Spring 2015

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.