Missouri

Travel to Missouri

Climate

The Missouri climate is generally continental, but there are regional variations. For instance, the southeast tends to be warmer than the northwest. Summers are long and hot and winters are long and cold, with spring and autumn brief but pleasant transitional seasons.

Kansas City has an average temperature range of between 26°F (-3°C) in January and 79°F (26°C) in July. There have been recorded extremes of heat and cold in the state, with the lowest ever temperature plunging to -40°F (-40°C) and the highest ever temperature reaching 118°F (48°C).

Snow falls throughout Missouri in winter, with the most occurring in the north, while the southeast experiencing the heaviest precipitation. Tornadoes are common in spring. Rainfall is possible year-round.

Health Notes when travelling to United States of America

There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.

Safety Notes when travelling to United States of America

Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, however, travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world, an increased threat from terrorist incidents. Security has been heightened, particularly at airports. Restrictions on hand luggage apply and travellers are advised to check on the latest situation with airlines in advance. Travellers should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Hurricanes are common between June and November, putting the southern USA, including the Gulf Coast and the eastern US at risk. There is a risk of wildfires in many dry areas in the US, particularly on the West Coast from March to November.

Customs in United States of America

Laws vary from state to state, including speed limit, fines and punishment. The age at which you may legally buy and consume alcohol is 21 years.

Duty Free in United States of America

Travellers to the United States who are returning residents of the country do not have to pay duty on articles purchased abroad to the value of $800 provided their stay was longer than 48 hours and their duty-free allowance was not used in the 30-day period prior. For passengers arriving from Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a duty-free allowance of $1,600 is allowed. The following items are included in this: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol. Restrictions may apply to goods from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sudan. It is prohibited to import Cuban cigars from any country.

Travellers to the United States who are non-residents do not have to pay duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes and gifts to the value of $100 provided their stay in the USA is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period.

Prohibited items for residents and non-residents include meat or meat products, poultry, narcotics, absinthe, plants, seeds, vegetables, fruits, soil, live insects and other living plants or animal pests. Fish is prohibited unless it carries disease-free certification. Wildlife and animals or their by-products carry restrictions. Dairy products and eggs from specified countries are not allowed. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed without the necessary license and permit.

Doing Business in United States of America

In such a large country, filled with so many diverse groups, business practices may differ according to each state, however rarely to any large degree. The East Coast is traditionally more formal than the West Coast, however in states such as California dress code and conservative appearance are as common as they would be in New York. Punctuality is important throughout the country and it is considered rude to be late for a meeting. Gift-giving is uncommon as it may be construed as bribery. Appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms) are used upon introduction and until otherwise stated. Americans favour politeness and greetings of 'Hello' and 'How are you?' are often expressed with sincerity. Business hours may vary in each state, but an 8am start and 5pm finish Monday to Friday is the most common with an hour over lunch.

Status and age are not necessarily indicative of seniority, nor do they carry much weight in themselves. Those doing business in the States should be mindful of this fact; never make assumptions about someone's position or rank. Best practice is to be respectful to all parties. That said, the US upholds a hierarchal business structure, in which 'the boss' is the ultimate decision-maker. Senior leaders have the power of the last word, and can go against the grain just as easily as they can follow popular opinion. Concentrate on winning over this individual, even if the greater group seems unsupportive. Americans value a direct style of communication. In this fast-paced, consumer culture 'time is money', and small-talk is viewed as unnecessary and wasteful. Get to the point quickly, speak about issues in a frank and open manner, and don't take offence if someone questions or challenges you outright.

Communication in United States of America

The international country dialling code for the United States is +1. Mobile networks cover most of the country, especially all urban areas, and wifi is widely available.

Tipping in United States of America

A 15 percent tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but don't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties, tip 20 percent of the bill. It is normal to tip staff such as valets and porters in hotels; this is discretionary, although a minimum of $5 is expected. Most services are customarily tipped if the service is good.

Passport/Visa Note

It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Visa is required for short visits unless travelers qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for a stay of up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors under the VWP need to register online three days before travel and have an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This allows the US government to screen all visitors before travel. Visitors entering the country under the VWP must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a barcode on the photo page. Travellers under the VWP must have passports that include biometrics if they wish to enter the country without a visa, which means that passports must contain unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. All passports must contain a digital photo image in order to travel visa-free. All visitors to the USA have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the VWP.

