Things to Do in Springfield

Escape to the solitude of a natural preserve just minutes from the city, flirt with the paranormal or let a hamster wheel and high-wire bike introduce your kids to the world of physics. Return to a simpler time, when state-of-the-art video games were populated with cartoons. One thing Springfield never runs out of is family fun.

Springfield Conservation Nature Center—A Day in the Great Outdoors

From the stroller set to seniors, everyone who visits the Springfield Conservation Nature Center is in for a treat. Three miles of trails winding through 79 acres of unspoiled Ozark glades, prairies, woodlands and creeks make this the jewel in the Queen City's tiara. Trail loops that range from 1/10 to 1 2/3 miles long let everyone set a comfortable pace. Read the educational signs along the way and wait on the viewing decks or in concealed blinds for glimpses of deer, turkeys, mink, turtles and other wildlife. If the skies open up, take shelter in the indoor viewing area to watch wild creatures wander right up to the Visitor Center to feed.

Discovery Center of Springfield—The Four-Story Schoolroom

Head for the Discovery Center of Springfield, where four floors of fun take the effort out of learning. Dig for dinosaur bones, spin in a giant hamster wheel to generate power or watch your hair stand on end from static-electricity. You can even take home a sample of your DNA. Anyone tall enough to reach the pedals can battle gravity on a high-wire bike—harness and safety net provided—and proud winners report the news from the Discovery Town TV studio.

Pythian Castle’s Ghost Tours—The Memories Will Haunt You

If you find mingling with spooks and spirits tempting, Pythian Castle awaits. Rated by the Paranormal Task Force as one of the most haunted sites in Missouri, this Gothic limestone castle sheltered orphans, prisoners-of-war and the elderly in its first 100 years. Local lore insists that some residents remain in the castle to this day. Join the ghost tour for a chance to see, hear, smell and shiver at spirits that live there. Daytime tours for four or more and kids age 6 and up last 80 minutes; nighttime tours for larger groups and kids age 8 or older last 90 minutes. Nightmares may follow, regardless of your age.

1984—A Blast From the Past

Turn back the clock to show your 15-and-younger gamers how it all began with a night at Springfield's 1984, where Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Tetris and a host of other arcade-game classics will put their X-Box- and Playstation-honed skills to the test. Beat the day's current high scores—displayed on the board behind the snack bar—and walk away with a free play pass and an "I beat your score at 1984" brag button.

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