DES MOINES, IA (01/18/2013)(readMedia)-- Plans are underway for the 2013 Iowa State Fair, including over $600,000 in family-friendly entertainment, all free with gate admission. Mark your calendars - August 8-18 - and experience for yourself why "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair.

Buy your tickets now and save nearly 40 percent off admission to the 2013 Iowa State Fair. Through February 28, advance admission tickets are just $7 for adults (ages 12+) and $3 for children (ages 6-11). Fairgoers ages 5 and under are admitted free every Fair day.

Tickets are available now at iowastatefair.org. Choose our convenient print-at-home option and enjoy immediate delivery of your tickets, or, through February 28, opt to have them mailed to you directly for free. Tickets can also be purchased at the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Monday - Friday). Act now to take advantage of the 2012 pricing.

Effective March 1, the price of gate admission will increase by $1 per ticket. This increase will apply to all gate admission including day-of and advanced admission tickets. The price of Fair Play Packs for adults (ages 12+) and children (ages 6-11) and punch cards, good for 11 days of adult admission, will increase $1 per ticket per day.

More details about Grandstand and free stage acts will be available on the Fair's website in the spring.

Nothing Compares to the 2013 Iowa State Fair August 8-18. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or check out www.iowastatefair.org.

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Enjoy Winter Outdoors In Missouri

Jefferson City, Mo. ? We know it is tempting to just sit in your living room and wait for spring; after all, it is warm and dry in there. As winter tightens its grip, a person's fancy often turns to thoughts of . . . skiing (snow, not water) and canoeing.

You can do both right here, in Missouri. No need for a 12-hour road trip through treacherous mountain terrain, or to endure the long, demanding lines of airport security. Missouri's tourism website, VisitMO, has listings for everything you need to get out and experience nature, even in winter.

Missouri has two venues for swishing down the slopes: Snow Creek, north of Kansas City, and Hidden Valley, on the western fringe of St. Louis. Both are perfect for an exhilarating afternoon, regardless of your skill level. Just pick your ride of choice, from downhill or cross-country skis, to snowboards, to tubes, and enjoy a refreshing day outdoors. Yes, both offer professional instructors.

Snow Creek is about 10 minutes north of Weston; a half hour south of St. Joseph. Their state-of-the-art snowmaking machines can blanket the hillside with 12 inches of snow. The venue has a total vertical drop of 300 feet; a 700-foot long tube area; and a terrain section for snowboards. One-day, two-day and season tickets are offered.

The lodge at Snow Creek includes a bar, cafeteria, picnic and barbecue area, a bonfire pit, equipment rentals, souvenir and gift shop, an award-winning ski school, and (just in case) a first-aid station. They hold nighttime sessions some weekends. Watch their website for details.

To make a weekend of it, stay just down the road, in Weston ? voted Missouri's No. 1 Day Trip by Ingram's Magazine, and the No. 1 Best Overnight Destination by VisitKC.com.

• Weston Bend State Park has hiking trails that meander through the woods and along a bluff with great views of the Missouri river. Picnic sites and camping are available if the weather is good.
• Visit Pirtle Winery, known for their fine Missouri wines and meads (mead is wine made from honey).
• Unwind at O'Malley's Pub, an Irish microbrewery and restaurant.
• The American Bistro-style cuisine at the Avalon Cafe, situated in an 1847 home, has dishes ranging from pizza to wild boar, pasta to beef steaks, elk loin to chicken.
• For a down-home meal and scrumptious breakfast, try the Weston Cafe.
• Spend a relaxing night at the Inn at Weston Landing, a four-guestroom bed and breakfast, built in 1842.
• The 26-guestroom Saint George Hotel opened its doors in 1845. The hotel has been renovated with modern conveniences, while maintaining its original architectural style and beauty.

