• Day Trip,  Hiking,  Illinois,  Kids

    Cedar Falls and Phantom Canyon Trails at Camp Ondessonk

    One of my adventure bucket list items had been to visit the tallest free-flowing waterfall in the state of Illinois. We managed to check off that item in 2022 by hiking to Cedar Falls and Phantom Canyon, both located on the Camp Ondessonk property. Camp Ondessonk is the site of a Catholic summer camp in far southern Illinois. When summer camp is not in session, this private property is open to the public for hiking with permission. There are 25…

  • Day Trip,  Kids,  Missouri,  Museums,  St. Louis,  Trips

    The Best Free Things to do in St. Louis

    St. Louis is a great place to live or travel on a budget. Second only to Washington D.C., St. Louis has the most free attractions of any other large city. Many people are blown away that so many of the top attractions around town don’t charge a penny of admission. While some places do have a charge for parking or extra activities, general admission to all of these attractions is completely free. Gateway Arch National Park The Gateway Arch is…

  • Day Trip,  Kids,  Missouri,  Museums,  Trips

    Best Tips for Visiting Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium

    We recently visited the highly rated Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri and it lives up to its acclaim. This 350,000 square foot attraction features over 1.5 miles of exhibits. Pack your walking shoes and get ready for a wildlife adventure to remember! The Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium first opened in 2001 as a much smaller attraction. It closed for extensive renovations before reopening in 2017. Johnny Morris, the owner and CEO of Bass Pro…

  • Day Trip,  Hiking,  Kids,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    Find a Unique White Sand Beach at Missouri’s Klondike Park

    Klondike Park is one of the St. Louis area’s most unusual recreation sites. You may feel like you have traveled to an exotic location when you first glimpse the park’s out of place white sand beach. This St. Charles County gem features beautiful lakes, miles of trails, extensive amenities, and that unique white sand shoreline. With trail connections to the popular Katy Trail plus Missouri River Valley views, Klondike Park is a must see destination. Klondike Park History In the…

  • Day Trip,  Illinois,  Missouri,  St. Louis

    7 Great St. Louis Fall Color Drives

    October is a beautiful month for a road trip from St. Louis. The leaves typically peak from mid through late October in the areas outside of the city. If you are looking to get out of town and do some leaf peeping, here are 7 great St. Louis fall color drives. 1. Great River Road This epic scenic drive is amazing no matter the season, but the road really puts on a show in fall. Start the drive with a…