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.