Hike along Dardenne Creek, around two lakes, and through woods on the Dardenne Greenway and other trails in Cottleville, Mo. I hiked 2.8 miles on the Dardenne Greenway and used other side trails to form a loop. In addition, I did a .8-mile out-and-back hike on a natural surface trail through the woods on Kountz Fort Trail. This walk totaled 3.6 miles with 102 feet…
Do an easy walk around soccer fields and fun time with my son at a large playground at Sports Park in O’Fallon, Mo.
See a Russian Orthodox Church and downtown murals on the walk from Benld to Gillespie north of Edwardsville, Ill. This easy hike uses a paved trail on a former trolley line between Benld and Gillespie in Illinois. I also walked along streets and sidewalks to explore each of their downtowns. Interurban Line History This bike trail is 1.4 miles or 2.8 out and back between…
Hike to rock shelters and small waterfalls at Devil’s Prop Nature Preserve north of Mount Vernon, Il., east of St. Louis on Interstate 64. Located nearby is Cedarhurst Center For The Arts with a large sculpture garden. Going to both these attractions allows for a fun-filled day trip for my family from the St. Louis area. DEVIL’S PROP OVERVIEW This nature preserve is located about…
Trailhead information sign
Watson Trail Park in Sunset Hills is a favorite stop for my son if we are in South County for the zip line and trails that go throughout the park. OUR TIME HERE We stopped at Watson Trail Park in Sunset Hills, Mo., for lunch, a short hike, and playground time. We parked in a lot near the aquatic center and headed down to a…
Here are the top ten hikes I liked the most in 2022. I chose them based on length, how much I enjoyed them, and what natural beauty I saw. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Hike Rock Bridge Memorial State Park gives hikers a chance to scramble through caves and see a rock bridge and sinkholes. I went with David and my son. We only had…
Here are my 2022 Top 5 Summer Travel Guides that I turned to for summer travels in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Southern California. I will share our adventures on my blog at the start of the Summer 2023 Travel Season! Moon Nevada by Scott Smith This book provides an overall resource on traveling throughout the state of Nevada. Here you can figure out itineraries from…
These are the top five hiking books that helped me find the best trails in exploring the terrain of the Midwest in 2022. I return to them for details on finding waterfalls, canyons, mountaintops, springs, or shut-ins. One Hundred Nature Walks in the Missouri Ozarks by Alan McPherson It is a detailed book on the many trails that you can find throughout the Ozarks. This…
Take a short hike among sugar maple trees, by a pond, and through prairie grass at Claire Gempp Davidson Memorial Conservation Area. Come here with the kids they can learn about the natural world with the many information signs and tree identifiers. The walk is .6 mile with a 16-foot elevation gain along a wood chip path with a boardwalk. This area serves as an…
