Springfield Vacations, Springfield Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Springfield Vacation Guide

Welcome to Springfield, Cashew Chicken capital of the world!!! Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri, behind St Louis and Kansas City. It is located in the Southwestern corner of the state on a plateau named the same as the city. The city was actually important in the civil war. Wilson's Creek battlefield is just SW of the city. There is a wild west history as well as a more modern day aspect as the hometown of Brad Pitt as well as the location of the college that Kathleen Turner, John Goodman and Tess Harper attended. Now known as Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University, the school originated as a teacher's college before widening it's scope. Evangel University, Baptist Bible College, Drury University and Ozarks Technical Community College are all located in Springfield.

Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, and many others are within an hour or two of the city. Smaller lakes such as the aptly named Lake Springfield and Fellowes Lake are within or near the city limits. There are many boating, canoeing, biking, hiking and off road opportunities in the area as well. The Mark Twain National Forest is nearby as are a number of rivers in the National Wild and Scenic Riverways.

You don't have to travel far out of town to experience a rural community. There are Amish and Mennonite communities nearby as well as many farms including dairy, cattle, hogs, poultry and horses. There are numerous restaurants and coffeehouses in town with everything from barbeque to curry available! There are numerous forums for live stage entertainment such as the Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Peforming Arts on MSU's campus to the Gillois Theater, a renovated theater downtown near Park Central Square. In the summer, be sure to visit Jordan Valley Park!