|
Among the things to buy in Missouri are handicrafts made by the
Amish in the north and Ozarks artisans in the south. Look for
crafts in towns such as Bethel, Arrow Rock and Hermann.
Reasonably priced antiques can be found in places like
Jamesport, Hermann, Arrow Rock and Weston. Hunters and anglers
may want to make a trip to Springfield for the Bass Pro Shop
Outdoor World, an outdoor-sports mall featuring along with the
merchandise - a huge aquarium, a firing range, a restaurant and
a barber shop. The patriotic finales to the Branson music
shows can raise a few goose bumps on our arms. But that's
nothing compared with what we feel once we get free of Branson's
traffic snarls: The vistas of forested hills and peaceful lakes
in the Ozarks say more about the grandeur of the U.S. than any
hymn to God and country. Beyond the mountains are more
landscapes cut from an all-American picture book: the great
brown Mississippi rolling along the state's eastern boundary;
the western gateway of St. Louis; the hearty music and food of
Kansas City. And with its sites related to several beloved
and/or infamous figures from the nation's past -- Mark Twain,
Harry S Truman, Jesse James -- Missouri has a knack for making a
vacation into a heartland pilgrimage.
|
