Whitewater races take place near Millstream Gardens Conservation Area in Madison County.

If you’re looking for things to do in Missouri, visit Madison County. Located in the Saint Francois Mountains, our area features a perfect blend of rolling farmland and heavily forested hills with many creeks, rivers and lakes.

Nestled amongst this natural beauty are the historic towns of Fredericktown and Marquand, each offering a unique experience to adventurers in Madison County. Once you have been here, we are sure you will return often; remember to bring your camera to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of this unique area of Missouri.

This area is home to an amazing diversity of outdoor recreational activities such as the Castor River Shut-Ins, Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area, Silver Mines Recreation Area, Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and Amidon Memorial Conservation Area and Fredericktown City Lake.

Plan a float trip, go swimming, horseback riding, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and bird watching. If you’re a little more adventurous, try Zip and Dip at The Offsets or join the whitewater enthusiasts who come from several different states to kayak on the only whitewater in Missouri at Millstream Gardens.

The Missouri Whitewater Association Championship Races are held here every year in March.  This year marks the 45^th annual event on the St. Francois River. The race dates are March 17-19, 2012. A Race Clinic is held April 28-29 for beginner, intermediate and advanced students.  This is a perfect opportunity to “get your feet wet” and see if kayaking might be to your liking. If you’d rather observe, this is also a fun spectator event. If golfing is your passion, visit Southern Oaks Country Club.

When you’re not out exploring the outdoors, you’ll want to enjoy the comforts of town. Madison County has a variety of fine restaurants, wineries, annual festivals, antique shops, art openings, dinner theater, and live music. Our unique historic towns and landmarks are yet another reason to travel to our county and offer an interesting window into Missouri’s past.

Madison County Courthouse and War Memorial.

Our historical sites include the Battle of Fredericktown Civil War Museum, the War Eagle Trail, and the Berryman Cabin and One-Room Log School. We’re also home to The Gallery in Marquand, and a newer addition to Fredericktown is The Loft: Community Arts Center, located at 120 W. Main, above the Madison County Chamber of Commerce office. Here you’ll see a host of local talent ranging from photography, sculptures, quilting, basket weaving, a variety of art techniques and more.

The First Friday of each month brings new artists and some type of additional event for the evening, such as entertainment, poetry or book readings, movies and … you’ll just have to plan your visit to see what is happening while you’re in Madison County.  For additional entertainment, try Nelson’s Music City for a Branson-style show; Nelson’s is located on Highway 67 between Fredericktown and Farmington.

Remember to visit our website and the Area Events section for current and annual events to know what’s happening while you’re in town.

If you enjoy antiquing or specialty shops, try Mustard Seed Mercantile, Madison County Thrift Store, Four J Antler Creations & Tradin Post, Fred’s Bargain Barn, Regan Hotel Antiques, Nevaeh Faith Christian Store and Quilting on the Square. The Flower Shop and Country Lane Florist have a variety of home décor, gift items, candles and more.

We also offer a variety of lodging options while you’re here including Pinecrest Camp & Conference Center, Madison Inn Lodge, Plain & Fancy Bed & Breakfast and both full hookup and primitive campgrounds.

We offer an assortment of dining options: Downtown, you’ll find Olympic Steakhouse, Cowboy Coffee, Waynos Seafood Grille, and other familiar names.  Located just outside of Fredericktown, you’ll love the view and the cuisine at Vance Vineyards & Winery (Twisting V Grille).  And that’s not all, visit Half Time Sports Grille, or Fredericktown Eagles – open to the public on Friday nights and during special events – and Papas Fruit of the Vine a winery and bistro.

Written by Sandy Francis, executive director, Madison County Chamber of Commerce

The Puppetry Arts Institute in Independence is a hands-on, and paint-on, activity center.

One rainy Friday night, me, my 3-year old son Jack, my friend Sara and her 2-year old son Connor decided to test the fates and took to the road for a short vacation to Independence. It was a moms-and-boys weekend. Sara and I were high-fiving each other before we even made it to the highway.

With self-satisfied grins, we shuttled our way across the state to mommy-Mecca, a hotel room with free breakfast and a weekend packed with fun and no cleaning. Let the good times begin.

