& Other Tips to Make the Visit Outstanding by Not Standing Out

The United States remains the world's No. 1 international travel destination with 56 million visitors a year, but Spain, Germany, France and Italy rank No. 2, 3, 4 and 5, according to the 2012-13 ITB World Travel Trends Report.

Americans are helping drive those numbers. In a December USA Today/Gallup Poll, nearly a third said that if money were no object, they'd be off to Europe this year.

"There is so much to see and experience in Europe! If you've never been, or you've only visited once or twice, you really should put it on your wish list," says Ruth Yunker, an intrepid traveler and author of "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," (www.ruthyunker.com), a humorous recounting of her extended stays in Paris as part-time resident, part-time tourist.

"When I travel to a foreign country I automatically strive to be the best American I can be, an American who is willing to learn to do things the locals' way. This will always make for a more rewarding experience. You'll find the people are friendlier. The vibe is positive. You are trying to live the culture instead of simply viewing it as a spectator."

Standing out in a European country - or any country you're visiting - could make for  unnecessarily uncomfortable situations. It can get in the way of enjoying a city the way the natives do. It can mark you as easy prey for pickpockets (hold your purses tight)and cabbies with whose rates might go up (use the metro!).

"Learn what you can about a country's habits, pet peeves, ingrained ways of being, before you go. Travel books can be helpful, but the following are a few tips not often mentioned," Ruth Yunker says.

• Fanny packs are disgusting little monsters which look ridiculous. Leave them at home, unless you want to scream 'oblivious tourist'! If you're going that route because you think it's safer than carrying a purse or wallet, then there are other ways to go. I always carry a large shoulder purse because it fits everything I'll need during the day, including whatever valuables I want to keep close. I carry it clutched tightly to my body. I observe the local women, and carry my purse like they carry theirs.

• Leave the garish running shoes behind, as well. Bright athletic shoes say "Tourist!" -like nothing else. Europeans simply do not wear these shoes going about their daily business. If you must wear sneakers, wear dark ones that will attempt to masquerade as regular closed-toed shoes. In fact you will be given an A for effort. Try to find comfortable walking shoes with a little bit of style and your feet will announce you as the polite, indeed savvy, visitor. It's good to be considered a savvy visitor, n'est pas?!

• Keep your voice down in restaurants and other public places. As a group, especially in a group, Americans tend to be louder than they think they are.And particularly in Paris, people keep their voices down. Consider how annoying it is when you're seated next to a raucous group in a restaurant here in the United States. Youcan get a sense of how annoying loud voices are to people accustomed to quieter tones.

Other things to consider:

"Look up the customs on tipping in the country you're visiting. For instance, tips are not expected in Parisian restaurants. In fact tipping a waiter there simply brands the unaware tourist as a stupid one. Not for me to be considered the oblivious tourist!" says Ruth Yunker.

"Try to learn what you can about manners where you'll be visiting," she says. "When I was in Paris, I learned making direct eye contact out on the sidewalk with a stranger was a flagrant disregard of manners - even on that day I most needed a hug!"

About Ruth Yunker

Ruth Yunker is an author, humorist, columnist, blogger and enthusiastic traveler. Her peripatetic childhood led to a life always on the move; she has lived all over the United States, from Boston to Los Angeles, Brussels, Belgium and, for a short time, Paris. Her first book, "Me, Myself & Paris," recounts her first experiences as a single woman living alone in Paris for three six-week stints. Her newest book, "Paris, I've Grown Accustomed to Your Ways," continues the saga from a more City of Light-experienced perspective.

stl250 Announces Year-Long Celebration to Commemorate the Founding of St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, June 3, 2013 - An outdoor community festival, reenactment of St. Louis's founding fathers arriving on the Riverfront and a region-wide Birthday Celebration are key events being planned by stl250 for the Gateway City's 250th Anniversary next year. These events are just some of many celebrations in development by St. Louis community partners, and the festivities will only grow in the coming months! stl250 is a nonprofit organization solely focused on commemoration and celebration of St. Louis's founding on its 250th anniversary in 2014. The announcement was made today at the stl250 Launch Event.

stl250 was created by area volunteers to coordinate the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of St. Louis by Pierre Laclede. The goal of the organization is to use this Semiquincentennial milestone to increase the pride in our region by building on the momentum already underway.

The 2014 celebration year will be co-hosted by City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. Ameren Chairman, President and CEO Tom Voss and his wife Carol will serve as stl250 co-chairs.

