Low/No Cost To-dos in Springfield during International

[j54mark]

The other thread (http://www.airforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=15487) was getting a bit long, so unless there are questions, here is my last post on Springfield Mo:

Low or No cost things to do in Springfield, Mo. during the International:

Hike or view the exhibits at the Springfield Nature Center (free), http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/springfd/

See the national, judged exhibit of Watercolor USA at the Springfield Art Museum (free), http://www.ci.springfield.mo.us/egov/art/

Pools (admission), Golf courses, possibly including the renovation-in-progress lighted nine hole course (green fees), tennis courts (free), picnic or let the kids play at the many parks (free), Springfield Park Board, http://www.parkboard.org/

Attend "Firefall". Performances, hot air balloons, symphony concert, fireworks. June 25 (admission $8 per car, or take shuttle bus, $3 person). Entertainment starts at noon, “Concert in the Sky” starts at 9:45. Expect 60 - 70 thousand people. http://www.firefall.net/

Attend “I Love America” concerts and fireworks July 4 (free). Expect 80 - 90 thousand in attendance.
http://www.iloveamerica.ws/

Shop, or just view the four aquariums, indoor waterfall, ducks, turtles, and mounted animals on exhibit at Bass Pro Shops http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...=94&storeID=15

Hike or bike one of the Greenways Trails (free), http://www.ozarkgreenways.org/

Shop for direct from the farm produce at the two Farmers Markets. http://marketplace.chef2chef.net/far...s/missouri.htm

Hike, bike, or study the history of the Wilson Creek National Battlefield ($5/car, or $3 per person). http://www.nps.gov/wicr/ . If you have any interest in Civil War history you will want to see this as well as Pea Ridge National Battlefield in N.W. Arkansas.

Perhaps most important of all - come back some time when it isn't blazing hot!

Have a safe trip!

Mark