These are my Top five Hiking Books for 2024, which include learning about new areas to explore and national parks to visit. We traveled in the Midwest and discovered books that allowed us to connect with nature while exploring the area. Below are the 2024 Top 5 Hiking Books: Best East Day Hikes Acadia National Park by Dolores Kong and Dan Ring This book includes…
See the First Missouri State Capitol and where Lewis and Clark camped during their first expedition as you stroll around downtown St. Charles. This 2.5-mile walk comprises sidewalks, paved, and crushed limestone sections that are fairly level with only 39 feet of elevation gain. The hike goes through Frontier Park and the streetscape of downtown St. Charles, which includes the historic Missouri’s First State Capitol….
Visit New Jersey’s highest point for mountain views and see the 220-foot New Jersey Veterans’ Memorial monument at High Point State Park. Entering the Park The 16,000-acre state park is just a few miles from Port Jervis, New York. From the high point, you can see Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, where the three states meet. To reach the monument, drive Scenic Drive to…
Hike around a pond, a wetland, and a prairie at Silver Creek Preserve near Mascoutah, Illinois, in the Metro East. Overview The trail is a 1.1-mile paved path through wetlands and prairie grass. This preserve has plenty of parking and includes restrooms and a picnic shelter. At the Start We walked along a paved trail, heading toward the loop section of the path. I allowed…
A short hike through the woods leads to wooden stepping stones and a homemade bridge at Julius J. Knobeloch Woods Nature Preserve. Overview This 0.7-mile hike is found just off Illinois 158 between Mascoutah and Belleville. This area features upland woods of white oak and hickories alongside a wet floodplain. The water from this ravine flows into Hazel Creek. At the Trailhead We parked near…
O’Day Park in O’Fallon, Missouri, features a unique adventure playground with a web-like ropes course, a climbing wall, and paved trails. Playground Fun at O’Day Park After parking, my son and I headed to the artificial turf play area, which includes a roller slide, hammock, and a rope climbing area anchored by poles. Located nearby are baby and toddler swings. A splash pad features flowing…
Santa, Rudolph, and lake-themed Christmas lights can be seen at numerous light displays during Christmas time at the Lake of the Ozarks. We checked out two drive-through Christmas lights while we were staying the night in the area in December. Along with the lights, hiking to springs, a castle, and through the woods along the lake can also be enjoyed. Enchanted Village of Lights In…
Discover a historic stone arch bridge, cascading waterfalls, and scenic views at Fall Creek Scenic Overlook Park. It is located south of Quincy, Illinois, near the intersection of Illinois Highway 57 and Interstate 174. Overview The hike is 1.8 miles long with a 190-foot elevation gain. I found the trail difficult due to significant elevation changes, and it is poorly marked and overgrown in some…
Walking along Pickle Creek with its rapids and small waterfalls made for an enchanting hike as the creek gurgled beside me at Hawn State Park. Overview of Hawn State Park This 4,656-acre park has it all with sandy-bottom streams, stately pine, and oak trees along with exposed rock areas throughout the park. Hawn State Park was named for Helen Coffer Hawn, who had been a…
Deer Creek Greenway meanders alongside the picturesque Deer Creek, passing through suburban neighborhoods and landscapes adorned with native plants. I walked 4.2 miles out and back along this paved trail, which has 177 feet of elevation gain. It crosses Deer Creek several times and currently ends in Lorraine Davis Park, honoring an influential African American teacher. Starting the Walk I parked in the lot for…
