One Missouri coffee company has a vintage DC-3 airplane perched on its roof. I love that a building full of roasting machines decided it also needed a plane.
That one detail sums up how much fun a factory visit can be.
Across the state, you can watch chocolate move from cocoa pod to finished bar. You can sample flavored milk on a family farm.
You can even wander through underground cellars that date back to the 1840s.
These tours are short, friendly, and usually end with a treat or a souvenir. Kids get to see how everyday things are made.
Grandparents get a dose of the old-fashioned craftsmanship they remember.
I can’t think of a better way to fill a free Saturday than learning something new and snacking along the way. So which one of these tasty, clever stops is closest to your front door?
1. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
A company named for chocolate three times had better deliver, and this St. Louis favorite does. The candy in the shop is made right in the factory you tour.
Because production happens on site, guests get fitted with snazzy safety hats before heading in. Kids tend to think the headgear is half the fun, so bring a camera.
The tour runs about 30 minutes, which is ideal for younger attention spans. Guides pack that half hour with company history and behind-the-scenes peeks at how candy gets made.
You’ll come away knowing far more than you expected about the sweet business. Better yet, a small chocolate sample waits at the end to reward good listeners.
The company uses fair-trade cocoa and sugar in its artisan chocolates. Pieces are sold individually or by the box, so everyone can pick a favorite to take home.
Plan ahead, because tours require an appointment. Saturday hours run from 9 AM to 3 PM, and Saturday mornings tend to be the quietest time at the shop.
Pair the visit with lunch elsewhere in the city for an easy half-day outing. Grandkids will be talking about those hats all the way home.
Address: 5025 Pattison Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
2. Shatto Milk Company
Milk in flavors you never knew existed is the big draw out here in Osborn. This small farming town in northwest Missouri has fewer than 500 residents and one very famous dairy.
Shatto offers tours of its working farm and bottling operation. Families learn how milk travels from the cows to those glass bottles you might spot at the grocery store.
The best part comes at the tasting stop. Tours include samples of several flavored milks, plus the farm’s cheeses and butter.
Grown-ups who remember the milkman will feel right at home. The atmosphere is friendly and homey, more family farm than corporate plant.
Don’t leave without checking the store counter. Shoppers stock up on milk, flavorizers for mixing at home, and a strawberry ice cream with a loyal following.
Hours on Saturday run from 9 AM to 4 PM, and the free parking lot makes arrival easy. The drive is a pleasant rural stretch, especially when fall color shows up.
It’s a simple, wholesome outing that feels like a trip back in time. Kids leave with a milk mustache and maybe a new favorite flavor.
Address: 9406 MO-33, Osborn, MO 64474
3. Askinosie Chocolate
Cocoa beans from faraway farms end up as candy bars in a historic Springfield neighborhood. Askinosie sits along the old C-Street commercial district, a stretch full of character.
Here the chocolate is bean-to-bar, meaning the company handles the process from start to finish. Factory tours walk you through that whole journey, from cocoa pod to wrapped bar.
Guests watch a presentation that explains how raw beans turn into smooth chocolate. Then comes the part kids wait for all morning.
Samples of chocolate made from beans grown in different parts of the world get passed around. Comparing them is a sneaky geography lesson your grandkids won’t even notice.
The shop also offers in-store samples, so the tasting doesn’t have to end with the tour. Bars make great take-home gifts for anyone who stayed behind.
Saturday hours run from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tour times can vary, so check the schedule before you drive to Springfield.
Afterward, take a stroll down Commercial Street and admire the old storefronts. It’s an easy way to stretch a chocolate stop into a full Ozarks afternoon.
Address: 514 E Commercial St, Springfield, MO 65803
4. The Roasterie
Look up before you park, because there’s an airplane on the roof. The Roasterie’s Kansas City building wears a DC-3 like a hat, and kids spot it instantly.
Inside, the fun keeps going with a free guided tour of the warehouse and roasting facility. Guides cover the company’s history and explain where its beans come from.
The company says it works with roughly the top 2% of coffee beans in the world. You’ll see how those beans get roasted and learn a bit about how coffee grows.
Tours also include a chance to sample different brews. Kids who skip the coffee can head to the cafe for pastries and baked goods instead.
The space is casual and roomy, with plenty of seating and outdoor tables. It’s considered a good fit for families and groups.
Saturday hours run from 8 AM to 4 PM, and Saturdays are the busiest stretch. Arriving earlier usually means a calmer visit.
Free parking and an easy midtown location make this a simple add-on to other Kansas City plans. The airplane photo alone is worth the stop.
Address: 1204 W 27th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
5. Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery
Giant horses with feathered hooves steal the show at this historic St. Louis landmark. The famous Clydesdales live on a campus packed with old brick buildings in the Soulard neighborhood.
Tours dig into St. Louis history and the story of how the Clydesdales became the company’s symbol. Guides share plenty of background on the family business that grew up here.
The grounds include historic stables reportedly dating to 1885. Carriage collections add to the old-time feel that grandparents especially enjoy.
The architecture is a big part of the appeal. Ornate details around the campus make strolling between stops feel like a walk through another century.
