Cyber-Travels

Summer 2026

info@showmemissouri.net — 2026-05-11T15:15:11-05:00

Summer in Missouri is a great season! Hot days followed by soft warm evenings encourage us to get outside to enjoy both activities at home and for travel. We mix yard work with summer sports and recreation.The kids are out of school and Missouri’s travel locations call us to enjoy important family time.

In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.

The historic Route 66 that crosses Missouri from St. Louis to Joplin is the subject of this issue’s cover story. The 300-plus miles of the highway in Missouri provides a history of the old road. Parts of the original highway are now covered by more modern highways, but the charm of the original is still there. The road was called “the Mother Road” and was one of the first continuous stretches of paved highway in the US. It began in 1926.

In the 1960s, I loved following the adventures of Todd and Buzz as they traveled Route 66 in their Corvette on the television show that shared its name with the highway. In that show (Route66roadtrip.com/route-66-tv-series.htm). I never got the Corvette that I wanted so much when I was 16, but I certainly have fond memories of the four seasons of that show.

A good place to visit both IRL and online is the Route 66 Museum (Lebanon-Laclede.lib.mo.us/66-museum/route-66-museum-home) in Lebanon. The museum is free and self-guided.

Springfield is often called the birthplace of Route 66. Good photos and plenty of background information can be found at SpringfieldMo.org/blog/post/birthplace-of-route-66.
A few miles south of Springfield in Ozark is one of three Lambert’s Restaurants (ThrowedRolls.com/ozark-mo). I once met Norm Lambert, the son of founders Earl and Agnes Lambert, at the original Sikeston location.

Paris Springs, just west of Springfield, is the home of Gary’s Gay Parita, a restored Sinclair service station. The station, which can also be found online at Route66RoadRelics.com/destination/missouri/ash-grove-missouri-route-66, is a living museum with vintage cars, classic Sinclair advertising signs and more.

Another restored service station and gift shop, Spencer Station (SpencerStation.myshopify.com), is located just down the road in Miller, population 720. Perhaps the town (CityofMillerMO.org) was founded by one of my ancestors!

Another famous highway in Missouri is Highway 61. This year Highway 61 also celebrates its 100th birthday. The present-day course of U.S. 61 south of St. Louis largely follows the original course of the Spanish colonial road El Camino Real. The highway began in 1776, when the Spanish lieutenant governor recognized that the two principal communities of St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve needed a connecting highway.

Ste. Genevieve is the oldest permanent European settlement in Missouri, and there is a lot of history to be discovered there. VisitSteGen.com provides a sample of what the city offers. I have been there a number of times and found the history and the people very interesting. Most of the restaurants offer a local specialty, liver dumplings. I know, they have liver in them but they are really good. Give them a try.

I hope you have a great Missouri summer as you travel our historic highways or through your computer screen. If you should see me catching a throwed roll or enjoying some liver dumplings, be sure to say hi. I still don’t have a Corvette, but I can share some incidents from Route 66 anyway. Good Missouri food, good friends and good stories makes a great combination.

Spring 2026

info@showmemissouri.net — 2026-02-05T17:38:14-06:00

Spring! I am certainly looking forward to it. As I write this column, I am surrounded by the snowy residue of a late winter storm. It was -4 degrees when I awoke this morning.. When this is published, we will all be enjoying the birth of spring and the delights of another Missouri happy season.

I have been comforted during these cold days by my faithful feline friend. I have a tuxedo cat named Socks who loves to sit on my lap and to sleep on my bed. I like cats, but Some people don’t, including my retired dentist friend Steve. For those who like cats, a cat cafe is a real treat, and there are several of them in Missouri. Some of their locations are The Cheshire Grin Cat Cafe in St. Louis (TheCheshireGrinCatCafe.com), Bertha’s Beans in Columbia (BerthasBeans.com), Bristocats Cat Cafe in Jefferson City (PhpCatRescue.org/baristocats) and Whiskers Cafe in Kansas City (WhiskersKC.com).

Checking out their websites will let you see some cute cat pictures and read rules and times of operation. Most of them are coffee shops that also serve food. The cats are in a separate room from food prep, and you must agree to not pick them up or to pull their tails if you go into their room. Children must be supervised by an adult. Some of the cats are available for adoption, and they are all usually very happy to sit on visitors’ laps. I know my friend, Steve, will not be visiting, but I may make an IRL visit.

For those who like bicycling, Missouri’s Katy Trail (BikeKatyTrail.com) is a great asset. The trail is 239 miles long and is the former MKT Railroad right of way. It crosses most of Missouri and is available for hiking or biking. Horseback riding is allowed on two segments of the trail: Sedalia to Clinton and Tebbetts to Portland. Over half the trail’s length follows Lewis and Clark’s path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. America’s longest “rails-to-trail” project is flat and scenic.

The little town of Marshfield hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival every spring in mid-April. It is the featured festival on page 46 of this issue. The festival, which can be found online at CherryBlossomFest.com, has a lot of varied activities including welcoming descendants of our nation’s presidents who will share stories about their family. Marshfield is the birthplace of Edwin Hubble, who was responsible for the Hubble Space Telescope. The courthouse in Marshfield has a 1/4-size replica of the telescope, which can be seen at RoadsideAmerica.com/tip/10463. Photographs taken with the still operating space telescope can be viewed a Science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/.

I hope you have a wonderful spring in Missouri. If we should cross paths at a cat cafe while enjoying a cup of coffee or checking out the replica space telescope, please say hello. Wherever we meet, it is always good to see a friend in Missouri.

Winter 2025

info@showmemissouri.net — 2025-11-17T13:38:34-06:00

Time flies, especially as the winter season begins and the days grow shorter. Winter in Missouri offers much to enjoy as we fill those shorter daylight hours. Sweaters and warm coats are in order, but travel is still a good way to explore our great state. If the weather outside is snowy, our computer screens still provide a safe and comfortable way to enjoy Missouri. We can travel IRL after planning our trips online.

In order to help you plan some trips, either IRL or through your computer screen, I have searched out a few internet sites for your cyber-travel visits.
Here in my hometown of Glasgow, we have many winter activities, including a lighted Christmas Boat Parade (GlasgowMo-msa.org/events/old-fashioned-christmas/winter-boat-parade/) through the historic downtown with many other activities going on for adults and children. Glasgow also has a Community Christmas Social at the Knights of Columbus Hall. It includes a delicious smoked pork chop dinner (I will be cooking) and entertainment: GlasgowMo-chamber.com/events/glasgow-holiday-social-dinner/ .

Holiday In the Park (GlasgowMo-msa.org/donations/holiday-in-kuemmel-park/) is a drive-through event in historic Kuemmel Park featuring business, organizations, and individuals who have lighted Christmas displays along the route. Admission is a free will donation. These events are becoming very popular. Check your local community to see if you have one of your own.

Of course, Branson has many things to enjoy year-round. The Shepard of the Hills hosts its North Pole Adventure. You can read about it at TheShepherdOfTheHills.com/north-pole-adventure/.

Did you know that Missouri has the largest populations of bald eagles during the winter months of all the states? There are 60 species of eagles. Missouri also sometimes sees golden Eagles. Here is a site with more eagle facts: BirdAdvisors.com/eagles-missouri/.

When I was a boy on the farm, I used to ice skate on one of our farm ponds. I am not able to skate now, but I certainly remember those good times. I am sure it would have been even more fun on the largest outdoor ice ink in the Midwest. Steinberg Ice Rink (BirdAdvisors.com/eagles-missouri/) is located in Forest Park in St. Louis. Skating lessons are offered The rink is 27,500 square feet. Forest Park is a historic treasure itself. The park is 1,300 acres and is loaded with things to do year round. Discover more at ForestParkForever.org/visit .

If you are closer to the western part of the state, there are many things to do in Kansas City as well. KC goes all out in the winter: VisitKC.com/articles/everything-you-need-know-about-winter-kansas-city/. Christmas lights, shopping, the famous plaza, restaurants (not just barbecue) and more will be yours to enjoy. Oh, yes, football fans: “How about those CHIEEFS!” (Chiefs.com/ ).

A Kansas City area attraction (actually Independence) that I have wanted to see is the Harry Truman Home. Harry loved to walk, and the Truman Walking trail (Independencemo.gov/visitors/our-history-and-culture/walking-trails/truman-
historic-walking-trail) is designed to let you retrace one of his favorite walks. Click on the walking trail and sites map to see the path. It begins at the Truman Home (nps.gov/hstr/index.htm) and takes you through his Independence neighborhood for 2.7 miles. Along the way you see 42 markers which indentify important places and people in his life.

I hope you have a great Missouri winter. Stay warm and safe, but do try to get out and enjoy the season. Perhaps we will cross paths either online or even IRL. If you see me at a Christmas parade or a Chiefs’ game, be sure to say hello. A visit with good Missouri friends, old or new, always makes a day a little brighter.

Fall 2025

info@showmemissouri.net — 2025-08-05T14:18:12-05:00

I am looking forward to fall! It is my favorite of all the seasons for many reasons. As I write this, summer is winding down, but it is still hot. At church this morning (it is a Sunday), my pastor remarked that summer is ending soon and school will begin in a matter of weeks. I already knew that I had this column to work on after my lunch today. Time really does fly by, especially as we accumulate birthdays. I remember when summer seemed endless, and now it is over before we know it.

When you receive this issue of Show-Me Missouri, the weather will be cooler in the day and a bit crisp at night. Leaves will be changing into their fall colors, and our attention will turn from baseball to football. For some of us, hayrides, cider and thoughts of Halloween will fill our days.

Fall is a great time to explore the wonders of Missouri. A short trip is a welcome respite from the busy demands of daily life. Those trips are great fun IRL, but our computers make it possible to travel from home, even if we only have a little time to spare. They also let us plan for the next IRL trip.

In order to help you plan some trips, either IRL or through your computer screen, I have searched out a few internet sites for your cyber travel visits.

Fall is a great time to camp out in Missouri. Temperatures are just cool enough to appreciate a small campfire at night and hiking, fishing and relaxing are great daytime activities. I have camped solo and with friends many times at Sam A. Baker State Park (MoStateParks.com/park/sam-baker-state-park) near Poplar Bluff. After deer season, it is never too crowded. Sometimes, it was just me and the occasional visiting skunk in the campground.

Another camp that is very close to Sam A. Baker is my favorite Scouting USA Camp. I have spent of a lot of days and nights at Camp Lewallen, beginning when my son was a new scout and continuing to the present day nearly 50 years later. I am a Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow (oa-scouting.org) and try to visit Lewallen at least once a year. Scouting is a great experience for boys and girls. Girls are in separate troops and camp sites with female leaders. Even non-scouters see a little bit of this great camp at CampLewallen36.wixsite.com/cl36 .

A pretty town to visit on historic Route 66 is Carthage (CarthageMo.gov). There were two civil war battles there, and the city was completely rebuilt after being burned down in the second one. Carthage is known as the Maple Leaf City because it has thousands of maple trees. Each October, the city hosts the Maple Leaf Festival: (CarthageChamber.com/maple-leaf). It is also home to the Precious Moments Chapel (PreciousMomentsChapel.org). Our publisher, Gary Figgins, and his wife are big fans of these porcelain figurines.

I must admit that the last time I visited Carthage was in 1966. My fraternity brother, Art Kaul, and I were there to be in the wedding of another fraternity brother. That evening we were exploring the town on foot, and the local police thought it was too late to be out on the streets. We were almost arrested, but luckily when I knew Mary Kay’s parent’s names, we avoided that embarrassment. There is more to that story, but you will have to see me in person to hear it all. We were not doing anything bad, I promise.

Enjoy your Missouri fall, and if we should cross paths on our travels at a campground or exploring the streets of Carthage, say hello. Meeting friends is one of the greatest pleasures that Missouri can offer.

Summer 2025

info@showmemissouri.net — 2025-05-08T14:41:43-05:00

Summer is here! After a stormy and sometimes disastrous spring with tornados and floods, we are ready for some more carefree times. A summer in Missouri can provide the balm for our tired spirits. Kids, of course, look forward to time off from school, and even adults try to find more time to enjoy Missouri recreation and travel.

Many years ago, when I was one of those kids, I remember a popular song performed by Nat King Cole. It was called “Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer”. I just listened to it again, and it still makes me happy. You can listen to it on YouTube.

It will open with an ad, but you can just click on skip to hear and see a young Nat King Cole (it was recorded in 1963) doing a great job with this song. The song was originally written in German, by the way.

The German title is “Du spielst ‘ne tolle Rolle”.

I was a brand new high school graduate in 1963. Much older and, hopefully, a bit wiser now, I still like the song. I also like to get out in summer to travel and visit our beautiful state.

In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.

Covered bridges are a relic of the past. Missouri once had at least 30 of these bridges, but only four have survived. You can read about their history and see photos at TravelInMissouri.com/covered-bridges-in-missouri. The site even provides highway routes to visit the bridges. I have been to two of them, so I have two more on my bucket list. The bridges were built of wood and covered to protect the structures. All four are now only open for foot traffic. The bridges can all be visited in a 334-mile loop. Another site with additional photos and videos of the bridges can be found at OnlyInYouSstate.com/trip-ideas/missouri/day-trip-covered-bridges-mo .

Of course, I cannot mention bridges without including the first all-steel railroad bridge in the world. The historic bridge was located in Glasgow and was built in 1878. The bridge cost more than $500,000, a fortune in 1878. Even though some naysayers warned that it would fall down during the first winter because “…steel is not a good material for bridges,” it served until the early-1900s when it had to be replaced because of larger locomotives. Construction details and photos of both the old and new bridges can be found at IndustrialScenery.blogspot.com/2021/05/first-all-steel-bridge-in-world-1879-c.html.

I have visited Hannibal several times. I was first there when I was in elementary school, and my last visits were while I was escorting a couple dozen seventh and eighth graders. I have also been there with adult friends. All those visits were interesting in different ways. Take 30-plus kids anywhere for a good time!

Hannibal’s website (VisitHannibal.com/explore) details many of the things to do there. Hannibal calls itself “America’s Home Town,” and you will find it a great place to visit. I am looking forward to a repeat visit myself.

You can tour a couple of caves, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum and birthplace of Molly Brown, the “unsinkable” Titanic survivor (biography.com/activists/molly-brown). Many shops and good places to eat will complete your visit. You will surely find a friend in Hannibal.

Have a great Missouri summer. If we should happen to cross paths IRL, be sure to say hello. We might see each other at a covered bridge or in Mark Twain’s hometown. If we meet in Glasgow, I’ll show you the famous bridge and tell you about our other history. It’s always good to meet friends in Missouri.

Spring 2025

info@showmemissouri.net — 2025-02-12T16:10:54-06:00

We emerge from the snow and ice of winter to bask in spring sunshine. Green grass and warm sunshine in the day with cool evening breezes help us to enjoy the beginning of new life all around us. Spring is an ideal time to get out of the house and explore the natural wonders of our beautiful state. It is only prudent to use our computers to explore those wonders before we hit the road.

In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.

No matter what season, I really like coffee. In fact, I am drinking a cup wile I am writing this. I was pleased to find the Ozarks Coffee Trail at SpringfieldMo.org/ozarks-coffee-trail. The site allows viewers to sign up to obtain a pass to visit a number of coffee shops in the Ozarks area. Visitors get access to a “Secret Menu” at each shop, and points are awarded for each visit that can be redeemed for shirts or other items. There is no cost to participate.

