Sunday, June 5, 2011
Johnson Shut-Ins has Missouri's best swimming hole.
Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is a natural wonder that is well worth the drive from St. Louis County. The shut-ins are a magical section of the East Fork of the Black River where the river rock refused to yield—so the water rushes between vertical outcroppings that form chutes, waterfalls, puddles and pools. Take swimsuits and some river shoes, because the best way to experience Johnson Shut-ins is knee deep in the cool water. Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located about 80 miles south of South County and will take about an hour and forty-five minutes to get there, depending on the route chosen. Custom directions to the park are available on its website. You’ll enter the park at the northern section, where a new day-use area was constructed …
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Visit Purina Farms this summer for free family fun just outside St. Louis County.
Purina Farms is fun day trip for dog-loving families, especially those with young children. The demonstration farm is run by Nestle-Purina, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis. It’s a great place to take little ones to learn about pets and farm animals. The 300-acre farm is located in Gray Summit, about 14 miles west of Eureka. There are two distinct areas of the farm: the Visitor’s Center and the new Purina Event Center, which opened in 2010. Purina Farms has been offering tours since 1926 and it attracts an average of 135,000 visitors a year. The farm is open every day but Monday, March through November, and is a destination all of its own. The Purina Event Center is on the same property and hosts indoor and outdoor …
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Climb and hike through a natural wonder in rural Missouri, only a 90-minute drive from St. Louis.
Elephant Rocks State Park is a natural playground for grown-ups and kids alike. You can climb the giant boulders, crawl under some of them and explore the maze-like crevices between. Climb the rocks at your own risk—and keep an eye on the kids—because there's no rubber safety mat on nature's playgrounds. Elephant Rocks is a favorite day trip for St. Louis hikers and nature seekers. The park is located about 80 miles south of St. Louis County and it takes around an hour and a half to drive there, depending on your starting point and which highway you take. The best route is by way of Hwy 67 (pick it up in Festus) to Farmington, but from there you’re on smaller state roads. You can also take Hwy 21 all the way to the park if you want a …
