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Plan a Nature Escape to Missouri’s Babler State Park
Dr. Edmund Babler State Park, or just Babler as it’s known locally, is a wonderful oasis in a the busy St. Louis suburbs. Over 2,400 acres offer hikes, scenic drives, bike trails, camping, and more. Babler State Park History In 1934, Jacob and Henry Babler presented the state with 88 acres in memory of their brother, Edmund Babler, a prominent St. Louis surgeon who was dedicated to helping the less fortunate. An additional 800 acres of land was quickly added…
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Explore Castle Ruins and Natural Wonders at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is one of the most beautiful and unique state parks in Missouri. The park offers stunning natural beauty with a turquoise blue spring, cave, and natural rock bridge. Visitors can also explore the ruins of a turn of the century stone castle perched on a bluff above Lake of the Ozarks. This is truly a must-see park and great for the whole family. History of Ha Ha Tonka State Park The area around Ha Ha…
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Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail
Giant City State Park is one of our favorite kid-friendly parks to explore in Illinois. The trails are mostly short, easy, and scenic. The Post Oak Trail is the easiest trail at the park. Recent improvements have made the marked 1/3 mile loop ADA accessible and stroller friendly. You can also venture off the paved path for even better overlooks and blufftop views. Post Oak Hiking Trail Distance: 0.3 mile loop on paved path. Longer if you explore unpaved paths.…
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Walk the Streets of a Ghost Town at Old Greenville, Missouri
When it comes to the idea of ghost towns, you probably think of rickety buildings standing in the mountains or deserts of locations far west. But you can find some interesting ghost towns in Missouri as well. You can view the streets, sidewalks, and foundations of a 200 year old town at Old Greenville Recreation Site in southeastern Missouri. History of Old Greenville Greenville was first settled back in 1818 and was established as the county seat of Wayne County.…
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Hiking Illinois’s Stemler Cave Woods Preserve
Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve is another quiet spot of nature developed in part by Clifftop Alliance. This non-profit was developed to help promote the conservation, preservation, and protection of the Mississippi River bluffs corridor in Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair Counties of Illinois. We have explored several of the other preserves Clifftop supports such as White Rock and Salt Lick Point. As the largest dedicated Illinois nature preserve in St. Clair County, Stemler Cave Woods contains 20 acres of…