City: Springfield, MO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (417) 887-7334

Address: 1915 South Campbell Ave.

Description: You probably never saw as much wildlife in your entire life as you can see in one hour at Bass Pro Shops. To say the place is as much a museum as it is a retail store is an understatement. You’ll get a concentrated dose of taxidermy at Bass Pro. They’ve got grizzly bears, moose, bobcats, caribou, birds, fish, and many large predatory animals on display among the wares for those addicted to about any sport you can name. And there are live animals, too. You can see plenty for free at Bass Pro, including the 64,000-gallon freshwater aquarium. Kids can watch as divers feed the inhabitants by hand. There is also a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with lobster, moray eels, and sharks. Experts offer free seminars from time to time in the 250-seat auditorium. Topics include everything from bass to water safety, so there’s more than just sports shopping here. Throughout the facility plaques encourage patrons to respect the environment and preserve wildlife. You can learn more about Ozark wildlife and the Ozarks right next door at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum.