Missouri is a true American wonderland where interesting cities meet magnificent wild places. Lowkey, laidback and full of hidden gems, the destination offers Midwest friendliness at the top, and a generous helping of down-home charm in the south.

The state is named after the Native Americans who inhabited the fertile lands around the Mississippi and Missouri tributaries, and became part of the US after a long colonial tussle between French and Spanish forces. European settlers drove the original tribes out and founded the two fur trading centres of St Louis and Kansas City. The state's central location on the Mississippi River's north-south trade route and east-west railroad made it an important crossroads for trade and transport. Both cities established themselves as major gateways to the western frontier during the 19th century.

Today, St Louis is the dominant city and visitors can look forward to a sophisticated yet affordable destination. From the striking Gateway Arch monument to the Italian neighbourhood, The Hill, and its delicious St Louis-style pizza and toasted ravioli, the biggest city on the Great Plains has lots to offer. Other highlights include the downtown area's iconic 19th century brick buildings, which showcase St Louis' French and German background, and the city's famous blues and jazz music heritage.

Kansas City has a more eclectic mix of architecture, as its skyline is defined by sleek modern skyscrapers as well as historic Art Deco and Beaux-Arts buildings. Culturally, its credited with being one of the birthplaces of jazz, so music lovers should make a point of visiting iconic jazz clubs such as The Blue Room and The Phoenix. Foodies should note that the destination is renowned worldwide for its distinctive barbeque. Characterised by slow-cooked meats, rich sauces and a variety of flavourful rubs, the style is rightly one of the country's Big Four regional varieties along with Texas, Memphis and Carolina-style barbeques.

The south of Missouri features the beautiful hillsides and lakes of the Ozark Mountains, where there are some great recreational areas, and a culture that becomes progressively more Southern as travellers head south. The region is absolutely worth visiting for its comfort foods, rural charm and rich tradition of Appalachian and Ozark musical styles. In particular, music lovers will relish a stop in the conservative country-and-western tourist town of Branson.