Another month, another full moon. Too many times we let night pass us by without appreciating that big ball of light in the sky. It’s been a fixture in our lives since the beginning of time and has inspired countless sites around the world. Find your muse right here in Missouri at these Moon-inspired attractions.
Prepare to be entertained at the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center. Located in Branson, you can pick from a selection of shows performed daily in the Moon River Theatre. From magic and illusions created by Rick Thomas to the soulful serenade of AYO – Voices of Glory, excitement is just a road trip away. Create a playlist for the road, listening to “Missouri Moon,” recorded by 2018 Grammy Award-winner and Missouri-born bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent.
No one knows the Moon better than Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. View artifacts from their famous lunar landing at “Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition display through September 3, 2018, at the Saint Louis Science Center. The exhibit features the crew’s living quarters/onboard controls, space suits, star charts and more.
Celebrate the night sipping a finely crafted Missouri beverage. The moonshine is a hit at Ozark Distillery in Osage Beach, which offers flavored varieties such as apple pie, vanilla bean, butterscotch, blackberry and cinnamon moonshine. If wine is more your style, Arcadian Moon Vineyards and Winery in Higginsville has a glass for you – and most of their products are named after all of the objects that fill the night sky!
Head to the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium inside Union Station Kansas City for an up-close view of the cosmos. Their 60-foot dome will have you feeling like you’re floating among the Moon and stars.
After a jam-packed day, the full moon is high in the sky and it’s time to lay your head down to rest. The Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis offers fitting accommodations. The massive Moon sculpture that sits atop the hotel makes it easy to spot in the skyline. A step inside offers quirky décor of all things outer space. Enjoy the view from the Rooftop Terrace Bar before heading to bed.
Now that we’ve got you in orbit, get out there and enjoy all that the Show-Me State has to offer. We promise you’ll be over the moon for our Missouri attractions!
Written by Ashley Sneed.