Who is the most famous American born in Missouri? J.C. Penney? Ginger Rogers? Harry Truman? Mark Twain? If you visit the Show Me state, you will see memorials to all these, plus tributes to the Pony Express, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Trail of Tears and countless other reminders of American history. Missouri is centrally located and two major rivers converge there, the Missouri and the Mississippi, helping to make the state an important crossroads at the time the United States was expanding westward in the 19th century.

But never mind history. A much newer phenomenon called Branson earns more comments from Missouri visitors than any other feature. This small Ozark city is second only to Nashville in terms of country music entertainment and homespun comedy. It doesn't hurt that surrounding areas are scenic and suitable for fishing, boating and other outdoor activities. Silver Dollar City Theme Park is there, too. Across the state, countless lakes and rivers appeal to spin-cast anglers and fly-fishermen. Those same rivers also offer options for the float of your choice — by canoe, kayak, raft or tube — and campsites for those who want a more rustic vacation. As for city life, everything's up to date in Kansas City and St. Louis. These are very American cities; they offer commerce, art, fine dining, major league sports in the very best mid-American style — with excellent hospitality minus pretentions.

Who goes there? Missouri appeals more to authentics. They feel at home with the people, the activities and the atmosphere. But, there are not big differences in the attitudes of various personality types because attractions and activities cover a wide range, too. When do they go? May through October, the main season for the Branson theaters.

Skate to your heart’s content on 28,000 square feet of concrete, with an elaborate street course featuring ramps, pyramids, curbs — the whole nine yards, in Columbia’s Cosmo Skate Park. The park also has a mountain biking circuit.

Stay at a dude ranch; participate in cattle drives and horse roundups. Try arrowhead hunting, as well.

Camp at Onondaga Cave State Park, and take the guided lantern tour of Cathedral Cave there.

Not your typical dive site: Go diving in Roubidoux Spring Cave in Waynesville. Divers must have cave certification. Or, take a guided scuba dive in the “billion-gallon lake” inside Bonne Terre Mine. You also can take a guided walking tour of the mine’s top two levels; the mine was once the world’s largest producer of lead ore.

Get married in Bridal Cave at Camdenton. Or, just take a tour of the cave, and enjoy Thunder Mountain Park.

Sign on with Aircraft-Balloons in Joplin for hot-air balloon flight lessons. You can choose to be a passenger instead.

Practice or take up archery at any of a number of sites in the state. The purpose, for many, is honing skills for bow-and-arrow deer hunting in the state.

Get into a combat zone — at the Blodgett Paintball and Sports Complex. There are four playing fields for paintball enthusiasts.

Take a wine-tasting tour, or at least visit one of the state’s numerous wineries. Consider the Adam Puchta Winery in Hermann, the state’s oldest family farm winery, owned by the same family since its inception in 1855.

Tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis.

Join a guided trail ride. Take lessons for English and western riding styles.

Attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game — or see the Springfield Cardinals play. The Springfield team is an affiliate of the St. Louis team.

Take a simulated flight on a Cobra helicopter at the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks, in Springfield.

Gamble. You can try your luck in city casinos or on gaming boats.

Pick your own apples in September at the Centennial Farms and Orchard in Augusta. Or, come for the bluegrass festival in June. Buy the farms’ own apple butter, preserves or honey to take home.

Pan for gems at the Bluff Dwellers Cavern in Noel.

Hike or bike the 225-mile-long Katy Trail State Park that, for the most part, follows the Missouri River from St. Charles to Clinton.

Go to Castlewood State Park at Ballwin for all sorts of things: boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking.

Take the Hannibal Trolley Company’s narrated tour of Hannibal, Mark Twain’s hometown. Then, take a cruise on a riverboat that bears the humorist’s name; the Mark Twain, operated by Hannibal Riverboat, offers sightseeing, dinner and jazz cruises.

See one or many shows in Branson. See Branson’s original production, called the Baldknobbers Jamboree Show, which includes country music, gospel singing and patriotic music, plus lots of comedy.

Go to a drive-in movie (the movies are current) at Barco Drive-In Theatre in Lamar.

Attend live dinner theater, offered by the Cobblestone Theatre Company, in downtown St. Joseph. Also, consider the Little Cobb Children’s Theater.

Fish for trout at the Crystal Springs Trout Farm at Cassville. You pay for what you catch — and no license is required.

Cruise aboard the motor yacht, the Celebration, on the Lake of the Ozarks.

Tour Amish country around Jamesport, and shop for handicrafts, antiques and baked goods.

Take a steam train ride, aboard 1920 passenger cars, on the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, at Cape Girardeau.

Be entertained at the Pony Express National Museum in St. Joseph.

For more information, consult the Missouri Division of Tourism at www.visitmo.com

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