Tower Rock in Wittenberg.

Our Lady of St. Joseph Shrine and the 116-year-old St. Joseph's Catholic Church located in Apple Creek is one of the most scenic spots located along the drive.

Visitors and residents from across the region will be able to drive, eat, dance and camp their way around Southeast Missouri's Mississippi River valley for five months beginning in August during the annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive fall tour.

Along with the natural beauty of autumn in Southeast Missouri, participants will find friendly people, open houses, crafts, festivals, folk music, demonstrations, working mules and horses, carnivals, scenic vistas and much more. The drive is coordinated by Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Regional History.

Designated scenic drive routes run through a 50-by-50-mile section of the Mississippi River Valley, north and south from Perryville to Commerce, and east and west from Cape Girardeau to Marquand. The roads run through towns such as Cape Girardeau, Apple Creek, Brazeau, Old Appleton, Altenburg, Marble Hill, Burfordville, Jackson, Benton, Commerce, Fruitland and Pocahontas.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Regional History and coordinator of the scenic drive, said the river valley region has some of the best foliage in Missouri.

"It's as colorful as any section of New England, if you catch it at the right time," he said. "These are all areas that have very great beauty in the fall. And there's a great amount of history to see."

The Center for Regional History has compiled a brochure, available at a number of sites around the region -- including at the Center and at the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau -- which includes a detailed map of the roads on the route, a list of regional towns participating and attractions in them and a calendar of events throughout the region, from August to December.

Nickell says the drive route contains a variety of interesting landscapes.

"The drive from Frohna to Brazeau and over to Uniontown and Friedheim is beautiful," he said. "That's one of the prettiest areas in this whole region."

He says the drive west to Marquand, new to the drive this year, also is fascinating.

"It's very rural," he said. "There are lots of hardwood trees."

Nickell says participants in this year's tour should find their visit to Commerce particularly pleasurable. Commerce was added to the spring drive tour last April.

"That's really added a lot to the drive," Nickell said. "Adding the section from Scott City to Commerce adds a different landscape. You've got the river hills to the north and the opening of the Delta to the south. You may have the best view of the river at Commerce than anywhere else along the way," he said, adding that other cities where visitors may view the Mississippi River are Cape Girardeau and Wittenberg.

Visitors to Commerce Sept. 20-21 can join in the Commerce Floodfest. While in town, Nickell says he also recommends stopping at the Commerce Museum and at the River Ridge winery.

"Commerce is one of the oldest communities in the region going back to the 18th century," he said, adding that Wittenberg and Brazeau were established prior to statehood.

Events scheduled along the drive in August include the Altenburg Picnic and chicken supper Aug. 17; the Third annual Sunday Summer Concert featuring the Lincolnland Brass of the AMC Band of Mid-America Aug. 17 in Perryville; Benton Neighbor Days Aug. 29-30; and the St. Joseph Catholic Church annual Homecoming and Picnic Aug. 30 at Apple Creek.

Other upcoming events on the calendar include the Southeast Missouri District Fair Sept. 7-13 in Cape Girardeau; the East Perry Fair Sept. 19-20 in Altenburg; the Harvest Festival Oct. 4 at Marble Hill; Octoberfest Oct. 4-5 at Diebold Orchards in Benton; Hanover Lutheran Church Semi-Annual Pork Sausage Supper Nov. 2 in Cape Girardeau; holiday lighting of Perryville Nov. 21; the Show Me Arts and Crafts Extravaganza Nov. 22-23 in Cape Girardeau and Jackson; and Christmas in the Osage Center and the Show Me Center Nov. 22-23 in Cape Girardeau. Several other holiday events are listed on the calendar for throughout the region in December.