Show Me Missouri

 I grew up in Missouri so I have some first-hand experience when talking about it. As a destination, the "Show Me State" has really grown into a tourism mecca for the Midwest. St. Louis has always been known for its arch, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists.

But the Ozarks and Branson in particular, have become well known over the last half century as popularity of Country Western music has grown. If you're a fan of the genre, you need to add this region to you must-see list for Midwest visits.

Another place where I grew up is the greater Kansas City area which now has a wildly popular theme park, Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun. What started as Kansas City's Family Fun Adventure quickly grew into a theme park larger than any amusement park in the Midwest. Today it spans more than 325 acres with waterpark  Oceans of Fun, as well. In addition to summertime cooling at the water oasis, rides in the theme park such as Boomerang, Detonator, Mamba, Prowler, RipCord, Spinning Dragons and Timber Wolf rival the scariest rides anywhere in the U.S.

 Steeped in history, beauty and world famous for its culture of music and food such as steaks and ribs, Missouri is really a great place to visit if you plan it right. Yes, the summers can be hot and humid. Sure, the winters get cold and snowy, as well. Missouri has occasional tornadoes and a Tornado Alley, as well. But many have left and come back because there's so much to see and explore. Definitely add it to your list when you plan on doing a road trip.