As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA, a valid passport is required by immigration authorities. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Canadians:

The most important requirement on entering the U.S. is providing proof of Canadian citizenship. A valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove Canadian citizenship and the right to return to Canada. However, several other documents can serve, depending on the mode of transport. Generally, Canadian citizens do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, though there are some exceptions.

Entry requirements for UK nationals:

UK nationals require a passport valid for duration of stay. Most passport holders can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows travel to the US for up to 90 days. The VWP includes tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country.

Entry requirements for Australians:

Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay. If visiting the US for fewer than 90 days, Australian nationals may be eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Entry requirements for Irish nationals:

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. Irish nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. New Zealand nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Entry requirements for South Africans:

South Africans must hold a passport valid for duration of stay. A visa is required.

Currency

The official currency is the US Dollar (USD), which is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Exchange rate for 1 USD - U.S. Dollar
1.00 BMD Bermudan Dollar	0.90 EUR Euro	0.69 GBP U.K. Pound Sterling	108.90 JPY Japanese Yen	1.31 CAD Canadian Dollar	0.99 CHF Swiss Franc
1.38 AUD Australian Dollar	25.11 UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia	337.71 KZT Kazakhstani Tenge	1,505.84 LBP Lebanese Pound	0.71 LYD Libyan Dinar	6.86 BOB Bolivian Boliviano
107.88 NPR Nepalese Rupee	0.38 OMR Omani Rial	3.64 QAR Qatari Rial	1.38 SGD Singapore Dollar	8.29 SEK Swedish Krona	6.63 TTD Trinidad Tobago Dollar
9.98 VEF Venezuelan Bolivar	45.83 DOP Dominican Peso	6.72 HRK Croatian Kuna	18.63 MXN Mexican Peso	586.30 XOF West African CFA Franc	3.16 PGK Papua New Guinean kina
1.00 BSD Bahamian Dollar	2.11 FJD Fiji Dollar	22.64 HNL Honduran Lempira	110.53 DZD Algerian Dinar	1,191.31 MMK Myanma Kyat	11.19 BWP Botswana Pula
3.37 PEN Peruvian Nuevo Sol	693.53 CLP Chilean Peso	478.10 AMD Armenia Dram	24.17 CZK Czech Koruna	19.98 MDL Moldova Lei	124.29 ISK Icelandic Krona
2,938.75 UZS Uzbekistan Sum	3.85 ILS Israeli New Sheqel	0.71 JOD Jordanian Dinar	0.30 KWD Kuwaiti Dinar	31.35 UYU Uruguayan Peso	35.52 MUR Mauritian Rupee
28.51 NIO Nicaraguan Córdoba	8.34 NOK Norwegian Krone	3.92 PLN Polish Zloty	3.75 SAR Saudi Riyal	146.02 LKR Sri Lanka Rupee	35.62 THB Thai Baht
3.67 AED U.A.E Dirham	3.59 BRL Brazilian Real	4.05 RON Romanian New Leu	7.77 HKD Hong Kong Dollar	587.63 XAF Central African CFA Franc	22,474.70 VND Vietnamese Dong
13.95 ARS Argentine Peso	2.70 XCD East Caribbean Dollar	7.83 GTQ Guatemalan Quetzal	9.77 MAD Moroccan Dirham	0.38 BHD Bahrain Dinar	1.00 PAB Panamanian Balboa
1.50 AZN Azerbaijan Manat	3,117.81 COP Colombian Peso	68.30 KGS Kyrgyzstan Som	279.76 HUF Hungarian Forint	7.87 TJS Tajikistan Ruble	13,683.10 IDR Indonesian Rupiah
8.88 EGP Egyptian Pound	1,191.10 KRW South Korean Won	5,669.42 PYG Paraguayan Guaraní	4.16 MYR Malaysian Ringgit	538.75 CRC Costa Rican Colón	1.47 NZD New Zealand Dollar
104.74 PKR Pakistani Rupee	66.80 RUB Russian Rouble	15.60 ZAR South African Rand	2.12 TND Tunisian Dinar	2.00 BBD Barbadian Dollar	1.75 BGN Bulgarian Lev
2.95 TRY Turkish Lira	46.62 PHP Philippine Peso	32.62 TWD New Taiwan Dollar	196.50 NGN Nigerian Naira	107.15 XPF CFP Franc	3.91 GHS Ghanaian Cedi
124.92 JMD Jamaican Dollar	1.80 ANG Neth. Antillean Guilder	1.38 BND Brunei Dollar	110.56 RSD Serbian Dinar	6.58 CNY Chinese Yuan	19,898.50 BYR Belarussian Ruble
6.65 DKK Danish Krone	3.44 TMT New Turkmenistan Manat	67.26 INR Indian Rupee

Airports in Missouri

Kansas City International (MCI)
Kansas City International Airport
http://www.flykci.com

Location: Kansas City The airport is situated 21 miles (34km) northwest of Kansas City.

Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday in November).

Contacts: Tel: (816) 243 5237

Transfer between terminals: A free shuttle service is available. Red Buses run between Circle Parking Lots and the three terminals. Bus stops are located outside of each terminal by the signs marked 'Red Inter-Terminal Connection'. Buses arrive approximately every 15 minutes. 'Blue Buses' run between the Economy Parking Lots and the terminals. Bus stops are located on the curbs outside the terminals and are marked with overhead signs. Buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes. All buses are wheelchair-friendly.

Getting to the city: The Metro Bus provides daily transport to the city centre, and shuttle buses link the airport with several hotels in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Taxis and rental cars are also available.

Car rental: Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, ACE, Fox, Payless, and Thrifty.

Airport Taxis: Taxis can be organised from the courtesy telephones in the baggage reclaim areas. Be sure to give the dispatcher your exact location. Mobile app-based taxi services, like Uber, are available.

Facilities: Facilities include ATMs, internet access, bars, restaurants, shops, and pet relief areas. Disabled facilities are good but disabled passengers are advised to contact their airline in advance.

Parking: Garage Parking costs $3 for each hour up to a daily maximum of $23. Circle Parking has the same hourly rate, but costs only $15.50 per day. Economy Parking costs $7.50 per day. Free shuttles connect the more distant lots to the terminals.

St Louis International (STL)
St Louis Lambert International Airport
http://www.flystl.com

Location: St Louis The airport is situated 14 miles (23km) northwest of St Louis.

Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday in November).

Contacts: Tel: (314) 890 1333

Transfer between terminals: A free 24-hour shuttle service runs between the two terminals.

Getting to the city: The Metrolink light rail system departs from both terminals to the city centre several times a day. Shared van services provide transport to city centre hotels; bus services, and airport taxis are also available from both terminals.

Car rental: Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz, Enterprise, and National.

Airport Taxis: Taxis are available outside Exit Door 14 of Terminal 1, and outside Exit Door 12 of Terminal 2. Ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft are also in operation.

Facilities: Airport facilities include ATMs, currency exchange services, an interfaith chapel, restaurants, snack bars, shops, postal services, club lounges, and an information desk. Disabled facilities are good.

Parking: There is both short-term and long-term parking, with a myriad of locations and price differences. Parking can ranges from $5 to $23 and is cheaper farther away from the terminals. A free shuttle serves certain parking lots.

Springfield National Airport (SGF)
Springfield-Branson National Airport
http://www.flyspringfield.com

Location: Springfield The airport is situated seven miles (11km) northwest of Springfield.

Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday in November).

Getting to the city: Some hotels in Branson and Springfield offer airport shuttles for their guests. The airport is served by several shuttles, rental cars, and taxi companies.

Car rental: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty operate at the airport.

Airport Taxis: Taxi companies which serve the airport include Yellow Cab, Springfield Orange Taxi & Car Service, and Green Shuttle Taxi Service, as well as Fisk Limousines.

Facilities: Airport facilities include a restaurant, a coffee shop, a gift shop, an information kiosk, ATMs, medical services, a pet-relief area, a travel agency, and a lost and found.

Parking: The cell phone lot is free and found in front of the terminal for those picking up passengers. Short-term parking is $2 per half-hour, up to a daily maximum of $16. Long-term parking costs $1 per hour, up to a daily maximum of $11, and a weekly maximum of $66.

St Louis

Fur trader Pierre Laclede established St Louis as a French trading post in 1764, settling at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. It proved an ideal location, subsequently becoming a major port as well as a main departure point for explorers travelling the westbound wagon trails.

St Louis became a manufacturing centre for everything a pioneer would need on his journeys, such as saddles and guns, and it was here that explorers Lewis and Clark stocked up with provisions for their now famous expedition.

Today, St Louis is a modern, commercial, industrial, and cultural centre. It operates as the biggest city in Missouri and one of the largest inland ports in the country. Reminders of St Louis's frontier history are evident most visibly in the shining steel Gateway, the famous landmark dedicated to the pioneers of the Western Frontier.

The city has numerous personalities, existing as a mix of authentic America with a vaguely European air. Music from the nation's past floats from famous jazz and blues clubs, while paddle steamers dock along a riverfront filled with antique shops and restaurants now part of the revitalised Laclede's Landing Historic District.

Getting around in St Louis

The pride of St Louis is the city's clean, efficient light rail system called the MetroLink, regarded as one of the best mass transit systems in the United States. Using the MetroLink, visitors can see most of St Louis' attractions without a car.

The system's zone covers the airport and East St Louis, stretching through downtown. Trains stop at multiple stations in Missouri and Illinois before the line ends at Shiloh-Scott. A basic MetroLink fare is $2.50.

The MetroBus network, which covers not only the city but also most of the county, also serves St Louis. Buses run to schedule from about 4am until after midnight. A basic bus fare is $2. There are taxi ranks near most major hotels and attractions in the city, while cabs can be ordered from various companies.

Those who opt for self-driving will find the city easy to navigate, as the downtown streets are laid out in a grid pattern and there is also a good network of highways. There is abundant parking in high-rise garages.

Climate in St Louis

St Louis sits somewhere between a humid subtropical and a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons and the possibility of stormy weather at any time of year. July and August, the peak summer months, are the hottest and most humid months of the year, and January and February are the coldest and likely to be snowy.

Winter temperatures average between 23°F (-5°C) and 45°F (7°C), while the average summer temperatures range between 66°F (19°C) and 89°F (32°C). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with some rain likely in every month.

Sightseeing in St Louis

The city's distinctive neighbourhoods comprise the real heart of St Louis, retaining the influence of the many ethnic groups which settled the city. The Hill is known for its old-world charm and excellent restaurants imbued with a Latin flavour lent by its Italian community.

The Central West End is a trendy quarter filled with chic boutiques and antique shops, sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and some of St Louis's finest residential properties. The French neighbourhood of Soulard has a colourful Saturday produce market.

Free attractions are a St Louis tradition, and today's visitors can access more high-quality attractions at no cost than almost anywhere else in the USA. There are scores of interesting things to do for free, including numerous activities geared towards children. This makes it an excellent family destination and a good urban option for budget travellers.

St Louis Attractions

Gateway Arch

Within the riverside park known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Gateway Arch is a soaring landmark above the city's skyline. The thin stainless steel arc reaches to twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, at 630 feet (192m) tall. It symbolises the role of St Louis as the 'Gateway to the West' for the pioneers who journeyed along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails towards the western frontier. It is also dedicated to the US president who was responsible for opening up the West. An observation deck reached by a tram system provides magnificent views over the city, the Mississippi and the spreading plains. Also on the site with the Arch is the Old Courthouse Museum, the venue for the hearing of several momentous cases during the 19th century. At the base of the monument is the excellent Museum of Westward Expansion, with exhibits covering exploration of the West and its honoured pioneers, including Lewis and Clark, the Plains Indians, and buffalo soldiers. The Odyssey IMAX Theatre shows big-screen films about the region and its history.

Website: www.gatewayarch.com

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Forest Park

Larger than New York's Central Park, the beautifully landscaped Forest Park is filled with attractions. The acclaimed St Louis Art Museum has a magnificent international collection of art covering works from the prehistoric to the contemporary, housing one of the most extensive collections of German Expressionism worldwide. The Saint Louis Science Center features life-size dinosaurs along with displays and interactive exhibits on the environment, aviation, technology and more. There is also an OMNIMAX Theatre and Planetarium. Thousands of animals roam the beautiful grounds of the Saint Louis Zoo, with indoor and outdoor displays, and a Living World Exhibition features an animated robotic figure of Charles Darwin who summarises his theories on evolution. The Missouri History Museum documents life in St Louis with old photographs and displays on river life, local music, and western expansion. Forest Park is brimming with natural beauty and fun diversions for the whole family and can easily occupy visitors for hours.

Website: www.forestparkforever.org

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Laumeier Sculpture Park

Laumeier Sculpture Park is an open-air museum containing more than 70 outdoor sculptures dotted along a 1.4 mile (about 2.3km) walking trail. The mission statement is to enrich lives and inspire creativity by expanding the context of contemporary sculpture, allowing people to see it in a natural setting. Visitors to the Laumeier Sculpture Park are unanimous in their approval of this goal, with well over 300,000 people visiting the park every year. Laumeier also boasts outdoor movie screenings and a more traditional indoor gallery housed in an 1816 Tudor mansion. Over and above being a wonderful picnic site, it offers visitors a fresh and exciting way to engage with the arts. The park is open year-round and entry is free, but admission to special exhibitions usually requires tickets.

Website: www.laumeiersculpturepark.org

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St Louis City Museum

One of the most popular attractions for kids in St Louis, the St Louis City Museum isn't a stuffy hall with dusty dioramas. It boasts attractions like a ten-storey slide, a rooftop Ferris wheel, treehouses, enchanted caves, a 200-year-old frontier cabin, an aquarium, and much more. There are also educational exhibits on natural history and architecture, and special play areas for toddlers. There is a gift shop on the ground floor and several cafes throughout the building. With a reasonable admission charge and so much on offer, the St Louis City Museum is definitely a must for those travelling with kids in St Louis.

Website: www.citymuseum.org

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Airports in St Louis

St Louis International (STL)
St Louis Lambert International Airport
http://www.flystl.com

Location: St Louis The airport is situated 14 miles (23km) northwest of St Louis.

Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday in November).

Contacts: Tel: (314) 890 1333

Transfer between terminals: A free 24-hour shuttle service runs between the two terminals.

Getting to the city: The Metrolink light rail system departs from both terminals to the city centre several times a day. Shared van services provide transport to city centre hotels; bus services, and airport taxis are also available from both terminals.

Car rental: Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz, Enterprise, and National.

Airport Taxis: Taxis are available outside Exit Door 14 of Terminal 1, and outside Exit Door 12 of Terminal 2. Ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft are also in operation.

Facilities: Airport facilities include ATMs, currency exchange services, an interfaith chapel, restaurants, snack bars, shops, postal services, club lounges, and an information desk. Disabled facilities are good.

Parking: There is both short-term and long-term parking, with a myriad of locations and price differences. Parking can ranges from $5 to $23 and is cheaper farther away from the terminals. A free shuttle serves certain parking lots.

Kansas City

Straddling the Missouri River and the state line dividing Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City is famous for its stockyards, jazz, barbecues, and juicy steaks. It is vibrant and diverse, a distinctly American city with a European flavour.

Established as a fur trading post in 1821, Kansas City served as a convenient point of departure for pioneer wagon trains heading west over the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails. Railroads and the construction of the Hannibal Bridge across the Missouri River established the city as a bustling business community and a world leading cattle centre.

It has Parisian tree-lined boulevards, parks, Spanish-style architecture, and hundreds of fountains reminiscent of Rome, giving it its nickname 'The City of Fountains'. Almost all points of interest to visitors are on the Missouri side of the city, while a sprawl of suburbs occupies the section in Kansas.

People consider Kanas City the nation's barbecue capital, with more than 60 restaurants offering grilled specialities. After World War I, Kansas City became a centre for jazz music, with musicians like Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington playing in the nightclubs of the 18th and Vine District.

Family theme parks include the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, harbouring live entertainment, water attractions, and hundreds of rides. The Country Club Plaza offers retail stores, fine dining, and nightlife.

Riverboat casinos are a popular diversion, and the restored downtown waterfront district hosts the colourful River Market with merchants offering a wide variety of produce and crafts. The city's frontier history is explored in Liberty, where the Jesse James Bank Museum is the site of the country's first daylight bank robbery.

St Joseph is the birthplace of the historic Pony Express, telling the story of the messenger riders recruited to face death daily. Associated with the 33rd US president Harry Truman, the neighbouring city of Independence offers more modern history.

Getting around in Kansas City

Hiring a car is the most popular and convenient means of getting around Kansas City. Traffic is seldom too congested and parking is plentiful. Many taxi companies operate in the city and wider region so it's possible to get around by taxi, but this can prove expensive.

Kansas City is steadily developing cycling lanes and tracks and hiring a bicycle is a fun option in the downtown area. Public transportation consists of a streetcar system and a bus service. The streetcar is free to ride and operates from 6am to 12am, Monday to Thursday, and until 1am on a Friday, with a limited weekend schedule.

Climate in Kansas City

Kansas City has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons and moderate rainfall. The climate tends to be mild but extremes of hot and cold are possible. In the summer months, June to August, temperatures average between 66°F (19°C) and 90°F (32°C).

In the winter months, December to February, temperatures average between 22°F (-6°C) and 44°F (7°C). Snowfall is common in winter. Kansas City sits on the edge of 'Tornado Alley' and powerful storms are possible in spring and summer. The wettest time of the year is summer.

Airports in Kansas City

Kansas City International (MCI)
Kansas City International Airport
http://www.flykci.com

Location: Kansas City The airport is situated 21 miles (34km) northwest of Kansas City.

Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from mid-March to the first Sunday in November).

Contacts:

Transfer between terminals:

Getting to the city:

Car rental:

Airport Taxis:

Facilities:

Parking:

Branson
Kansas City

Nestled among three picturesque lakes, the year-round holiday town of Branson is a live entertainment capital that has become known as a family-friendly Las Vegas or 'Ozark Disneyland'. It has dozens of theatres and more than 100 daily shows all firmly geared towards families, as well as a number of exciting theme parks and family entertainment centres.

In fact, more than seven million visitors holiday in Branson annually. At night, the main road called the Strip is filled with visitors to the mass of theatres and theme parks. Branson's best-known attraction is Silver Dollar City, a combination of craft village and theme park. Branson Landing offers world-class shopping and dining options along the waterfront and features a nightly water show.

The beautiful area around the lakes, particularly Table Rock Lake, and the hills and valleys of the Ozark Mountains, allows for a peaceful escape from the town, providing excellent opportunities for fishing, hiking, camping, and water-based activities.

Missouri Attractions

Overview

Gateway Arch

Within the riverside park known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Gateway Arch is a soaring landmark above the city's skyline. The thin stainless steel arc reaches to twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, at 630 feet (192m) tall. It symbolises the role of St Louis as the 'Gateway to the West' for the pioneers who journeyed along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails towards the western frontier. It is also dedicated to the US president who was responsible for opening up the West. An observation deck reached by a tram system provides magnificent views over the city, the Mississippi and the spreading plains. Also on the site with the Arch is the Old Courthouse Museum, the venue for the hearing of several momentous cases during the 19th century. At the base of the monument is the excellent Museum of Westward Expansion, with exhibits covering exploration of the West and its honoured pioneers, including Lewis and Clark, the Plains Indians, and buffalo soldiers. The Odyssey IMAX Theatre shows big-screen films about the region and its history.

Website: http://www.gatewayarch.com

Forest Park

Larger than New York's Central Park, the beautifully landscaped Forest Park is filled with attractions. The acclaimed St Louis Art Museum has a magnificent international collection of art covering works from the prehistoric to the contemporary, housing one of the most extensive collections of German Expressionism worldwide. The Saint Louis Science Center features life-size dinosaurs along with displays and interactive exhibits on the environment, aviation, technology and more. There is also an OMNIMAX Theatre and Planetarium. Thousands of animals roam the beautiful grounds of the Saint Louis Zoo, with indoor and outdoor displays, and a Living World Exhibition features an animated robotic figure of Charles Darwin who summarises his theories on evolution. The Missouri History Museum documents life in St Louis with old photographs and displays on river life, local music, and western expansion. Forest Park is brimming with natural beauty and fun diversions for the whole family and can easily occupy visitors for hours.

Website: http://www.forestparkforever.org

Laumeier Sculpture Park

Laumeier Sculpture Park is an open-air museum containing more than 70 outdoor sculptures dotted along a 1.4 mile (about 2.3km) walking trail. The mission statement is to enrich lives and inspire creativity by expanding the context of contemporary sculpture, allowing people to see it in a natural setting. Visitors to the Laumeier Sculpture Park are unanimous in their approval of this goal, with well over 300,000 people visiting the park every year. Laumeier also boasts outdoor movie screenings and a more traditional indoor gallery housed in an 1816 Tudor mansion. Over and above being a wonderful picnic site, it offers visitors a fresh and exciting way to engage with the arts. The park is open year-round and entry is free, but admission to special exhibitions usually requires tickets.

Website: http://www.laumeiersculpturepark.org

St Louis City Museum

One of the most popular attractions for kids in St Louis, the St Louis City Museum isn't a stuffy hall with dusty dioramas. It boasts attractions like a ten-storey slide, a rooftop Ferris wheel, treehouses, enchanted caves, a 200-year-old frontier cabin, an aquarium, and much more. There are also educational exhibits on natural history and architecture, and special play areas for toddlers. There is a gift shop on the ground floor and several cafes throughout the building. With a reasonable admission charge and so much on offer, the St Louis City Museum is definitely a must for those travelling with kids in St Louis.

Website: http://www.citymuseum.org