What areas are considered "Hip" in Missouri? (Kansas City: rental, houses)

[ITChick]

Some friends and myself are taking a road trip in a month or so to Missouri and I was wondering if there are some places to visit that would be Artsy, Youthful and fun? We are not interested in Malls or Museums, but we do enjoy visiting regentrified areas, even if they do have a Starbucks on every corner.

The other attractions we would also be interested in that may not fall into the catagory I previously mentioned are outdoor type things to visit like mountains (are the Ozarks nearby?), places to view a sunset, lakes with boardwalks, etc.

Also, are there any highways or areas that are best to avoid for four women travelling together alone? I have been advised to stay out of St. Louis, MO. which borders on St. Louis, IL. as I guess it is kind of "rough" there. Anywhere else?

Thank you in advance!

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by ITChick

Some friends and myself are taking a road trip in a month or so to Missouri and I was wondering if there are some places to visit that would be Artsy, Youthful and fun? We are not interested in Malls or Museums, but we do enjoy visiting regentrified areas, even if they do have a Starbucks on every corner.

The other attractions we would also be interested in that may not fall into the catagory I previously mentioned are outdoor type things to visit like mountains (are the Ozarks nearby?), places to view a sunset, lakes with boardwalks, etc.

Also, are there any highways or areas that are best to avoid for four women travelling together alone? I have been advised to stay out of St. Louis, MO. which borders on St. Louis, IL. as I guess it is kind of "rough" there. Anywhere else?

Thank you in advance!

* Check out Kansas City. I am assuming four women like to shop? It isnt like a mall. I hate to shop, but like the Plaza. The Plaza is very upscale, expensive and nice. You dont need buy anything, it is a plesant experience anyway. Very nice "eats" and very fun to look at. The Crown Center is a three stroy mall with mostly small stores. Worlds of Fun is nearby.
* Branson, I hate shows, but its pretty nice. THe new Branson landing is a cool experience, not as nice or large as the Plaza in KCMO but very nice. Silver Dollar City (aka Steal ur dollar cty) is also cool. I think its around 50 bucks per person to get in, but it is an all day adventure, with entertainment, rides, food and some shoping.
* Table Rock Lake is nearby. It is a beautifull lake and in my opinion, the cleanest watterway in MO. It is a busy lake but very nice. You can "ride the ducks" (a car / boat) and go on a tour, ride the chopper on a "dam tour", (love saying that). There are great hiking trails in the Ozarks.
I have a house on Table Rock at Kimberling City (20 minutes west of Branson). In my humble opinion, Kimb. City is very nice. Small town, little lake cottages to stay at, and jet ski rental down the road.
* St. Louis, has the arch and Union Station. The arch is pretty cool to go into. You will be fine in St.Louis, just leave downtown before dark. There are cops crawling all over downtown in the daylight, so you will be fine there.

Hope this helps, If you need directions to anything, I will be glad to help.

[christina0001]

Don't stay out of St. Louis. My husband and I went last year and had a great time. We went to the Arch well after dark, walked around, looked at the river. There were other people around...teens walking and kissing, joggers, that sort of thing. It was perfectly safe. We stayed at the Drury right next to the Arch and walked. The next morning, we walked back to the Arch and took the official tour, which was nice. If you use common sense and stick to popular tourist places, you will be perfectly safe.

[Pirateman]

Hannibal is a safe place its a small rivertown with a population of 17,000 sumthing go to best plave to live to see pictures of Hannibal

[berksco]

I used to live in Westport (KC). COOL and getter hipper, but the Ozarks is great. Especially if you are into ticks! Just kidding. I used to live there, too.

Actually there is quite an active "alternative" community in the 'Zarks. People haved moved in from all over the world. I had a friend from Switzerland and some from Chicago and San Francisco. There are lots of beautiful spots to go white water rafting, spelunking and camping. Not to mention fishing in lakes and rivers with pristine waters. If you have any more questions about the Ozarks, either post, or e-mail me directly. I will be glad to help!

Branson might be your cup of tea, if you like family entertainment. You can see Dolly, Andy Williams and other "headliners" at the shows. Myself, I love to just drive through the Ozarks, even if you don't "do anything" but stay in a cabin by the lake and watch the sunset, or sit by a spring and listen to it burble. Cheap entertainment, but then I don't watch TV, so I have to have SOME alternative amusements!

[razzy]

I dont think Branson would be considered "hip" for your typical young artsy person, and it certainly doesnt qualify as "regentrified", outside of the small historic downtown area, anyhow...

Best places for what you are looking for: Soulard in St Louis. Beautiful historic brick row houses that you wont find in most any other city. Great neighborhood that now (with the demise of New Orleans) has probably the largest Mardi Gras festival in the nation. Neighborhood pubs and restaurants on almost every corner.

Also the Central West End in St Louis. Another eclectic neighborhood with neat shops and bars and an overall urban setting. And the Loop in University City, a suburb just west of St Louis close to Forest Park. About like the Central West End, with more cool shops but few high rises in the area.

Also check out the South Grand area by Tower Grove Park.

Then in Kansas City there is the Westport/Country Club Plaza area. There is nothing in the entire nation that is like the Country Club Plaza area. Trust me on that. You cant miss that, if you are in Missouri.

Hannibal isnt a bad place to visit either. An old river town with a nice hilly setting and a historic downtown area.

Also check out Hermann, on the Missouri River. Its an old German town with wineries and cool artsy shops.

St Joseph is another old river town with historic houses, many of them renovated and preserved. They have a couple of neat parkways that go through the entire city.

And if you are in Missouri and happen to be near Branson, head down to Eureka Springs Arkansas. Its just 5-10 mins south of the Missouri border. It is probably the town you'd like best. Many artists live there, and its a beautiful setting with a historic downtown area with many cool artsy shops, and the town has a bunch of old restored victorian houses. There isnt a town in Missouri that rivals Eureka Springs.

My advice, once again, is to pass on Branson. I dont think it is what you have in mind. Its very commercialized and consists of mostly new and unattractive tourist traps and folksy shows. There is some good scenery in the area, but thats about it.

Do a google search for all of the places I mentioned, and look at pics. That'll help you narrow down where you want to go.

[ITChick]

Thank you to everyone that replied to my post. You are all so very helpful and it's really appreciated!

If no one minds, I'm going to print out the replies so I can show my friends all the various things there are to do in Missouri!

[razzy]

Sure, no problem. And like someone else said, dont "stay out of" St Louis. Just stay south of Delmar St in the city. Go too far north of Delmar, and you are in the 'hood. Pretty much anywhere else is safe, especially during the daytime. If you go downtown at night, be careful there too. Just stay close to others and dont park too far from whereever you are going.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by razzy

Sure, no problem. And like someone else said, dont "stay out of" St Louis. Just stay south of Delmar St in the city. Go too far north of Delmar, and you are in the 'hood. Pretty much anywhere else is safe, especially during the daytime. If you go downtown at night, be careful there too. Just stay close to others and dont park too far from whereever you are going.

Thanks razzy for that info. I'd hate for us to wander through somewhere we really shouldn't be.

[Pirateman]

Hannibal is part of the 50 miles of art
the best time to visit hannibal in my opinion is on the 4 of july.
there is alot of stuff going on in this old little rivertown