photo by jchiefsfan

Nestled in the hills of the Ozarks in southwest Missouri, Springfield is Missouri’s third-largest city. This beautiful corner of the state is a haven for outdoors lovers, and the city is surrounded by great lakes and rivers, as well as state and national parks. Urban sprawl is spreading the city farther and farther from its center, but many great neighborhoods survive and thrive near the city’s core. Downtown has undergone quite a transformation in the past five to ten years, and you’ll find a great selection of independently owned restaurants, bars and upscale boutique shops. Downtown is also home to much of the city’s thriving music and art scene, and the St. Louis Cardinals’ AA team plays downtown in a recently built stadium.

Springfield is home to several colleges and universities, including Missouri State University and Drury University, and it’s also home to the national headquarters of Bass Pro Shops, whose first and largest store is found here. Springfield’s Dickerson Park Zoo is well known for its elephant breeding program. Kansas City and St. Louis are both a few hours away by car, and Branson is about 40 miles south.

Because it is home to a federal medical center for prisoners, Springfield has hosted several notorious “guests,” including Timothy McVeigh and mobsters Vincent “Chin” Giganti and John Gotti, both of whom died here. Notable names from Springfield include Brad Pitt, Bob Barker, Kathleen Turner, John Ashcroft, Aaron Buerge of TV’s “The Bachelor” and the late Payne Stewart.