The Scoop sat down with Katie Jones, of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, to discover the best the city has to offer. Jones has lived in Springfield her whole life and is passionate about the community. Based on both her professional and personal experiences, Jones offered The Scoop a list of the top five places to visit within Springfield, MO.
Jones’ initial remark was: “First of all I would just like to say I thought it was really difficult to come up with a top five because there are so many wonderful things to do here in Springfield.”
5. Downtown Springfield
“Downtown Springfield itself could have a top five list because it is constantly growing and changing and offers many things. There are multiple amazing restaurants, breweries, and bars, a couple of retail shops, the Gillioz Theatre, and many quirky businesses that are fun to explore. It is its own hub of connectivity for the community and brings a lot of great assets to not only young professionals, but families as well. It really allows you to live that big city lifestyle without breaking the bank.”
4. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
“I know that the Alamo isn’t just local to Springfield, but it was the first full service movie theatre to come to Springfield. It not only provides a fun environment to watch movies, but it offers a wide variety of activities for multiple demographics. The Alamo serves as a theatre, restaurant, bar, and platform for live musical performances, all in one. It is a great place to meet people and spend time with your friends and family. It gives that big city feel while still being in a smaller area.”
3. “The Galloway District”
“The Galloway area is an up-and-coming district on the south side of Springfield. Some great things you can find around there is Sequiota Park, trendy breweries such as 4 By 4 Brewing, brand new apartment complexes with multiple amenities, tasteful restaurants with picturesque seating areas, spas, a yoga studio, and many other nice places. Since it is in more of a residential area a lot of people miss it, but there are a lot of really fun things to do and explore in the area. It is its own little hub with many hidden gems to be discovered.”
2. Nathanael Greene Park
“Springfield’s Park Board has at least 105 parks so there is definitely not a lack of outdoor activities to do here. However, out of all of the parks my favorite is Nathanael Greene, for multiple reasons. It has beautiful Japanese stroll gardens that are especially pretty in the spring time, it also has a pond that adds that water feature and enhances your experience. It also includes Close Memorial Park which is neat to explore and get exercise. Especially in the spring and summer seasons, there is a lot of beautiful greenery and flowers throughout the park. It is a really nice area to be able to walk around in and enjoy others’ company.”
1.Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
“It is really cool and it’s a great asset for Springfield. It is really neat that Johnny Morrison (owner) has invested in our community so heavily and brought something here that appeals to everyone. It is perfect for families, young professionals, college students, and really all kinds of people. The Wonders of Wildlife truly creates a huge “wow factor,” especially when you are visiting for the first time. It is a must-see.”
