If you do any sightseeing while you are there, check out Grand Falls at the south edge of town.

I found mention of the falls on the Joplin web site, but it is almost ignored as an attraction. It a bit out of the way, there are no signs to provide directions, and the area around the falls is undeveloped. If there hadn’t been other people there (mostly taking family photos) it would have felt like we discovered it.

This shot was taken after the leaves were off the trees, but with a little fall color, it should be spectacular: http://www.mightymac.org/06neosho1.jpg