Missouri Military Academy

United States Coast Guard Academy

Image via Wikipedia

The Missouri Military Academy for young men, located in Audrain County, Missouri, was founded in 1889 and is one of the best private schools in the country.  With emphasis on preparing young men for college and life after the Academy, striving for academic excellence, while they continually enhance the technology to meet the every changing educational challenges of the future.  The Academy demands discipline and nurtures self-discipline, stressing the values of honor, integrity, perseverance and duty.

Graduates of the Academy have been recruited by some of the most prestigious colleges in the country, including The Air Force Academy, Virginia Military Institute and the Citadel.  The Military Academy also boasts the privilege of nominating cadets to the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, the US Air Force Academy and the US Coast Guard Academy, the University of Southern California and Penn State University to name a few.

The Missouri Military Academy has a middle school for grades six to eight.  The classes are small, with about ten students to a class, offering a full curriculum of English, Reading, Social Studies, Math and Science.  Elective courses include Art, Drama and Music.  Mandatory athletics throughout the year fulfill the physical education requirement for the seventh and eighth grade students.  The Academy also offers an Academically Elite Day School for students achieving a 3.0 or greater grade point average.  With a rigorous academic curriculum, the 2010 graduating class of 46 cadets garnered more than three million dollars in academic and athletic scholarships.

With the US Department of Education recognizing The Missouri Military Academy for young men as one of the best private schools in the country, this might just be the place you want to take a look at to shape your young man, and prepare him for the future.  If it is a military type school that you are considering, take the time to take a look at The Missouri Military Academy for young men.

Where To Vacation This Year

Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

Image via Wikipedia

It is time to plan the family vacation for this year.  You cannot be too extravagant in this economy so, at least for this year, the Taj Mahal and kissing the Blarney Stone will have to wait.  The Jersey shore has done its job.  It has been a nice staple for the many a year, but you are looking for at least a little variety.  Mom wants the kids to learn something on this vacation.  Dad wants a week’s worth of really good food.  The kids want to make sure there is something fun to do.  Other than place with the mouse and his girlfriend, where is there to go so that everyone gets their wish.

Why not visit Audrain County, Missouri?  While not exactly on everyone’s list of places to visit, maybe it should be.  Audrain County has a lot to offer.  For mom, who wants to mix a little education with this vacation, there are historical sites like Graceland, a historical manor that is now a museum, where Ulysses S. Grant once stayed.  The Missouri Military Academy, founded in 1889 remains one of the best private schools in the country.  For dad, who wants to sample the cuisine, family style eating abounds.  Audrain County is rich in agriculture and most of the food is grown right on the farms from where it is served.  You can learn to milk a cow and see where the livestock are kept and fed.  After a long day on the farm, visit one of the many family style restaurants and feast on the fresh picked vegetables as well as fresh meat, right from the farm.

For the kids, there is the Pool at the Fairgrounds, if the weather is hot.  For a small fee, the kids can swim and splash all day.  Not to mention, the Miss Missouri pageant is held in Audrain County, and you can plan your vacation around that.

Audrain County has something for everyone, all packed into a great vacation.

The Miss Missouri Pageant

Oh there she is, Miss Missouri.  Just ask Erika Hebron, Miss Missouri 2010.   The Miss Missouri pageant is held in Audrain County.  From the preliminary competition in swimsuit, interview and evening gown on the Wednesday before the pageant to the Saturday crowning of Miss Missouri, it is a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation.  The talent section of the competition is first and is awarded separately then the other competitions.  The interview is 50% of the score, with the evening gown and swimsuit competition at 25% each.

The girls have prepared all year for the competition.  The evening gowns swirl down the runway for all to see.  The judges are feverishly scoring each one. How do they choose?  They are all so beautiful.  The swimsuit competition is another 25% of the score.  Two piece bathing suits being allowed in the competition now, they dominate the field.  Heels and bathing suits, these girls should get crowns just for walking around like that.  After this part of the competition, the finalists are announced and the girls move on to the final phase of the competition.

The all important interview portion, the big 50% of the score and the part of the competition that most definitely could push a contestant right to the front of the line.  Questions are asked about relevant events, tragedies or ways in which organizations are handling current day issues.  The contestants need to be knowledgeable in the category of which their question is asked, and try their best to answer sincerely, as they are being judged on that too. No stammering or fidgeting, just bring your spin to it.

The judges have tallied their scores, and a winner is crowned.  Her work has just begun.  Now she must prepare herself for the Miss USA pageant, where she will not only be competing for the title of Miss USA, she will be solely representing the state of Missouri, and they will all be watching.

Why Not Audrain County?

