Article

Indoor Activities Perfect for a Missouri Winter Day

See Photo Location

Report this Image

If there is a copyright/decency issue with this image and you wish to report it, please complete the form below and a representative will review your case.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stay home. Missouri has a multitude of indoor activities perfect for a winter day. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly ideas, museums, tasty holiday treat stops or wanting to sit back and enjoy music, you’ll find exactly what you need to help beat the winter blues. 

Indoor Fun for the Whole Family

St. Louis

  • The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum – Experience hands-on learning activities that spark imagination, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of wonder and magic.
  • St. Louis Union Station – With dining options and activities like an aquarium, a mirror maze, mini golf and the Grand Hall light show, there’s something for everyone.
  • Mastermind Room Escape – Take on an exciting escape room! From hair-raising challenges to Christmas-themed ones, the whole family will have fun finding their way out.
A girl in a wheelchair is beside her parents looking up at an indoor, domed aquarium that includes sharks and multitudes of brightly colored fish.
See life under the sea in this interactive aquarium at St. Louis Union Station.
A group of singers perform on stage with white and gold outfits. The lights are dim and blue and green spotlights shine off the stage. There is a large crowd watching the performance.
Embrace the rhythmic symphony of a live show in Branson!

Branson

  • Fritz’s Adventure – Get the feeling of outdoor adventure in the great indoors. Featuring a TreeTops course with 45 obstacles, a real airplane suspended in the air, slides, underground tunnels, a laser maze, warped walls and climbing challenges, it’s 80,000-square-feet of explorable space!
  • Live Shows – Branson is the live entertainment capital of the world, and there is no shortage of riveting shows to suit all tastes.
  • Grand Country Fun Spot – Fun for all, this indoor adventure includes go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf, an arcade, bowling and more!
  • The Butterfly Palace – Visit Branson’s rainforest and walk among 1,000-plus tropical butterflies. This is an interactive, educational and entertaining adventure.

Springfield

  • Andy B’s – Get your game on at Andy B’s! Spend the afternoon bowling, playing arcade games and maneuvering the underground laser tag arena.
  • Discovery Center of Springfield  – Take your mind on an exciting quest with first-hand STEM experiences. You can inspect the inner workings of a giant eyeball, dig for a dinosaur, take home your own DNA, plus so much more.
  • Jordan Valley Ice Park – Get on the ice and experience winter inside. With two indoor, NHL-size ice rinks, there’s plenty of space to try those ice-skating moves (maybe wear kneepads, though!).

Kansas City

  • Legoland Discovery Center – Step inside the 30,000-square-foot world of Legos. Adults and kids alike will love the highly engaging and educational activities offered here.
  • Sea Life – Visit this mesmerizing underwater world and come nose-to-nose with sharks, starfish, seahorses and more! There is also an interactive touch-pool, plus fun talks and feed shows throughout the day. 
  • The Rush Funplex – With bumper cars, bowling, mini-golf, rock climbing, foam pits and more, it’s competitive fun the entire family will enjoy.
Children listen to a tour guide at Legoland Discovery Center. A large Legoland character stands off to the side, and it is completely made out of legos.
When at Legoland, you’ll learn, have fun and be amazed at the large Lego constructions.

Museums and Architecture

St. Louis

  • Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis – See one of the largest collections of mosaics in the Western Hemisphere at the Cathedral Basilica. Created with more than 41 million pieces of glass in 7,000 different colors, the mosaics cover the cathedral’s soaring ceilings and many of its walls and archways.
  • Campbell House Museum – Built in 1851, this house contains hundreds of original possessions from renowned fur trader and entrepreneur, Robert Campbell.
  • Museum at the Gateway Arch – Featuring innovative and interactive exhibits, this museum celebrates Missouri’s history and America’s pioneering spirit.
A hallway in the Cathedral Basilica has columns on each side with beautifully designed mosaics. The floor and arched ceiling also are covered with beautiful mosaics, and at the end of the hall is a statue with candles surrounding it.
The beauty of the Cathedral Basilica will leave you in awe.

Branson

  • Dinosaur Museum – More than 45 life-size dinosaurs (made with molds from actual dinosaur bones!) inhabit this museum. While visiting, take part in the popular “fossil” scavenger hunt – good luck, young excavators!
  • Hollywood Wax Museum – Get up close to your favorite stars. These lifelike wax figures will have you doing double-takes.
  • Shipwrecked Treasure Museum – Come and explore the secrets of the deep. You’ll see over 500 authentic artifacts from historical shipwrecks and engage with hurricane simulators, games and other activities.
A woman looks at a classic model of a car at the Route 66 Car Museum. There are multiple classic cars in the background, and each car features a sign with a description. There are retro signs hanging throughout the space.
Get your kicks on at the Route 66 Car Museum!