The stl250 celebration will begin at Grand Center's New Year's Eve First Night 2013 and will close on New Year's Eve 2014. Events will be held throughout the year by both stl250 and thousands of other organizations and communities. stl250 is planning a big splash for the 250th birthday weekend (February 14 - 16, 2014) which includes:

_{? an outdoor and environmentally friendly Valentine's Day "Burnin' Love" festival will feature} concert entertainment, a hot chocolate happy hour, sweetheart's dinners, heated culinary lounges, fireworks, permanent fire sconces in the park's canals and lakes as well as a centerpiece public art sculpture of a burning heart. This sculpture will literally be on fire in Forest Park's Grand Basin Lake.

? A re-enactment of the city's founding on Laclede's Landing as well as a scholarly symposium entitled, "The Impact of the Founding of St. Louis: on the Region and the Entire Nation".

_{? Founders Day Gala at the Missouri History Museum with satellite galas at other locations.}

? A brief celebration & an official birthday cake will immediately follow the re-enactment.

Commemorative Birthday Cakes will play a key and interactive role throughout the year. A region-wide "Cakewalk" will provide an educational walk through St. Louis' history. Ornamental birthday cakes will be placed at 250 regional historical locations. Cakes will be interactive and allow those with smart phones and tablets to receive facts on their device about the location's history. Details on locations and a contest will be announced in the Fall 2013 timeframe.

"St. Louis has a long history, current momentum and a promising future," said Erin Budde, Executive Director for stl250. "It's important that we mark this major milestone in a way that engages our entire region. stl250 and its volunteer leadership have much work to do over the next seven months to finalize plans, engage partners from across the region while broadly telling the story of our past, present and future through events that range from the grassroots to grand scale," Budde continued.

HOTEL BLACKHAWK AWARDED TRIPADVISOR ® CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Davenport hotel achieves prestigious status for second consecutive year

DAVENPORT, IA - Hotel Blackhawk is pleased to announce that it has earned a 2013 TripAdvisor ® Certificate of Excellence Award - the second consecutive year it has earned the honor.

The prestigious award honors hospitality excellence and are given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor ®, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor ® receive this award.

To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

"Our company is pleased to again receive this award from TripAdvisor," said Tim Heim, VP - Marketing, Innkeeper Hospitality Services. "We strive to offer guests a hip and historic experience, and repeating this recognition shows the hard work of our team at Hotel Blackhawk is continuing to translate into positive traveler reviews on TripAdvisor."

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor ® offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor ®-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors, and over 60 million reviews and opinions.

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15^th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Autograph Collection (www.autographhotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org). For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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BIX BISTRO EARNS TRIPADVISOR ® SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD: Hotel Blackhawk restaurant continues to complement diner's experience

DAVENPORT, IA - Hotel Blackhawk is pleased to announce that its on-site restaurant - Bix Bistro - has earned a 2013 TripAdvisor ® Service Excellence Award.

The prestigious award honors service excellence and are given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor ®, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor ® receive this award.

To qualify for the Service Excellence award, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

It also marks the second major recognition for the restaurant itself. In 2012, Bix Bistro received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its wine selection and theme.

"Bix Bistro is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence," said Deanna Jensen, General Manager at Hotel Blackhawk. "We strive to create memories for our guests, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15^th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Autograph Collection (www.autographhotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org). For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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Enjoy the Ride at Missouri's Theme Parks

Jefferson City, Mo. ? Missouri's collection of theme and amusement parks supplies countless thrills and chills. Without exception, these parks are anchored by the most exciting rides of all ? roller coasters. In Missouri, our world-class roller coasters literally reach new heights.

Kathleen Olsen's first memory of a roller coaster is from a family trip to Six Flags Over Mid-America (now Six Flags St. Louis) in 1976. Back then, passengers were loosely secured on the car's bench seat by a belt across their laps. At the time, the brand new Screamin' Eagle was billed as the world's tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster. The train of cars traveled on rails utilizing steel strips mounted onto a wood superstructure.

"There were no loops or corkscrews, but the drops from high in the sky were exhilarating," Kathleen recalls.

As she tells it: "Mom wore her hair in what we now call an updo, with a wiglet attached to enhance her elaborate hairstyle. Quite the high fashion in those days." Yes, you guessed it - the wiglet came loose during the ride.

"Not all the way off," Kathleen chuckles. "It was still attached in the front, so it flapped wildly in the wind as we zoomed along. Imagine Mom's embarrassment."

It's been some 37 years since the 'updo incident,' and Kathleen Olsen has evolved into Katie Steele Danner, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, and her perspective of and respect for theme parks and roller coasters has evolved as well.

"The Screamin' Eagle is still operating," she pointed out, "but coasters as a whole have come a long way, to put it mildly."

Most modern roller coasters run on a tubular-steel framework, easily bent to allows the cars to rocket through loops, corkscrews, and huge drops; however, wooden coasters are still being built. Missouri's three, world-class parks boast both types of construction.

In 2013, two new roller coasters begin thrilling, even challenging, brave riders in Missouri. One sets two new world records.

"I am eager, and admittedly a bit anxious, to give both a try," said Danner. "Six Flags, the hair-raising location of my youth (no pun intended; well, maybe a little), has added its ninth coaster."

Boomerang is a nerve-racking, steel roller coaster that flings you through a combination of intense and ferocious sensations. First, you and 37 other riders are slowly pulled backward, 125 feet into the sky; after a short pause, you are released to rocket along 1,650 feet of twisting steel track, at speeds reaching 50 mph, through loops and cork-screws, before climbing a second hill where the track ends. At that point, you pause in mid-air before running the full route again ? backwards.

But wait! That's not the end of the story at Six Flags. The eight themed areas of the park expose visitors to a collection of 49 rides and attractions, 18 food options, and numerous gift and souvenir shops. Plus, six theaters present a constant variety of top-name entertainers, concerts and special events throughout the season. And - as if that's not enough to keep you exhausted - Hurricane Harbor waterpark (included with Six Flags admission) is home to water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and nearly a dozen waterborne activities.

The Six Flags St. Louis complex is located in Eureka, 30 miles south of downtown St. Louis. Six Flags welcomes adventurers April thru September; Hurricane Harbor is open late May thru early September. Check the website for specific days and times.

World records are not broken very often. That said, a new ride at Silver Dollar City in Branson has broken three, this year. Outlaw Run - billed as the world's most daring wood roller coaster includes the steepest drop for a wood coaster anywhere on earth - 162 feet, almost straight down at 81 degrees (world record No. 1); a double barrel-roll, making it the only wood coaster in the world to get you upside-down (world record No. 2); the first outside-banked turn on a wood coaster (world record No. 3). And reaching a top speed of 68 mph, it is the second-fastest wood roller coaster on the planet.

After you catch your breath, this 1880s-themed park includes 30 fun-filled, family friendly rides and attractions (some dry; some wet) to keep you entertained. Among them is Marvel Cave, a Registered Natural Landmark, with one of the largest subterranean entry-rooms in the United States. Also, Silver Dollar City is home to 60 shops, with 100 resident craftsmen and artisans, demonstrating their talents. And don't miss the dozen delightful restaurants showcasing a unique style of country cooking, rated among the best theme park food in the nation by Amusement Today Magazine.

Tired yet? They put on more than 40 live shows spaced throughout the season, including six world-class festivals which are among the most attended themed-festivals in the country. As a Golden Ticket Awards winner, Silver Dollar City shows have been rated among the best in the entire theme park industry.

Silver Dollar City is open select days in April and May, daily June and July, and select days August thru December. Check the website for specific days and times.

Need more thrills? Travel to Kansas City to experience Missouri's third major theme park, Worlds of Fun, themed around the Jules Verne book, "Around the World in Eighty Days." For a single entry ticket, enjoy both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun waterpark.

At Worlds of Fun, you can scream your head off on Mamba, one of the tallest, longest and fastest roller coasters in the world. Mamba is a state-of-the-art coaster, where riders climb 200 feet before plummeting toward the earth at 75 mph, through nine drops, racing along 5,600 feet of steel track. Add to that nearly 100 rides and adventures; 33 food and snack options; Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang roaming the park; and plenty of amazing performers from across the country. The newest attraction is Dinosaurs Alive! The multi-sensory, interactive dinosaur park features more than 35 life-sized dinosaurs (no, they don't bite), including the world's largest animatronics dinosaur, standing nearly 40 feet tall and 72 feet long (hey, that's another world record).

Oceans of Fun features 60 acres of drenching water attractions, including a twisting raft adventure; the wave pool; water playhouse; 33 water slides; a lazy river; and a monsoon.

Worlds of Fun thrills visitors April through October; Oceans of Fun will cool you off mid-May through mid-September. Check the website for specific days and times.

So get out there and be thrilled; but mind your hair .... and your hat, and anything else that might drop off. Ride on the wind this year, in Missouri. Enjoy the show.

For listings of other things to see and do in Missouri, go to VisitMO.com. Order your free copy of the Official Missouri Travel Guide at 800-519-4800.

About the Missouri Division of Tourism
The Missouri Division of Tourism (MDT) is the official tourism office for the state of Missouri dedicated to marketing Missouri as a premier travel destination. Established in 1967, the Missouri Division of Tourism has worked hard to develop the tourism industry in Missouri to what it is today, an $11 billion industry supporting more than 281,000 jobs. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.visitmo.com.