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10 Great Spring Hikes Around St. Louis
After what felt like an extra long and cold winter, spring is finally here. If the warm weather and budding trees have you ready to explore outside, here is a list of 10 great St. Louis area hikes that really shine during the spring. While most of the flowers are just starting to pop out, in the next couple of weeks these trails will be awash in color. 1. St. Francois State Park St. Francois is a lovely Missouri State…
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Weldon Spring Conservation Area Lewis & Clark Trail
The Weldon Spring Conservation Area is located in St. Charles County, Missouri. The area features many miles of trails and borders the popular rails-to-trails Katy Trail. One of the more popular trails here is the Lewis and Clark trail system. The path consists of the 5.3 mile Clark Loop with an optional secondary loop called the Lewis Trail to make an over 8 mile total trek. Lewis and Clark Trail With kids, we opted for the shorter Clark Trail Loop.…
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Explore Multiple Waterfalls at Burden Falls in Illinois
Burden Falls is a more off the beaten path waterfall to visit in the Shawnee National Forest. The rugged beauty of this spot in far southern Illinois is well worth the drive. Even better, you can see part of the waterfalls right from the parking lot. Burden Falls Trail Length: Upper Falls can be seen right from parking area. Lower falls require a one mile each way or you can make a loop by doing some sketchy rock scrambling. Difficulty:…
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12 Great Day Trips from St. Louis
Looking for a quick escape from the St. Louis area without a long day of travel? Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or simply in search of new adventures, there are great opportunities for exploration within a 2.5-hour radius of St. Louis. To make your travel plans easy, I’ve narrowed down our top day trip destinations to give you twelve different ideas for the perfect adventure journey. Load up the kids, pack all the snacks, and head out to…
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View Missouri’s Best Swimming Spot from the Johnson’s Shut-Ins Trail
The scenic and popular Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is well known as a great spot to cool off on sticky summer day. This park in southeast Missouri features a section of dramatic rock gorges and chutes carved out by the Black River. Visitors climb over and along the rocks looking for the perfect natural water slides and swimming holes. Park History Three generations of the Johnson family once farmed this area. in the 1800s. By 1900, most of the area…