Travel

True lovers of nature sports are like kids in a candy store when they walk into the 330,000-square-foot showroom of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Springfield.  Massive freshwater and saltwater aquariums, two-to-three story waterfalls, a huge boat showroom, pistol and archery ranges, live alligator snapping turtles, barbershop, and art gallery provoke jaw-dropping awe when you step inside. If first glances don’t impress, there are also more stuffed animals and outdoor gear than you can shake a walking stick at.

Created by Missourian John L. Morris in 1972, the store located in Springfield draws four million visitors every year—more than any other single Missouri attraction. The Bass Pro legacy is growing, too. Bass Pro Sportsman’s Centers are located in Columbia, St. Charles, Branson, and Independence.