Before we go any farther, let me tell you—the trip was a success. We all had a great time. The kids only drove me crazy twice and I personally only needed one timeout the entire trip. I actually think Sara and I would (dare I say it) take a road trip with the kids again! To celebrate this win, I’d like to share five secrets from this trip that made it totally worthwhile:

1. Puppets make fantastic car toys.

Before the DVD player’s battery dies, take the kids to The Puppetry Arts Institute to make puppets and perform behind a professional puppet theater stage. Our kids had a blast picking out, painting, designing and playing with the puppets they made. Our tour guide and the Executive Director of the Institute, Diane Houk, was so good with the children, we wished she could have come with us on the rest of the trip!

The Puppetry Arts Institute offers monthly puppet shows, so check before you go to see if you can make one of the performances. Puppeteers come from all over the world to perform at the Institute and changing exhibits feature exotic and beautiful marionettes. Best part about our experience? The kids hopped back into the car with little fuss—they were so excited to play with the puppets they made!

Wearing the proper headgear is essential on the frontier.

2. Coonskin caps are bonding materials.

We thought the kids might be a little young for the National Frontier Trails Museum but we were wrong. The museum is full of dioramas and some interactive exhibits that even the little guys can enjoy. For the older set, the museum offers a rich treasure trove of artifacts and information about the American expansion of the 1800s.

Our favorite exhibits included a wagon you could load with “real” surplus goods and blocks you could use to build a log cabin. Granted, fighting ensued amongst the boys after cabins were toppled, but all was forgiven after we purchased identical coonskin caps in the gift shop. Our “pioneers” wore them proudly on their heads as they chased each other out the door and back into the car. Since the trip, Jack will hold up his coonskin cap every so often and ask me when Connor can come and play.

Any day that includes a stop at Clinton's Soda Fountain is a good day.

3. Ice cream is an instant smile maker.

Did you know that Harry S. Truman liked chocolate ice cream with butterscotch sauce? We didn’t either until we sat down at the counter of Clinton’s Soda Fountain and ordered a round. Known as the place where Truman worked his first job, Clinton’s Soda Fountain offers all kinds of ice cream treats, milkshakes and phosphates.

Clinton’s Soda Fountain is also located across the street from Ophelia’s an adult-pleasing restaurant that offers a kids menu. After a good lunch of seared tuna (for the adults) and grilled cheese (for the kids), an ice cream concoction in a frosted glass makes an ideal dessert.

4. Free animal exhibits rule.

With the kids packed into the car once again, mommy desperation ensued when Connor needed a nap and Jack was ready for action. In my mind, there was only one place to go: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. As Sara strolled a sleeping Connor through racks of women’s outdoor gear, I guided Jack through the amazing array of giant aquariums, pools and animal displays.

We took the glass elevator twice and marveled at the giant bass and man-made waterfall. When it was time to eat again, we strolled into the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. Complete with its own giant aquarium and displays of sharks and stingrays, the restaurant was almost as much fun as the rest of Bass Pro. When Jack fell asleep in his chair while Connor continued to snooze in his stroller, we mama’s silently high-fived ourselves yet again for a trip well done.

5. Detours are awesome.

Stopping and enjoying a side trip makes the ride home a lot less grueling. So, on our way home, we opted to stop in Columbia for lunch at Main Squeeze and for fun at The Mud Room pottery studio. Lunch at Main Squeeze was a big hit especially when the coloring books and toys the staff provided invaded our table. With a zillion juices and smoothies to choose from, the boys were happy to suck down house-blended concoctions while the adults ate vegetarian delights.

After a walk to stretch our legs and enjoy some sunshine, we headed to The Mud Room to paint plates with the boys’ handprints on them. The boys tackled the task with gusto and now have a great souvenir to commemorate our trip. (By the way, the paint washes off clothes—which was great because all four of us were covered!)

We moms have to stick together. Share some of your “road trip secrets” in the comments below; I’m sure Sara and I will need them for our next trip!

Outstanding Local Dining

Columbia is a food-lover’s paradise!  Whether you fancy pizza or parsnips, you can tempt your taste buds at a variety of local restaurants. What we love best about Columbia fare is how committed local chefs are to using local and sustainable ingredients.

Enjoy tofu tacos at Main Squeeze in Columbia.

Stop by Main Squeeze for a smoothie or tofu tacos and you may see a local farmer stopping in to drop off some fresh produce.  Sycamore has always been a champion of featuring local foods and the Wine Cellar and Bistro serves up local cheeses and an extensive Missouri wine list. You can also stop by Lakota Coffee, one of the few places in the country that actually roasts their coffee in-house every day. With so many stops to make, you’ll have to visit Columbia quite a few times before you could even begin to taste everything the city has to offer.

The Vibrant District

After you’ve devoured the flavors of Columbia, take a stroll through Columbia’s downtown area, The District. Home to many of the restaurants we so adore, The District also holds many of Columbia’s best shops, art galleries, music venues, many housed in beautiful historic buildings. Legendary concert venue The Blue Note has hosted musical acts for more than 30 years including Wilco, the Dave Matthews Band and REM, all in an intimate setting in the heart of Columbia.

Bluestem Missouri Crafts features works from artists that reside in Missouri and its eight contiguous states and the Columbia Art League Gallery, located adjacent to the historic Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts, displays art from local, regional and national artists in excellent shows. You can also pick up a memento from your visit to Columbia at any of the unique shops in The District.

Create your own signature perfume oil at Makes Scents, indulge in a chocolate pizza at The Candy Factory or that perfect little something for your home from Calhoun’s or Poppy. Each stop in The District is sure to hit the right note, so what’s not to love?

Tiger Spirit

Jesse Hall on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.

For many in Columbia, the only thing that’s truly hard to love is a Jayhawk. As the home of the University of Missouri, we love our Tigers. Black and gold isn’t just something for game days, so you can always pick up some Mizzou gear at the University of Missouri Bookstore on the gorgeous MU campus or the Tiger Team Store, located next to Memorial Stadium.

With Mizzou athletics moving to the Southeastern Conference next year and the phenomenal season the men’s basketball team is having, there’s extra buzz this year. On your next Columbia visit, explore campus, pick up a new sweatshirt and yell M-I-Z to your heart’s content.

It’s pretty obvious that we love Columbia…a lot, but there’s even more to fall for when you come visit.

Written by Megan McConachie, Web and communications manager, Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau. Photos by Patrice Raplee and Jennifer McGovney.

Spend a day exploring castle ruins and nature's wonder at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.

We are all guilty of it: You live in a place for a few years, or even a lifetime, and frequent the same shops, restaurants, parks, attractions.

I have lived in the Jefferson City area most of my life but still hear about great places I have never seen. So, I have decided to make a local must-see list. My plan is to see all the places on my list within the next six months, and I am only selecting places within an hour drive of my home.

• Revisit downtown Jefferson City. I work on the edge of downtown Jefferson City but don’t make it to the other areas of downtown very often. I have heard of some great new shops that I need to check out.
• Revisit downtown Columbia. I have been to downtown Columbia back in my college days, but so many things have changed – drastically (in a really good way). I did stumble across Chong’s, a small oriental market, the other day and absolutely loved exploring all the oriental food options.
• I have always been jealous of the people who have a small market with fresh fruits and vegetables “just down the street.” Jefferson City has one now (has been open for a little over a year) and I still have not made it there, so D&D Main Street Market is on my list.
• Across from D&D Main Street Market is a small, locally owned café, Angelina’s Cafe, which I have not yet visited. In addition, there is a new Missouri Boulevard Café that I am adding to my “must try” food list, and two more restaurants opening on nearby. I’m very excited to try them all.
• There are a couple of Missouri State Parks that I also have not visited. Clark’s Hill/Norton State Historic Site is just outside of Jefferson City on Highway 50, and about five miles from my childhood home. Yes, that close. The trails at this historic site were once walked by Lewis and Clark, and they camped at the base of Clark’s Hill in 1804.
• Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is one that is a little farther from home, but still easily within an hour’s drive. MOTravelSon will enjoy exploring the caves and the “jungle” as we walk the trails at this park. Great exercise and learning experience for him, too! This will probably be one we save for the warmer months.
• This is my cheater one, I have been here before, but not since I was about 10, so I want to go back with my son to share my memories. Painted Rock Conservation Area was the place we would go as a family, with our Labrador retriever, and walk the trails for hours.
• As many kids do in the winter months, MOTravelSon is asking when he can go swimming again. The Arc is an indoor water recreation area in Columbia that many of my friends have taken their children to, but we have not made it there yet. Hope to soon.
• Another indoor water park that is within an hour drive of us that we have not visited yet is Timber Falls at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Lake of the Ozarks. While I have stayed in the hotel many times, it has been for work reasons and have not had much time to enjoy the fun side of the resort or water park.
• I finally made it to Ha Ha Tonka State Park this past summer, but was there for work reasons. We just walked around the ruins and didn’t have time to enjoy the trails. From the scenic outlook we were able to see the beautiful blue water of the spring below and this prompted my need for a return trip. The waters were far below the scenic outlook and were just so beautiful that I decided I must return to see the spring up close.

So, that’s my local must-see list. I would encourage others to create a similar list and share it, too. These are attractions and eateries we pass by daily or those just a short day trip from your home. They don’t require a significant amount of pre-planning but will provide entertainment for you and your family.

This trading card features the Pony Express National Museum.

With these cards, which are available at several museum locations, you can learn about real people, places and items that are connected to St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri.

This colorful set of cards can be collected, traded and used for both in-school and out-of-school learning.

A different card is featured each month, and February highlights the Pony Express National Museum. Among other information, the card features the fact that the Pony Express employed 185 riders (ages 11-18) who were paid $100 per month.

Trading cards can be collected at participating museums, the visitor center and genealogy library. One free card is available with paid family admission.

The 11 locations to collect these cards are the:

• Agency Ford Museum, 11351 Route FF, Agency
• Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, 2818 Frederick Ave.
• Andrew County Museum, 202 E. Duncan Drive, Savannah
• Mount Mora Cemetery, 824 Mount Mora
• National Military Heritage Museum, 701 Messanie St.
• Northwest Missouri Genealogy Society Library, 412 Felix St.
• Pony Express Museum, 914 Penn St.
• Remington Nature Center, 1502 MacArthur Drive
• Robidoux Row Museum, 219 E. Poulin St.
• St. Joseph Museum, 3406 Frederick Ave.
• St. Joseph Visitor Center at East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine Road

For more information about the trading cards, please call one of the above locations or 816-233-6688.

Written by Beth Carmichael, director of development and special projects for the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau

Missouri. Kansas.

Saturday night, the rival Kansas Jayhawks come to Mizzou Arena to face the No. 4 Missouri Tigers. With the Jayhawks ranked No. 8, and this being the last time KU will challenge the SEC-bound Tigers in Columbia in a Big 12 contest, the game has taken on added significance.

How big is this game? Well, the ESPN College Gameday crew is in town and Saturday’s tilt is nationally televised in prime time, 8 p.m. central.

This rivalry has seen its share of thrilling games (and some blowouts, too) over the years, and Saturday night’s contest is likely to go down as one to remember.

While the collective attention of Columbia will be focused on hoops Saturday night, there’s plenty to do during the day to stay occupied while waiting for tip-off.

If you’re going to be in the Columbia area, why not explore The District? Or you might enjoy seeing a movie at RagTag Cinema (Oscar frontrunner The Artist is playing). Don’t forget about Rock Bridge Memorial State Park; it’s supposed to be between 45 and 50 degrees Saturday, though rain is in the forecast. Hey, it’s February in Missouri, rain and 50 degrees is like being in the tropics.

At some point during the day, you’ll need to eat. Grab a slice of pie at either Shakespeare’s or Kostaki’s, or maybe check out what’s brewing (sorry, terrible pun, couldn’t help it) at Flat Branch.

You’ll find there’s no shortage of things to do, things to see and places to eat in Columbia. The best part: The more active you are the more quickly game time will arrive.

As for Sunday, the build up to the start of the Super Bowl can be soul-crushing. One of the networks begins its game coverage about six hours before the coin toss. Ugh.

Hopefully, Saturday’s Missouri-Kansas game will become an instant classic (with the Tigers winning, of course) that will be replayed throughout the day on the ESPN family of networks.

If that doesn’t happen, take heart; you’re in Missouri and fun is just around the corner. Go to VisitMO.com to find adventure in your area, or plan a quick day-trip to someplace new.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the games!

Ozark Actors Theatre in Rolla celebrates 25 years of entertainment this year.

Ozark Actors Theatre’s 25th Anniversary season will open with the family favorite The Wizard of Oz, a musical never before seen on the Ozark Actors Theatre main stage. The side-splitting farce Noises Off, also new to the Ozark Actors Theatre stage, will be the second show. The professional season will close with The Diviners, a deeply moving drama that Ozark Actors Theatre last presented in its very first season, 1988 (click here to see the 2012 performance schedule).

After the close of the professional season, Ozark Actors Theatre will present its first annual OAT Jr. production, Les Miserables (school edition). The world-wide smash musical will be performed entirely by students from the region; cast members will be ages 18 and younger.

Producing Artistic Director Jason Cannon says of the season, “We are so excited to present these shows. The audience response to our 2011 season – which also combined comedy, musical, and drama – was so encouraging. Oz is a perennial favorite, Noises Off has often and rightly been called the funniest play ever written, and The Diviners is a lovely play that is our way of acknowledging the incredible vision and passion of Ozark Actors Theatre’s founders. The Diviners was one of the first plays Ozark Actors Theatre ever presented, in their first season, and now a quarter century later as a Silver Anniversary tribute we thought it only fitting to present it again.”

A scene from Ozark Actors Theatre's 2011 production of Annie.

Ozark Actors Theatre is a hidden jewel in the rolling hills of the Ozarks. OAT is one of only two professional summer stock theatres in out-state Missouri.  Located in Rolla, OAT is a non-profit organization.  Founded in 1987 by Gail Andrews-Hintz, a Rolla native returning from New York, and F. Reed Brown; along with a founding Board of Trustees consisting of citizens from Rolla, Cuba, Waynesville and other communities in south central Missouri, the desire of these interested citizens was to bring quality live professional theatre to the Ozarks.

OAT first opened its doors to area audiences in 1988 with the production of Godspell in the historic (and converted) First Baptist Church known as the Cedar Street Playhouse.  In 1989, Ozark Actors Theatre achieved status as an Equity Small Professional Theatre affiliated with the national union of professional actors and stage managers.

Ozark Actors Theatre will also present their rendition of So You Think You Can Dance: Rolla Edition, a dancing talent show based on the popular hit TV show.  The show starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar St. in Rolla, home of Ozark Actors Theatre.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.  While there will be a panel of judges, the audience will also be invited to vote for the winning performances.

For more on Ozark Actors Theatre, find them on Facebook, and visit their YouTube Channel.

Written by Aimee Campbell, tourism director, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

Explore the Missouri State Penitentiary during a History Tour, or take a Ghost Tour ... if you're brave enough.

In 2011, visitors came in droves to get locked up inside the Missouri State Penitentiary. The 2011 season saw a 47 percent increase in tour attendance – more than 17,000 people stepped through the Missouri State Penitentiary gateway and heard the cool clang of the metal bars slam shut behind them.

What happens once inside the walls of the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) is different for everyone.

Some people come to tour MSP because of the extraordinary background and history of the site. Opened in 1836, the prison operated continually for 168 years, until 2004 – longer than any other prison west of the Mississippi. Dubbed the “most historical place in the Midwest” and the “bloodiest 47 acres in America,” MSP housed tens of thousands of prisoners during its tenure.

The History Tours are led by various guides, many of whom once worked at MSP as prison guards and wardens. The guides bring their own unique, first-hand perspective of their experience while employed at the penitentiary.

In 2011, History Tours accounted for more than three-fourths of the total tours given at MSP. Though the History Tours still clearly bring in the most visitors at MSP, a new type of tour was offered last year and is quickly gaining in popularity.