Springfield

  • History Museum on the Square – Located on historic Route 66, this museum tells stories of Springfield and immerses guests in real-life experiences with its Trolley Time Machine and a recreation of the first Wild West Shootout.
  • Pythian Castle – Built by the Knights of Pythias as an orphanage in 1913, this certified haunted castle is a must-see. History tours, ghost tours, escape rooms, murder mystery dinners and holiday events occur regularly. 
  • Route 66 Car Museum – You might have already guessed it, but this museum is located on historic Route 66. It’s a massive collection of vintage sports cars, classic automobiles, and several movie and celebrity cars.

Kansas City

  • Hallmark Visitor’s Center – Discover how a teenage boy from Nebraska combined a dream and two shoeboxes of postcards to create an iconic company in KC.
  • The Rabbit hOle – This enchanting, multi-sensory, narrative landscape takes visitors through three floors of children’s literature. This museum truly makes books come to life.
  • Vaile Victorian Mansion – Described by the Kansas City Times as the most comfortable, princely home in the entire west in 1882, the 31-room mansion is comprised of marble fireplaces, beautifully painted ceilings, a 48,000-gallon wine cellar and more.

Art and Music

St. Louis

  • Contemporary Art Museum – Peruse the contemporary works of art at this first-rate, modern museum.
  • National Blues Museum – Celebrate the history of blues at this entertaining space, where every corner reveals rhythms and tales from the genre’s vibrant history.
  • The Fabulous Fox Theatre –  This stunning 1920s theater, decorated in a Siamese-Byzantine Baroque style is a St. Louis icon. The auditorium now hosts Broadway shows, concerts, daytime tours and other events.

Branson

  • Amazing Pets Show – Get ready for a laugh-inducing, exciting performance that includes audience engagement, competitive games, and of course – furry friends showing off their skills. 
  • Dolly Parton’s Stampede – A fan-favorite in Branson since 1995, the Stampede boasts magnificent horses with top-notch riders, racing pigs, hilarious competitions and musical displays. Moreover, you are served a fabulous four-course feast while the show takes place in front of you.

Springfield

  • Painting With a Twist – Visit the studio during their “Pop In” hours, pick an art piece you’d like to create and follow the instructions to make your own masterpiece.
  • Springfield Little Theatre at Historic Landers Theatre – Book a Christmas-themed show at Missouri’s oldest and largest civic theatre – it’s the perfect, entertaining way to spend your holidays in the warmth of indoors.

Kansas City

  • American Jazz Museum – Located in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, the American Jazz Museum showcases the sights and sounds of this influential genre through interactive exhibits and films. Be sure to check out the on-site Blue Room – a museum by day and working jazz club by night.
  • Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts – An architectural standout in the city’s skyline, the Kauffman Center features music, theater and dance productions. Tours take visitors through the development of the center, highlighting its construction and mission to bring the performing arts to the public.
  • The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – The Nelson-Atkins currently maintains collections of nearly 40,000 works of art, and each exhibit is as mesmerizing as the last. 
Experience the toe-tapping and hand-clapping beat of American Jazz through interactive exhibits at the American Jazz Museum.

Indoor Fun for Adults

  • OMNIMAX® Theater, St. Louis – Experience the movies like never before. This state-of-the-art theater has sharp images, fantastic sound quality and 40% greater color range on a five-story, 80-foot-diameter dome-screen.
  • St. Louis Escape, St. Louis – Take on a challenging escape room at this top-rated location. Afterwards, play retro mini-golf or try your hand at the arcade games.
A hotel room at Lemp Mansion has green walls and decorative carpet with green and pink hues. A black and white portrait of a person sits on the wall, and a green door opens to a hallway with dark red walls.
Walk through the ghostly halls and rooms of Lemp Mansion, where daring visitors can opt to stay overnight if they so dare.

  • The Lemp Mansion, St. Louis – Reserve a ghost tour or mystery dinner, and if you’re daring, stay overnight.
  • Classic’s Yard, Springfield – A indoor game center for adults! Enjoy pickleball, a golf simulator, yard games, plus a bar and kitchen.
  • Mother’s Brewing, Springfield – Take a tour at Mother’s Brewing – includes a draft beverage, guided tasting of four beers and a relaxing atmosphere with good spirits.
  • Green Lady Lounge, Kansas City – Take delight in listening to Kansas City Jazz musicians in a soothing, intimate atmosphere.
  • Puttery, Kansas City – An upscale mini-golf experience indoors, players can savor premier cocktails and upscale eats as they make their way around the uniquely designed space.

Check out more Missouri date ideas – with a twist – for couples here.

Holiday Sweet Stops

A chocolate chip cookie is topped with a s'more, and it sits on a blue and white plate. Holiday greenery sits on the indoor table.
Delightful bites of holiday deliciousness – yes, please!