Missouri

Missouri splits its personality between two very different cities: St. Louis, marked by the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi, and Kansas City, known for barbecue and jazz.

The Arch itself is the tallest man-made monument in the country, and a tram ride to the top gives a view over the whole river. Kansas City's barbecue scene is dense enough that locals have strong, specific opinions about which few places actually matter.

Branson, in the south, runs an entire tourism economy on live music shows.