Visit downtown Springfield, Gailey's for Breakfast then next door to the small local art gallery, MudHouse for a coffee. Head over to Glenstone to see Cosmic Fish and around the corner to Kaleidoscope, these are two of area's oldest smoke shops which are really well run and not scary or dirty.
Bass Pro is also pretty cool but it's huge, and there is also a Wonders of Wildlife museum attached to Bass Pro if you have about 3 hours to kill.
If you want to try Springfield's Cashew or Sweet and Sour chicken I would recommend Canton Inn, which is near Bass Pro. Most any of our Cashew Chicken places are pretty good, really. You will see one about every 100 feet. You can get a 1/2 and 1/2 order, which is half sweet and sour, and half cashew chicken if you want to try both.
If you want lunch in Ozark, MO (between Springfield and Branson) try B-52 Restaurant for American, Mundos for Latin food, or the Mill Restaurant (Restaurant made out of an old Mill kind & of pricey). Skip Lambert's, it's over-rated and crowded.
If going to Branson, a day pass for the Christmas Tree and lights at Silver Dollar City is pretty awesome, get some cinnamon bread or a funnel cake while you are there. Or, visit The Landing in Branson, which is nice little shopping strip.