Things to Do in Springfield

Less than 90 minutes from St. Louis, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum houses the world’s largest collection of original Lincoln artifacts, complete with the Gettysburg Address. A life-size replica of Lincoln’s log cabin set back in a forest of artificial trees stands 40 feet tall just like the President’s iconic top hat. The museum also houses a re-creation of the Presidential Box at Ford’s Theatre, where the president was assassinated, and the state-of-the-art Union Theater, which projects films such as Lincoln’s Eyes, a broad overview of Lincoln’s personal and political life with a special focus on slavery. In the Ghosts of the Library exhibit, transparent phantoms of Lincoln and his contemporaries drift around powered by Holavision technology. Youngsters, supervised by parents, can try on period dress, pose for photos with life-size cutouts of young Abe, or reenact historic scenes in the Lincoln Home dollhouse located in Mrs. Lincoln’s attic, the hands-on learning center. Before heading home, patrons can browse the museum store—more than 3,500 square feet of artifact replicas and Lincoln-themed merchandise.

Grafton Zipline Adventures' highly trained guides help adventurers safely soar through Grafton's picturesque forests on nine ziplines spanning 1.75 miles. Each run spans between 300 and 2,000 feet and takes an adventurous moniker such as Road Runner, Soaring Eagle, or Teenager Sleeping In. As guests glide past stately trees and lush greenery towards a gentle landing, their guides keep them hydrated with a stash of water. They also escort small children who wish to take the two-hour tour. Mere feet away from Grafton's landing pad, Aerie's Winery invites guests to enjoy overnight lodging and sate appetites worked up by the throes of gravity.