Rumors swirl amidst former MSP employees and those who have toured the prison in recent years – some claim the penitentiary is haunted by spirits of prisoners who lost their lives inside the walls.

Level-headed, reasonable, trustworthy individuals share spine-tingling stories of ghostly images and inexplicable occurrences witnessed at the mysterious site. In response to the interest in the possibility of supernatural activity at the prison, MSP launched a selection of Ghost Tours in 2011.

Visitors can now choose from a variety of paranormal options, including guided Ghost Tours, Ghost-Hunt Classes and even an Overnight Paranormal Investigation which involves searching for scientific proof of supernatural presence in the dead of the night.

In 2011, the SyFY channel featured the Missouri State Penitentiary in an episode of its hit show “Ghost Hunters.” The show generated national exposure for MSP and sparked an immediate desire in paranormal enthusiasts to see the site in person. The show aired at the end of the 2011 tour season and left many on the edge of their seats waiting for the gates to re-open in 2012.

Inside The Walls, at Missouri State Penitentiary.

Local, regional and national media have taken notice in the increase in traffic at the Missouri State Penitentiary. Midwest Living, a nationally recognized publication, recently listed MSP No. 3 of its Top 25 New Places to Stay, Eat and Play. The magazine credited the prison’s Ghost Tours for “pushing the interest in the creepy complex to a stratospheric level.”

Jefferson City Magazine, a local publication, awarded MSP in their “Best of 2011” issue with the No. 2 Best Place for Tourists. Headlines have proclaimed “Popularity of prison tours escalates,” “Big House proves big draw,” and “MSP listed as top new destination.”

Whatever the personal reason for touring the Missouri State Penitentiary one thing is clear: the site has become an incredibly enticing attraction for tourists visiting Jefferson City. Visitors have come from 43 of the 50 states and countries such as Germany, India, and Canada. The positive response is indicative of great things to come when tours re-open in March of 2012.

For more information on the Missouri State Penitentiary, visit www.MissouriPenTours.com or www.VisitJeffersonCity.com. For direct inquiries, call 866-998-6998 or email sheila@visitjeffersoncity.com.

Follow the Missouri State Penitentiary on Twitter at @MissouriPenTour.

Submitted by Ryan Winkler, communications manager, Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau; Photographs of the Missouri State Penitentiary used with permission from Michael Schlueter.

The Twain for President Campaign is underway and picking up steam.

The Mark Twain for President Campaign is making its way across the U.S., and a lengthy promotional tour is scheduled this summer in Twain’s hometown, Hannibal. You can hear Twain’s political views at the Planter’s Barn Theater – where there’s no such thing as “equal time” for candidates from other parties.

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to reform,” is the slogan you find printed on the Twain for President T-shirt worn by his supporters, many of whom are frenzied during his stump speeches at local fairs and festivals.

Although Twain won’t declare a political party – in his words, “I’ve voted for Democrats and Republications; I like to call myself an American” – he will make clear his thoughts on everything from foreign policy to patent legislation, which are among his key platform issues.

Twain, also known as Richard Garey, is a veteran stage actor entering his 10^th season of performances at Hannibal’s Planters Barn Theater. Through his Twain for President shows, Garey offers lively presentations filled with Twain’s best material on all things political. Garey says Twain actually “ran” for president a couple of times, as a joke – a joke that examined serious issues of the day, including topics modern candidates still address.

“It gave him an opportunity to talk about the things that concerned him,” Garey says. “Sam Clemens was the vice president of the Anti-Imperialist League … He didn’t think we should have troops or colonies or bases overseas, that everything we had should be for defense. It’s amazing that Ron Paul is making those same arguments today.

“I think more than anything else, he wanted people to think about politics and to think about what they were doing, about how it would affect the future.”

Garey’s stage performances and stump-speaking engagements are designed to entertain audiences with Twain’s humor, while also making people stop to think about the content of his messages.

“He’s taking shots at politicians and how they live and the graft and corruption, which was rampant in the 1890s — far worse than today,” Garey says of Twain’s political writings and lectures. “We sometimes think, in the past, it was better, but it wasn’t.”

