Free Day Tour

Wednesday afternoon, June 16, 2010, is a free afternoon in the program for you to relax from the intensity of the various scientific sessions and to enjoy your colleagues and the nice Mid-Missouri surroundings. If you like you can lounge around, catch up on work, whatever…but, just in case, the meeting organizers have arranged a variety of options for you to fill up this open time. These vary in their level of time commitment, exertion and intensity. Please choose the option that you like. Note that only the Fulton and Herman Missouri tour has an associated cost and requires you to sign up in advance via the registration website.

1. Fulton and Herman, Missouri Bus tour.  Visit the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library (www.churchillmemorial.org)which tells the story of a hero who led the free world’s fight for freedom.  Located on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, this museum provides a chronicle of life and times of Sir Winston Churchill.  Then onto Herman, Missouri  to tour Stone Hill Winery (http://www.stonehillwinery.com/)   Stoney Hill Winnery is an intriguing union of old world history and new world technology and have been creating the best Missouri Wine with more than 160 years of rich winemaking heritage.  A tour and dinner at the winery are included as well as motor coach transportation.  Extra fee applies and minimum participation and registration is required.
   
   
2. University of Missouri campus walking tour.  A local tour guide will lead a walking tour of the University of Missouri campus, stopping off at key sites on campus that have scientific, historical of cultural significance. For example, the tour will stop at the Sears Greenhouse Complex, National renowned student recreational center, as well as visit the Art and Architecture museum (http://museum.research.missouri.edu/) on campus.  The tour will end in downtown Columbia, which has a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs.
   
   
3. Laboratory tours. If you would like to visit specific labs or research facilities during Wednesday afternoon, then let us know and we will do our best to arrange for these visits with the directors of the chosen laboratories.
   
   
4. Downtown and/ or Mall shopping: Those that might want to spend the afternoon shopping should let us know and we will arrange transportation to the nearby Columbia Mall or provide advice of where to go in downtown Columbia.
   
   
5. Hiking: Assuming that the weather permits, there are a number of nice hiking trails inside Columbia or just at the outskirts. A full list of trails in Columbia, some of which depart from campus, can be found at http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Trails/.  Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is a very short drive just south of Columbia and has a variety of hiking trails, including a very easy hike to visit the renowned “Devil’s Icebox”.  Details about Rock Bridge State Park can be found at   http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm.