CAVES
Onondaga Cave State Park ￮ (573) 245-6576
https://mostateparks.com/park/onondaga-cave-state-park
Descend into the depths of Onondaga Cave State Park and drop into a world of wonder: towering stalagmites, dripping stalactites, and active flowstones help make the cave a National Natural Landmark and illustrate why Missouri is often called “The Cave State.” Visitors can take guided tours into the underground wonderland. Tours will start April 1st and be offered seven days a week through Oct0ber 31st.
Meramec State Park ￮ (573) 468-6519
https://mostateparks.com/park/meramec-state-park
Fisher Cave is truly one of the park’s most spectacular natural wonders. Naturalist-led tours provide an interesting adventure for park visitors. From the low, narrow streamside passages to the huge rooms filled with calcite deposits, Fisher Cave offers one outstanding cave scene after another. Inside these rooms and passages are well-preserved bear claw marks, cave wildlife and a vast array of calcite deposits ranging from intricate hellectites to massive columns 30 feet tall.
Meramec Caverns ￮ (573) 468-2283
https://www.americascave.com/
Guided tours along well-lighted walkways are conducted by trained rangers departing every 20-30 minutes starting at 9:00 am. The Cavern Tour takes one hour and twenty minutes to complete, covering 1 ¼ mile round trip along well-lighted walkways. On the tour, you will see both the rarest and largest cave formations in the world. Unfortunately, strollers are not permitted. Learn how the ancient Wine Table (World’s rarest cave structure) was formed completely under water. The entire cave complex stretches upwards past the height of a 7-story building and extraordinary formations can be seen throughout. Meramec Caverns is the largest commercial cave in the state of Missouri.
WINERIES & DISTILLERIES
Peaceful Bend Winery ￮ (573) 775-3000
https://www.peacefulbend.com/
Peaceful Bend Vineyard was founded in 1972 by Axel Arneson, a retired doctor with a vision to create blended wines in an old-world style, named after the creeks and rivers that surround the area. In 1998, Clyde Gill & Katie Nott took over the winery after working as cellar master & vineyard manager respectively at other wineries. They drew inspiration in the founder’s vision for the winery and wanted to build on Arneson’s concept. Today, Peaceful Bend Vineyard’s wine blends – still named for area waters – are a reflection of tradition, technique, and a love for sharing flavorful moments.
Spencer Manor Winery ￮ (585) 703-7437
https://www.spencermanor.com/
Our production facility and tasting room is located in St. James at the intersection of highway V and highway 68. The winery includes beautiful scenery, unique wine caves, and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. We can’t wait for you to experience our winemaking process through tours and tastings!
Prairie Barn Winery ￮ (660) 253-0079
https://prairiebarnwinery.com/
This farm has a long history in Phelps County. The prairie barn was built in 1929 when it was a working dairy farm. Now you can come and enjoy your wine tastings inside the beautiful prairie barn tasting room surrounded by 25 acres of vineyards.
St. James Winery ￮ (800) 280-9463
https://www.stjameswinery.com/
For over 50 years, St. James Winery has produced unique regional wines, and our hard work in the vineyards and winery cellar has paid off. Today, St. James Winery is the largest and most awarded winery in Missouri and is consistently one of the top five gold medal-winning wineries in the country. Competition after competition, our quality shows. The recognition is nice, but we don’t do this for the awards — we do this for you. Our one and only focus has always been to make delicious wine.
Krooked Moon Distillery ￮ (573) 437-3114
https://www.krookedmoondistillery.com/
oin us for a unique experience where you can taste different mash bills right out of barrel and bottles. Our experts will guide you through the process and help you discover the aroma of each flavor. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity to expand your palate and knowledge of whiskey.
Old Road Craft Spirits ￮ (636) 364-8132
https://oldroadcraftspirits.com/
Collectively, we started enjoying bourbon in 2017. The more brands and mash bills we tasted and the more relationships we created in the bourbon community, our palates and appreciation for the product grew. As life circumstances required a professional pivot of us, we decided to turn our hobby into a business. We are proud of every product we bottle and send to you!
RAFTING, KAYAKING, CANOEING
Ozark Outdoors ￮ (573) 245-6837
https://ozarkoutdoorsresort.com/
With three beautiful streams to choose from we offer the best float trips in Missouri! Don’t forget to look for the majestic eagles nesting along this stretch of water – they might surprise you with a royal appearance.
Blue Springs Ranch ￮ (573) 732-5200
https://vacationbsr.com/
River Rafts are a great way to enjoy the Meramec River with friends, family or group. Canoes and kayaks are a perfect way to enjoy the river at your pace. Tube floats are the traditional way to float on the river! While on your float, you can enjoy the bluffs, caves, and wildlife along the upper Meramec River. You might catch a glimpse of bald eagles, blue herons, deer, and wild turkeys along the way.
Riverview Ranch ￮ (800) 748-8439
http://www.riverviewranch.org/
Floating, fishing, sunbathing, swimming, or just kicking back in your raft and enjoying the view? No matter how large or small your group, we can accommodate you in a splendid, peaceful, natural setting. Float trip includes shuttle transportation, paddles and life jackets. Note, we do not provide life jackets for children under the age of 10 years.
Bass’ River Resort ￮ (573) 786-8517
https://bassresort.com/
At Bass’ River Resort, we know there’s more than one way to enjoy the river. Let us help you find your perfect river experience! Do you like gliding along in a traditional canoe on the Meramec River? How about zipping around in an easy to steer kayak down the Huzzah River? Or is relaxing in a raft more your style? Whatever your preference- We’ve got it!
Huzzah Valley ￮ (800) 367-4516
https://huzzahvalley.com/
We offer canoes, rafts, kayaks and inner-tubes on the beautiful crystal clear Huzzah River. Paddle through the cool waters on your own or float with friends as you experience everything that the river has to offer!
HIKING & BIKING
Ozark Trail ￮ (573) 436-0540
https://ozarktrail.com/
Go for a hike or bike ride! The Ozark Trail is nearly 400 miles of trail that winds through the Missouri Ozarks, the result of an idea conceived in 1977 to run a trail from St. Louis to the Arkansas border and eventually connect with the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas to create a 700-mile thru-trail. Much of the trail is open to bicycle and equestrian traffic, and the entire trail is open for hiking.
Onondaga Cave State Park ￮ (573) 245-6576
https://mostateparks.com/park/onondaga-cave-state-park
Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 4 easy hiking trails in Onondaga Cave State Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We’ve got you covered, with trails ranging from 6 to 456 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Onondaga Cave State Park.
Meramec State Park ￮ (573) 468-6519
https://mostateparks.com/park/meramec-state-park
Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 4 easy hiking trails in Meramec State Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We’ve got you covered, with trails ranging from 19 to 846 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Meramec State Park.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Cuba, the Mural City ￮ (573) 885-2627
https://cubamomurals.com/
See 12 Outdoor Murals along the Route 66 corridor through Historic Uptown Cuba that tell the story of Cuba’s history from 1857 when it was founded or spend some time at the History Museum and Veterans Memorial located at 308 N. Smith Street.
Blue Star Travel Bug Hotel and Cache
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCKC79
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of coordinates and attempt to find the geocache hidden at that location.
Lange General Store ￮ (888) 755-2840
https://www.langegeneralstore.com/
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Lange General Store in historic downtown Steelville, Missouri has mercantile family roots that go back to the late 1800’s. The old general store takes its name from the original family mercantile proprietor, H.C. Lange. Today our old-fashioned general store is visited by thousands of folks per year from all over the world. It’s stocked full of nostalgic candy and candy barrels, 100-plus flavors of bottled pure-cane sugar sodapop including cold bottles available in the vintage late 1940’s soda cooler, specialty roasted coffees and premium loose teas, made-in-Missouri food products, home goods and decor, kitchen gadgets, garments and classic children’s books and toys.
Riddle Me This Escapes ￮ (573) 677-1897
https://riddlemethisescapes.com/
Travel back in time and become a notorious bank robber or escape the psycho killer’s basement. You have one hour to work your way through lock codes, clues, and lots of twists and turns while trying to get away with the loot or disarm the bomb. Can you do it? The countdown begins…
Fanning 66 Outpost ￮ (573) 885-1484
https://www.facebook.com/fanning66outpost/
Not only will you find the World’s Largest Rocking Chair on Route 66, but also over 300 different popcorn flavor possibilities that are rotated over the course of the year. Located inside the outpost, the Route 66 Gourmet Popcorn Store provides only the freshest popcorn and pops daily to ensure that all the product is always fresh for the customers. All popcorn is popped using Coconut oil, making a healthier, cleaner pop.
The Battle of Leasburg Historical Marker
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=108859
In 1864 the Confederates chased the Union soldiers across the Huzzah River near Steelville, to Leasburg, where the Union soldiers planned on escaping by train. However, Confederate troops burned train tracks in the nearby towns of Bourbon and Cuba, thus trapping the soldiers in Leasburg. You can find the Battle of Leasburg Historical Marker across from Fulton Park in Leasburg, Missouri.
Maramec Spring Park ￮ (573) 265-7124
http://www.maramecspringpark.com/
Maramec Spring Park is one of the most beautiful spots to be found in Missouri. The Park contains the fifth largest spring in the state. An average of 100 million gallons of water flows from the Spring daily. Maramec Spring Park contains 1,860 acres of forest and fields. The Meramec River, a clear calm Ozark stream, flows through the park providing excellent fishing. Trout season starts March 1st until October 31. Catch and Release Fishing runs from November through February. A Missouri Fishing Permit and a Daily Trout Tag are required to fish. For your convenience there are also fish cleaning stations at the park.
RS Ranch Trail Rides ￮ (573) 732-4590
http://rsranchrides.com/
RS Ranch has a special relationship with their herd of 30+ Foxtrotters, Tennessee Walkers, Quarter Horses and Draft Horses. They have bred, raised, and trained them to provide guests with the finest riding opportunities. Your mount will be selected with your own riding abilities in mind, and rides are adjusted to everyone’s riding abilities for the riders, as well as the horses!
Cuba Lakes Golf Course ￮ (573) 885-2234
http://www.cubalakesgolf.com/
Cuba Lakes is a par 34 that doubles as a par 68. A variety of tees makes golf enjoyable for all skill levels and offers a different look from those 18-hole rounds. Cuba Lakes will challenge you while providing a relaxing, picturesque backdrop. Cuba Lakes offers a private setting and will test your accuracy with our fairways, water hazards and sand traps; they have everything you need to challenge you and improve your game.
Meramec Music Theatre ￮ (573) 775-5999
https://www.meramecmusictheatre.com/
The theatre is dedicated to bringing the musical and performing arts to Steelville in the 600-seat theatre. Built in 2001, the Meramec Music Theatre has hosted well-known country, bluegrass, gospel and folk acts throughout the years, such as The Oak Ridge Boys, Polyphony Marimba Band, and T. Graham Brown.
Heartland Farms ￮ (573) 732-5937
https://heartland-farms.com/
Established in September 2015, Heartland Farms opened its pumpkin patch and corn maze. During the fall season of September through October every year, the public enjoyed these fall traditions. The farm became a great place for family and friends to enjoy.
Sullivan 6 Cinema ￮ (573)860-4800
https://www.sullivan6cinema.com/
Sullivan 6 Cinema features six individual auditoriums with stadium seating, state of the art projection equipment, stereo surround sound in all of the auditoriums, and many other amenities. DTS Digital Sound for selected movies is also available.
Heartland Arts Gallery and Gifts ￮ (816) 225-5351
https://www.steelvillearts.org/heartland-arts/
Heartland Arts offers fun and unique programming for the community. We offer pop-up classes, featured artists, community events, game nights and more.
Gallery Zeke ￮ (573) 205-2035
https://www.steelvillearts.org/gallery-zeke/
The Mission of Gallery Zeke is to introduce Contemporary Art Exhibits which Stimulate Awareness of Visual and Performing Art Disciplines throughout our surrounding communities. The name of the gallery was inspired by the life of Zeke Estep, a young man who was infatuated with art and had an impressive skill. Due to an accident at the age of 21, he suffered a traumatic brain injury, this forced him to relearn to draw and paint with his left hand, changing the style of his art. Nevertheless, after much therapy and practice he continued to excel. Unfortunately, due to consequences of the accident, Zeke passed away in 2005 at the age of 35. His life is honored and his passion for art lives on at Gallery Zeke. Gallery Zeke is a venue for displaying and selling artwork and for art talks, receptions, poetry readings, musical performances, art classes and short films. The gallery provides an educational opportunity for everyone in our community, including high school art students, and exposes them to many different kinds of art.
Reining Trails ￮ (573) 259-1965 or (573) 701-6765
https://reiningtrails.square.site/
Reining Trails was established in 2024 when Madyson and Kaley decided to turn a dream into reality. Kaley and Madyson are wives and mothers who enjoy spending every free moment horseback riding. Combined, they have 16 years of trail guiding experience. Together, they want to share this dream with others who have a passion for riding or who have never had the chance to experience the dream. Reining Trails offers trail rides at any level of experience, from novice to advanced. Our mission at Reining Trails is to provide an unforgettable horseback riding experience that fosters a deep connection between riders and horses. We strive to create a safe, supportive, and fun environment where riders of all ages and skill levels can learn and grow.