Top Things to Do in Hannibal, Missouri | Midwest Living
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Top Things to Do in Hannibal, Missouri

Samuel Clemens’ (aka Mark Twain) stories of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn began in this Mississippi River town, upriver from St. Louis by 115 miles.

What to do

Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum  Learn more about Clemen's life and works. marktwainmuseum.org

Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum

Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum 

Mark Twain Cave Complex Samuel Clemens immortalized the chilly underground passages when he wrote about Tom and Becky getting lost in McDougal’s Cave. Guided tours last about an hour. marktwaincave.com

Mark Twain Riverboat Here Mississippi River history and legends during cruises on the 120-foot mock paddle-wheeler. marktwainriverboat.com

Planter's Barn Theater Twain's modern-day counterpart Richard Garey performs Mark Twain Himself May to October. heritagestage.com

Where to eat

Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor and Emporium Step into a sweet shop inspired by Clemens’ childhood sweetheart, Laura Hawkins. You may know her as Becky Thatcher from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Becky's on Facebook

Ole Planter's Restaurant Alton Brown of Food Network fame came back to this folksy spot twice for the specialty smoked bratwurst and sauerkraut dinner and loved the strawberry pie. Ole Planter's Restaurant on Facebook

Where to stay

Reagan’s Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast Victorian-Era woodwork and original stained-glass windows take guests back to Twains’ time. reagansqueenanne.com

Garth Woodside Mansion Samuel Clemens, a lifelong friend of John Garth, stayed in this elaborate Second Empire-style mansion numerous times. His second-floor room is now the Samuel Clemens guest room, the B&B’s most sought-after accommodation. garthmansion.com

For information: Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau (866) 263-4825; visithannibal.com

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