Across the state, in Wildwood (a western suburb of St. Louis), the skiing hot spot is Hidden Valley ski resort. Their snowmaking system can provide all the snow necessary for skiing, tubing and snowboarding, on 30 acres with an overall 310-foot vertical drop. The ski lodge holds a bar, cafeteria, equipment rentals, and (just in case) a first-aid station. Certified instructors offer skiing and snowboarding instructions (all levels and ages; private and group). Trails at Hidden Valley are lighted for night skiing and special moonlight sessions, some of which last until 3 a.m. Day tickets, group and senior rates, and season passes are available.

After a day on the slopes, it's about 10 minutes to Eureka, where you can relax, dine and spend the night.

• A highlight of the Eureka area, Route 66 State Park features an original section of old Route 66, plus a visitor center with Route 66 and Times Beach exhibits, Meramec River access, picnic areas and shelters, and trails for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.
• Plan ahead and make reservations to tour the Endangered Wolf Center. This internationally recognized captive breeding facility raises endangered wolves and releases them into the wild. This is a fascinating attraction you'll never forget.
• The Holiday Inn at Six Flags features a heated indoor pool, arcade games, a bar and a restaurant (kids eat free).
• Chow down on some of the best barbecue in America at Super Smokers Barbecue Restaurant. This is the home of the St. Louis area's only World Champion BBQ team; their award-winning barbecue sauce is available on-site and at grocery stores throughout the Midwest.
• If barbecue isn't your thing, try Poor Richard's Restaurant, where they serve two tons of chicken wings every week, in addition to fish, steaks and daily specials.

Not into snow skiing? How about floating a cool Missouri stream? Yes, in winter. This is a swell season to enjoy the solitude, while drifting along in a canoe . . . and it isn't crowded. The water this time of year is especially clear; the winter views give you a different perspective of the Missouri countryside; fishing is always good; and there is an abundance of camping and cooking spots on gravel bars. Caution: take extra clothes in a dry-bag, just in case.

About 10 miles east of Steelville, the folks at Bass' River Resort can set you up for a trip on three rivers: the Courtois, the Huzzah and the Meramec. Their facilities include tent camping sites, RV sites and cabins. In January, they offer one free canoe rental with the rental of a log cabin; other specials apply in February and March.

• Seven miles southeast of Steelville, unwind and refresh at Westover Farms, on 475 acres adjacent to the Mark Twain National Forest. Stay the weekend, or longer, in one of their hand-hewn log and stone cabins, equipped with modern conveniences, a wood-burning fire place, and a full kitchen; just take your own food. Hike and bike the trails; fish for rainbow trout year-round; and visit the on-site fish hatchery. Do not take your own firewood.
• While you are in the area, visit Peaceful Bend Winery and try some outstanding Missouri wine. From the coziness of the tasting room, it is a short hike to the banks of the Meramec River, where the wintertime views are worth the walk.

Outdoor and nature enthusiasts are sure to enjoy Missouri's wintering eagle population. America's symbolic bald eagles can be spotted along open waterways and lakes throughout Missouri. In winter, Missouri's resident eagle population is supplemented by migrating birds from the north, with numbers reaching more than 2,500 eagles, the second-largest number of wintering eagles in the lower 48 states.

Several organized "Eagle Days" are held, giving you the opportunity to witness these magnificent birds in their natural habitat. These events include discussions by professional naturalists; spotting scopes for an up-close-and-personal view and refreshments are usually available.

• January 19: Eagle Watch and Trail Walk at Fort Belle Fontaine Park, in St. Louis.
• January 19 and February 16: Eagle-Watch at Roaring River State Park, Cassville.
• January 26-27: Clarksville Eagle Days, beside the Mississippi River.
• February 2: Eagle Days at Duck Creek Conservation Area, near Puxico.
• February 2: Eagle Days at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, also near Puxico.
• February 8 and 22: Eagle Viewing at Montauk State Park, outside of Salem.

For eagle viewing on your own, try:

• The Osage River, below Bagnell Dam.
• Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, southwest of Columbia.
• Lock & Dam 24, at Clarksville.
• Lock & Dam 25, east of Winfield.
• Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Puxico.
• Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, northern edge of St. Louis.
• Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, east of West Alton.
• Schell-Osage Conservation Area, north of El Dorado Springs.
• Smithville Lake, north of Kansas City.
• Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, south of Mound City.
• Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, south of Sumner.
• Table Rock State Park, southwest of Branson.
• Truman Reservoir, west of Warsaw.
• Lake of the Ozarks, central Missouri.
• And the Missouri River, statewide.

Missouri has an abundance of outdoor winter activities; these are but a few ideas. The key is . . . get outside and experience this diverse and fascinating season. There is no need to get the winter blahs.

To find more exciting things to do, information about lodging, attractions, events and dining across Missouri, check out VisitMO.com.

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 $11.2 billion industry supporting more than 279,000 jobs and generating $627 million in state taxes in Fiscal Year 2011. For every dollar spent on marketing Missouri as a travel destination in FY11, $57.76 was returned in visitor expenditures. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.visitmo.com/.

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Jefferson City, Mo. ? Rejoice! It appears the Mayans were, well, all wet. The world did not come to an end Dec. 21. This big projectile we call earth continues its ride through the cosmos?into the future. But how bright can that future be, when the next year ends with 13? Isn't 13, and thereby 2013, a bad omen and unlucky? That would be ... no! 

Triskaidekaphobia does not apply here. In Missouri, 2013 is a time to celebrate and experience the ever-expanding universe of Missouri's attractions. Although there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of interesting, fun activities and events in Missouri, we want to introduce you to a sampling of new attractions and events designed to entertain visitors in the Show-Me State.

That in mind, we present (in no particular order): 13 New and Exciting Things to Do in 2013.

Dinosaurs Alive!
A huge predator has taken residence at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. This gigantic creature, identified as a Tyrannosaurus rex, is part of Dinosaurs Alive!, a multi-sensory, interactive dinosaur park.

The adventure is in a two-acre forested setting, featuring more than 35 life-sized dinosaurs, including the world's largest animatronics dinosaur, the Ruyangosaurus, which stands nearly 40 feet tall and is 72 feet long.

Visitors learn when and where these prehistoric creatures lived, how they protected themselves, and how they adapted to the world between 65 and 245 million years ago. Note: Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are combined in 2013, so one admission ticket gives you access to both parks. An additional $5 ticket is required for Dinosaurs Alive.

Two noteworthy exhibitions open in 2013 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

Journey Through Mountains and Rivers: Chinese Landscapes Ancient and Modern (Feb. 8-April 28, 2013) juxtaposes thousand-year-old Chinese landscape paintings in a dialogue with the monumental landscapes of the contemporary Chinese artist Xu Longsen, ranging from small fan-shaped paintings to a gigantic horizontal scroll.

Frida Kahlo, Diego Revera and the Art of Modern Mexico, from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, (May 25-Aug. 18, 2013) displays the passion two Eastern European immigrants felt for their adopted homeland and its extraordinary art.

The exhibit is composed of more than 100 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and art on paper ranging from the figurative to the surreal, the abstract, and the conceptual. With art dating from the 1910s through 2005, visitors experience an exceptional private collection that not only highlights the rich and vibrant artistic traditions of the Mexico of yesterday, but also underscores how those traditions remain inventive and vital today.

Saint Louis Art Museum Expansion
Near the end of June 2013, the new, $150 million, East Building of the Saint Louis Art Museum will open its doors, adding more than 200,000 square feet of space to one of the top attractions in St. Louis.

The East Building provides galleries, public amenities, a cafe, and a 300-car, below-grade parking garage. The expansion has a fully-accessible entrance on Fine Arts Drive, designed to relieve traffic congestion and improve safety.

The museum is adjacent to the St. Louis Zoo, in Forest Park. Admission is free.

St. Louis Science Center Flight Simulator
The St. Louis Science Center is one of the top 10 science centers in the U.S.; top 15 in the world. The new flight simulator ($5) offers high-tech, 3D technology, giving guests a five-minute, exhilarating "flight."

