Fall 2015

After a very unusual Missouri summer that started off cool, turned extremely hot and produced far too much rain and flooding we are ready for a restful fall with colorful foliage, apple cider, bonfires, hayrides, football and crisp evenings.

In between back-to-school events, raking leaves and getting our homes ready for winter find the time for some fall travel in our beautiful state of Missouri. I’ve researched some travel sites to get you in the mood. You can use them for short trips behind your keyboard or as a springboard for a longer IRL trip.

A beautiful area of our state for hiking and camping is located in one of our many state parks. Begin your visit to Johnson Shut Ins with a visit to VisitMo.com/missouri-travel/hike-the-trails-of-johnsons-shut-ins-state-park.aspx. This website includes photos of the shut ins, a map of how to get there and a description of the trails and geography. Shut ins are an area of a stream that runs around rocks. You have to see it to appreciate the beauty. There are trails ranging in length from just over a mile to ten miles. Campgrounds or camper cabins offer camping at your preferred level of comfort. My son visited there recently with my grandsons, and they really enjoyed it. I think you will, too.

When we are not camping, we are a baseball family. I spent a lot of years coaching youth baseball in Caruthersville. I coached my son and then later he coached with me. His mother and I traveled three states to watch him play high school, legion and college baseball. This year, a Caruthersville youth team won the State Championship, something I was unable to do in two trips to the state tournament. As I write this, the Cardinals and the Royals lead Major League Baseball in their leagues and the possibility of an I-70 World Series is still pretty good. You can read about the rivalry and history of Missouri’s two Major League Baseball teams at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinals%E2%80%93Royals_rivalry. We like baseball any time, but watching your team in the World Series is a special thrill.

This 2006 article from the St. Louis Post Dispatch (missouriwinecountry.com/travel/travelogue/0609-fall-drive.php) is hardly current, but it still has some good travel tips for a Missouri Fall Drive and some very nice photos. The page includes links to a number of Missouri wineries. Missouri was a leader in wine production before prohibition, and the industry is rebuilding with many new wineries. One of them, Bushwhacker Bend, is located in beautiful downtown Glasgow. Their webpage, found at BushwhackerBend.com, has a very nice scrolling picture show of scenes from the riverside winery. The winery features live entertainment on the deck overlooking the Missouri River. From the deck you can see both the river bridge, located on the same site as the first all steel railroad bridge in the world, and the sharpest bend in the Missouri River.

Going back to school for the fall term causes me to list two college websites. My alma mater, Central Methodist University in Fayette (CentralMethodist.edu) is less than 20 miles from my home in Glasgow. I had some happy years there before I graduated many years ago and I still enjoy some of the cultural offerings of the beautiful campus. College of the Ozarks (cofo.edu) does not charge tuition! Students work on campus to pay for tuition and room and board, allowing graduates to leave campus with no debt. They have a beautiful campus located just south of Branson at Point Lookout.

I hope you have a great fall in Missouri. As you travel on the web or IRL, we may cross paths. If we do, be sure to say hello. We’re friendly that way in Missouri. Be safe both on the road and on the Information Superhighway.