A museum and a gift shop round out the visit. Shoppers can grab souvenirs featuring the horses that fascinate young visitors.
Saturday hours run from 11 AM to 4 PM, and Saturday afternoons draw crowds. Buying tickets in advance is recommended, especially on busy weekends.
Free parking keeps things easy for families arriving from across Missouri. Plan time to explore Soulard afterward, one of the city’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods.
Address: 1200 Lynch St, St. Louis, MO 63118
6. Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City folks treat this sprawling Southwest Boulevard operation like a hometown landmark. It’s an established local company with tours that bring its story to life.
Guided tours cover how the business got started and how its products are made. You also walk through the facilities, which gives a real sense of the scale.
Families planning a visit will be glad to know the menu has options for younger guests. House-made root beer is a hit with kids and nondrinkers alike.
Pretzel bites make a handy snack after all that walking. Grab a plate and recap your favorite parts of the tour together.
A visit here can easily fill a couple of hours. It works nicely as one stop in a bigger Kansas City Saturday.
Saturday hours run from 11 AM to 10 PM, with the evening being the busiest. Families with kids will likely prefer an earlier visit.
Parking is in a paid lot, so plan accordingly. Pair the tour with a drive past the city’s fountains for a classic Kansas City outing.
Address: 2501 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
7. Schlafly Bottleworks
Credit this spot with helping put Maplewood back on the map. The building sits in a walkable streetcar suburb just outside St. Louis city limits.
Tours run on weekends, which makes Saturday the natural day to go. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how the company bottles its products.
Lunch is part of the plan here, since there’s a full on-site restaurant. The kids’ menu includes a grilled cheese, and high chairs are available for little ones.
Save room for sticky toffee pudding, a dessert worth sharing around the table. Pepperoni pizza and quesadillas also show up on the menu.
Games, plus plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, keep restless kids entertained. Dogs are even welcome outside, so the family pup can tag along.
Saturday hours run from 11 AM to 10 PM, and reservations are accepted. Evenings get busy, so an early afternoon visit suits families best.
After the tour, wander Maplewood’s main street for some shopping. It’s an easy, small-town style Saturday without leaving the St. Louis area.
Address: 7260 Southwest Ave, St. Louis, MO 63143
8. Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store – Uranus Missouri
Go ahead and giggle, because everyone does at the name. This roadside stop near St. Robert leans into the jokes with gusto.
House-made fudge is the star of the show at this Route 66 candy store. Families can pick out flavors and watch the sweet treats come together.
Shelves overflow with humorous novelty gifts and collectibles. Teenagers who swear they’re too cool for road trips usually crack a smile here.
A slideshow museum adds another quirky layer to the visit. It’s the kind of offbeat roadside fun Route 66 has been known for over the decades.
The location makes it a handy place to stretch your legs on a drive across Missouri. Free on-site parking keeps the stop quick and easy.
Hours are generous, from 8 AM to 9 PM daily, including Saturday. Saturday afternoons can get busy, so mornings may feel more relaxed.
Pair it with a scenic Ozarks drive or other Route 66 sights in Pulaski County. Just be ready for plenty of silly photos and a box of fudge riding home in the back seat.
Address: 14400 State Hwy Z, St Robert, MO 65584
9. Hallmark Visitors Center
Free admission and a whole lot of nostalgia make this Kansas City stop an easy yes. Few companies have shaped birthdays and holidays quite like Hallmark.
The visitors center tells the company’s story through exhibits on its history and present-day operations. Displays show machinery and the process behind cards and gift bows.
A short film kicks things off with background on the company. Grandparents may recognize card designs from years gone by, sparking plenty of remember-when moments.
Little artists get their own spot right next door. A crafting space for kids sits beside the visitors center, so creativity can follow the history lesson.
The gift shop is large, so budget some browsing time. Restrooms and changing tables make it simple for families with toddlers.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. It’s closed Sunday and Monday, so Saturday is a perfect fit.
Parking options include free street parking and paid lots and garages nearby. Since admission costs nothing, this is a stellar value for families watching their budget.
Address: Next to Kaleidoscope, 290 E 25th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
10. Stone Hill Winery
Some Missouri history sits underground, and you can walk right through it here. Stone Hill dates to 1847, making it the state’s oldest operation of its kind.
Guided cellar tours take visitors through underground vaulted cellars carved into the hillside. The cool arched rooms feel like stepping into a storybook.
Tours also explain the historic production spaces that kept this place going for generations. Kids tend to love the hush of the cellars and the old stonework.
Up top, the hillside location offers sweeping views of the river valley. Bring a camera, especially when Ozark fall colors roll across the hills.
A full-service restaurant on the property makes it easy to stay for lunch. A shop offers souvenirs to remember the trip.
Saturday hours run from 10 AM to 5 PM, with afternoons drawing the biggest crowds. Arriving in the morning gives you more breathing room.
Hermann itself is a charming German-heritage river town of around 2,300 people. Spend the rest of the day strolling its historic streets for a classic small-town Missouri Saturday.
Address: 1110 Stone Hill Hwy, Hermann, MO 65041
