W hile there is not very much to do here in little old Neosho, there is quite a bit more to do in the surrounding areas without having to drive hours and hours away. There are many very history rich towns within a 50-100-mile radius of Neosho, that are definitely worth the visit.
Take Joplin, for example. I am sure that since it is only about 30 miles from Neosho, everyone who goes to Crowder have been there at least once. However, there are probably a couple of places in Joplin that a lot of people don’t really know about. The George Washington Carver monument is a beautiful area west of Joplin by Diamond. It is the site of the birth place of the famous peanut man, George Washington Carver himself. It also has a beautiful walking trail that winds throughout the park for a mile and a half. If you aren’t really a fan of history, it’s still a great place to go if you like being in nature.
If you want to feel like you’re jumping back in time to the 1950s, the place to go during the seasons of warmer weather is the Route 66 Drive-In Movie Theater in Carthage, Missouri. If you have a truck, pack up some blankets to lay in the bed and a basket of snacks and you’re set for two showings. If not push the seat back in your car and enjoy from the comfort of your vehicle.
Another interesting place to check out close to home is the Wilson Creek Civil War battlefield located in Republic, Missouri, about 65 miles northeast of Neosho, close to Springfield. The park is open from 8AM-5PM, 7 days a week. This national park boasts not only the site of the first major battle west of the Mississippi River, but beautiful scenery of Wilson Creek and rolling hills. This area is so rich in history and if you are lucky, you might get to watch a reenactment of the battle that took place on August 10th, 1861. Not only was it the first major battle that took place west of the Mississippi, but it was also the battle where the first Union general, Nathaniel Lyon, was killed in action. The battle resulted in a Confederate win, however they suffered much heavier losses that the Union.
Lastly, the ever-famous Branson. This is another destination that I am sure everyone, even people from out of state, have heard of this tourist town. Located in the foothills of Missouri, this is a destination perfect families, friends, and even seniors. There are so many different activities, shows, and things to experience that it would take a month to do everything. One of the main things to do in Branson is Silver Dollar City, or “Steal Your Dollar City”, as my dad calls it. I, myself, have never been much of a fan of Silver Dollar City for the simple fact I don’t like rides that throw me around like a rag doll. However, most students flock to this place. I think it might be because we all have a secret death wish, but hey, that’s college. If you are like me, mellow and more into vintage entertainment, something to look into would be the Showboat Branson Belle. You get to enjoy the beauty of Table Rock Lake AND eat a 3 course meal all while watching some of the most talented entertainers in Branson. For info on this attraction, and many more, visit http://traveloffice.org/book/branson/
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