Missouri
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State Parks
Lake of the Ozarks State Park (Osage Beach, MO) This is a good place to catch boat races, among other things. The "Party Cove" is reputed to be a place where night life is often clothing optional.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park (Near Camdenton, MO) This site has the ruins of what appear to be an old castle, but are in fact an old mansion. Lots of very good lake views. Bring a polarizer in the summer
Knob Noster State Park. Knob Noster, MO. This state park is located just outside Whiteman Air Base, one of the few installations in the US where the B-2 bomber is stationed. On a clear day you can get good photographs of the B-2 as it flys in and around the airbase on training flights. In addition to these "big birds" there are excellent locations within the park to take the smaller feathered variety as well.
Rock Bridge State Park (Near Columbia, MO) A natural rock bridge and a small flowing stream dominate this state park. Fall is a particularly good time to shoot here.
Katy Trail State Park (Starts in Sedalia, MO, and ends in St. Charles, MO) The longest park in Missouri, this park follows the route of the old Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad (MKT -- referred to locally as the KATY line). The trail is primarily a bike trail but can be hiked as well. There are numerous great shots of the Missouri river along this trail, and the trail winds through several wonderful towns with great German heritage. August, Mount Pleasant and Hermann all boast wineries, as does Rocheport and Hartsburg. A spur from the trail takes riders into Jefferson City, the state Capitol.
Hawn State Park Ste. Genevieve, MO. This is a wonderful place with lots of trails and a stream running right through the park that offers great opportunities to play with light and neutral density filters.
Montauk State Park, Salem, MO. Offering some of the best trout fishing in Missouri, Montauk is located at the headwaters of the Current River, a favorite float trip location. The park's springs supply about 43 million gallons of water each day. Bring a polarizer and photograph the trout.
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site. Lawson, MO A restored woolen mills, this state park features great photo opportunities.
Onandoga Cave State Park, Leasburg, MO Bring your flashes and prepare to spend time shooting terrific rock formations in this wonderful cave. See the Cathedral Cave located nearby.
Elephant Rocks State Park, Graniteville, MO. Granite Rocks in unusual formations. A worthwhile site to see.
Sedalia, MO
The home of composer Scott Joplin, Sedalia boasts the Ragtime Festival and also has a fairly historic downtown area that is good for photos. The Bothwell Lodge State Park located about 12 miles north of the city features a large stone mansion built over a cave that provides natural airconditioning.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Trail of Tears State Park recounts the shameful way the native Americans were treated in the 1800s.
Steelville, MO
Ozark National Scenic Riverways features lots of venues for floating or shooting photos.
Cassville, MO
Roaring River State Park features a mammoth spring that spews out thosands of gallons a minute.
Bennet Springs State Park (Near Lebanon, MO, off I-44) Great place to shoot fly fisherman on the state's premier trout park.
Theme Parks
Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO. Unlike most theme parks that have stuff for the kids to do, and nothing for the parents, Silver Dollar City has a tremendous breadth of activities that showcase history and native craftsmanship. There are smiths, coopers, cobblers, and every imaginable kind of craft. Photography is encouraged in the park. The park is very clean and offers a variety of very good photo opportunities. It is also very handicap accessible, although there are multiple small hills and stairs.
Six Flags St. Louis Your typical Six Flags theme park.
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun A Kansas City area theme park that is a fun place to take photos of your kids.
St. Louis, MO
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial -- Also known as the Gateway Arch, as in "Gateway to the West" this catenary arch was built in 1968 and features a tram ride to the top where visitors can look out on the cities below. A National Park Service property it includes security screening. There is a fee to ride the trams.
- Busch Stadium
- Anehueser Busch Brewery -- From Dalmations to Hops and Barley, you can photograph it here.
- Forest Park This huge park, similar to Central Park in New York, features a zoo, golf course, museum of art, and natural history museum.(always a good people spot)
- Forest Park Zoo -- This is a zoo without any admission and it offers some fabulous views of animals in the least restrictive environment. It is a world class zoo.
- Central West End (area near Kingshighway and Lindell Blvd) offers great places to take people pictures.
- St. Louis Science Center -- One of the country's best science centers for curious minds of all ages.
- National Museum of Transportation (good spot to photograph trains)
- Lone Elk County Park I-44 North Outer Road west of Highway 141 (The Raptor Project works from here and rehabs sick birds, including owls, hawks, and other hunters. Elk and Bison roam free in the park)
- Missouri Botanical Gardens, 4333 Shaw Blvd., Saint Louis, MO. The legacy of 19th century philantrophist Henry Shaw, the 79 acre garden features a great carp pond as well as one of the finest Japanese gardens in the US. Admission is $8 per adult. $65 Annual membership also admits you to the Butterfly House
- Butterfly House 15193 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63017 -- Admission $6. Hundreds and hundreds of butterflies from all over the world, including Costa Rica, some as big as your hand. There are many different species. Paths are narrow. Go mid-afternoon to avoid the crowds. Be advised to wear comfortable and light clothing because the enclosure gets very humid and steamy as it simulates a rain forest.
- Lambert Field -- There is a Missouri Air National Guard Wing flying F-15s that practices on the weekends and frequently flies at full military power. Bring a good telephoto lens and book a room at the nearby hotels on a tall floor to get the best shots. Photography near the airport may provoke a visit from the police due to security concerns.
- Union Station -- 1820 Market St, Saint Louis, MO 63103. This old train station is restored as a mall, and there's not much to shoot on the inside. However, the outside has a variety of trains on different tracks and you can walk through the cars at your leisure.
Kansas City, MO
- Country Club Plaza -- the first outdoor shopping plaza founded by developer J.C. Nichols, the Plaza is often given credit for creating the idea of a "shopping center."
- Power and Light District
- 18th & Vine Jazz District
- Royal's Stadium
- Chief's Stadium
- Union Station
Classic architecture; houses the Kansas City Science Center.
- Swope Park Zoo
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Display of shuttlecocks offers photo opportunities.
St. Charles, MO
This is a fun and historic place to kill an afternoon. The Original First Capitol building is still intact, and the Lewis and Clark memorial is relatively new. The River-area has a lot of trendy shops and some great places to people watch and photograph.
Hannibal, MO
Mark Twain's home is a famous stop, as is the Mark Twain Cave. Keep in mind that a visit on July 4, of any year, will allow you to see the fence-painting and pie-eating contests. If you can scope out a place on one of the local river bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, the fireworks are an event to behold.
