Winter 2018
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.
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.