10 Places to Travel on a Budget: Missouri

With the economy going the way it is, planning a vacation is tough; here are 10 places to travel on a budget: Missouri style. Some of the ten places to travel on a budget Missouri offers are characterized by natural beauty, and others are tourist attractions that don't require much cash to enjoy. Missouri offers a wide array of activities and destinations to look at, truly proving it is the Show-Me State:

1. George Washington Carver National Monument - Located near Diamond, Missouri, this was the first national monument dedicated to an African-American and also the first dedicated to a non-president. The monument preserves Carver's boyhood home, and is open year round from nine to five.
2. Ozark National Scenic Riverways - A short drive from Memphis, Springfield or St. Louis, this national park is fed by two of America's clearest and most pristine spring-fed rivers.
3. Ted Drewes - It's not ice cream; it's frozen custard. St. Louis' most famous frozen treat stand is a must for any visitor to Missouri during the spring, summer, or fall. There are two locations, but the old Route 66 one has more of a roadside, retro feel. Ted Drewes: 6726 Chippewa, St. Louis, MO 63109.
4. St. Charles Historic Downtown - Formerly a town of its own, urban sprawl has made St. Charles a suburb of the larger St. Louis, but its Historic Downtown Main Street, lined with bars, restaurants, and shops on a cobblestone road, makes it a great destination to just walk around if you're on a budget.
5. St. Louis Zoo - One of the best free zoos in the nation, the penguin and puffin exhibit can't be beat, even at pay zoos with much higher budgets. 
6. Forest Park - St. Louis' version of Central Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, only following behind Griffith Park in Los Angeles and Central Park in New York. The home of the 1904 World's Fair, it's a fun and free place to spend the day, and definitely one of the best places to travel on a budget in Missouri.
7. The Current River - Perfect for canoeing, this Southern Missouri spring-fed river is also great for swimming and camping.
8. Katy Trail - Bike across the state of Missouri on this well-maintained but secluded trail that's never too crowded but never too lonely.
9. Trail of Tears State Park - Both historic and scenic, this park has no daily use fee and only costs six dollars per person for overnight camping. Beyond the historic nature, it is also a great place for birdwatching.
10. Meramec State Park - The final place on our lists of ten places to travel in Missouri also has no daily use fee and is located on the lovely Meramec River.