Garey draws upon many of Twain’s works, including “The Guilded Age” (which satirizes politics in post-Civil War America) for his performances, and all of the material is Twain’s.

Veteran stage actor Richard Garey as Mark Twain.

“The most frequent question I get is, ‘When did you write that?’” Garey says. “But it’s all Mark Twain … What I have to do is pull it from letters and essays and various sources of the material. It’s all there, in his body of work. You just have to pull it together.

“The great thing about Sam,” Garey continues, “was that he had the gift of saying things we may have thought about, or considered before, but he puts in such memorable language. He just has that gift. And over and over, he does that, on almost every topic.”

With performances tailored for a variety of audiences, Garey is sure to generate a response with his stories, memorable quotes and anecdotes. He especially enjoys performances where he can participate with the audience, whether it’s a question-and-answer session with college students or having a little fun with someone in the crowd.

One popular bit involves selecting someone from the audience, portraying them as a congressman and then pulling out one of Twain’s famous quotes from Century magazine: “You know what a congressman is? A congressman is someone who goes to Washington to make laws. A senator is someone who makes laws when he’s not serving time.”

Like Twain, Garey strives for his presentation to be humorous, but he also wants people to know Twain was a lot more intelligent than he’s often credited as being.

“Mark Twain was an extremely intelligent man,” Garey says, “but his persona as a humorist kind of disarms that. An example of his intelligence was that he spoke French, German and Italian, in addition to English. When I tell people that, they are just shocked; their image is the Good Ol’ Boy from Hannibal.”

The Twain for President Campaign is underway, but will pick up steam in February 2012, when Garey begins a series of speeches all around the country; he’s booked from Ohio to Arizona and the New England area to California. Garey’s stage shows in Hannibal will resume in June and he plans to keep his regularly scheduled nightly performances at 5 p.m.

In addition to his stage show, watch for Garey, make that Twain, at various fairs and festivals around the Show-Me State; you never know where or when you might hear an unforgettable campaign speech.

Visit Garey’s website, www.HeritageStage.com for more information; if you’d like Garey – as Mark Twain, presidential candidate — to appear at one of your events, please call the Planters Barn Theater at 573-231-0021.

So, if you are one of those people and if you are traveling to Pulaski County, Home of Ft. Leonard Wood, we have the solution.

Pulaski County Tourism Bureau is very excited to introduce our app – Pulaski County, Missouri – a free, interactive mobile application that allows smart-phone users to carry Pulaski County tourism info in their vehicles, pockets or purses.

There are gazillions of travelers motoring on Interstate 44, with many of them destined for Ft. Leonard Wood for business purposes, to see their soldier graduate basic training or to tour the wonderful Mahaffey Museum Complex . Or maybe they are stopping in Pulaski County because of (attention foodies!) the unique dining establishment at a real restaurant in a real cave some sweet BBQ, real hot chicken wings or delicious ethnic food.

Whatever the reason to travel to Pulaski County, it just got easier to get around.

Enjoy a beautiful drive on Route 66 in Pulaski County.

Travelers might be following the antique trail or driving on Historic Route 66  trying to find that blasted Devil’s Elbow, looking for a (The) Drynk, exploring the historical attractions along the way or they are escaping the big city looking for a relaxing cabin get a-way or scenic campsite along the Gasconade or Big Piney rivers.

Historic Route 66 travelers will enjoy the all-new audio tour, available for download from the app. It is specifically designed for those tourists wanting to explore the original 33 miles of Route 66 in Pulaski County on their own.

The tourism app easily allows access to mapping and contact information for tourism-related businesses, such as places to stay, dining, night life, shopping, attractions, and things to do for our guests in Pulaski County.

Our community calendar with event information for festivals, such as Route 66 Fests and Frogtoberfest, can also be found there as well as info about concerts, performances and local programs.

The free app is downloadable from our mobile website, PCinMo.mobi or the tourism website, VisitPulaskiCounty.org.

Written by Karen Hood, Marketing Relations Manager for the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau