Travel Midwest Magazine Travel Midwest Digital ReplicaSUM17 | Page 152

the best of {MISSOURI} When you think of St. Louis, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Arch. however, st. Louis has got a rockin’ blues and music scene. Get ready to listen to the familiar sounds of Guns & Roses, elvis, the beatles, fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, KIss, and more, all done by local tribute bands. the diverse nature of the city’s music is enough to make any music lover want to stick around for the long haul. there’s even an old legend that tells of the city making a deal with the devil, regarding the musical talent that thrives and spreads from its boundaries. the published work that describes this legend is titled Devil At The Confluence , by the st. Louis artist Kevin belford. In the work, he describes the city as a proud connector to the world of the blues. Complete with original illustrations, the book dives into detail about the start of the blues influence within the city and the major musicians who brought popularity to the region. today, you can visit the National blues Museum, which will help bring history back to life, and you will be able to relive the earliest blues memories, and view many priceless artifacts of the era. Branson, Missouri has a wide variety of charm and character, from the Dolly Parton attractions to the titanic Museum, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. the ozark town is also pop- ular for its amusement park, silver Dollar City, but there are plenty of hidden gems and local attrac- tions outside of the touristy realm, so it just de- pends on what you’re looking to do here. branson has a big country music scene, so head to the Dolly Parton Dixie stampede Attraction for a unique experience to introduce you to the music. Put on your boots and kick up your heels to the skeeter & Nugget show, as performers and trick riders show off in the 35,000 square foot arena. over 30 horses will also participate in the show, and dinner is served during the ac- tion. Dinner is a four-course feast that includes: rotisserie chicken, hickory smoked bbQ pork loin, creamy veggie soup, homemade biscuits, corn on the cob, potatoes, unlimited soft drinks, and a specialty Dixie dessert.