and more Missourians are staying home in MO and going to MO parks instead. It's especially good to hear, considering that so many people consider MO a flyover state (like so many states in the middle of the US). Sometimes I feel like the entire middle of the US is ignored.
Tourists and others should come to MO, MO does have a hell of a lot to offer, we have our own Nashville (music, and I'm talking about Branson), we have big Cowboy events in KCMO (and Nelson Art Gallery, I love love love this musuem), we have tons of lakes to fish in, to go ski, to scuba dive, etc., all over the state. Tons of parks to go camping in, hiking in, wildlife galore to see, etc. We also have a huge wine making industry too (I make wine but not as much as I used to). We also make wood barrels (a fun fact, go to Lebanon MO to explore the plant that makes them, a fun and informative visit).
If you're into Eagles (the birds) there are quite a few at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and other parts of the state, such as highway 32 heading towards Springfield (Southwards, away from Lebanon), about midway, there's a huge field that the Eagles hang around, I suspect it's the Niangua River that the Eagles are attracted to. Canoeing too is another huge industry too, heck, I sat there one time counting the number of canoes being put in, and I counting over 600 canoes at one spot (headed towards the Niangua branch of the Lake of the Ozarks).
I'm glad to see this. Isn't it about time? Maybe Missourians decided it was too dangerous to go elsewhere because of COVID? We do have wide open spaces here too, but wide-open spaces w/ lots of activities close by too, that you don't have to drive 100s of miles to, like some people have to do (drive) to get to attractions in those states.
And of course, I never even got into Silver Dollar City, or all of the attractions in Branson, tons of music venues down there too. Joplin MO has a really nifty Rock Museum (the town has a long history of mining in the area, and thus, the Rock Museum is a wonderful, absolutely wonderful place to visit.
Sorry about rambling on, I can't help it, MO does have a lot to offer.
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