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Winter’s finally over in the Kansas City area, and it’s time to plan for outdoor summer fun. Nothing is better on a summer day than spending time at the pool, whether it’s relaxing, taking in a great workout, or playing with the kids in a water wonderland. It doesn’t look like Schlitterbahn will reopen for the 2019 season, but there are still plenty of great options. Here are 12 water parks in Kansas City and the surrounding area. I’ve also included parks that open for public use, rather than limited to residents of a particular community. 

Seasonal note. With the exception of the indoor water parks, the vast majority of these share seasonal hours. You can find parks open from around Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Oceans of Fun

4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161

When? The season starts on May 24th and ends after Labor Day weekend on September 2nd.

What? Oceans of Fun is a tropically-themed water park that was once the largest in the world. Adjacent to the World of Fun amusement park, it covers 64 acres. Walk between the Worlds of Fun theme park and the Oceans of Fun. The park contains everything from a calming lazy river to extreme water slides. Kids can find a variety of slides, geysers, and fountains at Crocodile Isle or Paradise Falls. A wave pool has high tide every 10 minutes.

Price?

  • A daily admission ticket will provide access to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun for $39.99.
  • You can save money by buying a season pass and sometimes ordering online.

Springs Aquatic Center

9400 N Congress Ave, Kansas City, MO 64153

When? Opens May 25, 2019, through the end of the summer.

What? Part of Tiffany Hills Park, Springs Aquatic Center offers a lap pool for intense swimmers and a leisure pool. Two winding water slides plunge into the 700-square foot leisure pool. Kiddies will enjoy the zero-entry pool or the spray ground with a tipping bucket, silly shower, mist sprayers, pop jets, and a moppet puppet. The center also has a bathhouse with showers, lifeguard stations, and concessions.

Price?

  • Regular price for those 48″ in height and taller $9
  • Youth (less than 48″) $6
  • Senior pricing $6.

Fun in the Sun. Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/leoleobobeo-1487549/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2494906">Jan Haerer</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2494906">Pixabay</a>

Adventure Oasis Water Park

2100 Hub Dr, Independence, MO 64055

When? Opens May 25, 2019, through Labor Day.

What? Adventure Oasis Water Park includes over 6,000 square feet of wet and wild activities at Buckaroo Beach. Surrounding the beach is a 900-foot lazy river, a climbing wall, and three different water slides. Those wanting a deeper swim will enjoy the separate 25-yard lap pool and diving area. Kids will enjoy Halfpint Paradise, which is part of Buckaroo Beach. A full concession and dining area are available as well.

Price?

  • Residents $9
  • Nonresidents $10
  • Ages 3-12— Residents $6 and Nonresidents $7
  • Ages 65 and over — Residents $6 and Nonresidents $7
  • You can also buy a family pass, 5-visit pass, 20-visit pass, or a season pass.

Bay Water Park

7101 Longview Rd, Kansas City, MO 64134

When? Opens May 25th through Labor Day weekend.

What? Bay Water Park is a city-owned aquatic center located in Kansas City, MO, at the intersection of Blue Ridge Blvd and Longview Road. The facility has the only surf simulator in the area at a public facility that allows the rider to do stand-up like surfacing or kneel like boogie boarding. It also has a large lazy river, two giant tube slides, and a large plunge pool. A family play pool includes kid-controlled sprays and fountains, several slides, and a dumping bucket.

Price?

  • Over 48″ tall $9
  • Youth (less than 48″) $6 per day
  • Seniors 65+ $6
  • Children one year and under are free.

Great Wolf Lodge

10401 Cabela Dr, Kansas City, KS 66111

When? The indoor pool is open year-round although dates do vary. Check online as there are a limited number of day passes each day and there may be seasonal closures. The outdoor pool is seasonal.

What? Looking for a huge indoor waterpark just perfect for a special occasion? The Great Wolf Lodge is a hotel with a 38,000 square feet indoor water park that includes a large variety of activities from hot springs for the adults to a 4-story tree house water fort for the kids. Use one of the 8 water slides to glide into one of the five splash-and-play pools. Kids will also love the giant tipping bucket, cub paw pool, and the whopping hollow playground. Additional activities include an arcade, character appearances, lunchtime activities for the pool and story time.  While the majority of their waterpark is indoors only, they also have outdoor water activities.

Price? Day passes are available online and must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance. The passes do get pricey at $50 and up per person (depending on the day); children two and under get in free.

Black Bob Bay, Olathe, KS

14570 151st St, Olathe, KS 66062

When? Seasonal hours start in Late May (around Memorial Day) through Labor Day.

What? Black Bob Bay is a great place that is larger than your regular public pool but quite not the size of Oceans of Fun. It offers a lazy river, aft water slides, and a 50-meter pool. The dive well includes two 1-meter diving boards and two 3-meter boards with a 50-meter pool. For kids, there are shallow water play structures, a splash park, and a baby pool.

Price? Purchase an Outdoor Pool Season Pass at the Olathe Community Center, 1205 E. Kansas City Rd

Summit Waves

120 SW Blue Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

When? Opens May 25 through August 13, 2019

What? Summit Waves is an outdoor water park that features a six-lane lap pool with diving pools, one tube slide, and one body slide. A water playground area includes dump buckets, mini slides, and other activities for the kiddoes. A concession stand is available.

Price?

  • Lee Summit residents $7
  • Nonresidents $10.

Splash Cove or Jim Allen Aquatic Center Water Park in Missouri. Photo by Chris Murphy on Flickr — https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrism70/515076909/in/photolist-MvWhR-MvMKW-MvKK7-MvUqn-DeiTio

Splash Cove (Jim Allen Aquatic Center)

5800 King Ave, Shawnee, KS 66203

When? The season begins May 25th and ends on August 11, 2019.

What? Splash Cove is an excellent summer-time location for families with small children. It includes a mini wave pool, 125-foot full body slide, and a party cabana. The zero entry pool is great for kids; all of the pools are 3 feet deep and under. It doesn’t have a full Olympic-sized pool or deep pool so if you want to do laps, look elsewhere.  Kids can enjoy the splash pool, a completely interactive playground. The full concession is available as well.

Price?

  • Shawnee residents $6
  • Non-residents $8
  • From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., admission is half-price on Monday through Friday.

Coco Key Water Resort in Missouri. Photo by Britt Reints on Flickr — https://www.flickr.com/photos/emmandevin/4980490928/in/photolist-8A7a9G-8A4d5p-8A4cZc-8A7fQN-8A7j23-DMryfd-8A7jrf-8A4i3T-8A7nuq-8A4iA8-8A7mHW-8A4av2-8A3ZaB-8A7d75-8A4a7X-8A7g9s-8A46qc-8A45tF-8A7frw-8A7dQQ-8A7aN5-8A4dtF-8A4e4x-8A48np-8A4eht-TXbtWP-8A7kgu-8A4aSR-8A4aLH-8A7rEh-SEJP39-7YA7dW-8A4gGe-7YwRkK-7bt6np-7YA7jN-7YwTeX-7YA881-7YwSJR-7YwVyR-7YwRqe-7YA8TY-7YA9JA-7YA9Dy-7YA6Hm-8A47YT-8A7e3w-8A43R2-8A7aqJ-8A7a45

CoCo Key Water Resort

9103 E 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64133

When? Open year-round on weekends and open on Thursday and Fridays during the summer.

What? Looking or another indoor water park that is available all year long? CoCo Key Water Resort is part of the Adam’s Mark Hotel and Conference Center. The indoor water park is over 55,000 square feet of swimming activities, dining options, and a state-of-the-art arcade. They have three big slides for adults and three intermediate slides for kids and a few little ones for younger children along with lily pads.

Price? General admission $9.99; be sure to make reservations ahead of time.

Mission Family Aquatic Center

5930 W 61st St, Mission, KS 66202

When? The season starts on May 25th and lasts through the summer

What? The Mission Family Aquatic Center is a small facility with a lap pool that is large enough for practice. It also offers a lap pool and a kiddie pool with a splash pad.

Price?

  • Residents $6
  • Nonresident $8.00
  • If you attend during twilight hours between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., there’s a $2 discount.

Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park

456 Tan Tara Estate, Osage Beach, MO 65065

When? Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend

What? Part of the Margaritaville Lake Resort, the Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park is a 20,000 square foot indoor waterpark with over 600 feet of water slides, an activity pool, and a lazy river for tubing and floating. The kids will enjoy a three-story wilderness tree house with slides, water blaster, tunnels, bridges, and a 600-gallon tipping bucket. There is also a 21-seat whirlpool available for relaxation along with a snack bar. It’s also just outside of the Lake of the Ozarks State Park for more summer activities.

Price?

  • Hotel guests $17
  • Non-hotel guests $22
  • Children ages 2 and under are free.

Kenwood Cove Water Park in Kansas RachelH7 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Kenwood Cove Aquatic Park in Salina

701 Kenwood Park Dr, Salina, KS 67401

When? Seasonal hours start May 25

What? Sure, it’s a little bit of a distance from Kansas City, but the Kenwood Cove Aquatic Park in Salina is still worth the trip. The facility has 1,400 feet of slides, a lazy river for kids of all ages, a raging river, inner tubing, wave pool, and body slides for the more adventurous types. A lap pool is available for swimming every morning except Sundays and during the park’s regular hours. Kids will enjoy the soggy bottoms water playground, lily pads, family fun slide,  and splash pool

Price?

  • Adult day passes $6
  • Seniors (62 and up) $3
  • Children (3-17) $4
  • Ages 2 and under are free

 

Bonus  — White Water in Branson

3505 West, MO-76, Branson, MO 65616

When? Opens May 25th through Labor Day

What? White Water Branson isn’t in the KCMO metro but it’s close enough for a weekend road trip. The waterpark has 13-acres of pools, water slides, and other attractions. Explore the lazy Aloha River or the more thrilling speed slides of Kalani Towers or KaPau Plummet. Surrounded by cascading waterfalls, White Water Waikiki Wave is an interactive double speed speed-slide. Kids of all ages will enjoy the  500,000-gallon wave pool, the playground area of Coconut Cove, and the water slides, geysers, and other activities of Splashaway Cay. Private poolside cabanas are available for rent and the park offers both dining and shopping.

Price?

  • One-day tickets (ages 12-64) $45
  • One-day tickets (ages 4-11) $25
  • One-day tickets (65+) $33

Other Adventures

Still looking for summer-time ideas in Kansas City?  Here are some ideas.

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A vibrant community known for its charming downtown, university, and plentiful parks, Parkville, Missouri, is a hidden gem located about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Kansas City. Although platted in 1844, Parkville’s historic roots go even further back to the Lewis and Clark era. These vestiges can be found around town and at the English Landing/Platte Landing Park. For those seeking a day trip out of Kansas City, the small town has a large riverfront park, an underground commercial district, and two wooded nature sanctuaries.

Sign leading into historic downtown Parkville
Sign leading into historic downtown Parkville

Historic Downtown

Main St, Parkville, MO 64152

Heading south from NW River Park Drive (MO-9), you’ll pass the beautiful English Landing Park walking the trail on the left and Park University and the Sullivan Nature Sanctuary on the right. As the road comes to an end, you’ll find yourself in downtown historic Parkville.  An eclectic variety of businesses and shops line the downtown area, from art boutiques to antique stores. PopCulture Gourmet Popcorn (6325 Lewis St Suite 101, Parkville, MO 64152) is a hit with locals around Kansas City, who drive in all the way from Olathe and Lee’s Summit to get popcorn. Looking for something to do that’s a little different but offer’s scenic views of downtown? Play the Parkville Mini Golf, an old 18-hole course with a full-service ice cream bar. Since it sits up on the bluffs, it has a great view of the river (7 W 1st St, Parkville, MO 64152).

City Parks

For a city of around 6,000 people, Parkville has a lot of parks. You can find five parks and two nature sanctuaries where you can relax, explore, and enjoy. These parks include:

My favorite two parks were the Parkville Nature Sanctuary and English Landing/Platte Landing Park. Why? They’re huge and take full advantage of the natural beauty in the area. Also, at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary, the city noise is muted.

Parkville Nature Sanctuary

100-198 E 12 St, Parkville, MO 64152

A 115-acre natural outdoor area with three miles of hiking trails, Parkville Nature Sanctuary is an excellent place to escape the bustle of the city or the stresses of college life. Many consider the trails the best hiking trails in Kansas City, with easy to moderate trails. The trails are well-marked and a few take a little bit of a journey through the woods and up into the hills. Take the Old Katy Trail up to the waterfall or alongside Lewis Spring. Butterfly Pass, which goes by an old root cellar, takes you through foliage and plants specifically designed to attract butterflies. Parking is plentiful. A public restroom is available next to the parking lot.

English Landing Park

8701 McAfee St, Parkville, MO 64152

As you drive into Parkville, a long walking and riding trail that stretches alongside the Missouri River is the first sign of the city. The 68-acre park has three miles of walking trails, picnic areas, a sand volleyball court, a disc golf course, and a large playground area. During the summer months, the Farmer’s Market is right beside the park, so it makes it convenient to stop in, grab some food, and then go for a stroll along the park on early weekend mornings. After crossing the giant bridge in the park, you’ll find the adjacent Platte Landing Park. The 140-acre park includes two additional miles of trails, an off-leash dog park, and a new boat ramp. If you want to just and watch the river go by, there are plenty of shade trees and benches near the water’s edge. Historical markers noting the Lewis and Clark expedition to the area are in the park near the water’s edge.

Park University, Mackay Hall

8700 NW River Park Dr, Parkville, MO 64152

Founded in 1875, Park University is a private, nonprofit university that can be seen on the bluffs overlooking English Landing Park and the Missouri River. At 800 acres, the university’s most distinctive building is Mackay Hall, built using limestone from the campus grounds. The three-story building was constructed in 1883 and finished in 1893. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is near the Parkville Presbyterian Church, also made out of the native limestone. The rest of the campus is also and nestled in the hills.

Parkville Commercial Underground

8500 NW River Park Dr, Parkville, MO 64152 or look for President Mackenzie Underground Entrance/Exit

Imaging working or going to a nursing lab in an underground cave. Perhaps one of the coolest parts of the town and Park University is the Parkville Commercial Underground. The university hired a local mining company to drill into the hill and created business space both for rent and for campus activities. The Parkville University Campus has more than 385,000 square feet of commercial space that are underground. As you drive into the underground, you’ll see office entrances built into the underground walls. It’s like a “commercial” cavern tool, in a cool way. Tenants include a data center, part of the Parkville School District, a whiskey distillery, and distribution centers. Another part of the underground is known as the Academic Underground, with stores, faculty offices, and the nursing program all held in a cave. Whoever said a university campus had to be boring?

Finding the commercial underground can be tricky. Turn right from the highway into Park University. When you enter Park University, curve to the right and then keep going straight back toward what looks like a parking lot and a line of trees. Before you get there, you’ll see a road that swoops down into a tunnel along with a sign that says ENTRANCE. That’s where you drive into the commercial underground. It’s before the parking lot (looks like it goes under it). It can be easy to miss if you don’t know where to look.

Have you visited Parkville? What’s your favorite place to visit? Have you ventured into the Parkville Nature Sanctuary?


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Parkville Nature Center is a wildlife preserve and educational center located in Parkville, Missouri. Open every day, from sunrise to sunset, you can relax by a small waterfall or walk around the many trails that wander into the hills. Benches, like the ones by these waterfalls, offer a relaxing place to hide away. This is the bottom area of the waterfall, so you can walk up and cross that bridge to go to the upper part. The white noise offered by the sound of the running water can help relax you and help in focusing, concentration and emotional stability. Need inspiration for creating your latest masterpiece? Here’s a free site located near Kansas City.

Don’t live near KCMO but still want to find a place to regenerate? Find a national or state park near you.

Where to find it? (Map)

The Missouri Rhineland winds through the Missouri River Valley from the suburbs of St. Louis to Jefferson City. This region is called “wine country” due to the soils that line the southern bank of the river. The soils are excellent for growing wine, grapes, and (of course) corn. The Rhineland was named for its similarities to the Rhineland region in Europe. Some of the oldest wineries in America were founded here, especially near Augusta and in Hermann at Stone Hill. During Oktoberfest, you’ll find towns that still celebrate their German heritage in style.

This tour will take you through Missouri wine country to see the industry that has won multiple national awards. Even if you are not a fan of wine, it’s still a beautiful area with rolling hills, vineyards, and rich earth. The German heritage is also seen in its architecture that that still stand over 150 years later.

How long?  About 123 miles or a minimum of three hours. The hills are steep, and the roads are usually two-lanes with speed limits of 35 m.p.h. at times. Best advice? Slow down. You’ll also find tiny little “German villages” on the route to explore. The bridge on Highway 94 in Hermann is under construction so you must take local road P as an alternate and it also goes through some great places, but the road is not one to be speeding on.

Add 30 minutes if you are leaving St. Louis to drive to St. Charles, Missouri.

If you are starting from the Kansas City metroplex, add an additional two hours and a half hour to drive to Jefferson City and reverse the directions. (Or, you can simply drive four hours to St. Charles and then start the tour.] Plan for a full day of driving.

Time of Year?  The best times to visit are from April to November as the roads can get dangerous in the winter months. Check for any flash flood watches or warnings as some of the roads can be closed by heavy flooding. You will see signs everywhere warning about low water crossings.

 

Map not working on your phone? Try this one.

 

Missouri Rhineland / Wine Country Itinerary

Start from St. Louis, Missouri

Side-trip. If you are driving from St. Louis, Missouri, why not stop off in Florissant, Missouri, to view the oldest church in Missouri. Old St Ferdinand Shrine at 1 Rue St Francois, Florissant, MO 63031. The parish was established in 1789 and the original part of the church was built in 1821.

Historic Downtown St. Charles (since 1769)

230 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301

St. Charles, Missouri, was once the last outpost for westward-bound pioneers and where Lewis and Clark launched their expedition to the Pacific. French-Canadian settlers called the spot Les Petites Cotes after “the little hills” in the 1700s. Settlement of the city dates to 1769. The city also served as the nation’s first state capitol. Little Hills Winery in historic St. Charles used to operate in a building erected in 1805. It is the first recorded deed on file and was one year after Lewis and Clark arrived in the area. Unfortunately, the shop closed in early 2018, but it is still interesting to see one of the oldest structures in the region. The historic downtown district also has shopping, restored historic structures, and other sites to help you get into the mindset to go back in time through the Rhineland of Missouri.

Since no wineries are left in downtown St. Charles, drive up and down Main Street to view some of the oldest parts of the city.

 

Chandler Hill Vineyards

Chandler Hill Vineyards, 596 Defiance Rd, Defiance, MO 63341

The history of Defiance, Missouri, goes back to 1804 with explorer Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and Daniel Boone. The Daniel Boone Home, a four-story, Georgian-style home, can still be explored today. In addition to a long history, four wineries also operate within a two-mile radius and nearly a dozen more wineries operate over the next 15-miles on the way to Dutzow. This area, that goes to Augusta, Missouri, is the oldest wine district in the United States. Chandler Hill Vineyards is a young winery, operating since 2008, but it has some of the most picturesque views of the region.

Additional wineries in this area include:

 

Mt. Pleasant Estates and Winery

5634 High St, Augusta, MO 63332

When Germany immigrants flooded the area back in the 1800s, they brought with them their love of flowers, Teutonic architecture, and their wine-making skills. Eleven wineries operated near Augusta until the Prohibition era when they were closed. Time moved on and many of the wineries reopened. The area outside of Augusta was designated as the first American Viticultural Area (wine growing) in 1980. Brothers George and Frederick Muench founded the winery in 1859 and built the cellars in 1881. The winery still uses the cellars today to age the wines and Augusta Ports.

Additional wineries include:

 

Blumenhof Vineyards and Winery

13699 South Highway 94, Dutzow, MO 6334

Dutzow is Missouri’s oldest Germany settlement, founded in 1832. The vineyards at Bluemnhof were established in 1979 with the first vintage in 1986. Blumenhof, which means “Court of Flowers” in German,” has won a wide variety of awards at prominent wine competitions. Near the old town of Pinckney on MO-94 is St. John’s United Church of Christ that was built in 1870 and is one of the few remaining structures in the area that survived the floodwaters of 1993.

