Missouri

is today (with Silver Dollar City, etc.). We can't even force ourselves to go...last time we went there (early Spring), even though the signs for the attractions said they were open, they were not (Titantic, Ripley's Believe It or Not). We actually stopped at the Overlook Tower (a high tower overlooking the entire area, kind of neat), but that's it. We were there literally about a hour and left.

It is nothing but a huge tourist trap/blob, starting almost immediately south of Springfield MO and going for the next literally 70 miles of tourist traps, music shows, almost anything that would suck the money out of your wallet faster than a speeding bullet. If you want to enjoy something, drive to Joplin MO and go to the Rock Museum. Joplin MO has a long and interesting history of mining, and have a pretty decent Rock Museum. We went there after the failed Branson MO trip and really enjoyed the Rock Museum. And it wasn't pricey either.