We have a nice coffee shop here in Glasgow that is owned by my friend, Scott Morris. You can check out at Riverbrewcoffeeco.com.

Serious bird watchers maintain a “life list” of where and when they have observed various species of birds. Near Columbia, there is a great area for bird watching that host a fun family outing where you maintain a life list or not. The Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area can be found online at BirdWatchingDaily.com/hotspots/240-eagle-bluffs-conservation-area-mcbaine-missouri. The site consists of 4,000 acres of wetlands near the Missouri River and the Katy Trail. Recently, a small flock of rare whooping cranes were spotted there. At around 5 feet tall, the whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America. The bird weights about 15 pounds and boasts a 7-foot wingspan. At one time there were more than 10,000 of them in North America, but by 1941, their population had dropped drastically. Read more about their comeback at FWS.gov/species/whooping-crane-grus-americana .

A historic site in St. Louis is Bellefontaine Cemetery which can be found online at BellefontaineCemetery.org/events. The cemetery is 175 years old and is still an active cemetery. There are many historic graves including that of Confederate General (and sixth governor of Missouri) Sterling Price. Also buried there is James Glasgow, one of the 13 founders of my home of Glasgow. The town is named for James Glasgow who, unlike six of the original founders who are buried in Glasgow, moved to St Louis.

Bellefontaine is more than a cemetery. It is also a level III arboretum. There are only 47 of these in the world. The cemetery is home to more 10,000 trees and shrubs. Both private and self-guided tours are available.

If you visit Kansas City and you like both coffee and cats, this is the cafe for you: WhiskersKC.com. Whiskers is a coffee shop with a cat playground. Customers can just watch the cats or interact with them. Beware that there are rules that must be followed including no tail pulling. It sounds good to me, as I am enjoying my third cup of coffee since I started writing and my cat, Socks, is purring on my lap right now.

I hope you have a great Missouri spring and get to visit both IRL and online. If our paths should cross this spring, please say hello. Perhaps we can see some rare birds or enjoy a cup of coffee or a latte. Maybe we can pet a friendly feline!

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Winter 2024

info@showmemissouri.net — 2024-11-12T16:35:34-06:00

Winter can be a bit forbidding, I suppose. But, if you can focus on the good things, it can also be a great season. Especially if you are enjoying it in our great state of Missouri.

Cold days and nights and snowy roads are a challenge, but winter also gives us the time to sit by a fire with our loved ones. Well-chosen trips during the winter either IRL or through our computer screen can be especially rewarding.

In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.

It is especially important for winter travel to check on road and weather conditions. Back in my teaching days, my principal, Joe Parkinson, used to often say, “Plan Ahead!” It was good advice back in Caruthersville High School, and it still is today. The Missouri Department of Transportation has a web page to help make travel plans. MODOT.org/winter-road-conditions makes it easy to check highway conditions, and it even includes access to video cameras that show live views of highways throughout the state.

I remember as a Missouri farm boy (years ago) taking my sled to slide down the best hill on our farm. I used to wish that I could snow ski. There are now several ski resorts in Missouri. Hidden Vally, just a bit south of St. Lous, is the oldest such resort in Missouri. Even if the natural snow is a bit light, Hidden Vally makes its own. You can check out the resort at HiddenValleySki.com.

Christmas is always a special part of the winter season. If you are near Scott City, just south of Cape Girardeau, you would enjoy a visit to The Yule Log Cabin, found online at YuleLogCabin.com. This little cabin in the woods is filled with 185 decorated Christmas Trees and hundreds of thousands of unique Christmas ornaments, stockings, tree skirts, decorative items and live Christmas trees and wreaths.

Many Missouri communities sponsor a drive through Christmas light display, including The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City: VisitKC.com/visitors/things-do/kansas-city-plaza-lights. Missouri’s official Santa Claus, Jimmy Kuhn, turned on those lights for years. Jimmy was a resident of Glasgow and stared in the Tom Sawyer movie filmed in Arrow Rock (ArrowRock.org).

We have a drive thru display in Glasgow in Kuemmel Park. It is free, but donations are accepted. We also have a lighted Christmas boat parade in our historic downtown. Learn more at VisitMO.com/events/old-fashioned-christmas-boat-parade.

I have a good friend who raises goats. I am sure she would enjoy Baetje Farms (BaetjeFarms.com). This farm is located near Bloomsdale and offers a number of great opportunities. Baetje Farms, pronounced Bay-G, began when co-founders Steve and Veronica Baetje bought their first goat just over 20 years ago. As a hobby, they sought out the best way to make French inspired “Pure Artisan Farmstead” goat cheeses. Since then, Baetje Farms has won more than 70 national and international awards for their cheese which is distributed throughout the Unites States. They also provide lodging in special “tiny houses” and offer hosting for weddings and other celebrations. Of course, they offer a big assortment of delicious goat cheese.

Winter certainly brings thoughts of Christmas and Christmas brings thoughts of fruitcake. I know that many people joke about fruitcake, but once you taste the cake made at Assumption Abbey in Ava, you will become a fan. AssumptionAbbey.org/fruitcakes tells the story of the monks and their business and provides a way to order those delicious cakes.

Enjoy your winter travels. If we should cross paths online or on the IRL highway, say hello. Next to a good slice of fruitcake, I really enjoy those friendly greetings.

Fall 2024

info@showmemissouri.net — 2024-08-07T15:50:51-05:00

Another hot Missouri summer ends and brings the relief of fall temperatures. Life brings all of us challenges, but a Missouri fall can help us to gather our resources as we prepare for another cycle of seasons.

Crisp fall nights provide a welcome relief from the humid heat, and crisp apples provide refreshment that we are eager to enjoy. Fall is a great time to explore Missouri either on the highways or on the internet. We can use the internet to plan IRL trips, or to take a relaxing trip from the comfort of our computer screen. As always, I have researched some web sites to help you travel through your computer or on the IRL road.

I remember childhood trips to the St. Lois Zoo. On one of those trips the sea lions were all inside their shelters. My mother barked loudly and other patrons laughed. That laughter stopped when the sea lions came out and barked back.

The zoo recently announced an exciting new development with an expected opening in 2027. The project, called “WildCare Park”, will occupy 425 acres near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. There will be tours on open buses to let visitors see the animals in natural habitats. These animals will include many endangered species including rhinos and the rare Grevy’s zebra. You can watch an animated rendering at StLZoo.org/about/wildcare-park. You will definitely want to visit in person with the park opens.

The park will also feature walking tours, glamor camping, displays, an educational center, a gift shop and a restaurant. Research facilities are also included. There will be an 11-story high observation tower from which visitors will be able to see the whole park and the confluence of the rivers.

The project will cost 230 million dollars, much of this will be funded from donations. Guest fees will be announced later, but for now, residents of St. Louis County will have free admission.

Missouri is shows off some beautiful fall foliage. This site (OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/beautiful-fall-destinations-mo) lists 11 places around the state to see the spectacular fall views, many of which are free. The site also includes photos.

Of course, we all hope our Missouri baseball teams make a run into October. The Royals are doing well, and my favorite Cardinals have begun to show some promise. You can purchase tickets online to Cardinal games at GetYourGuide.com/st-louis-l1443/st-louis-cardinals-baseball-game-at-busch-stadium-t693892/. The site also lists information about what you can and cannot take into the game. I have been watching the Cardinals on TV, and I have also watched my 16 year old grandson play club baseball this summer by using an app called Gamechanger (gc.com) on my computer. In fact, while I am writing this, he is getting ready to play in Atlanta, Georgia. I will be watching from Glasgow, Missouri.

Speaking of Glasgow, our little town has many nice things to do. We are the site of the first all-steel railroad bridge in the world, a civil war battle and the oldest single family-owned drug store in the United States. You can make a quick online visit at DowntownDifferent.com/glasgow/Missouri. Our friendly people will be happy to greet you in person.

I hope you have a great Missouri fall. If we should cross paths at a baseball game or while you are visiting Glasgow, be sure to say hello. A Missouri fall day is a perfect time for friends to meet and visit.

Summer 2024

info@showmemissouri.net — 2024-05-09T20:39:35-05:00

Summer in Missouri can be both magical and challenging. Farmers are working hard, either praying for more rain or praying that it stop. Daytime temperatures can be oppressively hot, but those summer nights bring cool breezes and gentle relief. A summer evening on a farm porch sipping a glass of lemonade while listening to the soft music of night birds and insects and inhaling the even softer scent of honeysuckle or fresh cut hay is a delight. Those nights in my youth were wonderful. One of my treasured memories involves a June evening, a full moon and a gentle breeze stirring the leaves of a silver maple tree.

We can’t go back in reality to those good days of the past, but we can make new memories. Even if we don’t have a country summer porch, we do have our window to the world in our computer screen and, hopefully, some time to travel IRL in Missouri.

In order to help you plan some trips, I have searched out a few internet sites for your cyber-travel visits.

Remember drive-in movies? If you are near my age, you have likely seen some movies at a drive-in. There are not many of them around anymore, but you might get a chance to revisit the past or give your kids an experience they will remember at a historic drive in at Carthage. There was something special about those drive-in nights. I don’t usually put Facebook sites in my columns, but I will make an exception for the 66 Drive-In Theater, which can be found at Facebook.com/66drivein. The drive-in is open during the summer months and shows mostly new movies, with the occasional blast from the past. On Saturday nights, you can see two movies for the price of one. At that price, you won’t feel tempted to load up your friends and family in the trunk of the car to sneak them in. Just kidding, I would never do that.

For me, one of the best things about summer (Spring and Fall, too) is baseball. I spent years as a youth coach and now enjoy watching my grandson play for Chaminade High School. This summer, he will be playing club baseball, and I hope to see some of those games as well. My wife and I are faithful Cardinals fans and we watch them as much as we can. This season has not been too great so far, but we still have hope. A great tour opportunity is the tours of the stadium. Read about them at MLB.com/cardinals/ballpark/tours . Don’t forget the Royals, they have a similar tour in Kansas City: MLB.com/royals/ballpark/tours .

Do you enjoy wine? Did you know that before prohibition, Missouri was the leading wine producing state in the country? That industry has made a great comeback in recent years. We now have many fine vineyards with new ones opening frequently. MissouriWine.org will help you learn about Missouri wineries. Included in the listing of wineries is Becketts Winery: BeckettsRestaurant.com/winery here in my hometown of Glasgow. You can sign up for a free membership on the Missouri wine page that will provide you with information, discounts and information about special programs at the many wineries. A leisurely tour of one or more wineries is a great summer activity. Most offer free tastings and outdoor tables where you can sip and converse while enjoying a lovely view.

I hope you have a great Missouri summer. If we should cross paths while enjoying a glass of Missouri wine or if you see me at a baseball game, be sure to say “Hello.” New friends and a nice visit can really make the summer a good time.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Spring 2024

info@showmemissouri.net — 2024-02-01T15:53:47-06:00

Winter 2023

info@showmemissouri.net — 2023-11-10T16:10:16-06:00

The ever revolving cycle of seasons has once again moved to winter. Every season in Missouri has unique and wonderful charms. Winter may not be your favorite (it is not mine), but still there are many aspects of a winter season that bring us pleasure, especially when that season is in Missouri.

Winter pleasures include steaming mugs of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while relaxing in a comfortable chair in the presence of good friends. As always, I have researched some internet sites to get you started.

Warm Springs Ranch near Boonville is the home of the famous Anheuser Busch Clydesdales. The usual tours of the ranch are not available in the winter, but they have special Christmas-related events that you can read about at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/christmas-farm-mo. Visitors IRL can visit the horses, tour the barns, shop at the gift shop and enjoy special Christmas treats. Visitors online can see some great photos of the ranch.

It has become very popular for communities in Missouri to sponsor drive-through events in their parks to see Christmas displays with lights and music. Glasgow is a historic river town located on the sharpest bend in the Missouri River, so our parades is a nighttime lighted Christmas themed boat parade. This page tells more about it and includes a video of last year’s parade: VisitMo.com/events/old-fashioned-christmas-boat-parade.

Eagle Days events are very popular in Missouri. This website at mdc.mo.gov/events/eagle-days, will help you locate a good place to observe these birds along waterways in Missouri. Remember, it is illegal to get too close to the birds or to frighten them. I plan to observe our local eagles with binoculars from the upstairs porch of my house in Glasgow.

I used to enjoy hiking and camping and often did both with family, Boy Scouts and even alone. Some physical problems make that more difficult for me now, and my camping is pretty much limited to an annual visit to Boy Scout Camp Lewallen just north of Poplar Bluff: StLBSA.org/properties/all-properties/camp-lewallen. I used to love hiking and camping in any season. Winter hiking presents more challenges than summer, but on the plus side, there are a lot fewer bugs and snakes.

Hiking trails, wild animal viewing are close to St. Louis. You can see photos of Lone Elk County Park at StLouisCountyMO.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/lone-elk-park/#30H. Lone Elk Park is a wildlife management area with bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk and deer. Motorcycles are prohibited. Domestic animals are not allowed, even if confined in a vehicle. The park acreage was once part of the Tyson Valley Powder Plant used for the testing and storage of ammunition during WWII. After the war, the area served as a county park, and in 1948 herds of elk and bison were established. The land was re-acquired by the Federal Government during the Korean War, and for safety reasons, the wildlife herds were destroyed in 1958. However, one lone bull elk survived.

In 1964 St. Louis County reacquired a portion of the original tract from the General Services Administration and in 1966 the name was changed from Tyson Park to Lone Elk County Park. Six additional elk were obtained from Yellowstone National Park in 1966 through the efforts of the children of the Rockwood School District and West St. Louis County Lions Club.

I hope you have a great and safe winter. If our paths should cross while watching a parade or checking out a Christmas display, be sure to say hello. There is nothing like a warm Missouri greeting to increase comfort on a cold day.

Fall 2023

info@showmemissouri.net — 2023-08-08T15:21:12-05:00

by J.Y. MILLER
Fall may be my favorite season. It brings relief from the summer heat and a return to school and school events. As a youth, growing up on a Missouri farm, it was a time for hayrides, repairs on fences or machines and some time to relax. Those days are long behind me now, but I still enjoy my fall pleasures, including some travel in our great state of Missouri. A lot of my travel is now through the screen of my computer in the form of cyber trips.

To help plan those cyber trips, I have searched for some fall travel locations.

I was particularly interested in this site about Alley Mill: www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/historyculture/alley-mill.htm. The mill, located near Eminence, is a beautiful structure that was used to grind farmers’ grain into flour and corn meal. The page describes the lengthy process in good detail. My name, of course, is Miller. My grandfather, Addison Lewis Miller, actually owned and operated a mill and produced these products. I have some of the “Miller’s Fine Meal” bags.

Weston Bend is a beautiful state park near Weston, close to Kansas City. It is a great place to hike and to enjoy views of the colorful foliage that we can enjoy during a Missouri fall. This site at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/kansas-city/state-park-near-kc-must-visit/, includes pictures of those trails and views. One of the photos is of an old tobacco barn. We raised tobacco on our farm and took it to Weston to sell. Tobacco is a labor intensive crop. I spent many Christmas school vacations stripping tobacco. We pulled the leaves from the stalks and sorted them by grade. It was hard work.

Fall usually reminds us of cider and pumpkins. Here in Glasgow, we have a pumpkin festival called Pumpkin Daze that takes place on September 30. Details about it and many other events in Glasgow can be found at VisitGlasgowMo.org/events-local/. We put on a pretty good party here in Glasgow. If you enjoy Pumpkin Daze, you will love the lighted old time Christmas parade the weekend after Thanksgiving.

If you visit St. Louis, you really should see the Gateway Arch. It is pretty imposing. You can visit it virtually at GatewayArch.com/. It is much more than the tram ride to the viewing room 630 feet above the riverfront.

ArchPark.org/visit/points-of-interest/museum-at-the-gateway-arch provides online details about the Arch and the museum below it. While you are downtown, see the old courthouse (Archpark.org/visit/points-of-interest/old-courthouse), Busch Stadium and much more.

Many years ago, when I began teaching math in Warrenton, I smoked cigars and pipes. I gave that up long ago when my 5-year-old son said, “Daddy, why do you smoke? I don’t want you to die.” I put my pipe in the pipe rack and never lit it up again. That was nearly 50 years ago. But, during my smoking days, I enjoyed an IRL visit to the corn cob pipe factory in Washington. My Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe was one of my favorites. With 150 years of history, Missouri Meerschaum Company is the only surviving corn cob pipe manufacturer in the world. You can make a virtual visit at CornCobPipe.com/our-museum/. The Washington factory includes a museum that explores the company’s history and a store that sells pipes, hats, shirts, tobacco, and more. Even if you, like me, no longer smoke, I think you will enjoy this website. It is a part of history.

I hope you enjoy all these sites and that you have a great Missouri fall. If we should cross paths IRL while visiting the Gateway Arch or checking out Glasgow’s Pumpkin Festival, be sure to wave and say hello. It is always good to connect with a friend.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Summer 2023

info@showmemissouri.net — 2023-05-09T13:48:09-05:00

Spring 2023

info@showmemissouri.net — 2023-02-16T15:16:52-06:00

Spring is always a beautiful season, and a Missouri spring often defines the ideal spring. After winter’s snow and cold nights, we want to spend time outside with the scent of flowers and the sweet breezes of soft winds. We may find the opportunity to travel to enjoy our state and enjoy all that Missouri has to offer.

Speaking of sweet smells, you will find them at the Long Row Lavender Farm (LongRowLavender.com) in Wright City, just a few miles west of St. Louis. This 15-acre family farm has rows and rows of lavender plants and other flowers. The lavender plants begin to bloom in June, but the farm opens in March. A gift shop and various workshops are available. The webpage has many photos of flowers from the farm.

While lavender smells good, strawberries taste good. Boz’s Berry Farm in Republic will let you pick your own berries, or you can purchase them already in the container. Which ever way you select, you will also want to try one of their “famous strawberry slush” drinks. Of course, you will have to actually go there to fully enjoy the slush, but you can see the drink and more at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/bozs-berry-farm-mo/.

Bending and picking berries may make you want to ease a sore back with a relaxing soak in some good Missouri water. I have picked a few berries myself, and I will attest to that. While a soak in a whirlpool bath or a hot tub may provide some physical relief, a visit to a Missouri waterfall with a chance to soak in the pools associated with them can sooth the soul and mind, as well. I was surprised to learn that Missouri has quite a number of waterfalls. Some offer public swimming, and some are in caves. This website describes a rod trip to seven Missouri waterfalls: OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/waterfalls-road-trip-mo/. The site offers a glimpse at each. Put those photos and videos on full screen, and it is almost like being there.

Waterfalls can be found at Forest Park in St. Louis, Hickory Canyons Natural Area in New Offenburg, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park in Middle Brook, Stegall Mountain near Pike Township, Marvel Cave near Branson and Grand Falls in Joplin.

Grand Falls in Joplin is the largest continuously flowing waterfall in Missouri. Plunging 12 feet, what it lacks in height, it makes up in beauty, swimming opportunities and the fact that it flows all the time.

If you visit the falls in Joplin, you will be close to another interesting site. There is only one place in the U.S. where you can stand in four states at once. That is not in Missouri, but we do have a place where three states touch. The states are Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It is near Joplin at the end of a dead-end road. There is a nice marker there which you can see at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/three-states-at-once-mo/. If you insist on seeing it in person, here are the coordinates to put into your GPS: 36° 59.916′ N, 94° 37.077′ W.

So, if your version of spring fever demands that you get out and about, Missouri offers some great tours. If we should cross paths while picking strawberries and trying to stand in three states at once (my size 16 feet should make that easy), be sure to say hello. Meeting friends always makes any trip just that much nicer.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Winter 2022

info@showmemissouri.net — 2023-02-16T15:13:30-06:00

Winter in Missouri can be a challenging friend. Fall entertains us with colorful foliage, summer treats us to hot, sweet afternoons and lazy evenings, spring thrills us with new life and growth. But, winter can chill us with snow and ice that brings traffic hazards, cold noses and frozen pipes.

Still, the winter season has many charms. Winter in Missouri can bring us special joy if we are open to the season’s positive aspects.

Winter travel in Missouri needs to be carefully planned with attention given to weather forecasts. When the cold does keep us indoors, we can enjoy evenings with our families and travel online through our computer screens.

To help plan those cyber trips, I have searched for some winter travel locations. You can type in the URLs directly or just go to ShowMeMissouri.net, click on Cyber-Travels and then click on the links.

Before making any long trips, even in warmer seasons, it might we wise to check on road conditions. This is especially true in the winter season. This Missouri Department of Transportation site will show road conditions as well as road closures due to constructions. It is a valuable resource in any season. Check out the roads at Traveler.MODOT.org/map/.

Older children and adults sometimes enjoy telling ghost stories. A cold winter night might be a good opportunity to dim the lights and indulge oneself in something a little scary. Missouri has a lot of haunted locations. One of these is the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis. This site at LempMansion.com/IsItHaunted.htm tells the tragic story of Johan Adam Lemp and his family. Mr. Lemp was a pioneer in the St. Louis brewery business, and his brewery was located near the present location of the Gateway Arch. His large mansion was the very symbol of power and wealth. The business eventually passed to William Lemp in the early 1900s. After both his son and a close friend died from illness, William lost his mind and committed suicide in the mansion. Two other sons later committed suicide in the home as well. The mansion is rated as one of the 10 most haunted places in the U.S. Today you can visit the mansion and tour it. It also contains a restaurant and an inn.

Leaving the haunted world behind, I remember watching the last Olympics and being fascinated by the curling events. You might remember seeing the competitors sliding a 40-pound chunk of granite toward a target 140 feet away. Teammates rapidly sweep the ice with brooms to change the stone’s path. The objective is to put your stones close to the target. The opposing team can knock your stone away from the target. It has some similarity to shuffleboard. Ready to try it? Check out the Kansas City Curling club at KCCurling.com/. You can go there to watch curling or to take curling lessons. Remember to dress warmly.

In St. Louis, you can visit the “Old Cathedral” near the Gateway Arch or online at OldCathedralStL.org/. The proper name is the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France. The history of this place begins in 1764 when the founders of the city dedicated this block of land to be used for religious purposes. The current church is the fourth church to be built in this spot. It was dedicated in 1834.

A museum is located in the church basement and tours of the church are offered. Services are held on a regular basis and visitors are welcome to attend. I have been there a number of times, and it is a beautiful church. You can take the tour virtually at OldCathedralStL.org/take-a-video-tour. The video explains much of the art and symbols that appear in and on the building.

Enjoy winter in our beautiful state. If we should see each other at the Lemp Mansion or while having a quiet moment in the Cathedral, be sure to say hello. Nothing warms a Missourian’s heart like a friendly greeting on a cold day.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Fall 2022

info@showmemissouri.net — 2022-08-05T16:02:29-05:00

Summer 2022

info@showmemissouri.net — 2022-05-06T10:44:11-05:00

The ending of the spring teased us by alternating days of summer-like warmth with cold winds and snow. Summer heat in the daytime and gentle warmth in the long summer evenings make a Missouri summer the stuff that dreams are made of.

With the kids on school summer vacation and our inclinations to relax, it is an ideal time to enjoy some travel in our beautiful state of Missouri. Travel through our computers is always a good way to satisfy that “travel itch” or to plan our IRL travel. As usual, I have scouted out some URLs that you may visit.

Surely, we have all noticed the large representations of quilt blocks on barns as we travel. These quilt barns make a nice diversion as we drive, and you can visit them all at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/quilt-barn-trail-mo/. The page not only shows the quilt barns, but also shows how the barn displays are made.

Speaking of quilts, a project of the Missouri Bicentennial 2021 was the creation of a special bicentennial quilt with a square representing each of our 114 counties. Contests were held to select the quilt squares. You can view the entire quilt or a closeup of each square at Missouri2021.org/bicentennial-quilt. The Pemiscot County block was designed by a retired teacher from Caruthersville, Vickie DeReign. Vickie and I taught in the same school and we both taught this magazine’s publisher, Gary Figgins.

For many of us, camping is a favorite summer activity. I’ve spent a lot of nights in a tent and most of them were very enjoyable. A big step up from my popup tent is a yurt. Campers at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park at Kaiser can rent a yurt. Yurts are very spacious and come equipped with beds, other furniture, refrigerators, and both heating and air conditioners. You can have a look at them and the other features of the park at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/spend-the-night-in-a-yurt-at-this-gorgeous-mo-state-park.

George Washington Carver is famous for his work in developing uses for the peanut. He was born on a farm near Diamond in the Southwest part of the state. The 240 acre National Historic Site is maintained by the National Park Service. Tours are guided by Park Rangers and there is no admission chage. Learn more at NPS.gov/gwca/planyourvisit/things2do.htm .

Today, the Missouri Department of Agriculture is housed in the George Washington Carver Building in Jefferson City. Visit oa.mo.gov/content/george-washington-carver-state-office-building-mda to learn more.

Most of us would not think of being without our cell phones. There was a time when phones were all attached to walls. The Jefferson Barracks Telephone museum will let you explore the history of telephones with many displays of equipment including central office switching stations. As an old Signal Corps officer, I really want to visit this museum. Until I get there IRL, I’ll content myself with the website at VisitMo.com/things-to-do/jefferson-barracks-telephone-museum/ .

Jefferson Barracks is a former military reservation near St. Louis. There is a veterans cemetery and other things to see: Learn more at FriendsOfJeffersonBarracks.com/recon_area_maps.php .

I hope you enjoy a peaceful summer in our beautiful state of Missouri. Be careful on both the IRL and internet highways. If our paths should cross and you see me at a Missouri campsite or enjoying some peanuts at the Carver Historical Site, please say hello. Meeting and making friends can be the best part of a Missouri summer.

Spring 2022

info@showmemissouri.net — 2022-02-08T13:28:23-06:00

Following a winter with some very cold weather, restrictions because of COVID and other troubling news we look forward to new beginnings and new growth. Many of us hope to break free from both routine and self-imposed “staying home” to get out into the world.

As usual, I have done a little research to get you started on those internet explorations.

What better place to enjoy spring than in one of Missouri’s State Parks? A very nice park that is located pretty close to my home in Glasgow is Van Meter State Park near Marshall. Its website at MoStateParks.com/park/annie-and-abel-van-meter-state-park lists many of the park’s features.

The park contains the remnants of a Missourian Indian village and is home to the American Indian Cultural Center. The website (MoStateParks.com/location/55530/missouris-american-indian-cultural-center) includes a photo gallery and information on camping and special events. Of course, there are hiking trails. I have camped and have taken students there on field trips. It is a lovely park that is quiet and safe.

Not far from Van Meter is the historic village of Arrow Rock. Arrow Rock was founded in 1829 and is a National Historic Landmark. For a town with a population of 56, there is a lot going on there, as seen on its website at ArrowRock.org/about-
discover-arrow-rock. The site describes many of the attractions and is liberally illustrated with photos. The town was named after evidence of 2,000 years of natives using flint deposits to make arrowheads, knives and tools. Arrow Rock is adjoined by a state park with camping and hiking trails.

The centerpiece of the historic shops and buildings in the city is the Huston Tavern (HustonTavern.com). The tavern was established in 1834 and still serves a mighty fine meal. Many folks eat there before attending a production at the Lyceum Theatre
(LyceumTheatre.org) which offers professional quality live entertainment. Tickets for the spring season are on sale now. I have attended many performances there, and I promise you will be highly pleased.

Missouri’s great artist, George Caleb Bingham, lived in Arrow Rock with his wife, Sarah, for many years. His house still stands and can be toured. Bingham was important in Missouri politics and in art. He is buried in Kansas City. You can learn more about him at HistoricMissourians.shsmo.org/george-caleb-bingham.

Another historic Missouri small town with great charm is Blackwater, which can be found online at BlackwaterMissouri.com. Read about this railroad town located just three miles off I-70. There are lots of shops, and you can stay in the Ironhorse Hotel in renovated 1800s-style rooms. You may also want to have your photo taken at the 1890s-era jail.

Near Blackwater is Wildcliff (WildcliffEvents.com), a flooded rock quarry that now hosts weddings and special events. The site includes numerous photos of the beautiful venue. I was recently a participant in a wedding there (not my own; I’ve been married for 52 years). It was the wedding of a former student.

Visiting Missouri’s State Parks can entertain both IRL and online. Missouri has 92 State Parks and historic sites. The system was established in 1917 and totals more than 150,000 acres. Visiting them offers an opportunity to see historic buildings, Civil War history, homes of famous Missourians and much more. All 92 state parks and historic sites can be located at MoStateParks.com/page/57778/locator-map. The site is a great trip planner and is a mini-vacation in itself.

If you should see me at a play in Arrow Rock or while studying an exhibit in a state museum, be sure to say hi. That is the kind of friendliness for which we Missourians are known.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Winter 2021

info@showmemissouri.net — 2021-11-08T11:51:37-06:00

Fall 2021

info@showmemissouri.net — 2021-08-10T17:05:21-05:00

Summer 2021

info@showmemissouri.net — 2021-05-20T14:42:22-05:00

Missouri is blessed with beautiful changes of seasons. We are seldom bored as we run the gamut of rains, snow, spring flowers and summer sunshine. Often, we experience these changes all within a few days.

To aid us in selecting places to visit IRL or online this summer, I have searched the web for interesting venues. As always, you can type in the URLs in this column or take the easier road and follow the links within the column.

Many destinations are reopening their doors as COVID concerns diminish. Of course, we can always visit online with plenty of social distancing, but it is good to get out and about in the Missouri sunshine. One wonderful site that is reopening to live visits is the World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. TheWorldWar.org is chock full of information about the “…war to end all wars”. Photos and exhibits and other online experiences make this a great learning experience and a good preparation for an online visit. I have been there in person and plan to return. My grandfather was a WWI veteran and both my son and I are veterans. Visiting the memorial makes us feel a connection with our “Brothers In Arms”.

On the St Louis side of the state, St. Charles was the first capital of Missouri. The city was originally called Les Petites Cotes (the Little Hills). St. Charles played an important role in the history of Missouri involving Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone and much more. For five years it was the seat of state government. You can see many photos and learn more about the city’s history at DiscoverStCharles.com. The city is close to St. Louis but works at maintaining a small town feeling. There is much to see and do either IRL or online.

A place that I have long intended to visit is just northwest of Springfield. Fantastic Caverns is one of the more than 7,300 known caves that earn Missouri a nickname of “The Cave State”. The cave is unique in several ways. You don’t have to walk, which makes it wonderful for those with physical handicaps. Visitors ride through the cavern on Jeep drawn trams for the one mile tour. The trams even have ramps for wheelchair access. Plus, since the temperature inside is about 60 degrees year round, you will escape the summer heat, although you might want to take a light jacket. The website is located at FantasticCaverns.com.

When you finish your cave tour, you might be hungry. Luckily, you will not be far from the Ozark location of Lambert’s Restaurant. This restaurant and its “throwed rolls” are a Missouri tradition. There are three locations. The original one is in Sikeston and the third is in Foley, Alabama. The country style food makes it worth the wait. More food items are “passed around” and the big fluffy rolls are tossed to you. You can read more about it at ThrowedRolls.com. You should not leave hungry. I once told Norm Lambert that I was “just about full” as I was leaving the Sikeston location. He gently pushed me into a booth and yelled; “Bring this man some more food!” They do not take reservations and you may have to wait in line to get in. Here is a little known secret. Pilots flying into the airport at Sikeston can call to be picked up and bypass the long line to get in.

If you continue south to Branson, you will find much to do there. We think of music shows and traffic when someone mentions Branson, but there is much more. One example is the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail that offers beautiful views of around Table Rock Lake. You can walk it or you might want to rent an electric cart to dirve along the two-and-a-half mile trail. The carts carry up to four people and you must be 18 to drive. Learn more at BigCedar.com/activity/lost-canyon-cave-nature-trail/.

Be safe both on the IRL highway and online. If we should cross paths at an exhibit or happen to ride on the same tram while touring the cave, be sure to say “hello”. That is how we roll in Missouri.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Spring 2021

info@showmemissouri.net — 2021-02-16T11:47:47-06:00

Winter 2020

info@showmemissouri.net — 2020-11-05T16:59:31-06:00

We sometimes say that we hope winter will be shorter or milder. I agree that too much snow and ice can cause problems, but think how boring it would be if the temperature and weather were the same all the time. Pretty soon, we would be wishing for either a hot summer day or a cold winter day. That variety is certainly present in Missouri, sometimes all in the same day!

As I write this, we have already had our first snowfall in Glasgow. There will certainly be more to come. Winter travel can be a treat especially for those who enjoy skiing and other winter sports. With the restrictions still in place from COVID, we may rely even more on our computers for travel experience.

If you are going to be on the actual highways this winter, it is prudent to check for closed highways and road conditions. MODOT provides this as a public service at MODOT.org/winter-road-conditions. This site even includes photos of some of the roads and tips for winter driving, including how to safely share the road with a MODOT snowplow. There is also a link that allows you to report road conditions.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac (OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/old-farmers-almanac-winter-2020-mo) predicts a really cold and snowy winter for Missouri. This site also shares photos of Missouri’s previous winters and snowy highways. Make sure that the house is warm and you have a sweater handy before checking out this site.

Twelve unforgettable places in Missouri that everyone must visit are listed at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/places-to-visit-this-winter-mo. The site contains a warning that, because of the COVID, users should verify before IRL travel. Of course, this is always a good thing to do. The site lists resorts with skiing, ice skating and eagle watching. Forest Park and other St. Louis locations, including the St. Louis Zoo, are featured. The zoo is famous for many things including the Sunday afternoon penguin parade. Yes, they turn the penguins out to walk the pedestrian walkways. The site also lists curling in Kansas City and open air ice skating in Columbia.

Cold weather brings harsh challenges for families that have trouble paying their utility bills. With some folks out of work because of COVID, this may be even more pressing this cold winter. If you know someone in this situation, please help them to take advantage of a Federal assistance program. This informational page comes from a St. Louis TV station: KMOV.com/news/federal-program-helps-missouri-residents-keep-utilities-on-as-winter-months-approach/article_0e3921c2-18f7-11eb-9330-5b19e debe3d5.html. To qualify, applicants must be a Missouri resident, a U.S. citizen, live in the household and be responsible for paying the utility bill, and have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, investments or retirement accounts. This is a long URL and it is not the kind of page I usually include in this column, but this information may save a child’s life during the coming winter. Share it with someone in need.

Stay safe and warm this winter. Everyone has their favorite season. I will admit that winter is not mine, but there is still much to do and to enjoy in any season in Missouri.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Fall 2020

info@showmemissouri.net — 2020-08-12T10:54:16-05:00

This has been a difficult summer as we have dealt with the virus restrictions followed by a troubling beginning to fall with an increase in COVID cases and the need for additional precautions. It would be easy to despair, but we must always remember to give thanks for the privilege of living in the great state of Missouri. Here in Glasgow, we are beginning to have some COVID-19 cases and the need for masks and distancing is becoming more clear to us.

Sheltering at home is the ideal opportunity to visit interesting Missouri locations online as we create a list of “future travels” IRL. To aid in that for you, I have researched some Missouri sites.

What could be more in line with Missouri country and simple living than a Farmer’s Market? ColumbiaFarmersMarket.org and SedaliaAreaFarmersMarket.com are just a few. Several markets also offer crafts and wares as well as senior discounts. There are so many that you can type in farmer’s market followed by the name of a town or neighborhood. You might be surprised how many responses show up.

Fall always makes me think of apples and cider. Just south of Kansas City in Belton is Dunn’s Cider Mill, which can also be found at MillSite.homestead.com/Index.html. They even have cider doughnuts! I don’t know what they taste like, but I am itching to try one.

For years, I have driven past the Millersburg exit 137 on I-70, and say something like,“ I should go there to visit.” Even though I know some folks from there, I have never visited. Millersburg was laid out by Thomas Miller in 1829. In spite of the shared name, I do not think I am related, but I could be. Information on the community can be found at CallawayMoHistory.org/millersburg. It is a pretty interesting page and I plan to visit IRL soon.

Of course, every fall nature paints the valleys and hills in beautiful reds, yellows and oranges that can take your breath away. This year will be no different. Of course, you can just leave your house and drive without following one of the routes suggested at VisitMo.com/articles/take-fall-drive-missouri, but you should still visit the page to view the many photos and explore the six suggested fall routes. Whether you travel IRL or online, there is a lot of interesting and beautiful places for your viewing pleasure as you travel.

So, as we social distance and try to protect ourselves and those around us from the virus and any other issues, we can still travel and share good things about our great state. We are stronger than the fears and problems that keep us from growing and sharing. We can spend the fall and the rest of the year sharing the things that make Missouri such a wonderful place to live. If we cross paths at a farmer’s market or while visiting a Missouri small town, say hello and we’ll do a safe elbow bump.

COVID or not, we Missourians can still be friendly.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Summer 2020

info@showmemissouri.net — 2020-05-11T10:44:47-05:00

As I write this, it is a beautiful day. We have a lot of those in Missouri, regardless of the season, however, this day is a challenge for the writer of a travel column in a travel magazine. Because of the restrictions put in place to keep us all safe during the COVID-19 Virus, we have not been able to get out and travel nearly as much as usual.

I hope that by the time the print issue of Show-Me Missouri reaches your mailbox most of the restrictions will have been lifted. I hope I am not destroying any illusions, but these articles are not written the same day that you get the magazine in the mail. My editor, Gary Figgins, gives me more time to send my column to him than I used to give him to submit his math homework in high school, so I am grateful.

Our governor has announced that the restrictions in Missouri will begin to be lifted, though “social distancing” will remain a fact of life for some time. Since my focus is always on travel through our computer screens, this is perfect for me. As always, you can type in the URLs in this column or click on the links in the column.

I have been obeying the social distancing commands and staying in the house. I belong to a number of organizations that have not been meeting. I’ll reference my personal web page at JYMiller.net to let you see what I’ve been missing.

During the summer, you may be looking for activities for your children that are both fun and educational. Children’s author Deborah Zemke presented a workshop at the Lewis Library of Glasgow and provided a link for anyone to use for children’s activities. Her activity page can be found at DeborahZemke.com/deborahzemke/fun-stuff.html. You can also find the link at LewisLibrary.org.

Some summer day trips to take in Missouri can be found at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/10-amazing-summer-day-trips-mo/.

Missouri has many beautiful state parks that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping and much more. As I write this many of them are closed, however, they are expected to be open—at least for some activities—before the summer is over. Check before visiting to see the current status. Up-to-date information can be found at MoStateParks.com/temporary-closures.

A great place to visit IRL or through your computer is Rocheport (VisitMo.com/trip-ideas/a-weekend-in-rocheport). Southern Living named Rocheport as “..one of the best tiny towns” in America. Rocheport (Rocheport-mo.com) has a population of about 200 friendly folks. It is west of Columbia just off of I-70.

The town has five bed & breakfasts, a number of shops, access to the Katy Trail and it is home to the Les Bourgeois Vineyards (Missouriwine.com/visit-us).

If you are as old as I am, you might remember Pete’s Cafe, images of which are located at Flickr.com/photos/ guyclinch/12919081944. Pete’s was famous for two things: a full size painting of The Last Supper inside and promotional signs along highways all over the country. Les Bourgeois’s tasting room is in the same building as the old cafe and includes one of those signs on the wall, as well as one of Pete’s menus. The food was good, too. My college fraternity used to have a steak supper there from time to time. Some 30 years later, my son’s law school classmates were regular patrons of the A-frame at Les Bourgeois Vineyards. Today you can sip on Riverboat Red while enjoying a view of the river below.

We may cross paths on the information highway or IRL. If you should spot me enjoying a glass of wine in Rocheport or visiting our Glasgow Library, be sure to say hello.

Just wave; we won’t shake hands.

Spring 2020

info@showmemissouri.net — 2020-02-12T09:57:31-06:00

After a winter with snow and ice, we welcome the delights of spring. Warm afternoons, cool nights and the green of new grass and reborn trees make life a pleasure. Spring is a perfect time to break free from those housebound winter days and to travel in our great state of Missouri. In order to help you explore, I have searched some internet sites to just visit online or to help plan for IRL travel.

If you like to do things outdoors, you already know about Bass Pro Shops. The self-described “Grandaddy Of All Outdoors Stores” is located in Springfield, with smaller stores scattered across the state. Most features of the stores can be seen at BassPro.com. If you have a favorite outdoor activity, they have something for you. Merchandise—everything from archery to firearms, camping gear, fishing, outdoor cooking, clothing, toys, and more—can be found.

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium (WondersOfWildlife.org) is located adjacent to the springfield store. This world-class attraction was voted America’s Best Aquarium in a 2018 USA Today poll.

If you don’t want to eat at Springfield’s Bass Pro, you can travel only a few miles south to Lambert’s Cafe (ThrowedRolls.com/lamberts-cafe-ii/) in Ozark. Lambert’s is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience. The original location is in Sikeston and a third location is in Foley, Alabama. I met Norman Lambert in his Sikeston restaurant and made the mistake of saying I was almost full. He held me and motioned to a waiter, saying; “Bring this man some more food!”. You never leave Lambert’s hungry. The servings are large and they have “pass arounds” like fried okra, fried potatoes, black eye peas, macaroni and more. Of course they throw softball-sized rolls to you and offer molasses to put on them. Throw me one, Norm! You can visit IRL anyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

You can visit online anytime, but the rolls are better in person.

My friend, Sam Crowe from Caruthersville, is one of the largest honey producers in the area. If you call him, he answers the phone: “Sam Crowe, have a honey of a day.” Sam does not have a website, but you can google him to get his phone number. You can also have a look at the National Honey Board at Honey.com which includes numerous recipes using honey and information on the health aspects of honey. A map shows the location of honey suppliers and some information about the importance of honey bees. Check it out, and if you get down in the Bootheel, find some Sam Crowe honey. It would be good on a Lambert’s roll.

Photos and descriptions of Missouri four remaining covered bridges are available at OnlyInYourState.com/missouri/covered-bridges-mo/. These bridges were built between 1858 and 1872 and are all that remain of what was once a common feature. You will most certainly want to travel IRL to see these historic treasures in Cape Girardeau, Linn, Jefferson and Monroe Counties.

Missouri in the Spring is a treat to all the senses. Visit these and other sites on your computer, but also get out in the open air and take some road trips. Don’t forget to visit the sites that are close to your home. However you travel, be careful and keep yourself safe. If we should cross paths while browsing camping supplies at Bass Pro or relaxing in the shade of a covered bridge, be sure to say hello. We Missourians like friendly greetings almost as much as we like honey on a hot biscuit.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Winter 2019

info@showmemissouri.net — 2019-11-12T16:57:38-06:00

Fall 2019

info@showmemissouri.net — 2019-07-31T11:37:56-05:00

Following a summer of floods and high water that rallied Missourians to help one another, fall brings a welcome change of pace. Fall is a great time to explore Missouri either on the highways or on the internet. As always, I have researched some web sites to help you travel through your computer or plan your road trip.

Here is a site that I bet very few of us have visited IRL: Atlasobscura.com/places/welch-spring-hospital-ruins. The Welch hospital ruins are located on the upper Current River between Cedargrove and Akers and are best reached by canoe. The spa was built in 1913 by a doctor who believed that the waters of the spring and the air from the nearby cave had healing qualities. Access at the time was only by two dirt roads, and the crowds he expected never came.

The Vacuum Cleaner Museum at St. James offers easier access. Found online at Atlasobscura.com/places/vacuum-cleaner-museum-and-factory-outlet, the museum boasts 600 vacuum cleaners on display. It is advertised as the cleanest museum in the United States.

Fall festivals and fairs can be found throughout the state. Hootin and Hollering (HootinAnHollarin.com) takes place in Gainesville. Folks, that is Missouri country at the finest. They promise crafts, food, entertainment and square dancing. It sounds like a good time to me.

If Ozark Country Music is not quite your style, you might prefer Blues music at the National Blues Museum (NationalBluesMuseum.org) in downtown St. Louis. Visiting the museum on Saturday or Sunday provides the opportunity to hear live Blues performances.

There might not be many things more calming than the sound of running water. and the sound and the sight of waterfalls can be very appealing. TheCrazyTourist.com/14-amazing-waterfalls-in-missouri/ showcases photos of 14 amazing Missouri waterfalls. Instructions are included on how to visit them IRL, but the photos prove that the “amazing” title is well deserved.

My home town of Glasgow joins with many other towns with Civil War battles to participate in the Civil War Passport Program. Our location is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). Visitors can have their “passport” stamped to mark their visit to Glasgow. We were the site of a significant Civil War battle in 1864. The passport program is described in detail at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.

As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, I was delighted to find this site at VisitMO.com/things-to-do/american-revolutionary-war-era-flagway. This is the largest display of the flags of the American Revolution in existence. The display, owned by Sue and Ken Molzahn, can be found three miles west of Collins on US Highway 54. The “flagway” down their 1/8th-mile-long driveway, features more than 135 hand-painted or sewn flags honoring the militia, regimental, dragoon, artillery, naval ensigns and variations of the original 13-star Stars and Stripes. Also included are the regimental flags of the French Expeditionary Units that participated and fought alongside George Washington’s army for an independent America.

Missouri offers an abundance of things to do and see in all our seasons during the fall. Perhaps our paths will cross. If you should see me tapping my toe to some country or blues music or sampling some Missouri wine, be sure to say hi. Meeting friends always makes any day a better one. Until then, be safe on the IRL road or on the internet.

