Welcome to Missouri, a land of fertile plains, rolling hills, well-watered prairies and historic rivers. Baby boomers can enjoy everything from golf getaways to excellent entertainment. Award-winning wineries, exciting festivals and events. Or take in the beautiful fall foliage with a scenic drive through the countryside.

Missouri is known as the "Show Me State", which is what most baby boomers want. The 'Show Me State' expression may have began in 1899 when Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, "I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."

Situated within a day’s drive of 50% of the U.S. population, it makes it easy to retire in Missouri and still visit the family. The Ozark mountains have many places to buy your dream home or retirement farm.

Branson is a "rubber tire" destination with the vast majority of tourists arriving by vehicles, RVs and tour buses. Branson has also become one of America’s top motor coach vacation destinations with an estimated 4,000 buses arriving each year.

Over 5,600 caves have been registered and more are discovered each year. At least 20 of these caves are public "show" caves. Show caves are open to the public with guided tours.

The St. Louis Arch is a great place to take your friends and relatives. Two of this country's greatest waterways, the Mississippi River on the state's eastern border, and the Missouri River, which winds across the state.

Lots of great things have happened in Missouri, in 1889, Aunt Jemima pancake flour, invented at St. Joseph, Missouri, was the first self-rising flour for pancakes and the first ready-mix food ever to be introduced commercially. The Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis, Missouri is the largest beer producing plant in the nation. Missouri was the starting point for wagons heading to California and Oregon (hence Missouri's other nickname, "Gateway to the West"). The pony express made stops here, and outlaw Jesse James was born in Kearney and died in St. Joseph.

You might want entertainment and Missouri has it all. Vegas style, Nashville style, Broadway style, fifties style, sixties style, or Ozarks style. Laugh at the comics, be amazed by the masters of illusion, let the dancers and acrobats thrill your senses, and let the music of fiddles and banjos and electrics overwhelm you in the hands of the most talented musicians on the planet! Music that comes from deep within the American heart. Missouri is the home of Ragtime, America's first real indigenous music.

Baby boomers enjoy the beauty of a Missouri morning where the birds are singing, the air is crisp, and the sunshine only gently warm. They like golfing while the fog is still in the mountains, or going down to the lake, where the trout are biting. Morning walks in the woods are a real pleasure..

Exploring a winding mountain trail on bicycle or horseback, crossing an old covered bridge, passing caves, beautiful springs, then stop to watch the wildlife feeding by a mountain stream.

There is so much for baby boomers to saviour, like renting a pontoon boat and picnic on an island. Or go sailing. Canoe a scenic river and then pull up on a gravel bar for a swim, a snack, or to just lay out in the sun.

And more important to baby boomers, enjoy two famous treats. Both the ice cream cone and iced tea were invented during the hot summer of 1904 in Missouri, at the St. Louis World's Fair.