A 3 Day Adventure in Wisconsin Dells

Take a scenic boat road to see the Wisconsin Dells and brave the tidal wave at Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park. These were the top activities we did when we visited the Wisconsin Dells in the summer. Going up the Fenelon Place Elevator. ON THE WAY: Fenelon Place Elevator Driving up we stopped in Dubuque, Iowa to ride the world’s shortest and steepest railroad. My son looks back at me as…

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Tour French Fort De Chartres In Illinois

You can travel back to the 1750s by visiting French Fort De Chartres, located an hour south of St. Louis and southeast of Waterloo, Illinois. Built in 1753 by the French during their 18th-century colonization of Illinois Country, the massive stone fort was preceded by three wooden forts, with the first fort erected in 1720. Fort de Chartres served as the French seat of government and its chief…

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Escape to Adventures of Intrigue in St. Louis

Discover endless adventure and mystery at the new interactive attraction, Adventures of Intrigue, located in St. Louis. It is more than an Escape House experience with 15 different themed areas.  Built from a life-long collection of holiday-themed displays and imagination. One of the many themed rooms Themes include the following: The Castle Tinker Shop Apothecary Shoppe Wizard’s…

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Explore Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

Tour the world’s largest cave with 426 miles of passageways and marvel at the Frozen Niagara at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. We took part in cave tours along with taking a few hikes to see springs and a small cave on our own. The cave system is 426 miles so there are quite a few tours you can choose from that even start at different entrances.  OVERVIEWS OF CAVE TOURS All tours…

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See a Louisville Slugger Made and Fossil Hunt

Visit Louisville, KY to search for fossils at Falls of the Ohio State Park or learn about bat construction at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. FALLS OF THE OHIO STATE PARK Fossil hunting at The Falls of the Ohio State Park is just across the river from downtown Louisville in Clarksville, Ind. We stopped here on our way into town. The 390-million-year-old fossil beds are among the…

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Daniel Boone Bridge From Busch Greenway Hike

Take a hike along a rocky creek on the Busch Greenway then cross the Daniel Boone Bridge for far-off Missouri River views. This 5.4-mile out-and-back hike involves crossing the Interstate 64 bridge along a pedestrian walkway to go from St. Charles County to St. Louis County. The trail surface is mostly paved with a Katy Trail gravel section. Elevation gain is 361 feet as you go up and down from…

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Gateway Arch National Park Walk

The Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis stands at a height of 630 feet and is constructed from stainless steel, forming the world’s tallest arch. It is also the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. If you walk the grounds of the Gateway Arch National Park, it can look different from how you view it through woods, along lakes, or even by the Mississippi River. History of the…

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College Meadows Walk and McAuley Playground

Take a walk in the prairie grass field and then go to the medieval castle-themed McAuley Playground with the kid. This is part of a day at Colleges Meadows Park and Hansen Park. Park sign and parking lot College Meadows Jaunt First, I walked that gravel and mowed grass path at College Meadows Park. A gravel parking lot is located behind the St. Charles Community College campus off of St.…

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Broemmelsiek Park Hikes

Hiking alongside a brook and discovering frogs in a swamp made for a delightful day with my child at Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance, Missouri. This park has more than 9 miles of paved and unpaved multi-use trails to explore. It is a 494-acre park in west St. Charles County and only about four miles off of Interstate 64. We explored this park with my son and our dog. Information board by the…

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Oak Knoll Park Stroll

Oak Knoll Park is a picturesque destination, featuring a serene pond surrounded by bald cypress trees and vibrant tulips that bloom in the spring. A .7 paved walkway can be found here along with a short trail done in wood chips on the east side of the park in the woods that includes sculptures. Oak Knoll Park entrance Paved Loop Walk I parked in the main lot of Big Bend Boulevard. I walked to…

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Peruque Valley Park Hike

Hike along a short ridge above a pebble-filled stream and by baseball fields at Peruque Valley Park in Wentzville. This is a 1 mile hike with 33 feet of elevation gain. It is paved in two parts with the middle area being gravel. Start of the hike heading east. Start of the Hike I parked on the east side of the large lot and headed to the cement path. I headed to the right along the path…

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Fox Run Trail Hike at Rockwoods Range

A hike through wooded hills down to valleys with rocky brooks is part of the day at Rockwoods Range Conservation Area on the Fox Run Trail. The natural surface hike is 7.6 miles long with 1,247 feet of elevation gain so it crosses up and down quite a few hills. Map at the trailhead of the area and the hike Start of the Hike I parked in the gravel lot. The trail begins uphill to the right. A…

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Westhoff Park Has a Bug's Life Theme

In Westhoff Park, you can find a playground that has a “bug’s life” design with blue caterpillars and green centipedes. If you have a young kid, like my son Andrew, this is a whimsical play area to explore. The park is in O’Fallon, Mo., north of Interstate 70 on TR Hughes Boulevard. BRENDAN’S PLAYGROUND The playground is all-inclusive and has boardwalks that connect to ramps that are…

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Top Five Spring Hikes Near St. Louis

Gushing waterfalls, blooming dogwood trees, and prairie wildflowers make for magical spring hikes on trails near St. Louis. These are my top five spring hikes that I hope you enjoy. VICTORIA GLADES HIKE In spring Victoria Glades Conservation Area’s flowering plants and trees give it a technicolor feel with reds, purples, and white flowers everywhere. It is a place to explore open grassy…

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Rock Springs Rotary Park Hike

Rock Springs Rotary Park in O’Fallon, Ill., has a paved trail through forest and prairie grass encircling the whole park. I walked the paved Outer Loop Trail and the paved trail that goes around the Dog Park for about a 1.2-mile walk through the woods. The paved Inner Loop Trail goes through tall grasses and by the playground for a .5-mile walk. Parking near the restrooms. Starting the Hike I…

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Gilbert Lake and Great River Road Hike

Hike along the Illinois River and Gilbert Lake, then through Pere Marquette State Park, passing by farms along the Great River Road. This was all part of my hike combining the Gilbert Lake Trail and the Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail. The hike is 5.8 miles long, the Gilbert Lake Trail section is on an unpaved field road, and the Sam Vadalabene section is paved. Most of the 125 feet…

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Black History Month: Ivory Crockett Park Walk

The park is named for Ivory Crockett once known as the “world’s fastest man” when he broke the world record for the 100-yard dash in 1974. It is a small park near Manchester Road where you can do an easy loop walk. This is a .4 mile paved walk with 10 feet of elevation gain going by fields and a playground. Tennis Courts Start of Walk I parked in the lot along Bell Avenue. I went to the…

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