• Hikes,  Kids,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    Find Caves and Waterfalls at Kress Farm Garden Preserve

    Kress Farm Garden Preserve is a hidden gem in Hillsboro, Missouri. The 142 acres preserve is dedicated to maintaining native plants and wildlife habitat under a conservation easement through Ozark Land Trust. The preserve features gardens, fields, forests, wildlife habitats, streams, and scenic bluffs. Volunteers work daily to maintain this scenic place for all to enjoy. The preserve features four different hiking trails plus a trail that combines several of the trails together. All are of easy to moderate difficulty.…

  • Day Trip,  Hikes,  Illinois,  Kids

    Giant City State Park – Devil’s Standtable and Indian Creek Nature Trails

    Giant City State Park is one of the best state parks in all of Illinois. The park is filled with huge and rugged rock formations. All of the trails have something to offer, but two of the shortest and most kid-friendly trails at the park are the Devil’s Standtable Trail and the Indian Creek Shelter Nature Trail. Giant City Devil’s Standtable Trail The Devil’s Standtable Trail is located just down the road from the popular Giant City Nature Trail. The…

  • Hikes,  Missouri

    Find Mountain Views and Civil War History at Shepherd Mountain

    We always enjoy hiking around the Arcadia Valley area of Missouri. One lesser known hiking trail we checked out last fall is the Shepherd Mountain trail in the town of Ironton. While the trail was very quiet the day we hiked, this area has recently opened as a bustling mountain bike park. Weekends now mean bikes speeding up and down the steep hills of Shepherd Mountain. There are several mountain bike trails but the hiking trail is available for those…

  • Hikes,  Illinois,  Kids

    Waterfalls and Wildflowers on the Rocky Bluff Trail Hike

    The Rocky Bluff Trail can be found at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge near Marion, Illinois. The refuge is a popular spot for fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. A pass is required to visit, but it’s only $2. There are six different hiking trails within the refuge. The Rocky Bluff Trail passes the most spectacular spots in the refuge including wet weather waterfalls, cliffs, and stunning wildflowers. Rocky Bluff Trail Overview Distance: 2.2 mile loop. You can also…

  • Hikes,  Kids,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center

    Back in Civil War times, the area near Powder Valley was full of caves. Federal forces stockpiled gunpowder in these caves to blow up bridges if the Confederate army attempted to invade St. Louis by way of the Meramec River. Now interstate 270 covers where the caves were and peaceful Powder Valley Conservation Area is full of nature instead of gunpowder. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center covers 112 acres of oak hickory forest tucked away near the hustle of the…