Summer 2024
Summer in Missouri can be both magical and challenging. Farmers are working hard, either praying for more rain or praying that it stop. Daytime temperatures can be oppressively hot, but those summer nights bring cool breezes and gentle relief. A summer evening on a farm porch sipping a glass of lemonade while listening to the soft music of night birds and insects and inhaling the even softer scent of honeysuckle or fresh cut hay is a delight. Those nights in my youth were wonderful. One of my treasured memories involves a June evening, a full moon and a gentle breeze stirring the leaves of a silver maple tree.
We can’t go back in reality to those good days of the past, but we can make new memories. Even if we don’t have a country summer porch, we do have our window to the world in our computer screen and, hopefully, some time to travel IRL in Missouri.
In order to help you plan some trips, I have searched out a few internet sites for your cyber-travel visits.
Remember drive-in movies? If you are near my age, you have likely seen some movies at a drive-in. There are not many of them around anymore, but you might get a chance to revisit the past or give your kids an experience they will remember at a historic drive in at Carthage. There was something special about those drive-in nights. I don’t usually put Facebook sites in my columns, but I will make an exception for the 66 Drive-In Theater, which can be found at Facebook.com/66drivein. The drive-in is open during the summer months and shows mostly new movies, with the occasional blast from the past. On Saturday nights, you can see two movies for the price of one. At that price, you won’t feel tempted to load up your friends and family in the trunk of the car to sneak them in. Just kidding, I would never do that.
For me, one of the best things about summer (Spring and Fall, too) is baseball. I spent years as a youth coach and now enjoy watching my grandson play for Chaminade High School. This summer, he will be playing club baseball, and I hope to see some of those games as well. My wife and I are faithful Cardinals fans and we watch them as much as we can. This season has not been too great so far, but we still have hope. A great tour opportunity is the tours of the stadium. Read about them at MLB.com/cardinals/ballpark/tours . Don’t forget the Royals, they have a similar tour in Kansas City: MLB.com/royals/ballpark/tours .
Do you enjoy wine? Did you know that before prohibition, Missouri was the leading wine producing state in the country? That industry has made a great comeback in recent years. We now have many fine vineyards with new ones opening frequently. MissouriWine.org will help you learn about Missouri wineries. Included in the listing of wineries is Becketts Winery: BeckettsRestaurant.com/winery here in my hometown of Glasgow. You can sign up for a free membership on the Missouri wine page that will provide you with information, discounts and information about special programs at the many wineries. A leisurely tour of one or more wineries is a great summer activity. Most offer free tastings and outdoor tables where you can sip and converse while enjoying a lovely view.
I hope you have a great Missouri summer. If we should cross paths while enjoying a glass of Missouri wine or if you see me at a baseball game, be sure to say “Hello.” New friends and a nice visit can really make the summer a good time.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.
We can’t go back in reality to those good days of the past, but we can make new memories. Even if we don’t have a country summer porch, we do have our window to the world in our computer screen and, hopefully, some time to travel IRL in Missouri.
In order to help you plan some trips, I have searched out a few internet sites for your cyber-travel visits.
Remember drive-in movies? If you are near my age, you have likely seen some movies at a drive-in. There are not many of them around anymore, but you might get a chance to revisit the past or give your kids an experience they will remember at a historic drive in at Carthage. There was something special about those drive-in nights. I don’t usually put Facebook sites in my columns, but I will make an exception for the 66 Drive-In Theater, which can be found at Facebook.com/66drivein. The drive-in is open during the summer months and shows mostly new movies, with the occasional blast from the past. On Saturday nights, you can see two movies for the price of one. At that price, you won’t feel tempted to load up your friends and family in the trunk of the car to sneak them in. Just kidding, I would never do that.
For me, one of the best things about summer (Spring and Fall, too) is baseball. I spent years as a youth coach and now enjoy watching my grandson play for Chaminade High School. This summer, he will be playing club baseball, and I hope to see some of those games as well. My wife and I are faithful Cardinals fans and we watch them as much as we can. This season has not been too great so far, but we still have hope. A great tour opportunity is the tours of the stadium. Read about them at MLB.com/cardinals/ballpark/tours . Don’t forget the Royals, they have a similar tour in Kansas City: MLB.com/royals/ballpark/tours .
Do you enjoy wine? Did you know that before prohibition, Missouri was the leading wine producing state in the country? That industry has made a great comeback in recent years. We now have many fine vineyards with new ones opening frequently. MissouriWine.org will help you learn about Missouri wineries. Included in the listing of wineries is Becketts Winery: BeckettsRestaurant.com/winery here in my hometown of Glasgow. You can sign up for a free membership on the Missouri wine page that will provide you with information, discounts and information about special programs at the many wineries. A leisurely tour of one or more wineries is a great summer activity. Most offer free tastings and outdoor tables where you can sip and converse while enjoying a lovely view.
I hope you have a great Missouri summer. If we should cross paths while enjoying a glass of Missouri wine or if you see me at a baseball game, be sure to say “Hello.” New friends and a nice visit can really make the summer a good time.
J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.