The first of three to be installed is the eight-seat Morphis ESP, which provides four scenarios: F18 Hornet, with a carrier takeoff and landing; Solar Coaster, a fantasy ride through the solar system; Riding the Wind, an introduction to weather, with an intense ride through a tornado; and Bermuda Triangle, offering an underwater excursion to search for missing planes and ships off the coast of Andros Island. General admission to the Science Center is free; there is a fee for some special activities.

Daniel Boone Monument Village
In the community of Marthasville, located on the Katy Trail, at the Daniel Boone Monument Village, visitors may tour the 200-year-old farm, two log cabins, and school house where Daniel and Rebecca Boone once walked.

The property includes the Bryan log cabin, built in 1799; the Dickhaus-Stemme home, built in the 1860s; the Mellien log cabin; and the 1850s Devereaux schoolhouse. The village offers tours, school field trips, dinner programs, living-history demonstrations, workshops, encampments, and other events.

Call 636-359-6175 for information.

Discover the Children of Titanic
Learn the stories of the 133 children aboard the Titanic. Discover the Children of Titanic-the first and only world tribute to Titanic's littlest heroes-is a new gallery aboard the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson.

What the children saw, heard and felt from the moment they boarded the ship has been documented and visualized for the first time anywhere. This year-long exhibit, running Jan. 18 thru year's end, is a celebration of those children, whose bravery, innocence and faith should be an inspiration to us all.

Please note the Titanic Museum Attraction does not allow cameras or video inside.

Harry S. Truman Courtroom and Office
In July 2013, the historic Truman Courthouse, located on Independence Square, will re-open after undergoing a major, multimillion-dollar renovation.

The iconic Courthouse includes the circa 1930s Truman Courtroom, the Brady Courtroom, the George Caleb Bingham art gallery, and the Jackson County Historical Society artifacts gallery.

Also, the building will house the Independence Tourism Department, as well as a Welcome Center.

Big Shoal Heritage Area
Scheduled to open in the spring, the Big Shoal Heritage Area in Gladstone includes the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum, as well as the Big Shoal Historic Cemetery. The area was the jumping-off point near the edge of what was considered "civilized country."

Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum, originally a two-story log cabin, built in 1834, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum displays period artifacts. A heritage garden gives visitors a feeling for the amount of labor it took to meet basic food needs.

Big Shoal Historic Cemetery was established in 1824; it is the final resting place for veterans from the Blackhawk Indian Wars, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A self-guided tour provides an explanation of markers within the cemetery.

Two new, extremely exciting roller coasters begin thrilling brave riders in Missouri for 2013. Both are unlike anything found before in Missouri, and each offers a different experience.

Outlaw Run ? Silver Dollar City

This spring, Outlaw Run, the world's most daring wood roller coaster, zooms through Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson.

What's so special about Outlaw Run? The ride includes the steepest drop for a wood coaster anywhere on earth (162 feet almost straight down?81 degrees); it includes a double barrel-roll, making it the only wood coaster in the world to get you upside-down; and, reaching a top speed of 68 mph, it is the second fastest wood roller coaster on the planet.

Boomerang ? Six Flags St. Louis

At Six Flags, Boomerang is a gravity-defying, nerve-racking, stomach-crunching steel roller coaster that rockets you through a combination of sensations.

First, Boomerang slowly pulls you backward, 125-feet into the air; after a short pause, you are released to rocket along 1,650-feet of twisting steel track, at speeds reaching 50 mph, through a half loop, a right half-corkscrew, a left half-corkscrew, another half loop, and a full loop before climbing a second hill, where you pause in mid-air before reversing the trip, full circle ? backwards.

Isle Casino
The new Isle Casino, in downtown Cape Girardeau, contains 42,000 square feet of gaming space and five restaurants - all overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. It opened in late 2012, so 2013 marks its first full year in operation.

The on-site event center offers nearly 6,324 square feet of space. The casino is open 24 hours daily, except Wednesdays, when it is closed 5 a.m.-6 a.m. There is free live entertainment at The Lone Wolf restaurant and lounge every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

Apple Creek Vineyard and Winery
Opened November 2012, Apple Creek Vineyard and Winery, in Friedheim, affords visitors pleasant views of Apple Creek, showcasing each season. Apple Creek's arrival on the Missouri winery scene brings the state's total to 118 wineries!

