REMARKS: DON'T FORGET MISSOURI WHEN PLANNING A VACATION

In the river: Commerce, Mo. has one of the few accessible beach areas along the Mississippi River. Here a journalist cools his heels in "The Father of Rivers."

Elephant Rocks: Elephant Rocks State Park, in Iron County, is a fun place to spend a summer day. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Stately church: St. John's Episcopal Church in Ironton, built in 1870, is considered one of the nation's best examples of wooden Gothic church architecture. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

I've always been one to play host. Maybe being a tour guide was my true calling. If so, I make up for lost time whenever I have company.

I probably did more unofficial "guide work" while I lived in Ste. Genevieve than at any other time. By the time I had been there a year or so, I knew a lot of the town's history and the stories of many of the important buildings. Ste. Genevieve's history and its compact setting makes it easy to act like you know a lot. Most of my friends who have visited there want to go back on subsequent visits -- especially if I promise to keep my tour spiel to myself!

Of course Cape County is not slouch, either. There are sights, sounds, tastes and adventure all over eastern Missouri. Sometimes I think we lose sight of this when planning vacations. While it may seem tempting to get out of Missouri and put our cares hundreds or thousands of miles behind us, a good 50 to 100-mile trek may do the trick just as nicely.

With some photos from my friend Jim's most recent visit (last summer) from Oklahoma serving as visual aides, this column will take a fleeting glance at a few weekend or vacation destinations and stopping points in this part of the Show Me State.

Cape County

While Cape Girardeau County may not be a tourist Mecca in the way that St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve or Kimmswick is, we have plenty of things to see and do. My friend was suitably impressed by Old McKendree Chapel being a good Methodist, I had figured he would! He also enjoyed checking out the Jackson City Park while I took some news photos that weekend.

Although Jim is not a creek-wader, I'm sure many visitors would have relished a chance to wade in Hubble Creek, as it meanders through the park.

Of course the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & southern Railway gives guests a unique entertainment and learning opportunity. This needs to be the year I get my mom and my aunt down to ride the train. We've talked about it since before I moved here.

Jackson, of course, also offers the Oliver House Museum and a number of privately-owned homes that are worth the drive just to walk past and admire -- especially if one appreciates an architectural gem.

Speaking of gems, Old McKendree is not the only church to draw ooohs and ahhs in the region. Of course its replacement, New McKendree, is an eye-catcher itself, as is historic Old St. Vincent's on the Cape riverfront. Completed in 1853, on the site of the 1839 rock church that was destroyed in an 1850 tornado, Old St. Vincent's is on he National Register of Historic Places and is a true marvel.

So is St. John's Episcopal Church in Ironton. Considered possibly the leading example of wooden Gothic church architecture in the Untied States, the 1870 beauty draws visitors to the historic Arcadia Valley, year-round.

Iron County

As long as we're in the valley, we might as well stay there a minute. A truly unsung destination spot, the Arcadia Valley combines amazing natural beauty with rich historic heritage. A nice museum and interpretive center sits next to the earthen remains of Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob, where the Battle of Pilot Knob took place during the Civil War. Shepard Mountain still stands proudly in the background, where Confederate cannons sat, ready to blow Union troops in the fort to smithereens. A miraculous tip-toed retreat during the dark of night allowed the Union troops to escape.

Aside from the fort and interpretive center, a statue commemorated Ulysses S. Grant's promotion to brigadier general in Ironton. As photos in the city museum testify, Grant's widow Julia and son Frederick Dent Grant, were on hand for the dedication of the statue in 1886 the year after the general died.

Elephant Rocks State Park and Johnson Shut-ins State Park are also nearby, as is Taum Sauk, the highest point in Missouri. Elephant Rocks is especially cool. Huge, somewhat elephant-shaped granite stones line the park, making for a great hiking experience. Getting lost for an hour or so with two cousins as a youngster is a memory I will always hang onto. (And the adults didn't even realize we were lost!)

St. Francois County

My home county also has some interesting sites and sights. The Bonne Terre Mine Tour is one of the most unique. The heart of the biggest lead district in the world, the mine boomed from the 1870s until about 1960. My grandfather and great-grandfather both spent their entire working lives underground there. After St. Joe Lead Co. closed the mine, tours were given of the abandoned mine. When the pumps were shut off in the lower levels, water began seeping in. I can recall going two or three levels down during a sixth grade class visit in the mid-1970s.

Now, however, all but the upper level is underwater. No matter! The current owners invested some $100,000 in lighting in the early 1980s and turned it into a world-renown SCUBA diving site. Jaques Custeau even dived there.

An above-ground mine tour is available near Park Hills the consolidated former communities of Flat River, Esther, Elvins and Rivermines.

St. Louis region

Kimmswick, in Jefferson County, is an interesting collection of historic buildings. Many of them have been disassembled, moved to Kimmswick and reassembled. Also moved to Kimmswick was an 1874 iron bridge that had served in St. Louis County until the 1930s. It is the oldest iron bridge in Missouri. (The Old Apple Creek Bridge in Old Appleton was the second-oldest when swept off its moorings in 1982.)

St. Charles, the state's first capitol, is an appealing collection of historic restored buildings. Of course gaming boats are also there for those who make monetary contributions to such activities. So are antique shops and the Blue Owl restaurant.

Of course St. Louis has plenty of things to see and do, including Busch Memorial Stadium, the Trans-World Dome, the Old Courthouse, Old Cathedral, the riverfront, Gateway Arch, the Fox Theater, etc.

Back down river

Speaking of the Mighty Mississippi, this is also a big deal to visitors. Cape Girardeau has decent access downtown at least for looking. When the river is high enough to be part-way up the steps, one can (carefully) wade through a few inches of water. Of course an occassional riverboat, minesweeper or reproduction 15th-century sailing vessle docks from time to time, adding to the effect.

For those wanting to wade a little deeper, there is a nice beach area in Commerce, Mo. The river is truly breathtaking at Commerce. The historic 1790 town has bounced back from flood devastation and still has several interesting historic buildings to check out, in addition to the river.

Miscellaneous sites

Naturally visitors will be wowed by the "throwed rolls" at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston (after they have checked out the local restaurants, of course!). The Hickory Log in Dexter is also legendary.

Summer heat is easily beat by tubing or canoeing on the Black or Current rivers, a bit to the West of our river. The Blue Grass festivals and Caster River frontage at Arrowhead State Park in Bollinger County are also noteworthy. Lots of camping, hiking (including the historic Trial of Tears), shopping and relaxing opportunities abound in Missouri.

No, I'm not on the state payroll. Of course, if Gov. Holden is LOOKING for a new tourism director ...