The 2023 Top Ten Hikes include a former train tunnel, a white sand lake, unique rock formations, and cliff-top river views. I chose them based on length, how much I enjoyed them, and what natural beauty I saw. (Blog Photo- Don Robinson State Park) Fall Hikes: Don Robinson State Park See a sandstone canyon with its cave-like rock shelter and cross-clear trickling streams at Don…
In 2023 I read not only books on hiking but also what you can forage in the woods along with hikes in the Midwest. Word of Warning: Be careful foraging since some edibles in the woods can be toxic. Foraging the Ozarks: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in the Ozarks by Bo Brown Bo Brown is a wilderness expert and shares hundreds of…
Science City in Kansas City boasts over 300 interactive exhibits and has been named one of the top 25 science centers in the country. It consists of 92,000 square feet and is located in Kansas City’s historic Art Deco Union Station near downtown Kansas City. We went to Kansas City to see a Kansas City Mavericks Hockey game, my son plays hockey, and this was…
Near Kansas City, Missouri, Fort Osage was constructed in the early 1800s under the direction of explorer General William Clark to protect U.S. pioneers. Established in 1808 as a military outpost in the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. The fort’s purpose was to provide a military presence in the territory in order to assure Spain, France, and Great Britain that the United States meant to protect…
Explore a farm and then hike along a forested hill at Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve in Collinsville, Ill. The park showcases farming life complete with tractors, barns, and a 1930’s style Craftsman Farm House. Animals on the farm include pigs, chickens, guineas, goats, and cows. Checking Out the Farm At the front of the farm is a red barn with horse stalls and…
You can hike around the perimeter of Forest Park on the Heels Path, passing by the Zoo and Science Center, through the woods, and by many streams and lakes. This is close to a six-mile walk with 194 feet of elevation gain. This trail goes along the outer area of the park on a gravel and paved surface as is known as the Heels Path….
Take a walk deep in the woods crossing streams and through prairie grass in Forest Park at Kennedy Forest. Dedicated in 1964, John F. Kennedy Memorial Forest consists of more than 60 acres of mature forested habitat and was the first area in Forest Park to be set aside for environmental conservation. In the forest, I hiked 1.4 miles with 95 feet of elevation gain…
Sculptures grace the grounds of the St. Louis Art Museum and in the Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden. The sculpture park is in the back of the Art Museum and you can also see more sculptures throughout the area around the art museum. I walked a total of .9 miles throughout the grounds with 13 feet of elevation gain using paved pathways and walking through…
Turtle Playground is a magnet for children of all ages who love climbing on the backs of the giant cement reptiles. Located across Interstate 64 and the St. Louis Zoo and not far from the intersection of Hampton and Oakland Avenue and part of Forest Park. History of Turtle Playground Represented in concrete are a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a Mississippi…
Take a hike along a rocky creek, through forested hills, and around a clear lake in a loop walk in Kirkwood Park. This two-mile hike includes paved and unpaved sections, stairs, and a 102-foot elevation gain. Walker Lake I parked in the large lot behind Kirkwood Community Center near a bridge that crosses a brook that flows into the lake. First Paved Section After the…