Relax and enjoy a glass or bottle of the estate-bottled wines in the spacious tasting room, on the wrap-around deck, and under the trees along the creek.

The Creek Bank Cafe serves appetizers and fresh-made pizzas. Small weddings and other private events are welcome. Open Thursday thru Sunday (hours vary); other days by appointment.

This is by no means a complete list of what's new in Missouri in 2013; it is intended merely to convey the scope of new and exciting things to do in Missouri.

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 $11.2 billion industry supporting more than 279,000 jobs and generating $627 million in state taxes in Fiscal Year 2011. For every dollar spent on marketing Missouri as a travel destination in FY11, $57.76 was returned in visitor expenditures. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.visitmo.com/.

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Hermann, Mo. ? If there was an award for Christmas decorations inside a home, Father Bill's residence would win hands-down.

The Rev. William Debo lives in the rectory adjoining Hermann's St. George Catholic Church, whose bell tower stands high above this quaint river town in the hills of the Missouri River Valley. Every Christmas, the 21 rooms inside the three-story red brick building are decorated, top to bottom, in a prodigious labor of love by a group of dedicated town residents.

"Everybody says, when they come here, that it's the best they've ever seen," Father Bill said.

There are no prancing reindeer, no animated Santas, no overbearing music. Each decoration is carefully planned, and artfully executed. The visitors who go through on tours are overwhelmed by twinkling lights, pine boughs and trees, and vintage ornaments, carolers and manger scenes. There are 31 trees, 7-foot or taller, this year.

"We started decorating in mid-October with a core group of about 20 volunteers," Father Bill said. "Numerous people pop in and out, people in the community who know we need help. We opened Saturday, Dec. 1. Since then, there have been bus tours kind of non-stop."

The tours are free, but donations are welcomed. The event raised some $10,000 last year; money was distributed to the needy by Hermann-area churches. Tours are by appointment; call 573-486-2723.

The Franciscan Friars served St. George Parish until 2002, when Father Bill was appointed the first diocesan priest for the parish. He brought with him his art degree and Christmas spirit. This is his 10th year decorating the rectory.

"A representative of the Chamber of Commerce wanted us to be on the house tour, but I was afraid they weren't going to get enough bang for the buck," Father Bill said. "She stood in the foyer here and said, 'I assure you, there's more in this room than we'll see in all the other houses combined.'"

Carrying J.P., his white Maltese, Father Bill began a tour of the home in the parlor.

"This is the Victorian tree that started all the madness," he said. "These are hand-dried flowers out of my garden, vintage ornaments, hand-strung beads. I hand-dipped the lights to get that shade of pink."

Several of the decorated rooms have themes. The dining room is all white and silver, with poinsettias, a tiered cake and seven donated dresses on forms, representing a vintage wedding. There is a Mardi Gras room with masks, beads and clowns; a Wizard of Oz room with Father Bill's collection of memorabilia; and a military room decorated with uniforms, helmets, medals and photos of soldiers, young and old.

"Every year we get more photos and uniforms," Father Bill said. "People want to memorialize their friends and family."

The attic is Santa's workshop, with a seated Mr. and Mrs. Claus taking a well-deserved rest. The basement wine cellar is decorated for the first time; tiny white lights and pine boughs hang from the pipes and rafters. Hermann is in Missouri's wine country, and the wine racks are full of local vintages received as gifts.

"We'll leave it all up until mid-January," Father Bill said. "We take our time taking it down."

Tom Uhlenbrock is a staff writer for the Missouri Division of Tourism.

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 $11.2 billion industry supporting more than 279,000 jobs and generating $627 million in state taxes in Fiscal Year 2011. For every dollar spent on marketing Missouri as a travel destination in FY11, $57.76 was returned in visitor expenditures. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to www.VisitMO.com.

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