Boonville is among the top 10 U.S. small towns to visit, says Smithsonian magazine

Looking for an amazing small town to visit? Smithsonian magazine says it’s just 100 miles east: Boonville.

The mid-Missouri town came in at No. 9 on the magazine’s recent list of “20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2015.” Estes Park, Colo., topped the list. Traverse City, Mich., is there, along with Cooperstown, N.Y.

But Boonville? Absolutely. The magazine lauds the town’s historical sites associated with Native Americans, the Santa Fe Trail, the Civil War and Jesse James.

The town is home to the Missouri River Festival of the Arts and is on the Katy Trail. Nearby are the 1860s Rivercene Mansion, built by a riverboat captain and now a bed-and-breakfast, and Warm Springs Ranch, where Budweiser Clydesdales are bred.

The magazine chose its list from towns with populations under 20,000, taking into account such amenities as cultural attractions, historical sites and nature opportunities.

“Think of this list not as a ranking but as a menu, with something for every taste — whether it’s country bluegrass, Florida’s white beaches or Alaska’s blue mountains,” the magazine said.

Also near Boonville: Warm Springs Ranch, home to Budweiser’s famous Clydesdales. We visited it last year and met some cute foals.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Boonville is among the top 10 U.S. small towns to visit, says Smithsonian magazine."