Historic Downtown Washington, Missouri

123 Lafayette St, Washington, MO 63090

In the middle of Missouri wine country sits Washington, Missouri, a charming small town on the Missouri River. The town was the site of the San Juan del Misuri, established in 1796. The renamed town was plotted out in 1829. Thanks to the influx of anti-slavery Germany settlers, Washington, Missouri was a union holdout in a state that supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. There are over 40 wineries within an hour of the town, but since we’ve already explored so many, I figured it was time for a history break. Here are a few of the historical sites to see in this old German settlement.

 

Stone Hill Winery

1110 Stone Hill Hwy, Hermann, MO 65041

Sign for Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Missouri. Taken on a Missouri wine tour.

Hermann, Missouri, is one of the state’s hidden gems. Founded in 1837 by German immigrants, Hermann, Missouri, is considered the heart of the Missouri Rhineland region. The town’s German-American heritage can be viewed at the Deutschheim State Historic Site and in its downtown. The Pommer-Gentner house was built in 1840 and the Carl Strehly house, built in 1842, are two of the oldest surviving buildings in town. Stop at the Hermann Riverfront (free parking!) for a great view of the Missouri River. Hermann is a great weekend get-away in and of itself.

The oldest winery in Hermann is Stone Hill Winery, established in 1847. Norton, Missouri’s official state grape, is grown here. The winery has won more than 4,000 awards since 1988. Stone Hill Winery offers guided tours and tasking, along with a vintage restaurant that specializes in German and American cuisine.

Additional wineries include:

 

Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant and Jefferson City

1707 S Summit Dr, Holts Summit, MO 65043 (winery)

201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101 (capitol building)

As you near the capital of Missouri, you’ll see the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau and the southern part of the Missouri River. The capitol dome rises from a bluff overlooking the river in historic Jefferson City. Sitting on the western edge of Missouri wine country, the city has several wineries within a short drive.

Additional wineries and nearby places include:

Have some spare time after visiting Jefferson City? Go south and explore the Missouri Ozark Country.


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Just twenty miles east of Kansas City, Independence, Missouri, is a city with a mixed reputation. When I first moved to the KCMO metro, people warned me to avoid the city due to crime rates, industrialized neighborhoods, and “it’s boring.” I ventured into the city once in April to attend to a writer’s group at the city library. It was in the northwest part of town known for higher crime rates. I could kind of see what they were talking about. Yet, I was curious to see what else was in the area. I’m kind of stubborn that way.

Hannibal, Missouri, is an old, historic town right on the edge of the Mississippi River. Known for its ties to author Mark Twain, many of the sites in the area are either named after him or the characters from his book. A great walking town, you can easily walk to many of the sites after parking downtown. If you are adventurous enough, you can try hiking up all the way from Main Street up to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse that overlooks the river. Here are 8 great places to go see in Hannibal and one that is outside of town, but still worth a side trip.

Missouri is known as the “show-me” state and with good cause. Parks in Missouri consists of award-winning trails that take you through wooded forests, grasslands, and deep underground through deep underground caves. The list of Missouri attractions, such as historic national sites, also makes for a great weekend getaway. Take a tour through the Ozarks and or follow the Missouri River Water Trail. What’s on your bucket list?

The Missouri Ozarks offer more than just a history lesson— bubbling springs, lush forests, high cliffs, caves, and rivers traverse the St. Francois Mountains.

Want to plan a weekend trip? The Ozarks are a great getaway from either St. Louis or Kansas City. The only real difference is the starting point. One would begin at Lake of the Ozarks (closer to Kansas City) while the other would begin at the Onondaga Cave State Park. You could theoretically do the itinerary in one day, but it would 16 hours round trip. I would recommend either camping out under the stars or finding a hotel/motel room in one of the small towns nearby.

Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Park and State Historic Site is both a museum and a nature park. The historic site has been preserved to give you a sense of what life was like in the 1870s. The 100-acre park itself offers a bike trail, campgrounds, swimming beach, trails, and a lake area where you can sit and enjoy the clean waters of Watkins Mill Lake. You can also view the abundant wildlife, such as deer and wild turkeys, and see a variety of bird species, some that are only native to northwestern Missouri.