An adventure can be as dramatic as an African safari or as simple as exploring your own neighborhood. The key is to experience or do something you possibly never have before. Whether it really gets your adrenaline pumping or challenges your mind, these adventures are sure to bring the most important element...fun.
1. Rent a boat from AAA Party Cove Boat Rentals and cruise the world famous Party Cove at Lake of the Ozarks.
Mike Fink’s Marina is located about a mile-and-a-half by water from the Party Cove. They rent boats, three-person personal watercraft and they offer Cruiser Charters with a Coast Guard licensed captain.
You can rent by the hour, day or week. Reservations are recommended. For more information, visit mikefinksmarina.net.
2. Get a birds-eye view of the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks!
Air Lake Aviation offers 30-minute air tours. The tours feature Bagnell Dam, Ha Ha Tonka and most of the Lake of the Ozarks. They are open year round by appointment. If you are feeling even more adventurous, they also over flight lessons! Find out more at airlakeaviation.com.
3. See Columbia from a hot air balloon.
BalloonStormers offers hot air balloon rides from their home base in Columbia. Your fun and safety are guaranteed. They are available seven days a week by reservation, weather permitting. Most of the flights last 45 minutes and end with a toast of your choice of sparkling juice or champagne. They are very popular, so make sure you reserve your spot weeks in advance, especially if you have a specific date in mind. Visit their website at balloonstormers.com for prices and more information.
4. Tear up the track at Gran Rally Go Karts.
One of the biggest go-kart tracks at the Lake of the Ozarks, Gran Rally features hair-pin turns, up and down hills, and wheel-to-wheel action! It’s only $10 for a single seat kart, and $12 for a two-seater. They are also available for private parties and special events. Visit granrallygokarts.com for more information.
5. Challenge yourself at Mastermind Room Escape in St. Louis.
Exit games are all the rage, and Mastermind makes it fun for everyone. Search for the answers, follow clues, and challenge your escape skills in one of their three themed escape rooms. A great one-hour indoor activity right in downtown St. Louis. For information about the available rooms, pricing and reservations, visit mastermindroomescape.com.
6. Test your rock climbing skills at Climb So ILL.
This unique indoor rock climbing facility in St. Louis features world-class climbing walls for many different skill levels. The facility includes 40 top rope stations, 55-foot walls, a dedicated training area, and instructional classes. They also have a fully stocked pro shop offering climbing equipment, merchandise and apparel.
Find out more at climbsoill.com.
7. Feel like a kid again at the City Museum.
Once the International Shoe Company building, a 600,000 square foot structure now houses a majestic world. The City Museum has an amazing outdoor jungle gym, an enchanted system of caves to wander, the amazing World Aquarium and MonstroCity. You can also slide down spiral slides that travel either 5 or 10 stories. On the roof there’s a destination of its own with a 1940s Ferris wheel, more giant slides, skipping fountains and an unbelievable panoramic view of St. Louis from on top of a giant dome. Visit citymuseum.org for more information.
8. Fly through the air with the greatest of ease at The Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center.
Editor's Note: The Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center in St. Louis is temporarily closed.
The Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center in St. Louis offers flying trapeze classes. A great activity for people of all ages and perfect for groups, they are seasonally open from April through October. They are located under the train shed at St. Louis Union Station. For class times, pricing and more information, visit Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center.
9. Learn to figure skate at the Centerpoint Community Ice Rink.
Providing a safe and fun educational environment for those learning, The Centerpoint Community Ice Rink offers a wide variety of programs and classes. They not only offer public skating, but also feature learn-to-skate classes, figure skating, and hockey. The rink is available for special events, and has a full-service concession stand, skate sharpening services and a Pro Shop. For more information, visit centerpointcommunityice.com.
10. Take a ghost tour in Excelsior Springs.
Ghost Tours, a subsidiary of Paranormal Adventures USA, LLC., offers ghost tours in Excelsior Springs, Independence, and Liberty. The Excelsior Springs tour features The Elms, one of the top five most haunted locations in Missouri, a school, the downtown business district and other locations throughout the city believed to be haunted. For information about the tours, dates and prices, visit amazingghosttours.com.
11. Challenge yourself in a treetop obstacle course in Swope Park.
Go Ape offers a giant obstacle up in the trees of Swope Park in Kansas City. At heights of up to 50 feet, they feature ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and wire.
The course and the five super ziplines, altogether can provide 2-3 hours of fun and exercise. Visit goape.com for more information.
12. Take a float trip through Bass River Resort.
Bass River Resort offers canoes, rafts, kayaks and tubes for a wonderful outdoor fun destination. Enjoy some of the best floating available on one of three rivers: the Courtois, the Huzzah and the Meramec. They offer floats six, seven and 13 miles long. There are also RV sites, cabins and camping facilities. Hours vary by season. See BassRiverResort.com for a complete list of activities and lodging.
13. Challenge your family to laser tag or paint ball at Blodgett Paint Ball and Fun Factory.
The facility has four playing fields for fun competition in addition to a spectator’s arena and a pro-shop. The expanded facility also offers airsoft, laser-tag, indoor rides, soft-play, an arcade, and pizza, and they are available for special events. Visit blodgettpaintball.com for more information.
14. Scuba dive at Bonne Terre Mine.
The Bonne Terre Mine is home to the largest fresh water scuba diving venue in the world. They also offer group dives and diving classes. It is the perfect place to learn with clear, 58-degree water with visibility up as much as 100 feet down. All diving is conducted in groups of nine accompanied by two guides and reservations are required. For more information on available classes and diving times, visit 2dive.com.
15. Go Zip-lining at Cave Spring Park.
The treetops of Cave Spring Park provide the backdrop for a zip-lining adventure. Located up to 60 feet off the ground, lightning speed zip-lines let you experience an epic adrenaline rush. There are two zip-line courses. The single zip course with a sky bridge is perfect for kids and small adults, while the three zip course with two sky bridges and a tree house ladder is great for adults and older kids. They are seasonally open from May through September. For details, schedules and fees, visit cavespringpark.com.
What are some of your favorite Missouri adventures?
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