• Day Trip,  Hikes,  Hiking,  Kids,  Missouri,  Popular,  St. Louis,  Waterfall

    Explore Pink Rocks and Waterfalls at Castor River Shut-Ins

    Stunning pink granite boulders and rushing clear cascades create one of the most beautiful views in all of Missouri. The Castor River Shut-Ins area is part of the Amidon Memorial Conservation Area near Fredericktown, Missouri. This spot is one of our absolute favorite places in Missouri and well worth the longer drive from the St. Louis area. Water from the Castor River rushes over and through Missouri’s only pink granite shut-ins. The massive stones and gushing waterfalls present a scene…

  • Hikes,  Hiking,  Kids,  Missouri,  Popular,  St. Louis

    Take a Hike at Hawn, One of Missouri’s Best State Parks

    Missouri has a lot of beautiful state parks, but Hawn is towards the top in scenic value. When I am missing the rushing streams and rugged mountains of hiking destinations out west, this is the spot I like to visit. The towering pine and oak trees combined with the sandy creek bottoms and sandstone rocks make a serene spot to wander. While many parks in the area only have streams or waterfalls during wet weather, the stunning cascades of Pickle…

  • Hikes,  Kids,  Missouri,  Popular,  St. Louis

    Explore Scenic Views and Lost History at Missouri’s Castlewood State Park’s River Scene Trail

    Length: 3.4 miles or about 2.5 if you use the connector Difficulty: 3 out of 5, some moderate climbing up to bluffs Scenic Value: 4 out of 5, one of the best views around St. Louis The area around Castlewood State Park has been a popular escape for St. Louisans for decades. Amid the quiet beauty and wildlife here now, it’s hard to imagine that the park was once the site of a bustling resort that peaked in popularity after…

  • Day Trip,  Illinois,  Kids,  Popular,  Trips

    Visit to Casey, Illinois-The Little Town of Big Things

    At first glance the tiny town of Casey appears just like any other location in small town America. Like many small towns, this spot just off I-70 in eastern Illinois has seen a loss in population and manufacturing as people and jobs moved on to bigger cities. However, the town of Casey has reinvented itself in a big way. It all started when one of the residents decided to try and fight the decline by attracting more attention and business…

  • Kids,  Missouri,  Popular,  St. Louis

    Visit to the St. Louis Aquarium and the Wheel at Union Station

    Since the kids were off school on Valentine’s Day, Ben decided to take the day off work so we could have a local adventure day as a family. We had been wanting to check out the new St. Louis Aquarium which opened Christmas Day. We decided to combine the aquarium visit with a spin around the St. Louis Observation Wheel since both attractions are located at the stunning and historic Union Station. A combo ticket is available for a discount…