantic dinner for two on a riverboat on the majestic Mississippi River to walking through historic downtown Hannibal and seeing sites like Mark Twain’s Statue, Becky Thatcher’s House, and the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, there is something for everyone in this charming town. There are even a variety of great festivals in downtown Hannibal, including the Folklife Festival, the Big River Steampunk Festival, and the Harvest Hootenanny Festival, each celebrating what the town of Hannibal means to both visiting guests and those who call this great townhome.

Boonville

On the southern bank of the Missouri River and southwest of the Franklin Island Conservation Area, the small town of Boonville is a haven of natural amenities. From Katy Trail State Park, which has opportunities for equestrians, hikers, bikers, and nature lovers, to the Lewis & Clark Historic Trail, connecting 16 different states, including Missouri, the scenic beauty of this town can be enjoyed by everyone in the entire family. There is a historic aspect to the town of Boonville as well. Home to Ravenswood, a plantation farmhouse built in the late 19th century, and the Lewis Miller’s Mitchell Collection, showcasing a plethora of antique wagons, motorcycles, and cars, all under the Mitchell brand, the small town of Boonville is an oasis of historical, cultural, and natural attractions.

Carthage

Named after the ancient city of Carthage, which was once located northwest of the Mediterranean Sea, the small town of Carthage, Missouri, is located along Route 66 and is home to several great historic attractions. From Red Oak II, a unique recreation of the original town of Red Oak, Missouri, by Lowell Davis in the 1980s, to the Carthage Civil War Museum, to the Phelps House, which was designed and built by Colonel Phelps at the end of the 19th century, historic value is alive and well in this town of around 15,000 permanent residents. There are also some great cultural values to be experienced in Carthage, like the Maple Leaf Festival, which draws thousands of people annually, honoring the maple leaf through a variety of autumn festivities over a period of nine consecutive days in the month of October.

Ste. Genevieve

A great weekend getaway for novice, intermediate, and avid historians, the town of Ste. Genevieve is a haven of excellent attractions detailing the past. Home to the Centre For French Colonial Life, which showcases the circa 1793 Bolduc House and the Felix Vallé State Historic Site, famous for the 1818 Felix Valle House, the town of Ste. Genevieve is steeped in heritage. There are also several cultural and natural venues in and around Ste. Genevieve, including Hickory Canyons, Pickle Springs, and Hawn State Park, the last of which offers seven great scenic hiking trails, including the Whispering Pine Trail, a plethora of picnicking areas, and even options for camping overnight.

Lebanon

Home of the Lebanon Route 66 Festival, Bennett Spring State Park, and the Route 66 Museum, the town of Lebanon offers a nice blend of cultural, natural, and historic venues to visitors and residents alike. Whether you wish to check out the activities available at the festival with friends, hike nearby Bennett Spring State Park with family, or explore the history at the Route 66 Museum alone, there is something for everyone in and around Lebanon. Several other great cultural attractions call Lebanon home as well. The Lebanon I-44 Speedway and Midway Speedway both supply that sense of true adrenaline, while the Lebanon Christmas Parade, occurring annually in November, provides a taste of the winter holidays.

Sedalia

With a population of 20,000 residents, the town of Sedalia is an oasis of natural and cultural attributes guaranteed to please even the most cynical of people. From the Bothwell Lodge Historic Site, displaying a 31-room lodge constructed atop a bluff, to the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art to the Grandfather Prairie Conservation Area, an eighty-acre tract of land, the area around Sedalia has enough attractions to keep people entertained for at least a week. There are even several festivals available in the town of Sedalia, including the Ozark Music Festival, which occurs annually in September and honors the music the way it should be.

Missouri, located within the midwestern region of the United States, consists of a plethora of small towns that are perfect for everything from a quick day trip to a weekend getaway to a week-long vacation. From small towns in the northwestern county of Atchison to small towns in southeastern Pemiscot County, the great state of Missouri has some magnificent gems that are worth visiting over and over. Along with the eleven towns listed above, Missouri holds a multitude of other towns that can be easily ranked as favorite places for travelers to visit.

Constitutional amendments to protect abortion rights will be on the ballot in 10 states on Tuesday, and the vote in Missouri could overturn one of the country’s strictest abortion bans. The ballot measure would give Missourians the right to make decisions on “matters relating to reproductive health care” without interference until the point of fetal viability, which is around 22 to 24 weeks into pregnancy, CNN reports. There is a near-total ban on abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest under the current state law, introduced immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

• Organizers “cautiously optimistic.” Missourians for Constitutional Freedom organizers are “cautiously optimistic” about the chance of Amendment 3 passing, the Washington Post reports. Supporters of the amendment have raised much more money than opponents. An August poll found that support for the amendment had gone up 8% since February, with 52% in favor, 34% against, and 14% undecided. A poll released earlier this month found that around 56% of Missouri voters think the current law is too strict, 34% think it is about right, and 10% think it isn’t strict enough.