Hello Group,

My son will be graduating from MP training at Ft. Leonard Wood. I am staying at St. Robert. I have some ideas that I have researched like Lexington, Jefferson City, St Louis and St. Charles. I also want to go to Mark Twain National Forest. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the hit or miss sites. We will be there from Oct 1 to Oct 5. Driving in from Ohio (went to see him in South Carolina so driving willl be a snap)..

Thank you,
John F

Please clarify what exactly you are seeking. If you are looking for sightseeing hit and misses, I'd recommend that you look at the trip advisor "things to do" section in all areas you are thinking of visiting. That will give you a very good overview of what's available in each, and you can then pick those things that interest you. For example, after typing in "St Louis MO things to do" in the trip advisor search box at the top of its home page, this link popped up:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Missouri.html

I love the Lake of the Ozarks area. We used to go there very June and enjoy the lake. Lots of restaurants, shopping outlet, hotels galore. Things will be quieter in October, but you might still enjoy a day in the area. Very scenic!

dcd- Maybe the poster has looked at trip advisor and wants more or varied opinions...afterall this is a travel website.

I will supply some ideas later for STL and outlying area but I am on my way out for dinner.

Hi, John. Congratulations to your son.

Are you thinking about taking day trips? Certainly you can spend a pleasant few hrs in Jeff City touring the capitol building. I find the Benton murals there worth a trip. Also I like the cream parlor at Central Dairy on Madison just off Hway 50. It's the authentically old fashioned kind that fronts the dairy. www.centraldairy.biz

If there's any water in it then, a few hours' canoe float on the Big Piney or the Gasconade is a lovely way to spend an October afternoon. There is canoe rental near I44: richslastresort.com/canoe-raft.html

You might enjoy driving to Taum Sauk Mountain, Johnson Shut-ins, the Meramec River valley. It's beautiful in the fall. Of course, it's so dry the leaves won't be too pretty this year.

Check out Missouri Life magazine's web site for ideas:
http://www.missourilife.com/