Winter 2021
Tempus Fugit. Time flies. Once again, the seasons have changed to winter. Fall gives way to winter with cooler days and colder nights. Nature will soon dress Missouri in her white winter garments. Winter snow may keep us inside more for our leisure hours, but Missouri in winter has many charms, and the beauty of a winter day can warm our hearts even if we are knee deep in snow or watching from our living room window or the window of our computer screens.
For those wanting to get right out and play in the snow, Snow Creek (SkiSnowCreek.com) near Weston may be right down your alley. Open from December through the middle of March, Snow Creek offers snow-skiing, snowboarding or tubing. The Tornado Alley Tube Park features a thrilling downhill ride with a relaxing ride back up to the top of the hill. Wintertime hikers can enjoy 12 different trails that range from beginner to advanced, and the Rattlesnake Terrain Park is a place for expert skiers and boarders. Lessons, season passes and group options and equipment rental are available. Hours vary. The resort also features a cafeteria, bar and lounge, first aid, souvenirs and gifts. Visit the site for current snow conditions, prices and hours of operation.
On the eastern side of the state, check out SCCMO.org/1701/The-Historic-Daniel-Boone-Home. The home is certainly not the log cabin that many would expect. This beautiful setting represents life in the early 1800s and brings the legacy of Daniel Boone to life. Within the thick limestone walls, stories of a daring man offer a glimpse into family matters, risky adventures and hard-fought battles. The site has a nice slide show of the Boone home and the historic village.
Here in Glasgow, we can see bald eagles year round. They fish the river and often circle over the town. Some of the best eagle viewing sites in Missouri are listed at FloatMissouri.com/best-eagle-watching-sites-missouri/. It does not list Glasgow, but our eagles can be seen here, especially during the winter season. The website includes some good eagle photos. If you come to Glasgow to see the eagles, you may see me as well. I’ll be glad to show you our other attractions. You can preview some of them at VisitGlasgowMO.com.
When I was young, I loved the TV show, Route 66. I followed the adventures of Todd and Buzz as they traveled the historic Highway 66 in their Corvette. I never got the Corvette, but we still have Route 66. The iconic highway originated in Springfield in 1926. You can visit it IRL or at VisitMO.com/in-the-spotlight/route-66. The page features lots of photos and details places to stay and to eat as well as attractions to enjoy. This highway is part of U.S. history and could be considered as Missouri’s gift to a traveling nation.
Of course, we should all be careful when driving IRL on Missouri roads in the winter. This site at OnlynYourState.com/missouri/surviving-mo-winter details how to survive a Missouri winter. It actually has some good advice and some nice photos of Missouri winter scenes.
Stay safe on the IRL highway and on the internet. If we should cross paths, please say hello. Missouri has many things that are fun to enjoy in any season, but visiting with friends is always one of the best.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
For those wanting to get right out and play in the snow, Snow Creek (SkiSnowCreek.com) near Weston may be right down your alley. Open from December through the middle of March, Snow Creek offers snow-skiing, snowboarding or tubing. The Tornado Alley Tube Park features a thrilling downhill ride with a relaxing ride back up to the top of the hill. Wintertime hikers can enjoy 12 different trails that range from beginner to advanced, and the Rattlesnake Terrain Park is a place for expert skiers and boarders. Lessons, season passes and group options and equipment rental are available. Hours vary. The resort also features a cafeteria, bar and lounge, first aid, souvenirs and gifts. Visit the site for current snow conditions, prices and hours of operation.
On the eastern side of the state, check out SCCMO.org/1701/The-Historic-Daniel-Boone-Home. The home is certainly not the log cabin that many would expect. This beautiful setting represents life in the early 1800s and brings the legacy of Daniel Boone to life. Within the thick limestone walls, stories of a daring man offer a glimpse into family matters, risky adventures and hard-fought battles. The site has a nice slide show of the Boone home and the historic village.
Here in Glasgow, we can see bald eagles year round. They fish the river and often circle over the town. Some of the best eagle viewing sites in Missouri are listed at FloatMissouri.com/best-eagle-watching-sites-missouri/. It does not list Glasgow, but our eagles can be seen here, especially during the winter season. The website includes some good eagle photos. If you come to Glasgow to see the eagles, you may see me as well. I’ll be glad to show you our other attractions. You can preview some of them at VisitGlasgowMO.com.
When I was young, I loved the TV show, Route 66. I followed the adventures of Todd and Buzz as they traveled the historic Highway 66 in their Corvette. I never got the Corvette, but we still have Route 66. The iconic highway originated in Springfield in 1926. You can visit it IRL or at VisitMO.com/in-the-spotlight/route-66. The page features lots of photos and details places to stay and to eat as well as attractions to enjoy. This highway is part of U.S. history and could be considered as Missouri’s gift to a traveling nation.
Of course, we should all be careful when driving IRL on Missouri roads in the winter. This site at OnlynYourState.com/missouri/surviving-mo-winter details how to survive a Missouri winter. It actually has some good advice and some nice photos of Missouri winter scenes.
Stay safe on the IRL highway and on the internet. If we should cross paths, please say hello. Missouri has many things that are fun to enjoy in any season, but visiting with friends is always one of the best.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
Fall 2021
For many of us, Fall is our favorite season. We welcome cooler days and beautiful trees as we anticipate family gatherings and good weather for traveling. I have been reflecting on how fortunate we are to live in this beautiful state.
Our state is not only blessed with year-round scenic beauty, but it also claims many famous people. It will be both fun and educational to visit some of these people both online and IRL. I have researched just a few to help you get started.
I don’t think we can talk about famous Missourians without mentioning Samuel Langhorn Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. MarkTwainMuseum.org contains many other URLs about Mark Twain including the cave, his books and other information in Hannibal. I am sure that most of us have visited there, but I learn something new every time that I go.
An equally obvious choice for this listing is the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman. This link to the Truman Library (TrumanLibrary.gov) will help you learn more about this man who rose from a simple farm near Lamar, Missouri (CityOfLamar.org) to the highest office in the land. He held office during the years of World War II and never forgot his Missouri roots. His library in Independence just opened after a $30 million renovation and is something all Missourians should visit IRL.
The poet T. S. Eliot was born in St. Louis. His grandfather was one of the founders of Washington University of St. Louis (wustl.edu). Eliot was a Nobel prize winner for literature in 1948. His collection of poems, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” was the basis for the Broadway musical “Cats”. Learn more about him at PoetryFoundation.org/poets/t-s-eliot.
Another Missouri artist is Chuck Berry (Biography.com/musician/chuck-berry) who was born in St. Louis. He is considered to the the father of rock ‘n’ roll and his song “Maybellene” is often considered to be the first rock ‘n’ roll song. Berry had a long and successful music career. I have visited his now closed nightclub, The Southern Air, in Wentzville. He died in his Wentzville home at age 90. His music appealed to both white and black youth. He once said, “I made records for people who would buy them. No color, no ethnic, no political—I don’t want that, never did.’’
Ginger Rogers (OwensRogersMuseum.com) was born in Independence in 1911. She became famous as Fred Astair’s dance partner.
A great baseball player, John Wesley Donaldson (mlb.com/history/negro-leagues/players/john-donaldson) was born and began his baseball career in Glasgow (GlasgowMo.com). John was descried by Satchel Paige as “…the greatest left handed pitcher that ever lived” Because baseball was segregated, he never played in the majors, but was a founding member of the Kansas City Monarchs and played on numerous Negro League teams. His hometown recently dedicated its high school baseball field in his honor.
We could fill this magazine with famous Missourians, but I only have the space for this column. That means I’ll have to only mention a few more in passing. Rap musician Eminem from St. Joseph, Actress Kathleen Turner from Springfield, actor John Goodman from Afton, Vincent Price and Phyllis Diller from St. Louis, actor Steve McQueen from Slater and many more.
We come from a great state and we share our heritage with many famous people. If we cross paths on the information highway or in real life, be sure to say hello. That is the kind of friendliness that makes us all famous.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
Our state is not only blessed with year-round scenic beauty, but it also claims many famous people. It will be both fun and educational to visit some of these people both online and IRL. I have researched just a few to help you get started.
I don’t think we can talk about famous Missourians without mentioning Samuel Langhorn Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. MarkTwainMuseum.org contains many other URLs about Mark Twain including the cave, his books and other information in Hannibal. I am sure that most of us have visited there, but I learn something new every time that I go.
An equally obvious choice for this listing is the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman. This link to the Truman Library (TrumanLibrary.gov) will help you learn more about this man who rose from a simple farm near Lamar, Missouri (CityOfLamar.org) to the highest office in the land. He held office during the years of World War II and never forgot his Missouri roots. His library in Independence just opened after a $30 million renovation and is something all Missourians should visit IRL.
The poet T. S. Eliot was born in St. Louis. His grandfather was one of the founders of Washington University of St. Louis (wustl.edu). Eliot was a Nobel prize winner for literature in 1948. His collection of poems, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” was the basis for the Broadway musical “Cats”. Learn more about him at PoetryFoundation.org/poets/t-s-eliot.
Another Missouri artist is Chuck Berry (Biography.com/musician/chuck-berry) who was born in St. Louis. He is considered to the the father of rock ‘n’ roll and his song “Maybellene” is often considered to be the first rock ‘n’ roll song. Berry had a long and successful music career. I have visited his now closed nightclub, The Southern Air, in Wentzville. He died in his Wentzville home at age 90. His music appealed to both white and black youth. He once said, “I made records for people who would buy them. No color, no ethnic, no political—I don’t want that, never did.’’
Ginger Rogers (OwensRogersMuseum.com) was born in Independence in 1911. She became famous as Fred Astair’s dance partner.
A great baseball player, John Wesley Donaldson (mlb.com/history/negro-leagues/players/john-donaldson) was born and began his baseball career in Glasgow (GlasgowMo.com). John was descried by Satchel Paige as “…the greatest left handed pitcher that ever lived” Because baseball was segregated, he never played in the majors, but was a founding member of the Kansas City Monarchs and played on numerous Negro League teams. His hometown recently dedicated its high school baseball field in his honor.
We could fill this magazine with famous Missourians, but I only have the space for this column. That means I’ll have to only mention a few more in passing. Rap musician Eminem from St. Joseph, Actress Kathleen Turner from Springfield, actor John Goodman from Afton, Vincent Price and Phyllis Diller from St. Louis, actor Steve McQueen from Slater and many more.
We come from a great state and we share our heritage with many famous people. If we cross paths on the information highway or in real life, be sure to say hello. That is the kind of friendliness that makes us all famous.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
Summer 2021
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.
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
Spring is a time of change and renewal, and this spring will be no exception. We have seen plenty of challenges in our lives this past winter, and there will be more to come.
It is always good to “get away from it all” from time to time, and we can travel IRL or through our computers. The internet is a perfect way to plan IRL travel, or it can be the whole get away, itself.
In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.
The Missouri Botanical Garden on Shaw Avenue in St. Lous is a treasure. Founded in 1859, it is home to more than 4,800 trees. MissouriBotanicalGarden.org is filled with information, but the most striking feature is their drone videos, which allow the gardens to be viewed from the air. The photography is striking, and the colors and views will make you want to watch it again and again. In addition to the St. Louis location, there is a butterfly garden at Chesterfield and the Shaw Nature Reserve at Gray Summit.
I toured the World War I Museum in Kansas City with a group of my fellow Sons of the American Revolution members. It is a great site. Entry is gained across a bridge over a field of poppies. The Museum has many exhibits and contains photos and other information about the first “war to end all wars”. It is a national museum and the pride of Kansas City. You can learn much from the website at TheWorldWar.org. I am a veteran, and my grandfather was a WWI veteran, but even those without a military connection can learn much in this museum.
Here is a site in Branson. I won’t describe it too much since you really have to see it to believe it. Their site has a video so you can see this “ride” in action. You are seated inside a large clear ball that is rolled down a hill. I can just imagine how much fun that is. Watch the video at BallKnocker.com. The cost starts at $25.
Back in the 1920s airmail pilots had to find their way cross the country, as they did not have the GPS and other navigational tools that make both air and vehicle travel so much safer and convenient today. The highway system was far from being as developed as it is today, so they could not just follow the interstates. (By the way, the first miles of the Interstate Highway System were constructed in Missouri.) How did they find their way? They followed the path of giant concrete arrows that pointed out the routes. These arrows were 70 feet long and were located 25 miles apart. They were painted bright yellow, and each had a 50 foot tower with flashing lights on top. The 34 cross country routes could be identified by numbers painted on the roof of the service sheds. Photos and locations of many of the surviving wayfinders can be found at wchsutah.org/aviation/navigation-arrows.php.
Enjoy your spring in Missouri. We may cross paths in a St. Louis garden, or I may see you rolling down a hill in Branson. If you see me, say hello. It will be good to meet as we enjoy out great state.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
It is always good to “get away from it all” from time to time, and we can travel IRL or through our computers. The internet is a perfect way to plan IRL travel, or it can be the whole get away, itself.
In order to help you plan your trips, I have researched some Missouri travel internet sites.
The Missouri Botanical Garden on Shaw Avenue in St. Lous is a treasure. Founded in 1859, it is home to more than 4,800 trees. MissouriBotanicalGarden.org is filled with information, but the most striking feature is their drone videos, which allow the gardens to be viewed from the air. The photography is striking, and the colors and views will make you want to watch it again and again. In addition to the St. Louis location, there is a butterfly garden at Chesterfield and the Shaw Nature Reserve at Gray Summit.
I toured the World War I Museum in Kansas City with a group of my fellow Sons of the American Revolution members. It is a great site. Entry is gained across a bridge over a field of poppies. The Museum has many exhibits and contains photos and other information about the first “war to end all wars”. It is a national museum and the pride of Kansas City. You can learn much from the website at TheWorldWar.org. I am a veteran, and my grandfather was a WWI veteran, but even those without a military connection can learn much in this museum.
Here is a site in Branson. I won’t describe it too much since you really have to see it to believe it. Their site has a video so you can see this “ride” in action. You are seated inside a large clear ball that is rolled down a hill. I can just imagine how much fun that is. Watch the video at BallKnocker.com. The cost starts at $25.
Back in the 1920s airmail pilots had to find their way cross the country, as they did not have the GPS and other navigational tools that make both air and vehicle travel so much safer and convenient today. The highway system was far from being as developed as it is today, so they could not just follow the interstates. (By the way, the first miles of the Interstate Highway System were constructed in Missouri.) How did they find their way? They followed the path of giant concrete arrows that pointed out the routes. These arrows were 70 feet long and were located 25 miles apart. They were painted bright yellow, and each had a 50 foot tower with flashing lights on top. The 34 cross country routes could be identified by numbers painted on the roof of the service sheds. Photos and locations of many of the surviving wayfinders can be found at wchsutah.org/aviation/navigation-arrows.php.
Enjoy your spring in Missouri. We may cross paths in a St. Louis garden, or I may see you rolling down a hill in Branson. If you see me, say hello. It will be good to meet as we enjoy out great state.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.