Summer 2019

info@showmemissouri.net — 2019-05-15T10:36:20-05:00

School is out and the kids are involved in summer activities. It is time to build memories (or relive some old memories) with some summer trips and Missouri has many varied places to visit for weekend or short trips. If time is not available for long trips, we can still travel with our computer to either experience these places or to plan some IRL trips.
It may seem early to talk about the Missouri Bicentennial, but it takes time to prepare for a celebration of the 200th anniversary of statehood. Missouri2021.org has much information about the upcoming celebrations.
One special thing is the bicentennial quilt project, which will be made using a quilt block from each county and the city of St. Louis. Missouri2021.org/bicentennial-quilt/ provides details on how to enter a quilt block. Individuals and organizations may submit a quilt block that represents their homes. A committee will select the blocks to be made into the official state quilt.
The Missouri Civil War Passport Program (MO-passport.org) will provide a fun way to visit important Civil War sites in Missouri. You can purchase a “Passport Book” and then visit any of the 29 sites around the state that have Civil War history events. At each site you can receive a stamp in your passport to commemorate your visit. My town of Glasgow was the site of an important Civil War battle and is included in these sites. The location to visit to get your book stamped in Glasgow is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). The Glasgow page in the passport can be found at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.

Around Glasgow, when we say, “....at the Lake”, we are talking about the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake has more shoreline than the state of California and offers many vacation opportunities. Check them out at VisitMo.com/in-the-spotlight/lake-of-the-ozarks. Of course there are many boating, fishing, and water sports to enjoy, but there are also shopping, shows and fine eating. You don’t want to miss Ha Ha Tonka State Park, which can be previewed online at VisitMo.com/things-to-do/ha-ha-tonka-state-park.

As a boy I was always interested in American Indians and I have never grown out of it. I recently enjoyed a program on Missouri Indian tribes given by Mike Dickey, the state administrator at Arrow Rock State Historic site (MoStateParks.com/park/arrow-rock-state-historic-site) and an expert on Missouri Indian tribes. Missouri-vacations.com/missouri-native-american-history/index.htm is loaded with information about the native tribes who lived in what is now Missouri..

Mr. Dickey spoke at my SAR Chapter Meeting. SAR is the Sons of the American Revolution. If you have an ancestor who participated in gaining our nation’s freedom during the revolution, you would be eligible to join the SAR. My Chapter, the M. Graham Clark Chapter can be found at mgcsar.org. We have 15 Chapters in Missouri and would be happy to have you join us. You can contact me for more information or consult the state association page at mossar.org/membership/becoming-a- member/.

Perhaps we will cross paths while visiting a state park or while having our passports stamped at a Civil War site. If we meet, please say “hello”. Those friendly greetings are some of the best things about living in Missouri. Of course, be safe while traveling either on the internet or IRL.

Spring 2019

info@showmemissouri.net — 2019-02-06T11:38:38-06:00

Winter 2018

info@showmemissouri.net — 2018-11-05T12:05:44-06:00

Once again the cycle of the seasons has brought us to winter. All of Missouri’s seasons have their own special charms, but winter has its own attractions. School children see it as a time to learn and study with breaks for winter sports. Those children look forward to snow with more enthusiasm than their parents. For children, snow brings snowmen, snowball fights and a possible snow day break from school. Parents are more likely to focus on clearing sidewalks and driveways and the need for more care on slick roads.

Cold winter nights may also mean an opportunity to stay inside for family nights and games. Some hot beverages and some popcorn can turn those nights into the stuff that memories are made of.

We may reduce our IRL travel due to weather, but we can still travel through our computer screens while also searching for places to visit while the roads are clear and the winter sun brightens the day. To help get you started, I have researched some web sites around our beautiful Missouri.

Many people rely on the Old Farmer’s Almanac for weather forecasts. You can check the forecast and much more information at Almanac.com. The publishers claim that they “...use a complex series of natural cycles to devise a secret weather forecasting formula, which brought uncannily accurate results, traditionally said to be 80 percent accurate. (Even today, his formula is kept safely tucked away in a black tin box at the Almanac offices in Dublin, New Hampshire.)” It has been published since 1792 and contains much information in addition to weather forecasts. By the way, it says that this winter in Missouri will be milder than normal with higher than usual precipitation. Remember, you read it here first.

But wait, there is another almanac, FarmersAlmanac.com, which has a different prediction. This almanac, which only dates back to 1818, predicts “bone-chattering cold” and heavy snow. This site has lots of other information, too, so I recommend that you check them both. I think that one of them will be pretty close to being correct.

Some folks may be looking forward to snow because they want to ski. We don’t have to go to other states to find snowy slopes. Hidden Valley Resort near Wildwood offers plenty of ski trails. You can check out trail maps and snow conditions online at HiddenValleySki.com.

This site from the Missouri Department Of Transportation, Traveler.modot.org/ map/, is handy in all seasons. It features a state map with updates on closed roads that might be the result of winter weather, flooding or construction. This might be a good site to access before you travel and, if you have it on your phone, while you are on the road. Don’t do it while you are driving. It could save you a lot of time and trouble.

If you want to take the kids to some great places in the St. Louis area, this is the site for you: VisitMO.com/trip-ideas/kidding-around-st-louis-tour. Kidding around in St. Louis provides four days worth of day trips in the St Louis area. I’ve been to many of them, and they all look great. The Arch, City Museum and many others are described.

On the western part of the state, VisitKC.com/visitors/things-do#sm offers a glimpse of activities, from museums to nightlife. Every thing is up to date in Kansas City.

Missouri in the winter can be a winter wonderland. Please be careful on the roads as you travel. We may cross paths somewhere in St. Louis or even here in Glasgow. If so, please say hello or Merry Christmas. It is always good to meet friends in Missouri. Stay safe and warm until we meet again.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Fall 2018

info@showmemissouri.net — 2018-08-20T15:26:05-05:00

It has been a hot and dry summer here in mid-Missouri. My yard is brown and crops are suffering. When the cool nights of fall finally come, they will be welcome. Those Fall days are a fine time to travel in our beautiful state of Missouri. You may take some trips IRL, and you certainly should use your computer to scout out places to go or to enjoy places that you may not be able to travel to on the hard surface highways.

In order to help you get started, I’ve searched out some places to go on the net.

What could be a better way to spend a fall afternoon than a visit to one of Missouri’s wineries? Before prohibition, Missouri was the leading wine producing state, and the wine industry is quickly regained a prominent position in Missouri’s agricultural economy. A winery here in Glasgow can be visited online at Bushwhackerbend.com. Bushwhacker Bend produces a variety of great wines. I love their Norton. If you visit Glasgow on the weekend of October 27, you can enjoy Pumpkin Daze. All sorts of events will amuse you at this annual festival.

If you travel more in the Southeast part of the state, you might visit Chaumette Winery (Chaumette.com) in historic Ste. Genevieve (VisitSteGen.com). The winery features a great restaurant and has villas available for rent if you want to expand your stay overnight. While in Ste. Gen, there are many pieces of history to explore in Missouri’s first settlement.

I found this site about Missouri Fall Festivals at Everfest.com/missouri. They all looked so interesting that I could not decide which ones to share with you, so I’ll just let you check out the page with a listing and information about the 100-plus fall festivals across Missouri. You can while away a lot of autumn evenings checking them out. There are music festivals, drag racing, yoga, boating and lots more.

Carthage (Visit-Carthage.com) is one of Editor Gary Figgins’ favorite places. The city was founded in 1842 but was burned to the ground during the Civil War. The city was rebuilt and today boasts more than 600 buildings listed on the National Historic Registry. It also contains Precious Moments Chapel (PreciousMoments.com) built and painted by the creator of the little figurines that will surely bring a smile.

Have you been to the Gateway Arch? I think every Missourian should visit this unique site. Check out their webpage for the newest National Park at GatewayArch.com to see why. You can ride the tram to the top and look out over the city and the river from 633 feet above. Take your time to explore the museum that is under the arch, and be sure to watch the film that shows the construction of the arch. Nearby, you have many other sites to visit including the old Courthouse, Busch Stadium and the riverboat cruises.

I hope you have a great Missouri fall. Maybe we will cross paths on the internet or IRL at a Missouri winery or while exploring the museum at the Arch. Until then, be safe.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Summer 2018

info@showmemissouri.net — 2018-05-22T16:13:20-05:00

After a spring in which Mother Nature seemed to have trouble making up her mind, we are really ready for a nice warm summer. We had snow on Easter here in Glasgow and on the next two Sundays, as well. Many of us will be planning trips as school lets out, and even if a long vacation is not possible, shorter trips to explore our beautiful state are always in order.

As always, I have searched for some interesting sites to get you started.

When I was growing up in mid-Missouri, summer fun usually included a visit to the Lake of the Ozarks. The fun there might include fishing, swimming, or visiting Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry. FunLake.com offers a glimpse at everything there is to do. The site has a link to some great videos and a place to order a free official “Lake of the Ozarks Vacation Guide”.

Lee Mace was a pioneer at the Lake. He has passed on now, but his Ozark Opry is still providing family entertainment. A museum of the original opry and webpage at LeeMacesOzarkOpry.com shares the story. My family saw the show on TV and in person. We thought that Dillard Stamper looked a lot like my dad. Go to their page just to see the old photos and to read the poem about Lee Mace.

To go even farther back into the past, you might enjoy a visit to Ste. Genevieve. This is Missouri’s oldest permanent town and a treasure of history. A website at VisitSteGen.com offers plenty to see and do. You can travel back to Missouri’s early French roots at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. The American-Federal style Valle house was built in 1818 and today is furnished in the style of the 1830s with a host of artifacts that show the American influence on the French community of Ste. Genevieve after the Louisiana Purchase. The Bauvais-Amoureux House, built in 1792, is one of several other historic homes in the site, nestled within historic Ste. Genevieve. I did not find a reference on the page, but if you eat in one of the fine restaurants, I would recommend a local speciality, Liver Dumplings. Really, they are good!

If you are in my neck of the woods in June, you can drop by the Glasgow Beer Bash. Similar to the community’s Wine Walk, you can walk around the historic downtown and sample craft beers. The Bash is sponsored by the Friends of the Glasgow Pool (FriendsOfTheGlasgowPool.org) to raise money to replace the old public pool. There will be a public street dance/concert in the evening after the Bash.

Of course, the highlight of many summers in Missouri is a trip to the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. I went many times as a child but had not been able to go for a long time until last summer. Because my wife and I are both retired, we did not need to get our classrooms ready to start school, and it was a perfect reason to visit the fair. We had such a good time that we plan to go back this August. You can plan your trip and decide which attractions you want to see at MoStateFair.com. They still have the livestock exhibits and the famous “butter cow”. I’ll see them both again, and I’ll also get my senior pass for unlimited rides on the shuttle wagons around the whole fairgrounds.

I hope you have a great Missouri summer. Who knows, we might cross paths either on the internet or even IRL. If you should see me at the Beer Bash, enjoying country music at the Ozark Opry, or at the State Fair; be sure to say hello. That’s just how we are in Missouri-—always glad to meet a friend.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Spring 2018

info@showmemissouri.net — 2018-02-07T11:58:29-06:00

Spring is coming. That is the thought that sustains us through the cold days of Winter. Some say it is a perfect season with signs of new life surrounding us while we enjoy cool nights and warm afternoons. It is a time for positive thoughts and looking to the future. It is also a perfect time to travel and to enjoy our beautiful Missouri.

To aid you in planning your spring travel, I have searched out some web sites for Missouri travel.

For many of us, spring means baseball. The crack of the bat, great fielding, the interplay between pitcher and catcher have brought pleasure to lots of Missourians. Missouri’s baseball history is a source of pride for all our sports-minded citizens.

There was a time when major league baseball was a segregated activity, and it was then that the Negro Leagues flourished. Missouri hosted many of these players, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a modern-day marvel well worth a visit IRL or on the web. Take a peak at nlbm.com.

The Kansas City Monarchs, which played in the Negro Leagues, has a connection to my home town of Glasgow. The name, Monarchs, was suggested by John Wesley Donaldson, a Glasgow native who played on the team. His first baseball team was sponsored by the then-Mayor Hannaca of Glasgow. He later played for many teams, often against white players from the majors. With more than 5,000 recorded strikeouts, he deserves the title of “World’s Greatest Colored Pitcher” as given him by another great pitcher, Satchel Paige. Peter Gorton of Minnesota headed up a drive to get John Donaldson the recognition he deserves. More information on Donaldson is available at JohnDonaldson.bravehost.com. Donaldson was admitted to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (MoSportsHallOfFame.com) through Mr. Gorton’s efforts.

John Donaldson was not only a great athlete, he was a man of character and integrity. During those years of segregated baseball, he was offered the chance to play in the majors if he would change his name, pretend to be Cuban, and not associate with “colored people” including his family. John refused, saying that “I love my family and my race. I go to church and I pay my own way. I will not pretend to be something that I am not.” John never played in the majors, but he did eventually work as the first African-American major league scout.

Missouri’s contributions in music are numerous. Scott Joplin, who lived in Sedalia and St. Louis, is considered the “King of Ragtime,” a type of music featuring a varied rhythm developed from African American work songs, gospel tunes and dance. He was creator of “Maple Leaf Rag” and more than 40 other pieces but he is probably best known for “The Entertainer” which was featured in the film, “The Sting”. Read more about him at shsmo.org/historicmissourians/name/j/joplin/.

Another Missouri-born African-American musician was John W. “Blind” Boone. His Columbia home still stands and can be visited online at BlindBooneHome.com. Boone overcame blindness, poverty and discrimination to become an aspiring composer and concert pianist. His house overlooks Flat Branch Creek in Columbia.

Missouri is blessed with a diversity of cultures and heritage. Properly understood, our differences make us greater. If we cross paths at a museum or anywhere else in Missouri, be sure to say hello. Until then, be safe, and be good to each other.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Winter 2017

info@showmemissouri.net — 2017-11-11T11:53:00-06:00

Fall 2017

info@showmemissouri.net — 2017-08-15T16:57:52-05:00

Once again, the seasonal clock moves to winter. Every year, it seems to me that the seasons change more and more quickly. The good thing is that here in Missouri each season offers us a fresh view of our beautiful state.

Winter means a rest period for nature. Snug beneath a winter blanket of snow, she prepares for the season of growth that will be here before you know it. We continue with our work days and hope to find time to enjoy friends, long evenings in a warm place and a bit of travel.

To aid you in planing your winter travel or to help occupy some of those long evenings, I have searched out some winter-related web sites for Missouri travel.

When traveling on our Missouri highways, one should always be careful. This is even more important in winter. The Missouri Department Of Transportation offers winter safety tips and road closure maps at MODOT.org/road_conditions/winterdrivingtips.htm.

Even in the winter, many young people and some of us seniors still like to frolic in the water. If that is your thing, one of Missouri’s indoor water parks; foudn at blog.visitmo.com/missouri-indoor-water-parks-make-awesome-vacation/, would make a good winter destination.

Bird watching is a popular pastime. Some do it very seriously with binoculars and life lists, while others just like to watch the birds. Washington University in St. Louis has this page: https://pages.wustl.edu/mnh/winter-birds-missouri, which should appeal to both kinds of birders. It has information on winter birds and many beautiful bird photos.

Regular readers of this column know that I like Branson. ReserveBranson.com/travelguide/things-to-do-in-branson-during-winter/, lists some of the things to do in Branson during the winter season. Most of the shows have Christmas programs, there are special decorations and there is always shopping.

