Friday, June 20, 2008

Missouri - the Show Me State

My trip to Missouri was a travel through both time and space: from the time of the founding of the First State Capitol and of the explorers Lewis and Clark who opened up Westward expansion, to the of-the-moment glitz of Branson’s bright lights. And from the Eastern boundary with the Mississippi River to the Western boundary with Kansas and Oklahoma.

Missouri - Historic St. Charles




From the multi-lane highway to the cobbled main street of St. Charles (1st photo) is a matter of moments, but suddenly I was in a quieter, gentler age, where the pace of life slows to that of the Missouri River, which is an eddy away from its confluence with the Mississippi (2nd photo). You glimpse this huge river between the historic buildings that include the original state Capitol, old log cabins (3rd photo) and modest history museums. Lunch was in the suitably historical Lewis and Clark’s American Restaurant (4th photo).

Missouri - Elegant St. Louis




No trip to Missouri would be complete without seeing St. Louis – prime city of the state - and its famous Arch celebrating St. Louis as the “Gateway to the West”. Astride the Mississippi, St Louis is a joy to visit. The most perplexing aspect is which of the many attractions to visit. I chose three of the most popular sights. Firstly the great Gateway Arch (1st photo). This stainless steel architectural masterpiece is the icon of the city and arguably of the State itself. It blends history (there is an excellent museum and giant screen film devoted to Lewis and Clark) with the modernity and symbolism of the Arch itself. I ascended to the apex 630 feet above the Mississippi River in a tiny elevator pod: magnificent views, but not for the claustrophobic!

For the grown up in me a visit to America’s largest brewery, the Anheuser- Busch Brewery was a must. Home to Budweiser, the tour of this huge complex was entertaining and informative –from the Clydesdale horses to the mysteries of the brewing process (2nd photo). For the kid in me, a visit to the Saint Louis Zoo was great fun including a train trip and a sighting of my favouritely named animal, the elusive Bongo (3rd photo). My stay was capped by a night at the Hyatt Central Station Hotel, an impressive and hugely successful conversion of the former St. Louis Union Station (4th photo).

Missouri - Road trip! Are we there yet?




A visit to the Mid-West has to include a road trip! I traversed the State from East to West in a day of leisurely and traffic/stress free driving from St Louis to Joplin on the Western border with Kansas and Oklahoma. En route I was seduced by the entertaining roadside billboards to call in at the Meramec Caverns – another typically Missourian blend of scenic wonder and history. The scenic wonder is revealed in the 1 hr 20 min tour of just part of the impressive cave system, which features imaginative lighting (1st photo). The history is delivered by the stories told of Jesse James and his outlaw gang using Meramec Caverns as a successful hideaway after their skullduggery (2nd photo).

Joplin grew up over the underground wealth of the “Tri-State” mining district, which generated most of America’s lead and zinc. The Joplin Museum Complex here offers a revealing glimpse into the mining history, complete with astonishing mineral specimens (3rd photo). My road trip was completed by driving some of the old Route 66 which meanders through this South West corner of the State (4th photo).

Missouri - The Bright Lights of Branson





From the past to the here-and-now: Branson is the entertainment capital of the Mid West. It offers an astonishing 120 shows from morning to afternoon to evening and from magic to music. All are good, wholesome family entertainment. No showgirls here – you can take your kids and your grandma to any of them. I saw a couple – Jim Stafford, a comedian and awesome guitarist and the legendary Andy Williams in concert with Ann-Margaret (1st photo). There is so much to see and do in Branson that all I could do is sample a few highlights……. I stayed at the Hilton at Branson Landing, a recommended hotel in the new and beautifully executed Branson Landing complex of shops and restaurants lined up along the lakeshore (2nd photo). Silver Dollar City is an entertainment complex in itself – a mix of shows, crafts and thrill rides (3rd photo). The Branson Belle transports visitors back to slower times as it paddles across Table Rock Lake (4th photo).

The surprising star attraction for me was “Titanic” – billed as the world’s largest museum attraction. This is a brilliantly interpreted self guided tour through the tragic voyage of 1912, in which the visitors assume the identity of one of the passengers or crew. It personalizes the experience, generating a new level of respect and understanding for this fascinating disaster. My top recommendation in Branson! (5th photo).

So…. get “your kicks on Route 66” and enjoy all the other travel delights of Missouri – truly the “Show Me State”.

Fun in Orlando

Everyone needs some fun in their life, so courtesy of my friends in Orlando CVB I had a “Big Kid” few days sampling some of the family delights this destination has to offer.

Orlando - Water, Water Everywhere!




Firstly the heart warming and heart stopping dolphin encounters at Discovery Cove. Then a sneak preview of SeaWorld’s new water park – Aquatica

Orlando - so much to do… so little time!




Then some of my other favourites in Orlando: the quirky science of WonderWorks, the sense of the bizarre at Ripley’s Believe it or not, the shopping and cuisine temptations at Pointe Orlando (including Tommy Bahama’s) and finally the perfect place to lay a weary head after a day of fun, frolics and fantasy – the Rosen Plaza Hotel. Re-connect with your inner child and have fun in Orlando!

Orlando - Thanks



Of course I had some radio shows to broadcast, so here’s a behind-the-scenes medley of pictures of the broadcast from the beach of Discovery Cove with my guests Peter Cranis and David Sargent from Orlando CVb, Greg Smith of Seaworld and Quigley the Kookaburra! Many thanks to you all!