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Colorado and Utah Trip 2019
Travel Days 1 and 2 in the Mighty Merc It’s been way too long since we last had a blog post up! We have so much to share from our summer and fall adventures and want to start with all we saw, hiked, and climbed on our last westward adventure. Once again we found ourselves loading up and heading west for our family vacation. This year was a dual destination event with the bulk of our time being spent around…
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Favorite Family Hikes near St. Louis – Part 1, the Illinois side
One of the questions I get asked the most is which hikes do I recommend in the St. Louis area, especially which hikes are good for kids. We are blessed with so many amazing hikes in the area, but I’m going to try and narrow it down to the ones I think give the best bang for your buck. I’m going to start with the Illinois side of the river as there are so many Missouri area hikes that it’s…
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Climb Among the Giants at Missouri’s Elephant Rocks State Park
Elephant Rocks State Park is one of the most scenic and fun state parks in all of Missouri. This family friendly park features scenic views, rugged landscape to explore, and short and easy hikes for all ages. The park gets its name from the unique and massive granite boulders that stand on end like a train of circus elephants. The largest of these boulders, known as “Dumbo” is estimated to weight 680 tons! The oldest commercial granite quarry in the…
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Waterfalls Views at Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista, Arkansas
Since we have family in northwest Arkansas, we make the trek to this region several times a year. Each trip we try to explore a different attraction. One of the highlights of our latest trip to the Natural State is the hidden gem of Tanyard Creek. The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail is located in Bella Vista, not far from the Missouri border. This beautiful trail was built by volunteers and donations to create a stunning slice of nature right in…
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Climb to Great Views at Salt Lick Point Trail in Illinois
Salt Lick Point Land and Water Preserve is one of favorite hikes on the Illinois side of the metro area. This hike is located on a former quarry site in Valmeyer, Illinois. The site was developed to protect the glades, prairies, forest, and wildlife. The preserve also contains the highest point in Monroe County, Salt Lick Point. There are three different trails here of different difficulties. Whether you prefer a more gentle hike through the trees or a rugged climb…