Choosing a vacation spot is the highlight of the year for some people.  You save up that vacation time, you organize all the schedules so that the family can spend some time together, time spent without phones ringing, without bosses telling you what needs to be done, no deadlines,  just some quality time with the family.  Some people have a favorite vacation spot, like hitting the beach every summer or going skiing in the winter.  Why not change it up a little?  Before the kids get to the point where they don’t want to be seen with their parents, they want to spend an entire week on the cell phones or computers, choose a spot that would interest everyone.

Why not visit Audrain County, Missouri? Audrain County is a rural town in Missouri, one that you might not think would be interesting enough to spend a vacation there.  There is a lot to do, plenty to keep everyone busy, and you just might learn something.  There are a lot of farms in Audrain County and you can visit them.  If agriculture is your interest, you can visit a farm that is growing crops, learn how they are grown and cultivated.  Maybe you want to learn what it is like to milk a cow.  There are dairy farms in Audrain County.  There are also livestock farms, learn how the cattle are fed and grown.

No fast food here.  Visit one of the many family style restaurants Audrain County has to offer.  Meals are cooked with the freshest of meat and vegetables, grown and raised locally.  The Missouri Military Academy is in Audrain County.  Founded in 1889 this school still remains one of the best private schools in the country.

Rich in history and farmlands for miles, Audrain County is the perfect place to take a family vacation.  There is so much to see and lots to learn for everyone in the family.  What better way to spend time with the family?

Outdoor Activities in Audrain CO

Camping - Trench Cooking fire

Image via Wikipedia

Audrain County, Missouri has a lot to offer in the way of outdoor activities and natural beauty. There are a number of conservation areas in the county in which one can fish, hunt, camp, hike, boat, bird watch, picnic and trap game. Here is a list of conservation and wildlife areas and what they offer.

  • Marshall I. Diggs Conservation Area (Montgomery and Audrain Counties) – activities include camping, fishing (bass, catfish, sunfish and more), hunting (deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey), and trapping. Over 1,014 acres of fields, grasslands, forests, lakes and more.
  • Maude Shores Jacks Conservation Area – activities include bird watching and trapping. Over 23 acres of forest and fields.
  • William Lowe Conservation Area – activities include bird watching, hiking, hunting (deer, rabbit, squirrel, turkey) and trapping. 133 acres of forests, grasslands, a wetland and pond.
  • Clarence L. Northcutt Memorial Conservation Area – activities include bird watching, hiking, hunting (deer, squirrel, turkey) and trapping. 80 acres of forests, fields, and a stream.
  • F.O. and Leda J. Sears Memorial Wildlife Area – activities include bird watching and hiking. No hunting. Almost 160 acres of grasslands and a prairie.
  • Vandalia Community Lake – activities include bird watching, camping, fishing (bass, crappie, carp catfish, and more), and deer hunting. Over 146 acres of forests, fields, lake and pond.
  • Robert M. White II Conservation Area (Monroe and Audrain Counties) – activities include camping, fishing (bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish), hiking, hunting (deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey) and trapping. Over 1,162 acres of grasslands, fields, forests, lakes, ponds and streams.

There is a lot to see and do in Audrain County’s conservation and wildlife areas. So bring the family. Bring the picnic basket, camping supplies, boat, fishing pole, rifle, binoculars, and walking shoes too. Come and enjoy Audrain’s beautiful features and outdoor activities. Nature’s waiting.

Visiting Audrain County, Missouri

Map of Missouri highlighting Audrain County
Image via Wikipedia

Located in north central Missouri, Audrain County is 692 acres on the divide between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Once all prairie land, it is now known for its farms or agriculture, and firebrick. If visiting Missouri, Audrain County is worth making a stop.

Audrain County is considered one of Missouri’s top agricultural producers. The main crops are soybeans, corn, and wheat. Audrain also has many hog farms and cattle ranches.

Mexico, the County Seat of Audrain, is where many residents and visitors can go to enjoy theater, shopping, and parks. The Mexico Area Community Theater is a non profit association that presents plays, showcases paintings, and hosts musical acts. Past productions have included ” A Christmas Carol”, “The Pied Piper”, and “The Little Shop of Horrors”. The Audrain Historical Society is within the Robert S. Green Park. The Park is 11 acres and is the location of an antebellum mansion now named the Graceland Museum and a Country School and Country Church. Graceland was built by John P. Clark who wanted a home to remind him of his home in Virginia.

Audrain County is also home to many parks, more than ten alone in the county seat of Mexico. Amenities at local parks can include playgrounds, pavilions, pools, and more. Pavilions can be reserved for barbeques, birthday parties, family reunions, or any other event.

If you are visiting at the right time, Mexico, Missouri, is home to the Miss Missouri pageant. The pageant includes the series of competitions leading up to not only Miss Missouri, but teen and children’s pageants as well.

Finally, for those visiting Audrain , shopping is diverse and includes many familiar names as well as quaint shops.Visit Falcon Antiques to look for original and unique finds, or you can more well known items at the North County Shopping center. Whether looking for modern entertainment or wanting to visit a piece of history, Audrain County can make for a great tourist destination.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Audrain County, Missouri: Rich with History and Culture

NEW YORK - MARCH 20: Howard Stern and Beth Os...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Anyone seeking their fill of history and culture would do well to visit Audrain County, Missouri. The first order of the day for any historical visit to this lovely city would be to drop in on the Audrain County Historical Society and have a look around. The headquarters for the society are located within the Robert S. Green Park, an 11-acre park situated right in the heart of Audrain County in the city of Mexico.

While in the park, take advantage of the breathtaking sights of an era gone by at the old Country Church and the 1903 Country School, complete with its books, desks, and slate blackboards. If you seek both history and culture, you may enjoy spending some time in the Graceland Museum. This museum resides in antebellum home dated from 1857 and is sure to take anyone back to a simpler, quieter time.

Moving along in the park, you’ll find the American Saddlebred Horse Museum, whose construction and operation did much to secure Mexico’s long standing reputation as the Saddle Horse Capital of the World. Here you will experience the entire history of everything that is Audrain county saddle horses from champion show horses to famous and historically significant horsemen.

While a trip to Audrain county’s Robert S. Green Park may not be thrilling for families with very small children, families with older school-aged children can find a great deal of fun in the various museums and exhibits on the grounds. When one lives in a society that emphasizes the here and now of trends and pop culture, it is comforting to know that a little history and culture is never too far away. Now more than ever one must be his or her own advocate for a right to that history. A day trip to Audrain County, Missouri can certainly put you on the right path to claiming the culture that you are entitled to.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Things to See and Do in Audrain County, Missouri

Map of Missouri highlighting Audrain County
Image via Wikipedia

While the county of Audrain might not be a tourists first place to go to for activities and events for the family there is plenty to see and do here. Audrain County is located in the northern section of Missouri and is famous for its farm and prairie land that surround the many surrounding structures.

If you are a visitor looking for events in or around the Audrain County area, then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a quick list of some of the great activities and events a visitor can enjoy in Audrain County.

Miss Missouri Competition. Every year the Miss Missouri beauty pageant is held right in Audrain County. The winner of this compitition is crowed Miss Missouri and goes on to compete in the Miss America pageant.

Mexico Area Community Theatre. There can be some very talented invididuals that perform in community theater plays. The Mexico Area Community Theaters hosts a half dozen performances throughout the year.

Pool at the Fairgrounds. On a hot summer day all a person can think of is visiting the pool. The pool at the fairgrounds is open to the public for a small fee and can allow you to cool off on those warm summer days.

Green Estate. The Green Estate is a local park located in Audrain County. It hosts a historical building and beautiful scenic grounds. There are over 1.2 miles of paved walking trails that allows visitors to see the beautiful sights of Audrain County.

Graceland Museum. A historical manor that was once used by Ulysses S Grant during the Civil War, it is now a historical museum that allows visitors to see displays of Victorian times. Over 9 of the rooms are dedicated to allowing visitors to see the preserved nature of the Victorian manor. This museum also hosts displays that show visitors some of the rich history that makes Audrain County unique.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Things To Do On A Rural Vacation.

Audrain County is located in the rural parts of Missouri and the beauty of this place is unlike any other. We are all used to going to major cities and resorts on vacation but have you actually thought of taking a vacation in a rural area where technology and the glitz and glamour are the least of people’s concern? Well here are some things to think about before you plan your next vacation.

A rural setting provides you with a landscape that is both easy on the eyes and relaxing for your soul. Even though you may not think that there is much to do there, there are actually more things than one can expect. Can you think of a better way to get away from your stressful life than going somewhere, where relaxation is the main part of your vacation?

Local communities are welcoming and with the relaxed pace of life you can enjoy a stress free time and enjoy the nature around you. Spend some time on a farm and you will slowly love the atmosphere. It is not just a place where your produce is grown but it is a culture you will not understand unless you have had the chance to spend some time there. Take your family and enjoy the time you spend together and everyone will have a time to remember.

Morning and evening walks on the grass and trees surrounding you will instantly bring you to a feeling of paradise. You will have the chance to bond with your family in a very different way. If it is not for the relaxation factor, then think about it as an educational trip for your family. Experiencing a new culture and a new way of life will help them increase their awareness of the country they live in.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Newer Posts »