3 Iconic Places in Missouri That Look Way Cooler on Instagram

Have you ever been really excited to visit a place or an attraction that you've seen online or in photos posted to social media, only to arrive and be... underwhelmed. I, too, have been the victim of real-life letdown. It's not that these spots in the Show Me State are bad—they just didn't live up to my expectations based on images I'd seen before I visited. Here's a trio of places in Missouri that looked great online but underwhelmed me in real life.

1. Gateway Arch National Park - St. Louis

Don't get me wrong: The Gateway Arch is an iconic monument, and I think anyone interested in seeing our nation's important landmarks should visit. It's also one of the most photographed places in the country. Images of the arch are often beautiful, showing it towering over the skyscrapers of downtown St. Louis, dominating the skyline and casting a dramatic reflection onto the Mississippi River. Other photos are shot from a closer vantage and depict the arch as a shining Möbius strip twisting against the Missouri sky, or rainbowing over the green lawns of the riverfront park.

When I finally visited, however, it was smaller than I thought it was going to be. The elevator ride to the top—although a cool bit of engineering—was a rather cramped experience, and the views through the narrow window were fine. As a national park, Gateway Arch also leaves much to be desired. It's one of the newest and, at just 192 acres, by far the smallest designated national park in the system. (The next smallest, Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, is almost 30 times larger than Gateway Arch.) With its urban, downtown location on a working riverfront, it feels much more like a city park than one of "America's best idea[s]." I could definitely see it as a national monument—but national park? I think that oversells it quite a bit.

2. Hannibal

Many online pictures of Hannibal, Missouri, focus on its historic, typically Mark Twain-related, sites or riverboat culture. What I didn't really expect was how much of a "real" city this town of nearly 17,000 actually is. I mean, I knew that folks lived and worked here before I visited, but from the online images, I expected it to be more like a small historic village than a city of strip malls and gas stations and insurance offices that happens to have some historic sites and areas. On the other hand, the sites were still cool, and fortunately, I was able to top my fuel tank before moving on.

3. Branson

I knew before visiting that Branson, Missouri, is a decidedly touristy town. Most of the online images I saw of the city before visiting focused mainly on the natural beauty of the area or interior shots of entertainment venues. While I was not disappointed by the natural surroundings of Branson, I was surprised at just how developed the area is and how many of Branson's natural areas are encircled by it. Definitely come for the nature, but be prepared for the tourist traps.

Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't visit these places in the Show Me State—you should. Just don't expect the real-life experience to match the photos you see online (which, frankly, is probably true of most places). Do you agree that online images of these spots tend to oversell them? What are some other overhyped places in Missouri? Tell us about your picks on our Nomination page.

If you're ready for more adventures in the Show Me State, head over to Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner for some inspiration.