Of course, most of us will spend a good deal of time at home during the winter. I’ll be here in Glasgow for family dinners and city activities. If you can visit me on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I’ll be cooking chili and soup at the American Legion supper during our Old Time Christmas night parade with lighted floats. It is all you can eat for a free will offering. Check out the city web page at Glasgowmo.com/index.html.

During the times when Missouri travel either meant horse and wagon or a riverboat, there were many steamboat accidents on our rivers. One of these was the steamboat Arabia, which sank in the Missouri River near Kansas City. The boat, loaded with “everything needed to set up a general store,” sank in 1846. In 1988, she was excavated from deep beneath a soybean field (the river had changed course) and a museum was established to display the boat and many of the items she carried. I enjoyed visiting the Steamboat Arabia Museum IRL, but the musuem’s webpage at 1856.com/ is a treat, as well. That is a record for short URLs, but it is a full webpage with lots to show.

Every Missourian should visit our State Capitol in Jefferson City. It covers three acres and contains many murals and beautiful art and history displays. Guided tours are available on most days. You can see a lot of the Capitol at Capitol.mo.gov/. The site includes many photos and digital tours.

Have a great Missouri winter while enjoying our beautiful state. We may cross paths on the web or even IRL. If you should see me in Branson or serving chili in Glasgow, be sure to say hello. Until then, be safe, and enjoy your travels.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.

Summer 2017

info@showmemissouri.net — 2017-05-19T15:47:47-05:00

Winter 2016

info@showmemissouri.net — 2016-11-18T09:34:31-06:00

Fall 2016

info@showmemissouri.net — 2016-08-10T15:49:13-05:00

It has been a hot summer here in Glasgow this summer. Plus, we have had high winds and some flooding. My wife, Mary, had her pacemaker replaced, and we had a major auto repair. In other words, life has been pretty much going on as usual.

We are ready for fall and some cool days and nights. Colorful foliage, football, apple cider and the promise of some quiet evenings looking into a campfire. Teachers, like my wife and sister-in-law, have worked during the summer to prepare for the first days of school. I look forward to November when my phone will finally stop ringing with political “surveys”.

Fall can be a wonderful time to travel in Missouri. The weather is almost always nice with comfortable temperatures, and we welcome some time away from our usual cares. To help you plan some fall trips, I’ve searched the Internet for places to go and things to see. If time is really short, you might prefer to simply visit online and see the sights through your computer screen.

A nice place to visit in any season is St. Charles. The city’s informative website at HistoricStCharles.com offers a lot of local and Missouri history accompanied by many stunning photos. St. Charles is just west of St. Louis and is easy to reach. I’ve visited there many times starting back in 1966 when I was a teacher in nearby Warrenton. However, I did not know that the original name of the city was Les Petites Cotes when it was founded in 1769. You’ll have to research the definition, but one of the city’s premier events is the Festival of the Little Hills.

St. Charles was the first state capital and the home of Daniel Boone. I think ol’ Dan lived almost everywhere. In fact, one of his homes is not too far from St. Charles at Defiance. You might be surprised at the house; it is pretty far from a log cabin. Check it out at DanielBooneHome.com. As pretty and impressive as the limestone home is with two-and-a-half-foot thick walls, Daniel spent a lot of time away on long hunting trips. The home actually belonged to Daniel’s son, Nathan. Daniel did much of the work on the construction, however, and he died in the home in 1820.

When you visit today, you can also tour Lindenwood University’s reconstructed historic town in front of the Boone house. It is all well worth a visit.

Way down in Southeast Missouri, Iron County was the site of the Battle of Pilot Knob (Missouri-vacations.com/missouri-festivals-events/reenactment-battle-pilot-knob.htm) which is reenacted every three years. The website shows events from the last one in 2014 and plans for the 2017 event. Gen. Sterling Price suffered a loss in that battle as he attempted to win Missouri for the Confederacy. His troops eventually won a battle in my town of Glasgow. Price went on to lose at Westport, Missouri, and then took the remainder of his troops south to Mexico. You can read more about the story at Missouri-vacations.com/missouri-civil-war/index.htm.

You can read more about Price and the Battle of Glasgow on the website of the oldest continuously-operating public library west of the Mississippi at LewisLibrary.org/BOG.html. The library was originally a college and was funded by the estate of Benjamin Lewis who died due to injuries received from Bloody Bill Anderson after the Battle of Glasgow.

Regardless of where you travel this fall, I know that you will find lots to see and enjoy. You will also meet some friendly people, and, perhaps we will cross paths either on the information highway of the Internet or on the IRL highways. If we do, don’t fail to say hello. That is how we roll in Missouri.

Summer 2016

info@showmemissouri.net — 2016-05-12T15:46:53-05:00

Good ol’ summertime! Picnics, baseball, watermelon, and hot summer days followed by warm summer nights.

Summertime is also a time for vacations and travel in Missouri. We can use our computers to plan our trips and, on a hot afternoon, we can travel our state through the computer screen while resting in the cool of our own homes. I have searched for a few URLs to help you to do both.

Last issue I quoted a song (and miss-attributed the lyricist). I do like the blues and a lot of other music, and I am excited about a new museum in downtown St. Louis. The National Blues Museum just opened on the first of April, and it includes a theater, lots of exhibits and public programs. The aim is to educate and to entertain. You can learn more about them at the museum in this issue and at NationalBluesMuseum.org/.

The museum is pretty close to Busch Stadium so you might want to combine your visit with an afternoon with the Cardinals. If you don’t go to see a game, you might still enjoy the stadium tour. I’ve done it, and seeing the press boxes and all the behind the scenes things on the tour is a treat. Learn more at Cardinals.com.

I do know that there is another baseball team in Missouri, and they just happened to win the World Series. You can make a Royals visit at KansasCity.Royals.mlb.com. My wife is going in person with the second, third and fifth grades to catch a Royals game on her birthday. If you see her keeping up with a bunch of kids on “Kids Day” during the Royals-National game, wish her a happy birthday.

Did you have a treehouse when you were a kid? Lots of us did, but they likely fell far short of the luxury offered in these vacation lodgings at TreeHousecabins.com/. Tree House Cabins is located near Dora, not too far from the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. I won’t attempt to describe the cabins, but you can see photos on the website. They are beautiful.

I have visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder site in person, and I would recommend it, even if you were not a “Little House” fan. Lauraingallswilderhome.com/ includes a lot of information and photos. The museum is located at the final home of Laura Ignalls Wilder in Mansfield, where she wrote the “Little House” books.

St. Louis is the “last city of the East” and Kansas City is the “first city of the West”. A list of ten fun things to do in Kansas City can be found at ExploreKansasCity.com/10-things-to-do-in-kansas-city-just-like-the-locals/. They all look like fun to me. I’ve done some of them and am interested in most of the others. You can read about the Plaza, museums, a great zoo and the recovered steamboat Arabia. I can’t help it, I’m singing “Kansas City” while I’m typing this. “Kansas City” was written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. I like the Wilbert Harrison recording though many others covered it, as well.

Now for something a little different. If you are a fan of Santa Claus, you might want to go to Branson in July for the 10th annual Santa Claus convention. A discription is available at DiscoverSanta2016.com. They have many Santa-related activities and a red suit parade with “thousands of Santas”. I hope those are the lightweight summer suits. Regular readers know that I love Branson (and Santa), but it can get pretty hot there in July.

I hope you have a great summer in our beautiful Missouri. When traveling, either IRL or on the internet, please be careful and have a good and safe time.

Spring 2016

info@showmemissouri.net — 2016-02-09T16:40:40-06:00

Some winter snow still lingers here in Glasgow as I write this column, but the lyrics of a great song by Miles Davis are ringing in my ears.

I’m as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I’m as jumpy as a puppet on a string,
I’d say that I had spring fever,
But it isn’t even spring.

If you are eager to get out of the house and do a little bit of travel, I have researched a few destinations for you to explore.

My friend John would enjoy visiting the Pythian Castle (Pythiancastle.com) which was built by the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization, in 1913. The castle, located near Springfield, was intended as a retirement home for widows and children of the organization’s members. In 1942, the U.S. Military commandeered the castle and used it for rehabilitation of wounded WWII veterans, during which time many big name entertainers performed there. German and Italian POWs were also housed on the grounds. In 1993, the property was sold and renovated and is now open for ghost tours, weddings, murder mystery dinners and historical tours. The web site shows some great photos of the building.

Another castle-like building is available for tours in Jefferson City. This one had many residents, but most were not as happy as those in the Pythian Castle. Tours of the Missouri State Penitentiary will begin for the new season in March. You can learn much about the penitentiary at MissouriPenTours.com. The former prison is 100 years older than Alcatraz. In the 1800s some people wanted to move the state capitol away from Jefferson City, but Gov. John Miller (no relation to me) suggested locating the state prison in Jefferson City as part of his plan to keep the Capitol located in Jefferson City. The prison opened in 1836.

The web page tells of some of the more famous residents of the prison including Sonny Liston, who learned to box in there. Forty prisoners were executed in the gas chamber at the prison and some of them and other former prisoners are said to haunt the place still. History tours and nighttime haunted tours are available.

Kearney, near Kansas City, is the home of the Jesse James Farm. Tours and a museum are on the grounds, and the website at JesseJames.org describes regular activities. The FAQ features the question: “Does the farm advocate theft, robbery, or criminal acts perpetrated by Frank and Jesse?” I love the answer: “The FOTJF only promotes the study of history, focusing on the tragic and colorful events of the Border War and it’s aftermath. This includes the post war activities of Frank and Jesse James. We leave moral and ethical judgements up to you.”

For a happy Saturday trip, why not visit the historic city of Glasgow (GlasgowMo.com) for the Glasgow Wine Walk on April 9? You will taste wines from as many as eight wineries including the city’s own Bushwhacker Bend (BushwhackerBend.com). You will take home a souvenir glass and get to see the oldest family-owned drug store in the United States, the site of the first all-steel railroad bridge in the world, and the oldest library (LewisLibrary.org) west of the Mississippi. Plus, I’ll be there selling the wine walk tickets! Tickets are $20 and admission to the Lions Club concert area is free.

I hope you have a great spring and are able to get out to enjoy what the state has to offer. Perhaps we will cross paths either on the internet or IRL. Until then, be safe and enjoy our beautiful Missouri.

Winter 2015

info@showmemissouri.net — 2015-11-11T14:16:22-06:00

Missouri weather can be like a fickle lover: one day soft and warm, the next offering only a cold shoulder.

We will get our share of those cold nights, but don’t forget the beauty of a Missouri field clothed in its white gown or the fresh taste of the air after a cleansing snowfall. Winter is a good time to sit by the home fires and plan for future trips. Of course, winter also gives us calm afternoons when it is perfect to take a trip to enjoy the state’s winter attractions.

To help you plan those trips from your computer on a snowy evening, I’ve scouted some websites. Even if you don’t make the drive, a virtual trip can be just as fun.

Certainly the highpoint of the winter season for most of us is Christmas. This page (Missouri-Vacations.com/Missouri-Festivals-Events/Christmas-Festival.htm) describes Christmas in the Arcadia Valley, located only 80 miles south of St. Louis. The Christmas festival runs from Thanksgiving through December 5 and ends with a big lighted Christmas parade. It sounds like fun, and just looking at the page may get you in the holiday mood.

For someone concerned about highway travel in the winter, perhaps a trip by train would be fun. Amtrak offers the Missouri River Runner which travels daily between St. Louis and Kansas City with stations along the route. Learn more about it, check on amenities and buy a ticket at Amtrak.com/missouri-river-runner-train. I’ve long wanted to do a train trip and seeing the snowy Missouri countryside from the comfort of a coach seat sounds like a blast. Especially since they offer a 20 percent discount during the winter months.

Missouri Department of Transportation’s highway condition page at Traveler.modot.org/map is handy to check anytime, but it is especially useful during periods of bad weather. It displays road closings, winter road conditions and construction delays at a glance. It is certainly worth checking before departing on any trip. Excellent winter travel tips are available at Modot.org/road_conditions/winterdriveringtips.htm.

I don’t have a webpage for this one, but I promise that you will enjoy it if you travel IRL to Glasgow for the Olde Tyme Christmas Parade, as it features numerous events downtown, including a lighted nighttime Christmas boat parade (held on the street). I’m pretty sure that Santa will be on hand. During the evening American Legion Post 211 (facebook.com/search/top/?q=glasgow%20legion) will be serving soup and chili downtown at the Columbian Hall. My friend John Schaeffer and I will be doing the cooking. I promise it will be good, and if you don’t agree, we will give you a second bowl This event is always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Do your kids ever say; “I’m tired of winter, I want to go swimming.” If they do, information about three indoor water parks can be found at Blog.visitmo.com/missouri-indoor-water-parks-awesom-vacation. Oh, the weather outside may be snowy, but these parks offer a tropical getaway.

Wherever you travel this winter on the internet or IRL be safe and careful. I don’t think we will run into each other at one of the water parks, but you may see me serving soup. If you do, please say hello.

Until our paths do cross, have a great Missouri winter season.

Fall 2015

info@showmemissouri.net — 2015-08-12T10:13:18-05:00

Summer 2015

info@showmemissouri.net — 2015-05-12T09:57:17-05:00

by J.Y. MILLER
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high”.
It is summertime in Missouri and the living is indeed easy or, at least, easier. School is out, watermelon and lemonade will soon make the hot afternoons more bearable, and we have more time to travel and enjoy our great state.

If your “daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’ …”, that is a plus. Even if they are not, snow shovels are put away and the roar of lawnmowers underline the heat of the afternoons. There are festivals, fairs and attractions that offer fun and education for the whole family.

To help you find some of those attractions, I have searched the internet so that you can, perhaps, plan a trip or even just surf the net from the cool comfort of your computer on a hot afternoon.

When my son was growing up, Boy Scout Summer Camp was a regular feature of our summers. I went with him for those weeks and continued as a scout leader even after he was in college. I highly recommend the Boy Scouting program. You can learn more about it at Scouting.org.

If you are not in Scouting or if you want even more summer camp experiences for your children, this link may be of interest: Kidscamps.com/summer_camps/missouri-summer-camps.html. It lets you search for summer camps in Missouri for all ages, genders and interests. There are listings for sports, computers, nature and lots more. I even saw a baseball program that is located at Heine Meine Field in Lemay. When my son played there in American Legion Baseball, I think I made the local folks angry by referring to it as “Tiny Hiney Field.” It made it worse when he hit one of the longest homeruns ever hit in that park. Perhaps, they will finally forgive me if I give them this free publicity.

When the Fourth of July comes, we think of fireworks displays. Fireworks are inherently dangerous, and young people should always be supervised when playing with them. Adults need to be very careful, as well. If you are having your own fireworks, you might review safety precautions at www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks. Show-Me Missouri’s publisher, Gary Figgins, used to be in charge of the Caruthersville fireworks display, and my son and I helped several years. It was fun, but shooting them from a gravel barge on the Mississippi River made it even more dangerous.

Here in Glasgow, the Lions Club furnishes a public fireworks display. Those community displays are free and safe for the viewers. The Lions Club (LionsClubs.org) has more than 46,000 clubs all around the world. We work with eyesight problems, diabetes education, hearing and lots more. We can always use the public’s help, and we welcome new members.

This Fourth of July morning, my Sons of the American Revolution chapter (rootsweb.ancestry.com/~momgcsar) will be conducting a Patriot Grave Marking near Salisbury. John David Winn’s grave will be marked with a stone. There will be a color guard in Revolutionary War uniforms and a musket salute, as well as speakers and other activities. Mr. Winn has been buried there for almost 200 years. Everyone is invited to the event. You can read more about it and find a map at JYMiller.net/winngravemarking.html .

The county fair is a Missouri tradition. This page provides information and schedules for county fairs all over Missouri. It is a long URL, but you’ll find everything you need to know about fairs at CountyFairgrounds.net/missouri/missouri.php#.VUOVf2TF9y4 .

If we should cross paths on the Internet or IRL, don’t forget to say hello.

Spring 2015

info@showmemissouri.net — 2015-02-12T10:44:49-06:00

Spring is here, again. As I write this on my birthday in early February (editor Gary Figgins and I share the same birthday) winter has not been nearly as harsh as anticipated. Not here in Missouri, at least.Still, spring always looks good to us...flowers blooming, green grass and fresh breezes carrying the promise of new life.

Spring is a great time to explore the many delights of our great state. When we can’t take the time for an IRL road trip, we can travel through our computer screens, and we can also spend some spring evenings at the computer to plan IRL travel. To help with that, I have researched a few sites.

I know that I mention Branson a lot in these columns. Well, I like Branson. I’m not a country music fan, but I have never seen a show there that I did not enjoy. My wife likes to shop there, and plenty of entertainment choices satisfy almost every taste and age. Visit the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau website for a long list of things to do and see at ExploreBranson.com/spring/.

One place in Branson that I’ve mentioned before is my favorite shoe store, Reish’s Shoes. I have hard-to-fit feet (size 16). Joe Reish has a huge assortment of men’s and women’s shoes—and he carries my size. He has pretty big feet himself. This page at BransonShoes.com/our-story/ includes a nice video of Joe Reish telling the history of his store which his father opened during the Great Depression. They are proud of selling “shoes that fit”. You will enjoy hearing and seeing his story, and I highly recommend a visit to the store. Tell Mr. Reish I sent you.

For information on travel opportunities in Missouri, visit the state’s official website at VisitMo.com/ . You can learn about state parks, sports, wineries and more, and there is a link to order a Missouri Travel Guide. You can also read an article about how to obtain a tourism license plate for your vehicle.

I am the state chairman of the Missouri Knights of Columbus Scholarship program. Students with a connection to the Missouri Knights of Columbus can read about our scholarships at JYMiller.net/kcship.html. Because of my work with KC Scholarships, a story at TheLakeToday.com/news/2015/jan/08/missouri-travel-council-opens-application-2015-sch/. That is a long URL, but it opens to a page with information for scholarships from the Missouri Travel Council. These are for students already in college who plan to work in the hospitality and/or tourism industry.

For many of us in Missouri, “The Lake” means The Lake of The Ozarks. The area’s official website at Funlake.com/ provides information about all the fun things for the family at the lake. You can read about it all on the page, and you can also request a free printed guide to vacation opportunities at The Lake. Their page is well-designed and includes some good photographs of lake scenery.

There is so much to read and see on the official Missouri website at MO.gov, making it the definitive website about the state. It contains Missouri news from around the state, a link to Missouri highway conditions, a link to upload photos of Missouri and links to the activities of Missouri government.

At 100missourimiles.com/ hikers and bikers can find trail information, post photos and information about their trips and earn badges. It’s a fine way to see Missouri.

We are lucky to have so many interesting things to see and to do in such beautiful surroundings. Perhaps we will cross paths on the internet as we cyber-travel our state. Maybe we will happen across each other IRL while trying on big shoes in Branson or on a trail. Until then be safe and enjoy all our state has to offer.

Winter 2014

info@showmemissouri.net — 2014-11-14T16:40:36-06:00

Fall 2014

info@showmemissouri.net — 2014-08-19T16:48:58-05:00

Another summer ends and fall begins. Hot Missouri afternoons morph into refreshingly cool fall evenings flavored with cider, hayrides and football. The press of busy activities may reduce our IRL travel time, but our computers provide us with a vehicle to explore this great state and to plan our IRL travel experiences. I’ve researched a few internet sites to get you started on your fall travels.

This well-designed site can keep you busy for a long time: Missouri-vacations.com/index.htm. It has links to all kinds of Missouri trips and vacation ideas and is focused on the Arcadia Valley Region. I found information on float trips, campgrounds, antiques and more. The page features a constantly changing series of beautiful photos of Missouri scenery.

The world’s first school of journalism was founded in Columbia in 1908 by Walter Williams. This page at Journalism.missouri.edu/jschool/ has information about this still famous school which is part of Missouri University.

You can even keep an eye on the J-School with its streaming web cam at
Journalism.missouri.edu/jschool/webcam/. The camera looks east from the roof of Gannet Hall, allowing a view of students moving about in addition to a glimpse of area weather. The Mizzou Memorial Student Union cam, located at Unions.missouri.edu/webcam, may be a bit voyeuristic, but it allows viewers to watch students as they study and socialize in the Union.

Civil War reenactments have been very popular in Missouri. Historic Glasgow will host a reenactment of the Battle of Glasgow October 11-12. You can read more about the event at Glasgowmo.com/re-enactment/index.html. For more information about the battle and the history of Glasgow, check out the Lewis Library web site at
LewisLibrary.org/Ghistory.html. Lewis Library is the oldest public library west of the Mississippi.

Fall foliage is always a treat in Missouri. This is a link that will let you download a free app for your iPhone, iPad or iPod: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mo-fall-colors/id570718731?mt=8. The link will help you find pictures and GPS information to travel to places to view Missouri fall foliage. This is provided by the Missouri Department of Conversation. Apps are also available for Missouri Fishing and Missouri hunting. Links to iTunes to download these and other apps are all on the same page.

If you watch Cardinal Baseball, you have seen the Ted Drewes Frozen Custard commercials. Ted Drewes is a legend in the St. Louis area. Their website at
TedDrewes.com/home/default.aspx has information about products and their locations. Ted Drewes has been home to the original “concrete” since 1929. The web page has a photo of their location with a beautiful ’57 Chevy in front of it. I had one just like it, except mine was a different color. As Ted says in every commercial: “It’s really good guys and gals!” Be sure to follow the links to the history and about the custard.

Here is the Missouri page that has links to EVERYTHING: http://agrimissouri.com.You just click on your interest and then enter the city or county to find the location and details. Under FUN, there are links from antiques to zip-lines, with corn mazes and pumpkin patches in between. Other categories include places to go, Missouri products, Missouri events and more. Information is included about farmer’s markets and a photo contest.

Missouri in the fall is especially beautiful with our changing foliage and many festivals and activities. I hope you enjoy your travels either IRL or on the web. Perhaps we will cross paths in a corn maze or a pumpkin festival. If you see me at a civil war reenactment or a Cardinals game (I hope it is during the world series) be sure to say hello. Until then enjoy our beautiful Missouri and always be careful on the road.

Summer 2014

info@showmemissouri.net — 2014-05-12T15:58:52-05:00

Once again we welcome the warm evenings and the gentle night breezes that give us relief from our hot Missouri summers.

Summer is the season of picnics, baseball, barbecue and vacation travel. While seeking respite from the summer heat we can travel in comfort on our computers to seek out opportunities for great times in the Missouri outdoors.

I have found a few places to visit online and perhaps to venture out IRL.

For a lot of us, summer fun means a visit to an amusement park. Almost all youngsters and quite a few of us “older generation” get a big kick out of the rides and excitement. You can visit Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun online at WorldsOfFun.com to help plan your summer visit. The website lists the rides and fees, as well as places to stay and to dine. The parks are located next to each other just northeast of Kansas City. One ticket lets you visit and ride in both parks.

If you are on the eastern side of the state, you can go to Six Flags near St. Louis. Check out the website at Sixflags.com. The web page features a movie that puts you on a pretty thrilling roller coaster. Hold on to your chair while you view.

In the middle of the state, I’ll be spending most of my time in Glasgow. For a list of what is going on there, Glasgowmo.com/eventscalendar.html. If your pleasure is a golf tournament, a cat-fishing tournament, a canoe race or just a quiet visit, you will enjoy your time in the little town where the clock turns backward.

See more of Glasgow at the webpage of the historic Lewis Library at LewisLibrary.org. The library was the site of Lewis College, founded by Col. Benjamin Lewis just after the Civil War. It is the oldest continuously operating public library west of the Mississippi. For a slide show of Glasgow homes, click on my slide show link at
JYMiller.net.

As summer ends, Glasgow will host a reenactment of the Civil War Battle of Glasgow October 10 and 11. There will be two battles, a period ball and many other activities. I’ll be working at the event. Be sure to say hi to me if you see me on a bus or giving a tour at St. Mary’s Church.

You will enjoy a visit to Bushwhackerbend.com, either online or IRL. Bushwhacker Bend Winery is located in downtown Glasgow. The websit includes links to many Missouri events, as well as winery information. It is a beautiful place to relax and to have a nice visit with the owners, Gene and Susan Marksbury.

Another of the many Missouri Civil War Reenactments will be held in Centralia on September 13 and 14. You can read about the massacre and the ensuing battle at
Centraliabattlefield.com. My friend, Jack Chance, is one of the committee members for this event. He will be busy if you see him, but tell him you heard about him from me.

While traveling you will no doubt see the Missouri Highway Patrol keeping the state’s highways safe. Visit MHSP.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/index.html for information such as locations and schedules for driver exams, safety check stations, water craft verification stations and more. They even have photos of the patrol cars, motorcycles, planes and SWAT vehicles currently in use on Missouri’s highways and waterways.

Keep cool on the road and try to spend at least some time in the shady places. You might bump into me at the edge of a battlefield or at a period ball. You might be even more likely to find me on the deck of a winery overlooking the Missouri River. Say hello if you do.

Spring 2014

info@showmemissouri.net — 2014-02-11T20:40:45-06:00

Yes, we had some cold weather and plenty of snow and ice here in Missouri during this past winter. It kept many of us inside more than we might like and made us ready to greet the gentle touch of a Missouri spring. Now that Spring is here, we are ready to get out and see Mother Nature replace those white mounds of snow and ice with the green fields and beautiful trees that show new life and hope.

We can travel by our computer screens when time is short or to plan a longer IRL trip. I have researched some spring in Missouri sites for you on the World Wide Web.

I grew up on a Missouri farm, and one of my chores was to milk our cow. My mother made butter and we drank fresh milk. Many young people today have not ever seen a cow up close and have little idea of where their food comes from. Additives and purity are big concerns today. If you are close to Kansas City, you might want to make a family trip to the Shatto Milk Company, located just north of the city on a 400-acre family farm. It is the home to 120 Holstein cows that produce the milk. They raise most of the cattle feed on the farm and process the milk gently before bottling it in glass bottles. Shatto boasts a big assortment of whole, 2 percent and skim milk and offers a number of flavor choices. They also have shirts, caps and other items (for humans, not cows) that are for sale in their store. Their web page tells their story and includes many photos of the farm and the cows. Visit them online at ShattoMilk.com/. You can also read about their tours and special events, and can sign up for a free monthly newsletter with news, recipes, special offers and more.

A place you could visit near St. Louis is a reminder of the ravages of war. It was not the scene of any battles, but was the location of the world’s largest explosive factory. Between 1940 and 1941, the U.S. Army purchased 17,000 acres of land in St. Charles County. Three towns—Hamburg, Howell, and Toonerville—were evacuated and all the buildings either demolished or burned.

Within a few months these towns ceased to exist, and the Weldon Springs Ordinance Works was built on the land, employing more than 5,000 workers in 1,000 buildings. Before they ceased operation in 1945, they had produced more than 700 million pounds of TNT.

After the war, the Army disposed of all but 2,000 acres of the land, and several of the sold off portions became conservation areas. The Atomic Energy department used the 2,000-acre area as a uranium processing plant to make concentrated ore, which was then shipped to other plants for more processing. This also produced huge amounts of radioactive waste including thousands of gallons of contaminated water.

The government closed this operation and began cleaning up the area in 1966. In 2001, a safe storage mound was completed. Covering 45 acres, it is the highest point in St. Charles County. This giant rock pile stores 1.5 million cubic yards of hazardous material. It is completely safe and you can take the steps to climb to the top where you can read a plaque that describes the whole site. There is a large center near the bottom where you can also read about the site.

Their web page at AmusingPlanet.com/2013/05/a-pile-of-nuclear-waste-now-tourist.html has some photos and other information about the site. I believe I’ll limit my visit to online.

Missouri’s oldest town, Ste. Genevieve, was settled in the 1700s. It is Ste. Genevieve (VisitSteGen.com). As you might expect, the town is rich in history. It was the site of the first Freemason lodge west of the Mississippi. Western Star Lodge #105 was established in 1807. The original meeting hall still stands.

I have visited the town many times. If you eat there, try the leberknödel or liver dumplings. They are much better than they sound!

Winter 2013

info@showmemissouri.net — 2013-11-11T11:36:46-06:00

The nights are growing colder, and it will soon be winter. Like a beautiful woman, Missouri will soon change from her fall colors of reds and golds to a winter dress of pure white snow. In any of her seasonal outfits, we love our beautiful Missouri.

Cozy winter evenings provide an opportunity to travel via our computers as we enjoy the beauties of a Missouri winter. To aid you in that travel, I’ve researched a few Missouri websites for you. As usual, you can type in the URLs yourself or just go to ShowMeMissouri.net and access the Cyber-Travels button to follow the links in the article.

I will be spending a good part of the winter at my home in Glasgow (GlasgowMO.com.) Visit my personal page at www.jymiller.net to learn even more about my town, including a slide show of our historic homes. We are the home of the oldest continuously operating single family owned drugstore in the United States and the oldest public library west of the Mississippi.

When we travel on the highways during the winter, we must always be aware of road conditions, and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT.org) makes checking roads convenient by providing current road conditions and closures. The site also has a link to the Missouri Highway Patrol “Crash Report” listings of accidents investigated by the MHP. The term “crashes” is used because the patrol says there are no “accidents.” There is even a link that allows you to sign up for text alerts to be sent to your cell phone with road condition updates.

Something that I have not done yet, but plan to do is to ride the Amtrak. You can begin to research rates and schedules at Amtrak.com/home. Trains run daily between St. Louis and Kansas City and include food service for snack foods and beverages. Trains cross the Missouri River at Glasgow, the site of the first all steel railroad bridge in the world. The current bridge, which I can see from my home, is a replacement.

Sports lovers will find Missouri a great destination year round. The Missouri Winter Games (MOWinterGames.org) in Springfield include basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, bowling, trapshooting and more. This year will also feature a demonstration event by Olympic gold medalist gymnast Jordyn Wieber. The event takes place in late February and early March.

Bird watching is an interesting hobby that can be enjoyed all through the year. You can travel to the woods or a park to search for birds, or you can can find them in your own backyard. You can even find them on your computer. Bob and Sally Sharamitaro of the “Dogtown” area of St. Louis have been taking photos of the feathered visitors to their back yard for years and share them at www2.webster.edu/~corbetre/birds/yard-bird-photos.html.

You can read about their award winning wines of Bushwhacker Bend Winery in Glasgow at BushwhackerBend.com/default.aspx. Check out links to Glasgow events and hospitality businesses and see some great photos of the winery, which overlooks the Missouri river. On nice days, the back deck is a great place to sip and converse and maybe see an eagle soaring over the river.

Winter in Missouri is always interesting. Try to get out on the good days and stay by the fire during any stormy ones. Those long winter nights are a good time to catch up on your reading, play games with the family or surf the Internet to learn more about our great state.

Fall 2013

info@showmemissouri.net — 2013-08-09T14:53:00-05:00

Summer 2013

info@showmemissouri.net — 2013-05-15T13:34:24-05:00

Spring 2013

info@showmemissouri.net — 2013-02-12T21:50:39-06:00

Everyone who is ready for spring, raise your hand! After some bitter cold days in our winter season, many of us are ready for the green of spring and the warm breezes that take away those cold memories. OK, you can put your hands down now and continue reading.

Spring is a great season to travel in our beautiful Missouri. To help you with destination planning, and to give you a chance to travel from home through your computer, I’ve searched out some web pages that I hope you will find interesting.

As usual the Missouri Department of Conservation offers a glimpse of nature at http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/driving-tours/flowering-spring-trees. Missouri’s native spring flowering trees, such as the serviceberry, hawthorn, wild plum and others, are featured on this page. Each includes a nice description and beautiful photos. You can almost smell the dogwood as you watch the video. Can anyone identify the bird that sings along with it?

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s website at www.MissouriBotanicalGarden.org is filled with great flower and butterfly photos. Teachers will be interested in the school tours that are offered. In early spring, the garden sponsors a spectacular orchid show. The garden opened to the public in 1859 and houses more than 4,800 trees. The 79-acre site is a National Historic Landmark and would be a treat to visit in any season. There is a charge for tickets, but information prior to your visit is available free online.

Do you like parades? St. Joseph hosts the third oldest Apple Blossom Festival in the United States. Photos from past festival parades can be found at www.AppleBlossomParade.com. This year’s parade will be May 4. Organizers request that each parade entry display at least one American Flag.

The St. Louis Storytelling Festival takes place in early May each year and has been a tradition for 33 years. I can’t believe that I only learned of it a few moments ago. Their webpage at http://StLStorytellingFestival.org/ provides details about the four-day festival, which will feature more than 40 storytellers at four different locations around St. Louis. A high point of the web site is the videos of storytellers casting their often humorous yarns. The stories in the festival are suitable for both children and adults, and school groups are welcomed. This festival is coordinated by the University of Missouri—St. Louis.

Even in the spring, we like to get inside from time to time. A wonderful art exhibit will run in early spring at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery on the Fayette campus of Central Methodist University, my Alma Mater. The show; “A Dream Denied” will feature more than 40 works of Glasgow’s painter, Cornelia Kuemmel. Miss Kuemmel gave up her opportunity to study art in Europe to stay in Glasgow and care for her mother. She continued to paint until her death in 1938 and is now recognized as a true talent. The curator of the gallery is Dr. Joe Geist and the co-curator for this show is my friend from Glasgow, Fr. Jerry Stockman. Learn more at the gallery webpage located at www.CentralMethodist.edu/ashbyhodge/current.php.

Enjoy your spring as you travel and see the sights of our beautiful Missouri. You may travel IRL or in Cyber-space. Whether you choose to travel IRL or on the information superhighway, use caution. We may cross paths while watching a parade, listening to a storyteller or admiring a painting.

Fall 2012

info@showmemissouri.net — 2012-08-21T10:50:01-05:00

Summer 2012

info@showmemissouri.net — 2012-05-15T20:19:45-05:00

We all enjoy the hot afternoons and the long evenings of summer, with the smell of freshly-mowed grass and barbecue. Summertime is the time of vacations, family visits, picnics and good times. Travel is a traditional part of a Missouri summer, and I’ve researched a few destinations to help you get in the mood to go somewhere.

If you want a great travel app for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, you can do no better than to go to iTunes and purchase the Show-Me Missouri app for the low price of $2.99. One reviewer describes it as “my own little tour guide”. Maps will help you navigate to the many listed destinations. The app is one of many travel apps developed by Sutro Media. Show-Me Missouri contributor Diana Lambdin Meyer is author of two other Missouri-related Sutro apps—Kansas City Uncovered and St. Louis Uncovered. All three apps explore both the well-known and sometimes hidden gems and include hundreds of photos of various attractions within the Show-Me State.

If you are traveling with kids, they are very likely to want to visit an amusement park. Missouri has several scattered across three corners of the state. If you are near Kansas City, you may want to check out Worlds Of Fun at WorldsOfFun.com/. Information on the main theme park and the adjacent water park is readily available.

For St. Louis area visitors, consider a visit to Six Flags St. Louis. The website, located at SixFlags.com/stlouis/tickets/index.aspx, includes descriptions of the rides and available discounts.

Silver Dollar City’s site at SilverDollarCity.com details the parks numerous rides and annual festivals. The site also includes photos that are sure to entice online visitors to make the trip in person.

Almost everyone loves to cook out during the summer, and some folks get really serious about barbeque. If you are one of those, you should check out “Smokin On The River," a KCBS (Kansas City Barbeque Society) sanctioned barbeque contest held at Glasgow, MO. The web page at JYMiller.net/zzglasgowBBQ.html has more information and pictures. I’m on the committee that puts this one on, so if you come, you may see me helping contestants get their entries turned in by giving golf cart rides from their cooking sites. There will be a dance and fireworks, too!

Of course, summer in Missouri would not be complete without baseball. Thanks to my son, I was able to attend the Cardinal’s home opener this year. It rained and the Cards lost that one, but I got to see Cardinals Hall of Fame members and the great opening ceremony. You can visit the Cardinals anytime at StLouis.Cardinals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=stl&sv=1.

I hear that there is another major league team in Missouri, as well. The Royal’s (KansasCity.Royals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=kc&sv=1) will be hosting the MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City in July.

Also near Kansas Cty, at Independence, is a historical site revered by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Missouri did not welcome her early Mormon visitors, and church founder Joseph Smith spent four months in the Liberty Jail. Upon his release, the church moved to Utah. Today, the church has a museum and other buildings at the old Temple Lot site. A slideshow of the reconstruction of the jail can be found at MormonNewsroom.org/article/summer-travel-series-independence-l.

Wherever you visit in Missouri this summer, have a great time and be safe on the roads. Perhaps we’ll share a car on a theme park ride, or maybe we’ll be able to share some barbeque by the river in Glasgow. If not, perhaps we’ll just cross electronically on the Internet.

Spring 2012

info@showmemissouri.net — 2012-02-13T15:23:36-06:00

Winter 2011

info@showmemissouri.net — 2011-11-10T17:52:18-06:00

Cold winds blow, snow flurries threaten. Do we care? Winter in Missouri is here and it is time for another great travel season. Even if snow makes IRL travel a little dangerous, we still can visit our great state from the warmth and comfort of our computer. Of course, winter offers many diversions for the Missouri traveler, but the highpoint of any winter is Christmas!

One of Missouri’s most popular travel destinations is Branson. I love Branson, and I often find things there to recommend to my friends and family. Branson’s numerous Christmas season attractions can be found at www.ExploreBranson.com. More than 100 shows (I lost count) are listed on this page with links that provide detailed information. All of them are available during the Christmas season. Included is the Christmas lights driving tour through the Shepherd of the Hills site.

When I travel to Branson, I take Highway 65 south from Springfield. I’ve often noticed the billboard for the Smallin Civil War Cave. I pledged to never take another cave tour, but the website at www.SmallinCave.com has piqued my interest. Located near Ozark, the cave was discovered in 1818 and is the first documented cave in the Ozarks. Of course, local Native Americans used it long before 1818. Various types of tours are offered, including a Christmas tour, which includes an outdoor campfire where stories and hot cocoa are shared. A Civil War tour includes an outdoor campfire with a civil war meal of ham and beans, cornbread and fried ‘taters. Both tours include a lantern light nighttime tour of the cave. The Christmas tour features twinkling Christmas lights and some special Christmas displays. Special tours for school field trips and groups are available. The website features lots of slides and videos with information about the wildlife in the cave and history of the cave.

Augusta, located in the heart of Missouri’s wine country, offers a candlelight walking tour of the downtown area. The webpage at www.missouriwinecountry.com/events/event.php?eventID=52 describes the many features of the tour including viewing beautifully-decorated homes and business. The Montelle Winery (www.Montelle.com) will offer hot soup and fresh bread next to the fireplace at their location. Free Dixieland jazz concerts in the public square, along with a bonfire and food and drink will make this a festive holiday destination.

Historic St. Charles, the place where “Christmas past comes to life,” boasts a wonderfully-designed Christmas website at www.StCharlesChristmas.com. In addition to an abundance of holiday photos, the page includes links delving into the history of many Christmas traditions.

When I grew up on a Missouri farm, we always went out and cut our own Christmas tree. I remember my father and I taking my son to do the same thing when he was just a few years old. Today’s city dwellers who don’t have a farming grandpa may can still experience this holiday tradition at any of a number of Christmas tree farms across the state. Need help finding one? No problem. Just visit pickyourownchristmastree.org/MOxmastrees.php for links to Missouri Christmas tree farms, as well as hints on caring for your tree.

Wherever you are on Christmas, I hope you are able to spend it with friends and family and I hope you take a moment to reflect upon the real reason for the season. From Glasgow, I send you the warmest of Christmas wishes. Perhaps we’ll meet while looking for that perfect tree, touring a cave, singing carols on a candlelight tour or just passing anonymously while driving the interstate or the information superhighway. Have a very Merry Christmas, and be careful on the road.

Fall 2011

info@showmemissouri.net — 2011-08-18T15:24:25-05:00

It was a hot summer that began with flood fights along the rivers. Still, Missouri never fails to show us a soft and beautiful side to keep our confidence in her beauty and grace. Now, as Fall comes rushing at us, our thoughts turn to school, football games, cool nights, days of fall foliage and apple cider.

To help you plan some “Missouri Family Travel Time” I’ve done a bit of research and listed a few places you may find interesting both IRL (In Real Life) and on the internet.

I have had a busy summer helping to plan for the 175th anniversary of the founding of the city of Glasgow. When this magazine reaches you, it may be too late to visit us in person for the activities (you are welcome anytime,) but you can still make a virtual visit to www.jymiller.net/zzglasgow175.html. I hope you can come in person to tour the local cemetery with me or to see me in the Glasgow History Play.

One of the many activities at the anniversary celebration will be a series of speakers on historical matters. One of them is Peter Gorton, who will speak on John Donaldson. John Donaldson, who was born in Glasgow, played baseball here in the early 1900s and is thought to be one of the greatest of the Negro League players. You can read more about him on Peter Gorton’s page at JohnDonaldson.bravehost.com/ .

Fall foliage driving tours are at the top of the list for many people planning activities in the fall. Help planning a trip is available at www.chiff.com/travel/missouri-foliage.htm. The site suggests driving tours, lots of photos, tips for taking your own photos and more. There is even a short movie that explains why leaves change color along with some great views of colorful foliage.

More on Missouri’s fall colors is available at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/nature-viewing/trees-and-forests/fall-colors .

Marty Koch, a St. Louis-based photographer and blogger posts travel notes and photos at MartysWorld.typepad.com/traveling_with_marty/. He is planning a fall float trip on the Current River. The site is loaded with beautiful scenic shots.

Those close to Kansas City will enjoy a visit to the Weston Red Barn Farm either IRL on at www.WestonRedBarnFarm.com/index.htm . The barn hosts tours, hayrides, pumpkin sales, a country store and farm market. School tours are also offered.

Near the center of the state, you can visit the beautiful campus of Central Methodist University in Fayette or visit online at www.CentralMethodist.edu/ . CMU is my alma mater. While on campus, you might visit the Ashby Hodge Gallery. If you do, say hello to the curator, Dr. Joseph Geist. The gallery will exhibit George Caleb Bingham works from mid-August through October, which you will be able to view either IRL or on the gallery’s web page at www.CentralMethodist.edu/ashbyhodge/visit.php. One of the portraits is of Matilda Donohoe Aull, the daughter of one of the founders of Glasgow and my wife’s great-great-great-aunt.

No matter where you travel this Fall, or how, I hope you enjoy our beautiful Missouri with your family. Fall is a great time to build those lasting memories and to enjoy our state and each other. Perhaps our paths will cross either IRL or on the web. Be sure to say hello if you see me.

Summer 2011

info@showmemissouri.net — 2011-05-25T12:22:51-05:00

Summer is the traditional time for travel, with school closed and many families hitting the road. After a hard winter and a spring that saw floods and storms, we are ready for some quiet time with friends and family. To help you plan your summer trip, the internet provides a great way to explore from the comfort of your own living room. With gasoline prices keeping us closer to home, the cyber-highway allows us to do the proper research before filling the vehicle up. To get you started on your summer travel, I’ve searched out a few Missouri cyber destinations.

You have all summer to plan for the Missouri State Fair, which is an unofficial end to the summer travel season. Attendance at the fair is a tradition and high point for many Missouri travelers. Updates on planned activities, including concert headliners, are available throughout the summer at www.MoStateFair.com/.

Don’t hit the road until you visit www.RoadTripRewards.com, a website partnership between the Missouri Division of Tourism and McDonald’s restaurants in Missouri. Receipts from the fast food chain are the keys that unlock the doors to hundreds of discounts at travel venues across Missouri.

The sesquicentennial of the Civil War is the focus of www.MoCivilWar150.com, which includes and abundance of information about Civil War activities around the state. Here in Glasgow, we are planning a Battle of Glasgow reenactment for next year. This summer we will mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of Glasgow.

In the St. Louis area, visit www.freedomsgateway.com to discover activities that commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Even in the midst of local festivals and civil war reenactments, we still find time for some traditional Missouri travel opportunities. I love Branson, and while I am not a country music fan, I also love Patsy Cline. There are currently at least two Patsy Cline “Tribute Shows” playing in Branson. This page at www.PatsyInBranson.net/content/about/index.html includes information on one of the shows. It contains a very nice video of Tracy Lynn DeMille, the featured performer, who is shown singing a number of Patsy’s greatest hits. Miss DeMille is a descendent of Cecil B. DeMille of Hollywood fame. I have not seen her in person, but I have that on my list for sometime this summer.

A free attraction offering a time and place for quiet prayer is located near Eureka. The Black Madonna Shrine is a result of an almost single-handed effort by a Franciscan Monk, Brother Bronislaus Luszcz, who, in 1927, created a series of shrines near his monastery. Information and some photos are available at www.FranciscanCaring.org/blackmadonnashri.html. The page includes schedules of activities, history and some nice photos of the shrines. The grounds consist of more than 500 acres and contain a number of different grottos and shrines.

Here in Glasgow, I’m just a short drive away from my alma mater, Central Methodist University, located in Fayette. CMU offers numerous options for your entertainment. One of them is the Ashby-Hodge Gallery. The curator, Dr. Joseph E. Geist, always has special exhibitions, and I’m especially looking forward to an exhibition of the art of George C. Bingham, which will begin in August. You can visit the gallery online at www.CentralMethodist.edu/ashbyhodge/visit.php. Click on Online Tours to see some highlights of the collection narrated by Professor Tom Yancy. The first painting that he discusses is a work by Glasgow artist Cornelia Kummel.

This summer, I hope you are able to travel both IRL and online and that you enjoy our beautiful state. Perhaps our paths will cross as we travel.

Spring 2011

info@showmemissouri.net — 2011-03-04T20:02:04-06:00