Visit Springfield, MO

A program created by the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau allows you to sample local beer, wine, or spirits. It’s fun and rewarding and it’s all free.

The Ozarks Tap and Pour Craft Beverage Tour allows patrons to check-in digitally at participating breweries and wineries. Once participants have checked in at a minimum of 10 locations, they’re eligible to receive a free commemorative T-shirt!

Launched in 2018, the program is a popular activity for locals and tourists in southwest Missouri.

This year, about 20 businesses from Springfield and the surrounding area are participating in the program. Each business is locally owned and offers unique beverages and flavors, including tried-and-true favorites and seasonal blends.

The craft beverage tour is one reason people love to explore Springfield and the Ozarks. The Ozarks Coffee Tour will be launched by the CVB this fall. Those who meet the requirements and check into participating coffee shops will be eligible for a commemorative mug.

The city is home the largest and most prominent Bass Pro Shops store, which is an outdoor shopping paradise that attracts more than 4,000,000 people each year. The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is located adjacent to the store. The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is a world-class, award-winning wildlife attraction that offers up-close views of live animals. It also features hundreds of displays featuring creatures from all over the globe. Other attractions include the Springfield Cardinals AA Baseball team, Dickerson Park Zoo and Fantastic Caverns, which is the only cave you can ride through in North America, Smallin Civil War Cave, Wild Animal Safari and history and art museums. There are also strong performing and visual arts communities.

A trip to Springfield would not be complete without visiting some of the incredible chef-owned restaurants that are scattered throughout the city. In downtown Springfield alone, more than 50 restaurants offer everything from handcrafted sushi to succulent steaks and everything in between. You can find cuisine from all corners of the globe, including Greek, Peruvian and Italian cuisines, as well as Lebanese and Argentinian cuisines.

The city has its own unique take on food, along with all the international flair. Springfield’s signature dish, cashew chicken, is Springfield-style. On menus across the country, you will find this distinctive combination of fried chicken, covered with oyster sauce, green onions, and cashews. The family that created it back in 1963 still operates a restaurant – Leong’s Asian Diner – and serves the original recipe daily.

Another iconic restaurant is Red’s Giant Hamburg, a restaurant that originally was on old Route 66 in Springfield and became known as the first restaurant with a drive-through window. Red’s original restaurant is gone. However, the new Red’s has the original menu and retro decor. This makes it a must-see if you’re looking for old-fashioned Americana.

Aside from the city, the Ozarks is home to charming small communities and all the music shows in Branson, which is just a few minutes south of Springfield. Visitors can explore the lush forests, rivers, lakes, and other outdoor activities that surround the city.

This is just a small selection of the many things you can do in the Springfield region. Learn more and request a free Springfield Guide at SpringfieldMO.org or call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767.