The “Queen City of the Ozarks”, because of its location on the Springfield Plateau of the Ozarks, or also known as the “Birthplace of Route 66″, Springfield, Missouri is the third largest city in this state. The later nickname of the city was given after in 1992 the Route 66 Association of Missouri designated Springfield as the official Birthplace of Route 66. Sixty six years before that, in 1926, the highway was officially named “U.S.66” in a telegram at a meeting of highway officials in Springfield. The city is home to many stories about its name and nicknames, as it is home to many and very interesting places and sights.
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Visit the Fantastic Caverns
This is probably one of the most amazing places in Springfield. You will be able to explore a one of its kind cave – it is the only one you can see in North America, although there are three more in different places in the world. You will see the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, soda straws with glittering minerals and much more, while taking a ride in a Jeep-drawn tram! If you haven’t seen the beauty and magic of this cave, you should definitely go and explore it!
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Go to Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden
A beautiful spot in Springfield where you can enjoy the nature and the peace and quiet. Although the garden is open only from April to October, during that time there is a lot to see and do. There are special event nights such as the “Romance in the Garden”, which include floating, stargazing and other activities depending on the event. The garden is open to weddings and other celebrations too. But if all you want to do is take a walk and enjoy the view, you should go around the waterfall, the Tea house or the lakes – the view is gorgeous!
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Go to some of the famous spots in Springfield
There are many spots in this city which carry a lot of history and certainly tell stories you have probably never heard of. One of this spots is the Park Central Square where brass plaques are inlaid into the pavement, showing the place where the Wild Bill Hickok–Davis Tutt shootout took place, marking the beginning of the Wild West era. Another spot to visit is the World’s Largest Fork. Yes, it is an actual fork sticking out of the ground which people say you can spot even from space! Isn’t it amazing?!
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Visit the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center
When talking about the Springfield’s nickname – the “Birthplace of Route 66″, we should mention the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center. If you ever had any questions about Route 66, this is the place where you can ask and find all the answers. There is a lot of information about the highway and the surrounding area, so you can find out about other interesting places for your next stop!
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See the Festival of Lights
Since the summer is no longer in town, the temperatures are dropping and you are probably wondering what to do during this time of year in Springfield, this might be your thing. The festival is held at Jordan Valley Ice Park where you can enjoy ice skating and can stroll around the shops full of holiday stuff. The festival starts in November 21, 2015 and continues until December 31, 2015 which makes it a perfect place to spend the New Year’s Eve!